‘Our slave work is done, our slave bonds are gone’: detangling the sonic layers of Dalit Christian experiences in post- abolition Kerala

This paper examines the soundscape of caste slavery in Kerala, with a particular emphasis on the Dalit Christian experience following Protestant missionary interventions in Kerala. During the nineteenth century, the everyday soundscape of Dalits in Kerala was intrinsically entangled with their socio-religious and cultural experiences of life within a deeply oppressive and antagonistic, hierarchical, caste-based society. Within this soundscape, one could find resonances of both humiliation and dehumanisation as well as reverberances of active resistance and dignity-affirming resilience. The sounds of slavery encompass not only the songs but also the auditory imprints of labour in the fields, lullabies of enslaved mothers, the wails of separated families, the stories shared by elders, and the collective sounds of worship and protest. These unforgettable sounds transformed everyday experiences into living auditory expressions of resilience and suffering. By reconstituting the auditory environment of slavery's hitherto overlooked soundscape, this paper seeks to explore the intricate relationship between sound, voice, noise, and silence as mediums for articulating the lived realities of enslaved individuals. By investigating the relationship between sound and enslavement, this study highlights how the sonic imprints of oppression, resistance, and faith continue to resonate within the historical consciousness of Dalit Christian communities in Kerala.