The Subaltern Writings in India: An Overview of Dalit Literature

The term, Subaltern, derived from Latin word ‘Subalterns; as a noun, means, an officer below the rank of captain, specially a second lieutenant ; at its adjectival level, it means of inferior rank, the later meaning is applicable so for as literature is concerned. Obviously, the term covers the subject, the masses, the deprived and neglect section of the society. It seems that the term ‘Subaltern’ has come into effect in the post-colonial era. Ranjeet Guha has worked on the project entitled Subaltern Studies; but his project deals with post-colonial history. Gayatri Spivak, in her controversial essay, Can the Subaltern Speak, brought the term under its special effect, as far as literature is concerned. But her essays about the subalterns are specially associated with the females.

The term subaltern comprises not only the women but those people who have been deprived of liberty, equality fraternity and justice. The group of Indians that has been deprived of this all is called Dalits and their writing Dalit literature. As Dalits are deprived of the rights to live, their writing is marked as a revolt against the social system, and the efforts to establish social justice. Arjun Dangle, an eminent Dalit writer and activist rightly points out.

“ Dalit literture is marked by revolt and negativism, since it is closely associated with the hopes for freedom by a group of people who, as untou- chables, are victims of social, economic and cultural inequality.”

Differentness and revolt are the special qualities of Dalit literature. In comparison to the mainstream literature , Dalit literature is different in case of language, experience, and hero. While the mainstream literature is merely for entertainment, Dalit literature puts the heart- r...

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...d, but to the real world of neglected people.

Works Cited

1) Guha, Ranjit. Ed. A Subaltern Studies Reader. Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2000.)

2) Dangle, Arjun. Ed. Poisoned Bread: Translations from Moedrn Marathi Dalit Literature. Hyderabad: Orient Longman Limited, 1994.

3) Garud, Shyamal. Dalit Stri Atmakathane. Pune: Yashshree, 2010.

4) Sathe, Anna Bhau. Samagra Anna Bhau Sathe. Kolhapur: Shramik Pratishthan, 2011.

5) Limbale, Sharankumar. Towards an Aesthetic of Dalit Literature. Trans. Alok Mukherjee. Hyderabad: Orient Longman Private Limited, 2004.

6) Ibid.

7) Karhade, Sada. ‘Dalit Sahitya Chikitsa’( Dalit Literature: A Critical Study.) Aurangabad: Swarup Prakashan, June 2001.

8) Pantawane, Gangadhar. ‘Sahitya: Prakruti Aani Prawruti’ (Literature: Nature and Form). Aurangabad: Swarup Prakashan, August 199.