Journal of Advances and Scholarly Researches in Allied Education

Vol. 16, Issue No. 10, October-2019, ISSN 2230-7540

Dalit Literature and Aesthetics

Prof. S. S. Chavan*

Department of Marathi, M.M. Degree College, Belgaum

Abstract – Dalits, the so called marginalized segments of the India have been looming large in the creative
consciousness of Indian writer since 1960 when it was initially noticed in Marathi literature. Dalit literature
has today taken substantial shape in a variety of Indian languages such as Gujarati, Kannada, Telugu,
Punjabi, Tamil, Hindi and Malayalam. A large number of these texts are translated for the benefit of a
wider audience within and outside India. Telling literary depictions of the exercise of discrimination,
violence and poverty of these suppressed groups have gained special importance on recent times and
Dalit literature has acquired a distinct character of its own.

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Dalit literature is the writing about dalits by dalit conflict, competition for survival darkness and
writers with a dalit consciousness. It is precisely that death. Authentic representation, then involves an
literature which artistically portrays the sorrows, unromantic zed and unpitying reflection in literature
tribulations slavery, degradation, poverty and ridicule of the materially of dalit life in all its dimension.
endured by dalits. These literatures recognized the
mentality of human being and are thoroughly The reality of dalit literature is distinct and so is the
saturated with humanity‟s joys and sorrows. Dalit language of the reality. It is the uncouth, impolite
literature is not simply literature. It is associated with language of dalits. It is the spoken language of
a movement-ambedkarite movement to bring about dalits . This language does not recognize cultivated
change. The stirred into action all the dalits literature gestures and grammar. Dalit writers make their
is nothing but the literacy expression of this personal experiences the basic of their writing. In
awareness. fact, their writing expressed the emotional and
commitment of activities. Dalit consciousness in
Dalit literature is marked by suffering, rejection, revolt dalit literature is the revolutionary mentality
and negativism. The anguish seen in the literature is connected with struggle. It is a belief in rebellion
not pain of one person, nor is it of just one-day it is against cast system, recognizing the human being
the anguish of many thousands of people, as its focus. Because of the form, purpose and role
experienced over thousands of years. Therefore it is of dalit literature, many accusation have been
expressed collectively. The anguish of dalit literature made against it has been charged that dalit
is not that of an individual but of the entire outcast literature is propagandist, univocal and negative,
society. This is the reason why it has assumed a that it does not represent the individual person and
social character. Rejection is aimed at the unequal the excessive resentment is heard in dalit literature.
social order which has exploited dalits. Its form is
double-edged; rejecting the unequal order and Although various genres are noted in dalit
demanding equality, fraternity, justice and liberty. literature, the most popular and widely accepted
Revolt is stage that follows anguish and rejection. form is the autobiography. Here the author
realistically depicts the traumas of being an
Dalit literature is purposive. This purpose is variously untouchable and the target of upper-caste ideology
described as revolutionary, transformative and and machinations and questions the institutions
liberator. In as much as transforming the condition of and ideologies that have placed him at the margin.
the dalits and challenging the cast system, it has a Major dalit writers of today includes Narendra
revolutionary cause. Dalits speak about themselves jadahv (Marathi), Sharan kumar limbale (Marathi),
i.e. their experience in language which is their own. om prakash valmiki (Hindi), Burma (Tamil), Jooher
The radical function of dalit literature is served Gowri Shankar (Telugu), Joseph Maewann
through it authentic representation of the dalit reality. (Gujarathi), and Narayan (Malayalam).
Dalit literature portrays the seamier side of dalit life.
www.ignited.in

Life outside the boundaries of the villages is marked Marathi dalit writer activist Sharan Kumar Limbale‟s
by a scene of community, sharing, warmth and towards aesthetic of dalit literature: history,
physically. But it is often wretched. There is in it controversies and consideration (translated by alok
ignorance, sexism, violence, internal rivalry and mukhaerjee) is the first critical work by an eminent

Prof. S. S. Chavan*
13
 Dalit Literature and Aesthetics

dalit writer to appear in English is an extensive and Poems. Ed. Mulk Raj Anand and Eleanor
though provoking account of the debates among dalit Zelliot. New Delhi, Ind: Gyan Publishing
writer on how dalit literature should be read. House, Print.
According to him, the aesthetics of dalit literature
rests on first, the artists social commitment second Ellaiah, Vemula (2008).. SheFastened her Chastity
the life affirming values present in the artistic creation with a Hearty Hope: An excerpt from Vemula
and third, the ability to rise the reader consciousness Ellaiah‟s Kakka: A Dalit Novel. Trans. K.
of fundamental values like equality, freedom, justice Purushotham, Journal of Literature and
and fraternity. Aesthetics: An International Journal Devoted
to Critical and Creative Writing in English.Ed.
Limbale also proposes a framework for reading and S. Sreenivasan and Dr. Manoj S. Spec.
evaluating dalit literature. The following standards Number on Indian Dalit Literature. Vol. 9,
are set down by him. Numbers 1&2, pp. 293-99. Print.

1) Artists must be motivated by their Gajbhiye, Mina (1992). The Weeping Wound of
experiences. Centuries Trans. Jayant Karve and Eleanor
Zelliot, An Anthology of Dalit Literature:
2) Artists must socialize their experiences. Poems. Ed. Mulk Raj Anand and Eleanor
Zelliot. New Delhi, Ind: Gyan Publication
3) Artists experiences must have the strength House, Print.
to cross all boundaries.
Jadhav, Narendra (2003). Outcaste: A Memoir.
4) Artists experiences must seem relevant to all New Delhi, Ind: Viking, Print.
time.

Dalit writers should best express ambedkarite

thought in their literature. They will need to acquire a Corresponding Author
heightened consciousness of literature in order to
give literacy expression to their inspiration and their Prof. S. S. Chavan*
experiences of life. The deeper the relationship of
readers with a dalit writer inspiration, the greater will Department of Marathi, M.M. Degree College,
be their liking for the work. The artist, the artistic Belgaum
creation, and the personality is reflected in the
readers personality is unified with this reflection, sschavan109@gmail.com
artist and the reader undoubtedly become one in the
artistic creation.

WORKS CITED

Ali, Syed Mashkoor., ed. (2004). Stars behind

Clouds: Unexplored Indian Writers in
English. 2 vols.Jaipur, Ind: Surabhi. Print.

Bharti. Caste Meaning. Trans. Narinder Bhangu

(2008). Journal of Literature and Aesthetics:
An International Journal Devoted to Critical
and Creative Writing in English. Ed. S.
Sreenivasan and Dr. Manoj S. Spec.
Number on Indian Dalit Literature. Vol. 9,
Numbers 1&2, Jan. – Dec. 2008. Print.

Chander, Krishan (1990). Aunt Isari and Her

Debt.Krishan Chander: Selected Short
Stories.Trans. Jai Ratan. New Delhi, Ind:
Sahitya Akademi, 1990. Print.

Dangle, Arjun, ed. (1994). Poisoned

Bread.1992.Bombay, Ind: Orient Longman,
www.ignited.in

1994. Print.

Dhasal, Namdeo (1992). Poverty as my own

Independent Piece of Land. Trans. Dilip
Chitre. An Anthology of Dalit Literature:

Prof. S. S. Chavan*
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