http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Kiln-workers-poison-dogs/articleshow/10863743.cms
Mainstream push to dalit writings at UGC-backed Kolkata seminar to
showcase power of dalit pen
Ankita Chaudhuri, TNN | Nov 25, 2011, 05.47AM IST
KOLKATA: Samaresh Basu, Sunil Gangopadhyay, Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay,
Suchitra Bhattacharya - these are writers that generations of Bengalis
have grown up with. But there is literature beyond this league of
extraordinary authors, too - like Anil Gharai, Mahitosh Biswas and
Kalyani Thakur Charal. Coming from dalit families, these writers
concentrate on dalit society that has, in recent times, been brought
into focus by identity politics. Now, as dalit writings find their way
into the literary mainstream and consciousness, a city college has
decided to showcase dalit writings in English during a two-day seminar
on November 29 and 30.
"Dalits have never got a platform to speak of their experiences or
voice their anger," says Manohar Mouli Biswas, writer and editor of
'Dalit Mirror', a bi-monthly English magazine. He feels the seminar
will help take dalit writings to more people. "Even a few years back,
I had no takers for such writings and was turned down by publishers. I
started Dalit Mirror around 1987 to provide a platform for the
oppressed sections of the society." The seminar, on "Writing as
Resistance: Bengali and other Dalit writings in English", has been
Jogesh Chandra Chaudhuri college in collaboration with Bangla Dalit
Sahitya Sanstha and is sponsored by the UGC. The event will see
writers and scholars come from various parts of the country present
their works and speak extensively on dalit writings.
Champa Ghosal, head of the college's English department, said, "Dalit
writings have been neglected for long in academics, with Barasat State
University being the exception. Our aim is to focus on dalit writing,
which is an integral part of literature but is conspicuous by its
absence from the syllabus in our state."
Shipra Mukherjee, associate professor of English, West Bengal State
University, said it was time dalit writings found space in grand
narratives. "Civic society can't move forward if the marginalized
sections are ignored," she added.
Dalits are increasingly coming together to expose the atrocities they
face. The anger manifests itself through powerful writings and
autobiographical essays. Though dalit writing in Indian languages have
flourished over the years, the shift to English is a recent
phenomenon. That has led to a spurt in interest in dalit literature,
and consequently, more demand, according to publishing major Oxford
University Press.
"Dalit literature in India is structurally alternative to models
prescribed by traditional Hindu aesthetics precisely because it is the
literature of sociological oppression and economic exploitation. Dalit
literature is essentially a shock to the so-called traditional senses.
It is an assault on the anthropomorphic practice of casteism in India.
A sound piece of Dalit literature is that which is militant in
texture," said Dalit critic and assisstant English professor Jaydeep
Sarangi.
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