Corresponding Author's : Nikhat Khan

Co-Author's : Dr. Shagufta Anjum

Abstract :

The caste system in India is pervasive and prevalent even today. Dalits have been historically, socially, economically, and culturally oppressed for centuries. Dalit literature was thus born out of a desire to throw light on the conditions of Dalits in the country. An even lower position is accorded to Dalit women as they belong to the most discriminated, and deprived section in the society. Many women writers, activists and feminists have raised their voices against gender discrimination, social inequality and injustice towards them. Dalit women are doubly marginalized because of their caste and gender. Both the Dalit Movement and the mainstream Feminist Movements have failed to address the issues and struggles of Dalit women. This impetus gave rise to Dalit Feminism. Dalit feminist writers in their works, especially autobiographies, have tried to exhibit the oppression by the upper caste Hindus and the maltreatment by the men of their own caste. Many Dalit women writers like Urmila Pawar, Gogu Shyamala, Kumud Pawde, Bama Faustina and Baby Kamble portray this discrimination in their works. The proposed paper is a study of Bama Faustina’s works, focussing on the emancipation and empowerment of Dalit women and talks about the rights and privileges of women in general. It focuses on Karukku (1992) and Sangati (1994), which portray the life of dalit women in a nuanced manner. Both of these works shed light on caste and gender oppression, and the intersection of the two.

Keywords :

Bama Faustina, Dalit Women, discrimination, gender, resilience

Article Details

Unique Paper ID: 42

Publication Volume & Issue: VOLUME 2 , ISSUE 2

Page(s): 27-30

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