Dalit literature

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Dalit literature

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dalit Literature, literature about the Dalits, the oppressed class under Indian caste system forms an important and distinct part ofIndian literature.[1][2] Though Dalit narratives have been a part of the Indian social narratives since 11th century onwards, with works like Sekkizhar's Periya Puranam portraying Dalit women like half-naked and sexually exploitable and praising the killing of thousands of Dalits on "Kazhumaram" in the hands of Gnanasambandan, Dalit literature emerged into prominence and as a collective voice after 1960, starting with Marathi, and soon appeared in Hindi, Kannada, Telugu and Tamil languages, through self-narratives, like poems, short stories and most importantly autobiographies known for their realism, and for its contribution to Dalit politics.[3][4][5] It denounced as petty and false the then prevailing romanticism with the bourgeois Sadashiv pethi literature treated the whole Dalit issue, ignoring the social reality of appalling poverty and oppression of caste Hindus which was the result of the bourgeois character of this culture. It is often compared with the African-American literature especially in its depiction of issues of racial segregation and injustice, as seen in Slave narratives[6]

Contents

Ambedkari Sahitya (Literature)

In 1993, Ambedkari Sahitya Parishad, Wardha organized first "Akhil Bhartiya (All India) Ambedkari Sahitya Sammelan" in Wardha, Maharashtra to reconceptualize and transform "Dalit Sahitya (literature) into "Ambedkari Sahitya" after the name of its modern age hero and inspiration Dr.B.R. Ambedkar. Ambedkari Sahitya Parishad then successfully organized Third Akhil Bhartiya Ambedkari Sahitya Sammelan in 1996 and became a strong advocacy force of this transformation. Since then ten similar sahitya sammelans were held in various places. Ambedkari Sahitya Parishad was formed in 1992 with the goal to connect people with common ideals and aspirations, to provide a platform to those who are inspired by Dr B R Ambedkar's thoughts and philosophy to express their anguish through their literature against the oppression and bigotry, and to make their presence felt in the world.

History

One of the first Dalit writers was Madara Chennaiah, an 11th-century cobbler-saint who lived in the reign of Western Chalukyas and who is also regarded by some scholars as the "father of Vachana poetry". Another poet who finds mention is Dohara Kakkaiah, a Dalit by birth, six of whose confessional poems survive.[7]

In the 20th century, the term "Dalit literature" came into use in 1958, when the first conference of Maharashtra Dalit Sahitya Sangha(Maharashtra Dalit Literature Society) was held at Mumbai, a movement driven by thinkers like Jyotiba Phule and Bhimrao Ambedkar.[8]

Baburao Bagul (1930–2008) was pioneer of Dalit writings in Marathi.[9] His first collection of stories, Jevha Mi Jat Chorali (जेव्हा मी जात चोरली) (When I had Concealed My Caste), published in 1963, created a stir in Marathi literature with its passionate depiction of a crude society and thus brought in new momentum to Dalit literature in Marathi; today it is seen by many critics as the epic of the Dalits, and was later made into a film by actor-director Vinay Apte.[10][11] Gradually with other writers like, Namdeo Dhasal (who founded Dalit Panther), these Dalit writings paved way from strengthening of Dalit politics.[12]

Dalit Writers

Maharashtra

Arun Kamble, Shantabai Kamble, Krushna Kamble, Raja Dhale, Namdev Dhasal, Daya Pawar, Annabhau Sathe, Bandhu Madhav,Laxman Mane, Laxman Gaikwad, Hari Narake, Sharankumar Limbale, Waman Nibalkar, Bhimsen Dethe, Bhau Panchbhai, Ambadas Shinde, Murlidhar Bansode, Kishor Shantabai Kale, Mayur Vhatkar. Heera Bansode, Joyti Lanjewar, Mallika Amershekh

Karnataka (Kannada)

The first ever Dalit Writer was from Karnataka. Madara Chennaiah(12th Centuary), Dohara Kakkaiah were the earliest known. Later at the end of 20th Century (1970) Prof. B. Krishnappa, Dr. Siddalingiah, Devanooru Mahadeva, Deviah Harave, Prof. Aravinda Malagatti, Prof. M. N. Javaraiah, Prof.Govindaiah, Prof. Chenanna Valikar, Sathyaanada Patrota, V. Munivenkatappa, Mulluru Nagaraja and Mogalli Ganesha paved way for the enrichment of Kannada Dalith Literature.

Prof. B. Krishnappa established 'Dalitha Sangharsha Committee' in Bhadravathi which was the soul charter for the DSS (Dalith Sangharsh Samithi) branching out to various organisations and movements for the oppressed. The discrimination of the daliths created a heart wrenching episodes of Poetic Literature which reflected the oppressed class in the society.

'Saviraru Nadigalu', 'Mookanige Bayi Bandaga', 'Bandedda Dalithara Beedi Hadugalu' were in poem format. Novels being : 'Kusuma Baale', 'Vadalaala', 'Kaarya', 'Maagi'. Short stories are : 'Dyavanoorara Kathegalu', 'Mugiyada Kathegalu', 'Burudege Swarga', 'Atte'. Autobiographies being : 'Government Brahmana', 'Ooru Keri', 'Manegara', 'Manavilladavara Madhye', 'Sambholi'.

Tamil Nadu (Tamil)

Ka.Ayothi dass Pandithar is the pioneer of the Dalit literature and Philosopher in India as well as south India.

Rev.John Ratnam (Editor, Dravida Pandian), Rettamalai Srinivasan (Editor,Parayan), k.Appadurai (Editor Tamilan), Periasamy Pulavar (Poet)and many writers were contributed to dalit literature.

Anbu Ponnoviam, T.P. Kamalanathan, Arya Sangaaran, x-ray manikam, and some others were worked on Dalit history and Dalit political magazines.

Raj Gowthaman, Ravikumar, Gowthama Sannah, Kudiarasan, Vadivel Ravanan, M.P. Ezhilarasu, Yakkan, Stalin Rajangam, Aranga Mallika, Manivannan, Punitha Pandian, Meena mayil, these are all the major contributors to the Non fictional Dalit Literature and first few are ideologue of Dalit political ideology in contemporary Tamil Dalit politics.

P.Sivakamy wrote first modern dalit fiction and Bhama, Artist Chandru, Abimaani, Azhagiya Peruyavan, Poomani, Poet.Sukirtharani, Poet. Pratibha Jayachandran, Chanakya, Dharman, vizhi.Pa.Idhaya vendhan, Yazhan Adhi and some others are worked on Dalit modern fiction literature and poetry.

Senchattai Panjacharam, A.Marx, S.V.Rajadurai, V.Gheetha, MSS.Pandian, are Non-Dalit writers for dalit ideology and dalit literature.

In early period, Sakya Mohan who edited "Dhamma" in English and Tamil authored the first book on Dalit History of Tamil Nadu titled "History of Dalit Struggle for Freedom (2001)". Sakya Mohan has introduced "KalaParayar Empire" (Buddhist Era) in the history of Tamil Nadu supported by a lot of primary sources negating the monotheist historians view that KalaParayar period "the dark age" in Tamil Nadu.

Andhra Pradesh (Telugu)

Gurram Jashuva, Kusuma Dharmanna, Boyi Bheemanna, Kolakaluri Enoch, Siva Sagar (KG. Sathyamurthy), Gaddar, Boya Jangaiah, Chilukuri Devaputra, Kathi Padmarao, Bojja Tharakam, Endluri Sudhakar, Vemula Yellaiah, G. Kalyana Rao, Satish Chandar, GR. Kurme, Madduri Nageshbabu, Kalekuri Prasad, Gogu Shyamala, Jupaka Subhadra, Jajula Gowri, MM. Vinodini, Sujatha Gidla, Thullimalli wilson Sudhakar,challapalli Swarupa Rani,Sikhamani,

Kerala (Malayalam)

Paul Chirakkarode

Gujarati

It was on April 14, 1978, a first ever magazine of Gujarati Dalit Poetry was published and that historic event is considered as the formal launch of the Movement of Dalit Literature in Gujarat. Then president of the militant Organization who had a literary bent of mind and was also aware of the movement of dalit literature in the neighboring state of Maharashtra, Mr Ramesh Chandra Parmar became its Managing Editor. Neerav Patel, Dalpat Chauhan, Pravin Gadhvi and Yogesh Dave worked as its contributing editors and several other magazines started publishing Gujarati dalit literature. But the progressive magazine published under the editorship of Mr Indukumar Jani gave it a big fillip by consistently devoting space to Gujarati dalit literature. Manishi Jani and Ganpat Parmar came out with the first anthology of Gujarati dalit poetry. Other anthologies by Chandu Maheriya, Balkrishna Anand, Nilesh Kathad, Yashvant Vaghela, Dalpat Chauhan, Harish Mangalam, PravIn Gadhvi, Neerav Patel and collections of individual poets and writers followed. A popular and mainstream magazine, published under the editorship of Mr Vishnu Pandya brought out its special number on Gujarati dalit literature. A whole corpus of Gujarati dalit literature in almost all genres—poetry, short story, novel, drama, autobiography—is available now.

Some of the eminent dalit writers in Gujarati include Neerav Patel, Dalpat Chauhan, Pravin Gadhvi, Raju Solanki, Sahil Parmar, Shankar Painter, Harish Mangalam, Bhi.Na.Vankar, Yashavant Vaghela, Pathik Parmar, Chandraben Shrimali, Mohan Parmar, Madhukant Kalpit, Jayant Parmar, B.Kesharshivam, Raghavji Madhad, B M parmar.

Further reading

  • Survival and Other Stories: Bangla Dalit Fiction in Translation. ed Indranil Acharya and Sankar Prasad Singha (vidyasagar university). orient blackswan, isbn 978-81-250-4510-6
  • Dalit literature and African-American literature. Ed. N.M. Aston. Prestige Books, New Delhi. 2001. ISBN 81-7551-116-8.
  • Towards an Aesthetic of Dalit Literature, by Sharankumar Limbale. 2004, Orient Longman. ISBN 81-250-2656-8.
  • Journeys to Freedom: Dalit Narratives, by Fernando Franco, Jyotsna Macwan, Suguna Ramanathan. Popular Prakashan, 2004.ISBN 81-85604-65-7, ISBN 978-81-85604-65-7.
  • Dalit Literature : A Critical Exploration, by Amar Nath Prasad & M.B. Gaijan. 2007. ISBN 81-7625-817-2.

References

  1. ^ Dalit literature
  2. ^ Brief Introduction to Dalit Literature
  3. ^ "‘Dalit literature reflects oppression of Dalits’". The Hindu. March 19, 2002.
  4. ^ "TAMIL: Dalit literature". The Hindu. February 26, 2008.
  5. ^ "Healing with languages". The Hindu. August 06, 2006.
  6. ^ Dalit literature and African-American literature. Ed. N.M. Aston. Prestige Books , New Delhi. 2001. ISBN 81-7551-116-8.
  7. ^ Western Chalukya literature#Bhakti literature.
  8. ^ Natarajan, Nalini; Emmanuel Sampath Nelson (1996). "Chap 13: Dalit Literature in Marathi by Veena Deo". Handbook of twentieth-century literatures of India. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 363. ISBN 0-313-28778-3.
  9. ^ Issues of Language and Representation:Babu Rao Bagul Handbook of twentieth-century literatures of India, Editors: Nalini Natarajan, Emmanuel Sampath Nelson. Greenwood Publishing Group, 1996. ISBN 0-313-28778-3. Page 368.
  10. ^ Mother 1970 Indian short stories,1900-2000, by E.V. Ramakrishnan, I. V. Ramakrishnana. Sahitya Akademi. Page 217, Page 409 (Biography).
  11. ^ Jevha Mi Jat Chorali Hoti (1963) Encyclopaedia of Indian literature vol. 2. Editors Amaresh Datta. Sahitya Akademi, 1988. ISBN 81-260-1194-7. Page 1823.
  12. ^ "Of art, identity, and politics". The Hindu. Jan 23, 2003.
  • Sakya J. Mohan, History of Dalit Struggle for Freedom (2001), Dhamma Publications, Pondicherry
  • Sakya J. Mohan, Dalit Kudigalin Marukkappatta Varalaaru (2003), Dhamma Publications, Pondicherry

External links

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