DALIT LITERATURE: A TOOL OF RESISTANCE

Abstract

In Indian society, the Dalits who are known earlier as untouchables or Shudras have been suffering in the name of Casteism. Even after more than 70 years of achieving Independence, the Dalits are bearing the brunt of torture and humiliation at the hand of upper caste people in many states in India. Dalits, being born in lower castes, are the worst target of embarrassment, dishonour, torture and discrimination. They have been inflicted violence physically or mentally in such a cruel manner that their whole identity is trampled underfoot. For centuries their life has been an epic of traumatic experiences. Their survival was possible at the behest of upper caste people who otherwise treated them like beasts. The wishes and dreams of the Dalits didn’t matter as they had no right to dream for a world of joy and progress. With the passage of time, people in the Dalit community realised the traumatic situation and sufferings of their brethren and decided to give voice through literature to the worst kind of sufferings they had to undergo. It is painfully surprising to think how Dalits were made to bear silently the humiliation and ill-treatment. If one comes across the excruciating accounts of pain and trauma poured down in Dalit literature, one can easily feel the immeasurable pain. Their afflictions are laid open barely before the readers just to make them feel how they will feel, in turn, if they happen to replace their position.