Breaking the Barrier: Reinterpreting Dalit Autobiographical Narratives from Postcolonial Perspective

Dalit autobiographical literature has emerged as a powerful genre for contesting the hegemonic narratives of caste, class, and identity in postcolonial India. This paper re-interprets key Dalit autobiographies through a postcolonial lens, exploring how these narratives confront the lingering effects of colonialism and Brahmanical patriarchy. While postcolonial theory has largely focused on colonial subjugation, this study extends its boundaries to analyze the internal colonization of Dalits within the Indian socio-political framework. Texts such as Omprakash Valmiki's Joothan, Bama's Karukku, and Sharan Kumar Limbale's The Outcaste (Akkarmashi) are examined as testaments of resistance, reclaiming agency, dignity, and cultural voice. These texts not only narrate individual trauma but also function as collective chronicles of social injustice, disrupting sanitized narratives of Indian nationalism. The article underscores the need to integrate Dalit perspectives into postcolonial discourse, emphasizing intersectionality and the politics of representation.