VIOLENCE IN OMPRAKASH VALMIKI’S : JOOTHAN

Synopsis submitted to the Gondwana University, Gadchiroli for the degree of

Master of Philosophy in English in the faculty of Arts.

By

SMITA W. MUNDAFALE

Supervisor

Dr. P.D. Nimsarkar

Principal

Vanshri, College, Korchi

Dist. Gadchiroli – 441208

YEAR 2017 – 2018

 CONTENTS

 GENERAL INTRODUCTION
 NATURE AND SCOPE
 AIM AND OBJECTIVES
 PLAN OF WORK
 METHODOLOGY
 HYPOTHESIS

 SCHEME OF CHAPTER :
CHAPTER I : INTRODUCTION : DALIT AUTOBIOGRAPHY
CHAPTER II : VIOLENCE IN ‘JOOTHAN’
CHAPTER III : MALE AND FEMALE CHARACTERS
CHAPTER IV : CONCLUSION

 BIBLIOGRAPHY
ONE – A) PRIMARY SOURCES
TWO – B) SECONDARY SOURCES
 VIOLENCE IN OMPRAKASH VALMIKI’S : JOOTHAN

GENERAL INTRODUCTION :

Every literature is the product of times. It is about the people, their experience
in the society of which it is an integral part.

The word ‘’Dalit’’ literary means “Oppressed”. It is used as a synonym for

“untouchable”. It was first used by Jyothi Rao Phule, the champion of backward
classes in the 19th century.

In recent times Dalit literature has become a new genre. Dalit literature is the
literature of the Dalits, by the Dalits and for the Dalits. Apparently it was used in the
1930s as a Hindi and Marathi translation of ‘depressed classes’ a term the British used
for what are now called the scheduled castes. It is a symbol of change and revolution.

Dalit literature emerged in the 1960s, starting with Marathi language and soon
appeared in Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Bangla and Tamil language.

Omprakash Valmiki was an Indian Dalit writer and poet well known for his
autobiography. He was born in the village of in the Muzzafarnagar as Barla on June
30th 1950.

Besides Joothan Valmiki published three collection of Poetry. Sadiyon ka

Santaap, Bas! Bahut ho Chuka and Ab Aur Nahin. He also wrote two collections of
short stories, Salaam and Ghuspaithiye. In addition, he wrote Dalit Sahitya Ka
Saundaryshaastr and a history of the Valmiki community, Safai Devata, Do chera
(a play).

Joothan, considered a milestone in Dalit literature, In his novel Joothan he

talked about discrimination they had to face in the society at different points. Valmiki
describes his life as an untouchable or Dalit in the newly independent India of the
1950.

Joothan : An untouchable’s life is a famous autobiography of Omprakash

Valmiki, In 1993, It was originally published as an eassay. “Ek Dalit Ki Atmakatha”
in Marathi language in book Harijan se Dalit. Arun Prabha Mukherjee professor of
English, York university Toronto translated Joothan into English during 1997-2002.
Joothan encapsulated the pain of poverty, humiliation, and the atrocities on Dalits.

NATURE AND SCOPE :-

Valmiki highlights the rigidity of the caste system India that has resulted in the
socio-economic oppression. He encapsulated the pain, the humiliations and the
poverty of untouchable. The nature of autobiographies is transparent and inclusive It’s
present the real life experiences, but it goes beyond the life of the writer.

The present research study in co-operates only one autobiographical novel of

the Dalit novelist. This novel is Omprakash Valmiki’s Joothan : A Dalit life the novel
provides enough scope to study it as a social documents. Such study has not been
document such study has not been taken up for critical analysis so for.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES :-

In “Joothan” Valmiki talks about the cast discrimination, economic

deprivation, violence and quest for identity. He was staunch follower of Dr. B.R.
Ambedkar’s ideology and thoughts being a Dalit activist.

The present research aims to explore the novelist’s approach to major theme
such as quest for identify, castism and discrimination, males and female experience.

The objective of the present research is to investigate these aspect in detail.

PLAN OF WORK :-

 Collection of resources both primary and secondary.

 Arranging and compiling the data.
 Evaluating and analyzing the detail.
 Critical analysis of the work.
  Arrangements of the chapter scheme.
 Follow up accordingly.

METHODOLOGY :-

Reading and analyzing the original text of the novel will be supporting by the
secondary sources in the form of criticism. The critical essay, journals, and other
reputed magazines would be used to interpret texts.

HYPOTHESIS :-

The present work hypothesizes that the themes such as quest for identify,
mens and womens experiences throughout the autobiographical novel. The present
autobiographical novel of omprakash contribution to the Dalit literature in particulars
and Indian writing in English.

SCHEME OF CHAPTER

The present research study will be divided into following chapters.

Chapter I :- Introduction : Dalit Autobiography

Chapter II :- Violence In ‘Joothan’

Chapter III :- Male and Female characters

Chapter IV :- Conclusion

CHAPTER I :- INTRODUCTION : DALIT AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Autobiography has been a favourite genre of Dalit writers. Omprakash

Valmiki describes his life as an untouchable, or Dalit in the newly independent India
of the 1950s. “Joothan” refers to scraps of food left on a plate, destined for the
garbage or animal. Dalits continued to face discrimination, economic deprivation,
violence. It potrays the struggle between Chuhra (Dalit) and upper caste Tagas of
Barla.

‘Dalit writers should write autobiographies so that not only our history will
stay alive, but also our true portrayals of wrongdoers. Dalit autobiographies will
provide inspiration to our future generations.’ (Valmiki : 20)

II) VIOLENCE IN JOOTHAN :-

Joothan is considered as a epic of the Dalits sufferings. Dalit undergo the

experience of insult, humiliation, psychological and physical violence and ultimately
a sense of alienation from the main stream society.

It potrays the struggle between chuhra (Dlait) and upper cast Tagas of Barla. It
explored the injustice of narrator at village, school, government, offices. However it is
sum up the pain and poverty of Dalits.

Valmiki has recored many bitter experiences which he had to face during his
childhood and youth. Simply, he experienced the social, physical and psychological
violence in his life.

As an individual a dalit cannot forget his past. The dalit people had to suffer
because of the poverty. They had to tolerate a lot. They got maltreatment from the
upper casts people.

Dalit people were poor and lived in the basti and had no means to earn proper
bread for their children. They had their own identity as poor, weak and dirty men and
had no respect in society. All of them worked hard, yet they couldn’t get two decent
meals day. Most often they had no payment for their work. Due to their lowly social
position they were often abused by the upper castes.

The experience at the school, described the cruelty of teacher and follow
students Headmaster kaliram openly abused in the classroom and often beaten up as
well. Dalit children were not allowed to drink water from the glasses. He says that the
Chuhras were not seen as human being but considered low them dogs, cats, cows or
buffaloes.

Valmiki and his friend were invited to go to the teacher’s house to take some
grain. The elders offered the meal. As soon as they finished their meal, they were
asked a questions. Which revealed their identity and then they were tied with rope to
the tree. The people of the upper class behaved with them as they have raped an upper
class girl.

Valmiki passed his seventh. He was top four students tyaga’s son Brajesh said
to Valmiki -

‘You will remain a Chuhre.’

‘Caste’ is a important element of Indian Society. It’s describes how these

people are subject to an institutional slavery. The dalits continued to face
discrimination economic deprivation, violence and ridicule.

III) MALE AND FEMALE EXPERIENCES :-

Omprakash Valmiki’s - “Joothan” is about the journey of a Dalit family

struggling for education and status in society.

Valmiki is central character in the novel struggle for an education begins. He

belongs to Chuhra community Being a Dalit child, he was tortured and abused
everywhere in society But he was fortunate enough to be born in household where
everyone loved and cared for him.

The novel is dedicated to his mother and father, His father’s name was Chotan
Lal both potrayed as heroic figure. Valmiki father’s ambitions for his son are evident
in the nick name Munshiji, that he gives Valmiki.

An incident in the novel, where he was made to sweep the playground of the
school by the head master. His father always stood by Valmiki. Valmiki’s father
always desires something better for his children and fight for their safety and growth
with tremendous courage. He always stands by Valmiki and tells him that he should
always do what he desires.

It is the desire of the Valmiki’s father to make his son educated he does not
want that his son should receive the same treatment as he has got in his life. Valmiki’s
father who struggles hard to get admission for his son to school.

Some minor male character are come in the novel. Such as Sevak Ram Masihi,
a Christian teacher. Master Harphool singh and Headmaster Kaliram. Kaliram openly
abused in the classroom and beat him. He had two classmates of the same cast They
were Ram Singh and Sukkhan. They were good in Stuties.

Bama said that –

‘Women identify as a mirror of society.’

Like Indian woman in Joothan, the position of women is also secondary and
treats them as inferior or others. One of the most powerful female character in the
novel is Valmiki’s mother. The condition of dalit woman is shown very miserable.

An incident in Joothan is Valmiki’s mother overturning the basketful of

Joothan (Leftover) after she is humiliated by Sukhdev Singh Choudhary, a rich man
from upper caste. Valmiki is inspired from this act of his mother so much so that later
in his life he resits against mighty and powerful people to establish an identify for
himself and other like him. Sukhdev Singh pounces on her to hit her, but she
confronts him like a lioness.

Valmiki married Chanda. They had to struggle a lot during the initial days of
marriage.

Valmiki’s Bhabhi is also a minor character in the novel.

In the novel ‘Joothan’ dalit male and female characters suffered a lot in his
lifetime. This is the book that voices the demand of the Dalit for their rightful place in
the society.
CHAPTER V : CONCLUSION :-

In the final chapter conclusion will be drawn and the mind and art of the
novelist well be commented upon based on the discussion in the previous chapters.
An earnest effort will also be made to reassert the genius in omprakash Valmiki so as
to in omprakash Valmiki so as to Plume him on a higher pedestal of reputation, which
he deserves.

The scheme of chapters presented in this synopsis is tentative. If necessary,

change in the chapter scheme will be made but the basis concern and structure of the
research will remain the same.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

A) PRIMARY SOURCES :

Joothan : A Dalits life, trans Arunprabha Mukharjee, Samya publication

Calcutta.

B) SECONDARY SOURCES :

1) Moon Vasant (2001). Growing up untouchable in India : A Dalit

autobiography, Trans Gail Omvedt, Vistaar publication : New Delhi.

2) Bama (2000) Kurruku, Trans. From Tamil Lakshmi Holmstrom, Macmillian

India Ltd. : Chennai.

3) Perkins C. (1975). A Bastered like me, Sudney : Ure Smith

4) Roughsey, Elsic (1994). An Aboriginal Mother tells of the old and the New
Mephee. Gribble publication.

5) Rajshekar, V.T. (1995). Dalit : The Black untouchable of India. Clarity Press
Goorgia.

6) Limbale Sharankumar (2003) Akkarmashi : The Outcaste, Trans Santosh

Bhoomkar. New Delhi : Oxford Publication.

7) Kumar, Raj (2010). Dalit personal Narrations : Reading caste, nation and
identity. New Delhi : Orient Blackswan.

8) Guha, Ranjait (1989). On some Aspect of the Historiography of Colonial

India. Subaltern Studies vol. 1 Delhi : Oxford up.

9) Prasad, Madhava (1992). On the question of a theory of (Third world)

literature. Social text.

10) Dangle, Arjun (1994). Poisoned Bread. Mumbai : Orient Longman.

11) Kamble Baby (2009). The Prisons we Broke. Delhi Orient Black Swan.