Language and Power in Sharankumar Limbale’s Akkarmashi: A Foucauldian Reading

Abstract

This paper explores the relationship between language and power in the autobiographical novel Akkarmashi by Sharankumar Limbale through a Foucauldian analysis. The study investigates how language functions as a tool of power to control and manipulate individuals and communities in the context of caste-based discrimination in India. The study is guided by Michel Foucault’s theories on power and discourse, which emphasize the ways in which language is used to exert control over individuals and shape societal norms. The paper examines the use of language in the novel to reinforce caste-based power dynamics and perpetuate social hierarchies. Through a close analysis of the text, the study uncovers the ways in which language is used to marginalize and stigmatize individuals belonging to lower castes. It also explores how language is used as a means of resistance by the marginalized communities in the book. The paper argues that the novel exposes the power imbalances embedded in language use, and highlights the need to challenge dominant discourses that perpetuate social inequalities. It also underscores the significance of empowering marginalized voices to contest hegemonic power structures.