Reinterpreting History from the Margins: Dalit Identity in Annihilation of Caste and Joothan

Abstract The important role Dalit literature plays in rewriting Indian history from the periphery is examined in this scholarly work. The paper demonstrates how Dalit identity functions as a potent site of resistance to prevailing caste narratives and historical erasure through a close reading of Omprakash Valmiki's Joothan and B. R. Ambedkar's Annihilation of Caste. According to the study, these texts actively reconstruct an alternative historiography focused on equality, justice, and dignity rather than merely documenting political or personal grievances. The paper further explores how Dalit voices rethink India's socio-political environment by integrating academic frameworks like counter-memory and subaltern studies.