Telugu Dalit Women's Poetry: An Over View

Abstract

Dalit women face discrimination on multiple fronts like African
American women and Aboriginals in Australia. They have to keep
shifting from one position to another constantly. They are viewed as
morally fragile, unreliable and treated as commodities always. Several
instances of atrocities perpetuated by landlords and the wealthy sections
in society have galvanised all Dalits into a strong vocal group that fears
not to express anger, frustration and desire to retaliate whenever their
patience is tested to the extreme. The Dalit women poets chose their own
language and idiom. Their poetic journey from turning to God for
support to declaring their identity and aspirations vociferously marks a
remarkable trajectory. Poetry written by Dalit women in Telugu is
vibrant, specific and relevant. Many new voices are heard depicting the
deplorable conditions in which they live, demanding redress of their
grievances.