https://www.dalitsolidarity.org/dalits-and-untoucchability.html
The website above provides a brief description of the history and reality of Dalit life in India. Dalits have not been considered a part of the Hindu caste system (social hierarchy) in India- in fact, they have been considered “outcastes”. Dalits still face certain types of discrimination, and were formerly known as “untouchables” as the above website explains.
Here is a video interview about poet Namdeo Dhasal, whose wife Malika Amar Shaikh explains his poetic ventures and inspirations as well as his ideologies around the caste system. Dhasal was a poet who wrote about the difficulties that came along with being a Dalit during his lifetime.
Some of Namdeo Dhasal’s translated work can be found on The Penn State University Libraries database. Follow the links below to read some of his material.
An article written by Namdeo Dhasal about his poetry and political ideology entitled “Namdeo on Namdeo”:
A selection of Dhasal’s poems from the article “Untouchable Themes”:
- Dalit Solidarity. (2016). Dalits and untouchability. Retrieved from https://www.dalitsolidarity.org/dalits-and-untoucchability.html
- Dhasal, N. & Chitre, D. (2014). Namdeo on Namdeo. Indian Literature, 58(1), 34-44.
- Dhasal, N. & Chitre, D. (2005). Untouchable themes. Indian Literature, 49(1), 8-14.
- Jiwani, S. (2018). In search of Namdeo Dhasal. Retrieved from https://www.sahapedia.org/search-of-namdeo-dhasal
- Jiwani, S. & Sawant, S. [Sahapedia]. (2015, October 28). Literature and languages: On Namdeo Dhasal- An interview with Malika Amar Shaikh [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZCTlJwz1KY