CEENIS Current Research Series

0428930 - OÚ 2017 RIV PL eng M - Monography Chapter
Hons, Pavel
Literature - a Way of Strengthening Dalit Identity.
CEENIS Current Research Series. vol. 1. Warszawa: Dom Wydawniczy Elipsa, 2013 - (Stasik, D.), s. 193-201. ISBN 978-83-7151-977-2
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z9021901
Keywords : Dalit literature * India * Dalit movement
Subject RIV: AJ - Letters, Mass-media, Audiovision

So far Dalit literature has been talked about mainly in terms of "testimony," i.e. description of conditions under which Dalits have lived; and "action," i.e. efforts to awaken Dalit people, emancipate them and make them realize that the hierarchy in the society was purposely elaborated by a few, while all people are in fact equal. But in many novels, poems or short stories we can find more than mere proclamation of equality. These writers try to make other Dalits proud of their origin by highlighting positive aspects of their culture. They picture their society as more equalitarian with some special rights that are to higher castes hardly available (remarriage of widows etc.). They also claim acknowledgement for various Dalit art-forms and Dalit folklore. In this way they strengthen Dalit identity and instil to people self-esteem and confidence. First, the paper briefly outlines the modes of Dalit emancipation. Then it tries to illustrate this somewhat neglected aspect of Dalit literature by selected parts of various novels and by general comments on recent Dalit writing.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0240909