Marginalization of Outcaste Untouchables in Fiction: A Study of Selected Works

Outcaste untouchables in India have been subjected to centuries of oppression and discrimination by upper-caste Hindus. ‘Although the government of India passed legislation known as “The Scheduled Castes…. The Prevention of Atrocities Act 1989” (2014), they are considered ritually polluting and are denied fundamental rights to education, freedom of movement, and access to justice’ (Mayell, 2003). The paper aims to discuss the marginalized untouchable communities, euphemistically called Dalits, in Indian Anglophone fiction from the Dalit discourse perspective. Literary works such as Sea of Poppies (2008), Untouchable (1935), and The God of Small Things (1997), have depicted the dehumanizing treatment Untouchables are exposed to within the caste system. This study is qualitative research. Through a keen study of these selected works, research papers, and theories related to the untouchables and caste system such as Ambedkarism and Subaltern studies, it is highlighted that Dalits are often forced to live in squalor, work in difficult situations for menial jobs, and are vulnerable to violence and abuse. The findings highlight the ongoing marginalization of Dalits, who endure disproportionate poverty, hazardous labor, and systemic violence. Despite India's modernization, Dalits face discrimination across various demographic factors, underscoring the urgent need for social justice and equity measures.