Dalit literature

Dalit literature is a genre of Indian writing that focuses on the lives, experiences, and struggles of the Dalit community, who have faced caste-based oppression and discrimination for centuries.^[1][2][3] This literature encompasses various Indian languages such as Marathi, Bangla, Hindi,^[4] Kannada, Punjabi,^[5] Sindhi, Odia and Tamil and includes diverse narratives like poems, short stories, and autobiographies. The movement originated in response to the caste-based social injustices in mid-twentieth-century independent India and has since spread across various Indian languages, critiquing caste practices and experimenting with different literary forms.^[6][7][8]

Prominent works within Dalit literature emerged in the colonial and post-colonial period, with Jyotirao Phule's Gulamgiri, published in 1873, being a seminal work highlighting the plight of the Untouchables in India. Numerous authors, such as Sharankumar Limbale, Namdeo Dhasal, and Bama, have contributed to the Dalit literary movement, each offering unique perspectives on the Dalit experience. The Dalit Panther movement in Maharashtra and the influence of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, an advocate for Dalit rights, have played significant roles in shaping Dalit literature across India.

Dalit literature has also been instrumental in the development of Dalit feminism, with the autobiographies and testimonios of Dalit women authors emphasizing the intersection of caste, class, and gender in the context of social exclusion. Prominent Dalit women authors, such as Urmila Pawar and Baby Kamble, have shed light on the struggles of their communities, providing a foundation for understanding the complexities of caste, class, and gender in Indian society.