Chitransha Singh- Week 6

UNTOUCHABLE TO DALIT

This week I would be summarizing a chapter from Untouchable to Dalit. Just like the black women were compared to the lower-class women in India in Feminist theory, similarly the Dalit movement in India is compared with the American Black Panthers and Dalit literature. Certain similarities can be seen like the word Black, in order to embrace their culture with pride while drawing the sardonic tone to it, gave themselves the word the Marathi word ‘Dalit’. It showcased their unity, acceptance to their culture. 

Even in the press, in The 1970s, Dalits gained popularity and were called Dalit Panthers. Dalit writers and poets also identified themselves with the Black literature and movement, therefore, they were greatly interested in their literature and culture. Janardhan Waghmare wrote on the similarities between Blacks and Dalits and the torturous treatment was given to them by their own country.

There is also a comparison drawn in the Book between the experiences written by them and written on them, there is a lack of emotion and better words to explain their life. Namdeo Dhasal, who was an enigmatic and radical poet he remained on the Marathi poetry side whereas it was referred to as unrefined. The Poem ‘Harlem’ uses the reference of the word Black. Though similarities were drawn between the Blacks and Dalits, the Dalit community started believing in their movement only after they saw the success of the Black community in America.