Dalit Literature In India: An Agitation To A Genre

Abstract

What is a Dalit literature? It is always very hard to define the exact time and place of its beginning. Dalit word is originated form Sanskrit word ‘dalita’ which means broken, oppressed, split, untouchable and exploited. Dalits came from poor section of the society that under the caste system of India used to be known as untouchables. Dr. B.R. Ambedker called them ‘broken people’ and Mahatma Gandhi gave them a new name ‘Harijan’. We only can guess its history from the written source based on “Manusmirity”, one of the most religious books of Hindu mythology. Traditional Indian society is divided into four hierarchical caste systems or varnas: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. The four varnas or castes are subdivided into many sub castes. Shudras occupy the lowest position in the social order and Dalits are from this section of society. Even we find some streak of Dalits in the Hindu epics in “Ramayana” and “Mahabharta”. In Mahabharta we find the episode of Eklaviya, whom Guru Drona refused to teach him, because he was from a dalit caste. And we know how he learnt the archery and Drona asked for his right hand’s thumb. One another episode is also found in The Mahabharata, the episode of Karana. Karan was born in a royal family but his unmarried mother Kunti gave him up. He was brought up by a Dalit family of charioteer. Even he had become a king of Ange, but in the society did not give him due regard. Even in self chosen marriage ceremony, Dropati refused him to take part in the event. His own brother Pandavas insults him on many occasions. They made fun of him, being a dalit man. In Ramayana we also found an episode of caste discrimination when Laxman refused to eat the plum given by an old dalit lady. So Dalits never desired for Ramarajay because their position was not good at that time. Then why they worship lord Rama