Bama's Karukku: A Tale of Resistance and Struggle

<p>Dalits have a history of experiencing all<br>forms of prejudice and humiliation<br>because of their caste and socio-economic<br>standing. With the passage of time, the<br>majority of Dalits are resisting the<br>restrictions placed on them by society.<br>They are asking for justice and equality<br>that have previously been withheld from<br>them. Many Dalits use literature as a<br>means of expressing their protest against<br>the biasness of the upper-castes. Bama has<br>been regarded as one of them who is using<br>her pen to combat prejudice. With her<br>autobiography, Karukku, Bama began her<br>literary career. This autobiography is<br>considered as the first autobiography of<br>Bama, a Dalit lady from Tamil. The<br>author has provided an accurate portrayal<br>of the societal and economic way of life of<br>Dalit community in Karukku. Bama aimed<br>to raise awareness of Dalits' suffering and<br>resistance so that those who choose to<br>ignore their situation will be inspired to<br>fight against the barbaric practices of caste<br>discrimination. Hence, this paper will deal<br>with the study of Bama's Karukku as a<br>testament to the suffering and subsequent<br>struggle of Bama as a Dalit, as a Dalit<br>woman among Dalits, as a Dalit Christian<br>and other Dalit women against the ills of<br>the Indian caste system</p>