The Life Struggles of Dalit Communities in the Novel Thottiyin Magan

'தோட்டியின் மகன்" நாவலில் தலித் மக்களின் வாழ்வியல் சிக்கல்கள்

Abstract

Human society has been divided by caste, religion, community, and language. In the contemporary world, loving one’s fellow human beings often remains mechanical rather than genuine. Across India, religious conflicts and caste-based discrimination have persisted over time. These social structures have historically subjugated Dalit communities, keeping them in a state of oppression. Oppressed communities endure numerous hardships and burdens while living their daily lives. Issues such as their livelihood, economy, land ownership, political power, resistance against caste-based atrocities, protests against practices like double murders, and the oppression of women continue to manifest in society. These events were addressed through movements led by leaders like Thanthai Periyar, the anti-caste initiatives of the Dravidian movement, campaigns against blind beliefs, demands for social justice and economic rights, and the establishment of public welfare organizations. Such movements provided a strong foundation for the emergence of Dalit literature in Tamil. In modern literature, feminism and Dalit consciousness serve as two primary lenses. Dalit literary movements first took root in Marathi, later in Kannada, before emerging in Tamil. The first notable Tamil Dalit literary work is Kakkaa Chinnapparathin Kathaigal. The aim of this article is to examine the social conditions of Dalit communities and the life struggles they continue to face as depicted in the novel Thottiyin Magan.