e n

Suraj Pal Chauhan’s short stories portray the growing Dalit defiance

The growing Dalit consciousness and struggle form the nucleus of the works of the prolific Suraj Pal Chauhan. His militating against the caste system does not come across as a pastime but as a mission, says young critic Suresh Kumar

There can be little doubt that the caste system has contributed significantly to creating a tiny elite and to marginalizing the majority. The caste system and its implications for society have found expression in literature. Dalit Literature contends that even in the 21st century, the upper castes have not shed casteism. Dalit litterateurs have used every intellectual tool in their possession to expose the monstrosities of the caste system. However, the question of caste was missing from the “Nai Kahani” movement, which was focused on the aspirations, the desires and the pains of the middle class. The credit for social mobilization against the caste system must largely go to Dalit Literature. This series dwells on short stories by leading Dalit writers which explore social discrimination and a casteist mindset. Suresh Kumar has discussed short stories by Om Prakash Valmiki, Mohandas Naimishray and Sheoraj Singh ‘Bechain’ so far. This final instalment of the series features Suraj Pal Chauhan’s short stories:  


-SURESH KUMAR 

Suraj Pal Chauhan is one of the pillars of Dalit Literature. He has written prolifically in different literary genres. He is singular in the sense that he has his fingers on the pulse of India of the 21st century. His militating against the caste system does not come across as a pastime but as a mission. His fiction represents a serious endeavour to bring the horrific implications of the caste system to the fore. His collections of short stories have been published under the following titles: Harry Kab Aayega? (1999), Naya Brahman (2009) and Dhokha (2011).  In the short stories Chhoot Kar Diya, Ghate Ka Sauda, Sajish, Ghamand Jati Ka and Harry Kab Aayega? Chauhan explores the caste system drawing on his personal experience as well as that of the people at large.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE: Suraj Pal Chauhan’s short stories portray the growing Dalit defiance

About The Author

Suresh Kumar

Suresh Kumar has a PhD in Hindi Literature from Banaras Hindu University. His writings have been published in various prestigious newspapers and magazines.

Related Articles

Ambedkar’s insights and foresight remain deeply underappreciated
Dr B.R. Ambedkar’s vision of democracy transcended the simplistic notion of majority rule. He critiqued majoritarian democracy as a system that risked perpetuating the...
Seminal role of Dalit-OBCs in development of language and literature
Scripts were invented by painters and sculptors, and not scholars. Not only in India but in civilizations the world over, paintings and sculptures predated...
Raidas: A modern revolutionary thinker from the feudal medieval era
Raidas’ radical thinking and works didn’t get wider national and international acceptance. In fact, his modern vision wasn’t even accorded the place it deserved...
As Jharkhand turns 24, a reason to celebrate and a reality check
Jharkhand stands at a crossroads. The state must strike a balance between preserving its rich cultural heritage and meeting the demands of modernization and...
How Ambedkar began mobilizing for conversion 20 years before the event
Ambedkar said that religious conversion was no child’s play and that it couldn’t be achieved with merely political measures. It had to be realized...