01/11Dalit History Month: 10 Dalit literature you should read to educate yourself
Every year, the Dalit history month is observed in April to acknowledge the struggles and fights for justice and equality of the Dalit community. In honour of the Dalit history month, here we list down 10 must-read books about Dalits that highlighted their issues and are also quite thought-provoking.
02/11'Annihilation of Caste' by B.R. Ambedkar
‘Annihilation of Caste’ by B.R. Ambedkar is actually an undelivered speech by Dr. Ambedkar which he later self-published in 1936. The book is a real eye opener which focuses on the harmful effects of casteism in the Hindu society.
Image credits- Navayana
03/11 'Karakku' by Bama
‘Karakku’ by Bama is an unusual autobiography. In the book, Bama recreates her childhood in her village through a series of poignant memories and reflections. She also writes about her experiences as a Dalit and a woman. Originally written in Tamil, it was later translated in English.
Image credits- Oxford University Press
04/11'Kanshiram – Leader of the Dalits' by Badri Narayan
‘Kanshiram- Leader of the Dalits’ by Narayan Badri is an account of Dalit icon Kanshiram’s life and beliefs. Narayan in his book highlights the turn Kanshiram gave to Ambedkar's ideas.
Image credits- Penguin Books Limited
05/11'Why I am not a Hindu: A Sudra Critique of Hindutva Philosophy, Culture and Political Economy' by Kancha Ilaiah
In this book, Kancha Ilaiah examines the socio-economic and cultural differences between the Dalit bahujans and other Hindus. The book also talks about the Hindutva narrative (ideology of the Hindu Right) among other themes.
Image credits- Bhatkal & Sen
06/11'Joothan' by Om Prakash Valmiki
Set in the newly independent India of the 1950s, Om Prakash Valmiki’s ‘Jhoothan- An Untouchable’s Life’ describes his life as a Dalit and chronicles their long-denied rights and sufferings. Originally written in Hindi, the book was later translated into English by Arun Prabha Mukherjee.
Image credits- Columbia University Press
07/11'Ayyankali : A Dalit Leader Of Organic Protest' by Meena Kandasamy
Image- Other books, Kozhikode
08/11'Writing Caste/Writing Gender: Narrating Dalit Women’s Testimonies' by Sharmila Rege
‘Writing Caste/Writing Gender: Narrating Dalit Women’s Testimonies’ by Sharmila Rege is a compilation of Dalit women's writings and lives, and offers a counter narrative to mainstream assumptions about the development of feminism in India in the twentieth century.
Image credits- Zubaan
09/11'The Prisons We Broke' by Babytai Kamble
‘The Prisons We Broke’ by Babytai Kamble is a graphic insight into the lives of the oppressed and downtrodden of India. The book contains memoirs depicting the miserable life of Dalit women in the Indian society. The book was originally written in Marathi and translated into English by Maya Pandit.
Image credits- The Orient Blackswan
10/11'Untouchables: My Family’s Triumphant Escape from India’s Caste System' by Narendra Jadhav
Image credits- Scribner
11/11'Caste Pride' by Manoj Mitta
Image credits- Context
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