The Doubly Marginalized Self in 20th Century Dalit Autobiographies

Abstract

This paper situates the genre of autobiography in the context of Indian society, which is divided on the basis of caste, lowest among them being Dalits. The two Dalit autobiographies discussed in the paper are Surajpal Chauhan’s Tiraskrit and Kausalya Baisantri’s Dohra Abhishaap. The idea of a divided Dalit community is explored through a reading of these narratives as both of them represent the margin within the marginal Dalit community. Chauhan’s narrative explores the caste divide within the socially discriminated Dalit community, and Baisantri explores the issue of obliteration of Dalit women’s voice in Indian society, even within the Dalit community. Both the narratives are voicing issues pertinent to the Dalit community, thus emerging as a socially and politically informed self that is no longer marginal.