Dhowli By Mahasweta Devi: Social Traditions Of Social Devi

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India has been known for living by the popular social traditions of the caste system for hundreds of years. In the short story "Dhowli" by Mahasweta Devi, this type of society is brought to the attention of the readers through the eyes of a young girl named Dhowli. This story tells the readers about the "Untouchables" of the caste system in the current political time period that it was written. Dhowli was in the lower class called the Dusads, and the man she loved but was forbidden to be with, Misrilal, was of a higher a class call the Brahman. The short story "Dhowli" is full of hard political circumstances that challenges Mahasweta 's young protagonist, Dhowli, in her environment along with society as a whole. She became an Untouchable when …show more content…

Reading this story, we can see how this caste system in India has changed very little from the time it was written. Dhowli is a woman who became a widow, resulting in her identity as an Untouchable. This class of people were seen as unwanted, polluted, and the outcast people of society. One touch from an Untouchable would cause a person to become polluted, even if it was drinking form the same cup. A young boy from a higher class fell in love with Dhowli, ignoring her social status. This shows readers how society was beginning to change in this time period of the short story. Since then, Untouchables have been giving many more rights as they earn a higher education or even a higher position in the caste system. However, they are seen as the lowest humans in the caste system still today. Dhowli overcame the challenges of her social status in the environment she lived in. She finds a way to turn around the reality of life for Untouchables as she lives off of the environment by making them pay her for pleasure, rather than her begging them for money. The short story of "Dhowli" brought a new look on Untouchables as they might find themselves in a world with more opportunities and chances to make a difference for their status in caste

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