Untouchability in Dalit Autobiographies

தலித் தன் வரலாற்றுப் புதினங்களில் 'தீண்டாமை

Abstract

From ancient times, religious-based notions of purity have been preserved, and caste-based social groups have employed sophisticated means to maintain their social status and religious authority. One such means is the "Ovvaakkulam" system, which leads to social practices of "untouchability" and exclusion imposed upon Dalit communities.

This article explores the social atrocities related to untouchability experienced by Dalits through two Dalit autobiographies, "Karukku" (1994) and "Kalakkal" (1994). These novels reveal the various social dimensions of discrimination faced by Dalits.

In "Karukku," Bama exposes the social oppression and caste-based discrimination faced by Dalit women, including police atrocities, sexual violence, labor exploitation, and exclusion from social functions and festivals. The narrative reflects the lived experiences of Dalit women and the ongoing social injustices they face.

"Kalakkal" similarly portrays the resilience of Dalit women laborers in agrarian settings and unveils the systemic social oppressions related to caste and gender.

Together, these autobiographies contribute significantly to Dalit literature, offering insight into both caste and gender-based systemic discrimination in Tamil society.