Author: Sumon Roy
Abstract: This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the struggle of identity in Bama’s Sangati (1994; trans. 2005), a landmark text in Dalit feminist literature. Through its unique structure of anecdotes, oral traditions, and collective storytelling, Sangati amplifies the voices of Dalit women who face the dual oppression of caste and gender. The text critiques entrenched patriarchal and caste hierarchies while simultaneously celebrating resilience, solidarity, and everyday acts of resistance. Central to Bama’s narrative is the role of education as a transformative force, enabling women to move beyond inherited oppression and assert dignity, autonomy, and agency. By foregrounding subaltern women’s lived experiences, the study situates Sangati within the broader frameworks of Dalit studies, feminist criticism, and postcolonial literature. It argues that Bama’s work serves not only as testimony but also as a manifesto for social change, linking literature with identity politics and activism.
Keywords: Dalit Feminism, Identity Struggle, Bama, Sangati, Empowerment.
Page No: 100-104