Challenging the Societal Barriers: A Dalit Feminist Reading of Urmila Pawar’s Select Short Stories

Abstract

Feminism, a social and political movement, promotes gender equality and dismantles oppressive structures that uphold discrimination and inequality against women. In order to build an egalitarian society for all genders, it strives to fight against patriarchal conventions, stereotypes, and power structures. Dalit feminism addresses the experiences, struggles, and empowerment of Dalit women in the broader aspect of feminism. It focuses on the intersectionality of caste, gender, and class. By giving voice to the experiences of Dalit women and challenging the prevailing narratives and power structures in Indian society, the writings of Urmila Pawar aid in defending the rights and welfare of Dalit women and in creating a more inclusive and equitable society. With particular reference to Urmila Pawar’s short stories, such as “Mother”(Aaye), “The Odd One” (Vegli), and “Justice” (Nyay), the paper intends to analyze how Dalit women challenge various social and cultural barriers in the male-dominated society. The paper also illustrates how Dalit women are doubly marginalized and oppressed in terms of gender and caste. The paper explores how Dalit women assert their identity and agency in various spheres of their lives in the patriarchal society.