Surviving in My World: An Assertion of Dalit Identity

Abstract

The tradition of questioning Brahmanical hegemony and the endeavour amongst Dalits to construct an identity of their own has a prolonged and rich history and reminds us of the post-colonial identity politics. The search for identity makes the Dalits fight against every form of discrimination. In order to give vent to dissent and to formulate Dalit identity, autobiography plays a seminal role. The autobiographies focus on the struggle of the people inhabiting the fringes of the society and their courage to fight against all odds that come their way. This article focuses on Surviving in My World: Growing up Dalit in Bengal, the English translation of Bangla Dalit writer and activist Manohar Mouli Biswas’ autobiography, Amar Bhubane Ami Benche Thaki, where the writer-activist does not only depict a world of deprivation and discrimination, but delineates a world saturated with love, care and joy for each other. The article tries to find out how irrespective of insufferable exploitation and humiliation the Dalits retain their positivity and reclaim their identity with the dignity and glory of human beings.