Volume : 8, Issue : 4, APR 2022

DALIT VOICES AND THE POLITICS OF REPRESENTATION: A STUDY OF OMPRAKASH VALMIKI’S JOOTHAN

DR. RAJENDRA KUMAR

Abstract

This research paper examines the politics of representation in Joothan: A Dalit’s Life by Omprakash Valmiki, positioning the text as a foundational work in Dalit autobiographical literature that challenges dominant caste narratives in India. The study is grounded in the premise that representation is not merely a literary concern but a deeply political act shaped by structures of power, exclusion, and social hierarchy. Within the Indian context, where caste has historically determined access to voice, dignity, and cultural participation, Dalit narratives emerge as critical interventions that disrupt hegemonic discourse and reclaim marginalized subjectivity.  Through the lived experiences of the author, the narrative exposes the normalized practices of untouchability, humiliation, and systemic discrimination that pervade everyday life. The concept of “joothan” (leftover food) operates as a central metaphor that encapsulates both material deprivation and symbolic degradation. It reflects how Dalits have been historically relegated to the margins of society, denied not only economic resources but also social respect and human dignity. By foregrounding such experiences, Valmiki transforms the autobiographical form into a site of resistance and socio-political critique.

Keywords

DALIT LITERATURE, CASTE SYSTEM, REPRESENTATION, IDENTITY, OPPRESSION, RESISTANCE, AUTOBIOGRAPHY, SOCIAL JUSTICE, SUBALTERN STUDIES, OMPRAKASH VALMIKI, JOOTHAN (DALAVAI, 2021).

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Article No : 21

Number of Downloads : 25

References

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