Dalit Literary Discourse : Mapping the Journey from Pain to Tale

Abstract

The Present paper traces the journey of Dalit Literature in India and
representation of Dalit Characters in the works of Indian Writers.
Dalits, the marginalized, outcastes, have undergone a long period of
hard sufferings and travails till Dalit Literature has come of an age in
Post- Independence Era with some canonical Indian texts by the
writers like Premchand. Dalit Literature in India emerged for the first
time in Marathi and from thereon it went on in other Southern states
and then to Northern regions of India. The paper also interweaves in
it the famous Dalit Charatcers like Gangi, Velutha, Bakha of the
Untouchables Chamar family of A Fine Balance; Dalits Portrayed by
Bama. Towards An Aesthetics of Dalit Literature is a famous critical
work in the area of Dalit Literature by Dalit writer Sharan Kumar
Limbale. The literary works voiced the community's pangs and it
became united resultantly to find a better treatment in the society and
became united for their cause. Its aestheticism lies in the challenges
and pains borne by the Dalits. Dalit works are an emancipation of the
community.