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{{more citations needed|date=August 2012}}

'''Dalit literature''' is literature written by [[Dalit]]s about their lives.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/books-reviews/dalit-literatures-in-india-review-voice-of-protest/article26471306.ece|title='Dalit Literatures in India' review: Voice of protest|last=Joshi|first=Prakash Bal|date=2019-03-09|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-08-08|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>[http://www.gowanusbooks.com/dalit.htm Dalit literature]</ref><ref>[http://www.museindia.com/showconnew.asp?id=386 Brief Introduction to Dalit Literature] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107223124/http://www.museindia.com/showconnew.asp?id=386 |date=January 7, 2009 }}</ref> Dalit literature emerged in the 1960s in the [[Marathi language|Marathi]] language, and it soon appeared in [[Bengali language|Bangla]], [[Hindi]],<ref>Patterns of Dalit Literature : Dr. N. Singh, Publisher : Vani Prakashan, New Delhi-110002, Edition: 2012</ref> [[Kannada]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]],<ref name="Kumar2014">{{cite book|author=Akshaya Kumar|title=Poetry, Politics and Culture: Essays on Indian Texts and Contexts|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=68ITAwAAQBAJ&pg=PP1|date=14 March 2014|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-80963-0|pages=272–314}}</ref> [[sindhi language|sindhi]], and [[Tamil language|Tamil]] languages, through narratives such as poems, short stories, and autobiographies, which stood out due to their stark portrayal of reality and the Dalit political scene.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dalit literature reflects oppression of Dalits |url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/09/stories/2009090958010200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090913083749/http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/09/stories/2009090958010200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 13, 2009 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date= March 19, 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=TAMIL: Dalit literature |url=http://www.hindu.com/br/2008/02/26/stories/2008022650051400.htm |publisher=[[The Hindu]] |date=February 26, 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Healing with languages |url=http://www.hindu.com/lr/2006/08/06/stories/2006080600160400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060813174545/http://www.hindu.com/lr/2006/08/06/stories/2006080600160400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 13, 2006 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=August 6, 2006 }}</ref>

Dalit literature denounced the then-prevailing portrayal of life by mainstream [[Marathi literature]].<ref>'' Dalit literature and African-American literature''. Ed. N.M. Aston. Prestige Books , New Delhi. 2001. {{ISBN|81-7551-116-8}}.</ref>

==Early Dalit literature==
One of the first Dalit writers was [[Madara Chennaiah]], an 11th-century cobbler-saint who lived during the reign of the [[Western Chalukyas]] and who is also regarded by some scholars as the "father of [[Vachana]] poetry". Another poet who finds mention is Dohara Kakkaiah, a Dalit by birth, whose six confessional poems survive.{{Citation needed|date=June 2020|reason=Your explanation here}}

The origins of Dalit writing can also be traced back to Buddhist literature{{Citation needed|date=June 2020|reason=Your explanation here}}, or to mainly [[Marathi people|Marathi]] Dalit Bhakti poets like Gora, [[Chokha Mela]] and [[Karmamela]], and to the Tamil [[Siddhas]], or Chittars — many of whose hagiographies, in accounts such as the 12th-century ''[[Periyapuranam]]'', suggest that they may have been Dalits. Modern Dalit writing only emerged as a distinct genre after the democratic and egalitarian thinkers such as [[Sree Narayana Guru]], [[Jyotiba Phule]], [[B.R. Ambedkar]], [[Iyothee Thass]], [[Sahodaran Ayyappan]], [[Ayyankali]], [[Poykayil Appachan]], and others began to articulate the sources and modes of caste oppression.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Satchidanandan|first1=K|title=Mainstreaming the subaltern|url=http://www.frontline.in/navigation/?type=static&page=flonnet&rdurl=fl3001/stories/20130125300107700.htm|work=Frontline|issue=Volume 30 - Issue 01|date=Jan 25, 2013}}</ref>

== Modern Dalit Literature ==
{{More citations needed section|date=June 2020}}
According to [[K. Satyanarayana (academic)|Satyanarayana]] and [[Susie Tharu|Tharu]], "although it is possible to identify a few Dalit writers from earlier times, the real originality and force of Dalit writing, which today comprises a substantial and growing body of work, can be traced to the decades following the late 1960s. Those are the years when the [[Dalit Panther]]s revisit and embrace the ideas of Babasaheb Ambedkar, and elaborate his disagreements with the essentially Gandhian mode of Indian nationalism, to begin a new social movement.In the following decades, Dalit writing becomes an all-India phenomenon. This writing reformulates the caste question and reassesses the significance of colonialism and of missionary activity. It resists the reduction of caste to class or to non-Brahminism and vividly describes and analyzes the contemporary workings of caste power."<ref>{{cite book|last1=Satyanarayana and Tharu|title=The Exercise of Freedom: An Introduction to Dait Writing|date=2013|publisher=Navayana|location=New Delhi|isbn=9788189059613|page=21}}</ref>

Asserting the importance of Dalit literature, [[Arundhati Roy]] has observed: "I do believe that in India we practice a form of [[apartheid]] that goes unnoticed by the rest of the world. And it is as important for Dalits to tell their stories as it has been for colonized peoples to write their own histories. When Dalit literature has blossomed and is in full stride, then contemporary (upper caste?) Indian literature's amazing ability to ignore the true brutality and ugliness of the society in which we live, will be seen for what it is: bad literature." Jaydeep Sarangi, in his 2018 introduction to "Dalit Voice," writes that Dalit literature is a culture-specific upheaval in India giving importance to Dalit realization, aesthetics and resistance.{{Citation needed|date=June 2020|reason=Your explanation here}}

===Dalit literature in Marathi language===
In 1958, the term "Dalit literature" was used at the first conference of ''Maharashtra Dalit Sahitya Sangha'' (Maharashtra Dalit Literature Society) in [[Mumbai]]<ref>{{cite book |title=Handbook of twentieth-century literatures of India |last=Natarajan |first=Nalini |author2=Emmanuel Sampath Nelson|chapter= Chap 13: Dalit Literature in Marathi by Veena Deo|year=1996 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |isbn=0-313-28778-3|page=363 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1lTnv6o-d_oC&q=Dalit+literature&pg=PA363 }}</ref>
[[Baburao Bagul]] (1930–2008) wrote in [[Marathi language|Marathi]].<ref name=han>[https://books.google.com/books?id=1lTnv6o-d_oC&pg=PA368&dq=Baburao+Bagul&lr= Issues of Language and Representation:Babu Rao Bagul] ''Handbook of twentieth-century literatures of India'', Editors: Nalini Natarajan, Emmanuel Sampath Nelson. Greenwood Publishing Group, 1996. {{ISBN|0-313-28778-3}}. '' Page 368''.</ref> His first collection of stories, ''Jevha Mi Jat Chorali'' (English ''When I had Concealed My Caste''), published in 1963, depicted a cruel society and thus brought in new momentum to Dalit literature in [[Marathi language|Marathi]]; today it is seen by many critics as an epic portraying lives of the Dalits, and was later made into a film by actor-director Vinay Apte.<ref name=sa>[https://books.google.com/books?id=kLn11KD4ea0C&pg=PA409&lpg=PA409&dq=%22Baburao+Bagul%22+Awards&source=bl&ots=4RR8PcINz8&sig=d-0GK0EI8yPGyALHEv1YtidKMhU&hl=en&ei=A6JQSv65EpaG6wOvyrn7Cw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9 Mother 1970] ''Indian short stories, 1900–2000'', by E.V. Ramakrishnan, I. V. Ramakrishnana. [[Sahitya Akademi]]. ''Page 217'', ''Page 409'' (Biography).</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=zB4n3MVozbUC&pg=PA1823&dq=Baburao+Bagul&lr=. Jevha Mi Jat Chorali Hoti (1963)] ''Encyclopaedia of Indian literature vol. 2''. Editors Amaresh Datta. [[Sahitya Akademi]], 1988. {{ISBN|81-260-1194-7}}. ''Page 1823''.</ref> Gradually with other writers like, [[Namdeo Dhasal]] (who founded [[Dalit Panther]]), these Dalit writings paved way for the strengthening of Dalit movement.<ref>{{cite news |title=Of art, identity, and politics |url= http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/01/23/stories/2003012300470200.htm|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20030702073745/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/01/23/stories/2003012300470200.htm|url-status= dead|archive-date= July 2, 2003|work=[[The Hindu]] |date=Jan 23, 2003 }}</ref>
Notable Dalit authors writing in Marathi include [[Arun Kamble]], [[Shantabai Kamble]], [[Raja Dhale]], [[Namdev Dhasal]], [[Daya Pawar]], [[Annabhau Sathe]], [[Laxman Mane]], [[Laxman Gaikwad]], [[Sharankumar Limbale]], [[Bhau Panchbhai]], [[Kishor Shantabai Kale]], [[Narendra Jadhav]], [[Shankar Rao Kharat]], and
[[Urmila Pawar]].Kharat served as president of the 1984 session of [[Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan|Marathi Sahitya Sammelan]] (Marathi literary conference) held in [[Jalgaon]].<ref>R. S. Morkhandikar. “Dilemmas of Dalit Movement in Maharashtra: Unity Moves and After.” Economic and Political Weekly, vol. 25, no. 12, 1990, pp. 586–590. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/4396063[https://www.jstor.org/stable/4396063?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents]. Accessed 21 July 2020.</ref>

Although the first Dalit literature conference was held in 1958 by newly converted buddhist writers, [[Annabhau Sathe]], a communist, who turned to Ambedkarite movement in the later part of his life, is credited as the founding father of Dalit literature.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/annabhau-sathe-dalit-writer-marathi_in_5d415c3ce4b0d24cde082f0d|title=Remembering Annabhau Sathe, The Dalit Writer Who Dealt A Blow To Class and Caste Slavery|date=2019-08-01|website=HuffPost India|language=en|access-date=2019-08-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://velivada.com/2019/08/01/annabhau-sathe-remembering-the-founder-of-dalit-literature/|title=Annabhau Sathe – Remembering The Founder of 'Dalit Literature'|website=Velivada|access-date=2 August 2019}}</ref>

Dalit literature started being mainstream in India with the appearance of the English translations of Marathi Dalit writing. ''An Anthology of Dalit Literature'', edited by [[Mulk Raj Anand]] and [[Eleanor Zelliot]], and ''Poisoned Bread: Translations from Modern Marathi Dalit Literature'', originally published in three volumes and later collected in a single volume, edited by [[Arjun Dangle]], both published in 1992, were perhaps the first books that popularised the genre throughout India {{Citation needed|reason=Your explanation here|date=May 2017}}.

In 1993, Ambedkari Sahitya Parishad organized the first ''Akhil Bharatiya Ambedkari Sahitya Sammelan'' (All India Ambedkarite Literature Convention) in [[Wardha]], Maharashtra] to re-conceptualize and transform Dalit literature into ''Ambedkari Sahitya'', after the name of the Dalit modern-age hero, scholar and inspiration [[B.R. Ambedkar]], who had successfully campaigned against caste-discrimination and was a strong advocate of Dalit rights. ''Ambedkari Sahitya Parishad'' then successfully organized the Third Akhil Bharatiya Ambedkari Sahitya Sammelan in 1996 and became a voice of advocacy for awareness and transformation. Since then ten similar literary gatherings, were held in various places{{Citation needed|reason=Your explanation here|date=May 2017}}.

==See also==
* [[Dalit studies]]
* [[Dalit music]]

==Further reading==
* Aston, N.M. Ed. (2001) ''Dalit Literature and African-American Literature''. New Delhi: Prestige Books. {{ISBN|81-7551-116-8}}.
*Chakraborty, Mridula Nath and MacCarter, Kent (2016) [http://cordite.org.au/content/poetry/dalit-indigenous/ Issue 55.1: Dalit Indian and Indigenous Australian] ''Cordite Poetry Review'', full issue in translation.
* Dangle, Arjun (1992) Ed. ''[https://books.google.com/books/about/Poisoned_Bread.html?id=jKy28jPKZhEC Poisoned Bread: Translations from Modern Marathi Dalit Literature]''. Hyderabad: Orient Longman.
* Dasan, M. Pratibha, V. Chandrika, C.S. and Pradeepan Pampirikunnu (2012) Eds. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=5b-hpwAACAAJ&dq=The+Oxford+Anthology+of+Tamil+Dalit+Writing&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CCIQ6wEwAWoVChMImoCh0-7YxgIVlQOOCh2NMAuA The Oxford India Anthology of Malayalam Dalit Writing]'', OUP India
* Dutta, Angana and Sarangi, Jaydeep (2015) Trans. Eds. ''Surviving in My world: Growing up Dalit in Bengal''. Kolkata: Stree-Samya.
* Sarangi, Jaydeep Ed. "Stories of Social Awakening:Jatin Bala", Authorspress, New Delhi, 2017
* Franco, Fernando, Macwan, Jyotsna & Ramanathan, Suguna (2004) ''Journeys to Freedom: Dalit Narratives''. Bombay: Popular Prakashan. {{ISBN|81-85604-65-7}}, {{ISBN|978-81-85604-65-7}}.
* [[Sharankumar Limbale|Limbale, Sharankumar]]. (2004) ''Towards an Aesthetic of Dalit Literature'' Orient Longman. {{ISBN|81-250-2656-8}}.
*Gonsalves, Roanna (2016) [http://cordite.org.au/interviews/gonsalves-anand/ We Need to Talk about Caste: Roanna Gonsalves Interviews S Anand] ''Cordite Poetry Review''
* Manohar, D.Murali (2013) Ed.''Critical Essays on Dalit Literature''. New Delhi: Atlantic. {{ISBN|9788126917846}}.
* Manohar, D.Murali (2013) Ed. ''Dalit Hindu Narratives'', New Delhi: Global, 2013. {{ISBN|9788189630799}}
* Prasad, Amar Nath and Gaijan, M.B. (2007) ''Dalit Literature : A Critical Exploration''. {{ISBN|81-7625-817-2}}.
* Purushotham, K. (2013) Trans. and Ed. ''Black Lilies: Telugu Dalit Poetry'' New Delhi: Critical Quest.
*[[Ravikumar (writer)|Ravikumar]] and Azhagarasan, R (2012) Eds. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=ZIfluQAACAAJ&dq=The+Oxford+Anthology+of+Tamil+Dalit+Writing&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CBwQ6AEwAGoVChMImoCh0-7YxgIVlQOOCh2NMAuA The Oxford Anthology of Tamil Dalit Writing].'' New Delhi: OUP India. {{ISBN|978-0-19-807938-5}}
* [[Ravikumar (writer)|Ravikumar]] (2009) ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=vjLvPQAACAAJ&dq=Venomous+Touch:+Notes+on+Caste,+Culture+and+Politics&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CBwQ6AEwAGoVChMI0LjFre7YxgIVg3OOCh3oCA3A Venomous Touch: Notes on Caste, Culture and Politics].'' Calcutta: Samaya
* [[K. Satyanarayana (academic)|Satyanarayana, K]] & [[Susie Tharu|Tharu, Susie]] (2011) ''No Alphabet in Sight: New Dalit Writing from South Asia, Dossier 1: Tamil and Malayalam'', New Delhi: Penguin Books.
* [[K. Satyanarayana (academic)|Satyanarayana, K]] & [[Susie Tharu|Tharu, Susie]] (2013) ''From those Stubs Steel Nibs are Sprouting: New Dalit Writing from South Asia, Dossier 2: Kannada and Telugu'', New Delhi: HarperCollins India.
* Satyanarayana, K and Tharu, Susie (2013). ''The Exercise of Freedom: An Introduction to Dalit Writing''. New Delhi: Navayana. p. 21. {{ISBN|9788189059613}}.
* Uma, Alladi. Rani, K. Suneetha. and Manohar, D. Murali. (2014) Eds. ''English in the Dalit Context''. New Delhi: OrientBlackswan.
* Sarangi, Jaydeep , "An Interview with Arjun Dangle",<ref>{{cite web|last1=Dangle|first1=Arjun|title=An Interview with Arjun Dangle|url=http://www.setumag.com/2017/01/arjun-dangle-in-conversation-with.html}}</ref>''Setu'', [[United States]].
* Sarangi, Jaydeep, "Dalit Feminist Activist Writes Back: Bama Faustina in Conversation with Jaydeep Sarangi"<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bama|title=Dalit Feminist Activist Writes Back: Bama Faustina in Conversation with Jaydeep Sarangi|url=https://journals.flinders.edu.au/index.php/wic/article/view/28/30}}</ref> ''Writers in Conversation'', [[Australia]]
* Sarangi, Jaydeep, "In Conversation with Kapilkrishna Thakur",<ref>{{cite web|last1=Thakur|title=In Conversation with Kapilkrishna Thakur|url=https://journals.flinders.edu.au/index.php/wic/article/view/27/32}}</ref> ''Writers in Conversation'', [[Australia]]
* Shalin Maria Lawrence (2019) ''Vadachennaikkaari: Urban Dalit Literature''. a mixed genre essays: Chennai. {{ISBN|978-93-87636-25-5}}.

==References==
{{reflist}}Manohar, D.Murali. Priesthood: Theorizing Mala/Vaishnava Dasari's Life, Culture and History. New Delhi: Serials, 2016.
____. Dalit Literature: A Pedagogic Discourse. New Delhi: Serials, 2016.

==External links==
* [http://www.thehindu.com/books/literary-review/the-doctor-and-the-saint/article5740369.ece Excerpt from Arundhati Roy's essay, "The Doctor and the Saint"]
* [http://www.outlookindia.com/article/we-need-ambedkarnow-urgently/289691 We Need Ambedkar Now: Arundhati Roy Interview]
*The Telegraph, https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/wretched-writing-212920
* Voice of Dalit: https://www.amazon.in/Dalit-Voice-Literature-Sharankumar-Limbale/dp/B079DM7YRN
* https://www.justicenews.co.in/through-the-ceiling-of-silences/
* https://www.getbengal.com/home/story_detail/is-there-dalit-literature-in-bangla

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dalit Literature}}
[[Category:Dalit literature| ]]
[[Category:Indian literature]]
[[Category:Literature by topic]]

Dalit literature - Revision history

2405:201:D00E:C034:3097:AAC4:1AD2:2477 at 03:48, 3 July 2021