Parnika Jain Week 5

Week 5
Parnika Jain

Vaibhav Singh points out the use of autobiography as a tool to stir emotions amongst people, incite them and make them understand the author’s lived body experience. One common critique that Dalit writers talk against is the Varn Vyastha, that has forced their group to live in such dire conditions. Something that is still used as a sanction to deny them of their basic rights. They bring forth the difficulties their group has lived through. The cruel instances of untouchability they have faced since their childhood. Even if they are given the opportunity of education they are treated differently than the other students. Forced to do menial jobs. He reiterates Om Prakash Valmiki’s incident in school where he was forced to climb the tree, pluck the branches and forced to clean the grounds of the school. For years they have done labour, like manual scavenging, pick up dead animal carcasses. They talk about how your name decides your profession. Other names like Kacharya which means dirt and Dhondya which means stones. How the Manusmriti prescribes a list of names for the Shudras. Balute refers to the village harvest which they would receive in return for all the menial jobs they did throughout the day. Daya Pawar, remarks that even though he attained education it did not change the reality, but he will not let his past guide his future. 

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