The Dalit Identity: Interrogating Dalit Literature and the need for Dalit Women’s Autobiography

The need for a Dalit feminist position is deeply rooted in the structural and generational experience of discrimination that Dalit women face—both within and outside the broader Dalit movement and Indian feminism. As Bama Faustina Susairaj highlights, the Dalit identity carries a stigma that persists regardless of social mobility, education, or professional success. Dalit women, in particular, experience layers of oppression: they are marginalized not only within the broader caste hierarchy but also within their own communities and religious institutions, as seen in Bama’s experiences inside the Christian convent. This reinforces the argument that Dalitness is not just a category—it is an ongoing, deeply embedded institution shaped by multiple factors like geography, language, socioeconomic status, religion, and gender. Mainstream Indian feminism, often dominated by upper-caste voices, has historically failed to address the unique struggles of Dalit women, assuming a universal experience of womanhood that ignores caste-based oppression. Similarly, Dalit politics, while focused on caste liberation, has not always prioritized gender-specific issues within Dalit communities. This makes a separate Dalit feminist position crucial: it acknowledges that Dalit women’s voices, lived realities, and activism must be recognized independently to challenge both caste and gender oppression. A Dalit feminist perspective ensures that the intricate and intersectional nature of discrimination is addressed, rather than being overshadowed by broader feminist or Dalit movements. It is a necessary stand against caste patriarchy, making space for empowerment and visibility in a system where Dalit women are often erased or sidelined. With this perspective in mind this paper assays the need for a Dalit Feminist Position and in respect to it the place that Dalit feminist literature in general and Dalit women’s autobiographies in particular hold in that arena.