Deconstructing the Identity of Dalit Women and Brahmanism in U.R.Ananthmurthy's Samskara

Abstract

This article talks about the theme of Understanding the Identity and deconstructing it of the low-caste women characters and their portrayal that is significant in the framework developed by upper-caste men in the novel, which engages with the issues of caste and gender in terms of the conflict between tradition and modernity. The paper attempts to discuss how Brahmanic structures are constructive to the identities and sexualities of the lower caste woman, and also reveal how the female body is constructed by the Brahmin patriarchy, and how the low caste women as objects of sexuality are being approached by the upper caste men, by questioning their identity as Other, which society looks from polluted minds. It is a work that defines the cultural aspects of Brahmanism that is being polluted by violating its norms, and tradition in the shade of other caste cultural practices. The main focus of the work that is being highlighted is how the strong cultural roots that Brahmanism follow is affected by the low-caste women's existence. The development that it takes, makes us understand that Brahmin patriarchy ideologies are hindered by the practices that make their culture, and tradition pave the path toward modernity.