Author: Rony Bhowal & Prof. Rama Kant Sharma
Abstract: Dalit literature has emerged as a powerful medium of resistance against caste-based oppression and social exclusion in India. Within this framework, Dalit women’s writing occupies a unique space as it foregrounds the intersection of caste and gender, revealing the layered experiences of marginalization. This paper explores the writings of Bama, one of the most prominent Dalit feminist voices in Indian literature, with a focus on her seminal works Karukku, Sangati, and Vanmam. Through a critical analysis grounded in intersectionality and subaltern studies, the study examines how Bama articulates the lived realities of Dalit women, exposing the dual oppression of caste and patriarchy. The paper argues that Bama’s narratives not only challenge dominant literary discourses but also redefine the contours of identity, agency, and resistance. By centering everyday experiences, oral traditions, and collective memory, her works contribute to the development of a distinct Dalit feminist epistemology. The study concludes that Bama’s writings serve as both a testimony of suffering and a manifesto of empowerment, offering transformative insights into the struggle for dignity and social justice.
Keywords: Dalit Women, Intersectionality, Bama, Caste, Gender, Resistance.
Page No: 188-193