Exploring Dalit Experiences A Comparative Study of the Autobiographical Narratives of Balbir Madhopuri Tulsi Ram Sharankumar Limbale and Siddalingaiah

Abstract

Dalits have been regarded and perceived inferior and substandard within the wisely constructed hierarchical society in which caste controls the behaviour pattern of the subjects. This research tries to explore the marginalisation, oppression, and exploitation of Dalits in Indian social set-up by undertaking the comparative analysis of autobiographical narratives of Balbir Madhopuri, Tulsi Ram, Sharankumar Limbale and Siddalingaiah. The selected four writers represent contemporary Dalits of the different geographical locations Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka respectively. Being the representative of Dalits, these authors deal with the cause of Dalits in their literary creations. They voice against the victimisation of subjugated Dalits into the diverse socio-cultural locations. The research interrogates social and cultural norms in different episodes of selected autobiographies and use the personal experience of writers to expose the discrimination and subjugation of Dalits. A thematic approach from Dalit perspective has been adopted for this study. The research probe into the positioning of Dalits in hierarchical structure and how the basic rights are violated. The study comprehensively exhibits the effort of the writers to create new space using education as the mean for upward mobility. newline