VOICE, MEMORY AND IDENTITY IN DALIT LITERATURE: A STUDY OF AAYDAN BY URMILA PAWAR

Abstract

This study discovers the connection of caste, gender, and personal narrative within the framework of Dalit literary discourse. It has appeared as a powerful medium of confrontation, enunciating the subsisted involvements of marginalization and social exclusion. In this context, Aaydan helps as a noteworthy autobiographical text that not only recounts individual experiences but also reflects the collective memory of the Dalit community. The paper inspects how voice functions as an instrument of proclamation and resistance against caste-based domination. It further evaluates the role of memory in reconstructing the socio-cultural realities of Dalit life, where personal recollections are profoundly tangled with historical and communal experiences. Through a critical reading of Aaydan, the study highlights how identity is transferred and formed under the intersectant pressures of caste and patriarchy. Additionally, the research accentuates the contribution of Dalit women’s writing in intensifying the scope of Dalit discourse by integrating gendered perspectives often unnoticed in mainstream narratives. Urmila Pawar’s narrative thus becomes a site of both personal demonstration and socio-political critique, offering insights into resilience, dignity, and the ongoing fight for equality. The study accepts a qualitative and interpretative methodology, drawing upon theoretical perspectives from Dalit studies and feminist criticism. It accomplishes that Aaydan not only challenges dominant literary traditions but also redefines identity through the articulation of voice and memory, making it a vital text in understanding Dalit feminist discourse.