Mainstream, and Dalit Literature in Women's Perspective

This paper explores the different portrayals of women in Dalit, and mainstream Indian literature, with an emphasis on how these stories highlight the particular challenges faced by Dalit women. Women’s experiences are often marginalized or oversimplified in mainstream literature, which is usually influenced by upper-caste viewpoints and presents them through a patriarchal prism that ignores the challenges of caste-based discrimination. On the other hand, Dalit literature provides a trustworthy depiction of the twofold dominance Dalit women face as they negotiate the intersections of caste and gender, primarily through the voices of female authors like Bama and Baby Kamble. These accounts reveal the cultural, societal, and individual struggles Dalit women encounter, emphasizing problems including social exclusion, economic inequality, and widespread abuse. By examining various literary traditions, the study promotes a more inclusive portrayal in literature and highlights the value of intersectionality in comprehending women’s perspectives. It highlights how important Dalit women’s voices are in changing descriptions and advancing more general conversations about social justice, identity, and resistance in Indian society.