Education as Empowerment: Analyzing OMPrakash Valmiki’s Joothan through Paulo Freire's Critical Pedagogy"

This paper explores Joothan by Omprakash Valmiki through the lens of Paulo Freire’s critical pedagogy, emphasizing education as a transformative force for the oppressed. Valmiki’s autobiographical narrative reveals how caste-based discrimination in Indian society suppresses Dalit identity and limits access to equitable education. By applying Freire’s concepts of conscientization and dialogical education, the study highlights how Valmiki’s pursuit of knowledge becomes an act of resistance and self-empowerment. The paper argues that education, when rooted in critical awareness, can challenge hegemonic structures and become a tool for social justice and liberation for marginalized communities.