The Trajectory of Socio-cultural Discourse in Om Prakash Valmiki's Joothan

Abstract

Omprakash Valmiki’s Joothan identifies itself as a part of Dalit literature and makes him as a writer
of Dalit consciousness. This book is a report card on the conditions of people who are called
untouchables. In his preface, Valmiki writes that his autobiography presents those facts which could
not find a place in Literature. The pain which he tasted by taking birthin the caste of Chuhra was never
shown in the annals of Hindi Literature in such a way ashe has prepared a new ground. Although,
Hindi writers with a few poems and short stories have mentioned tragic characters, yet Dalit
representation is chiefly absent from contemporary HindiLiterature.
Keywords- Untouchability, Hatred, Discrimination, Education, Corruption, Rebellion, Oppression,
Exploitation, Awareness.