Joothan-2

जूठन #2

by Omprakash Valmiki

जूठन-2 'जूठन’ ओमप्रकाश वाल्मीकि की आत्मकथा है। इसका पहला भाग बरसों पहले प्रकाशित होकर, आज हिन्दी दलित साहित्य और खासकर आत्मकथाओं की शृंखला में एक विशेष स्थान प्राप्त कर चुका है। वाल्मीकि जी अब हमारे बीच नहीं हैं, अपने जीवन-काल में उन्होंने 'जूठन’ के बाद साहित्य, समाज और संवेदना के दायरों में एक लम्बी यात्रा पूरी की। कई कथात्मक और आलोचनात्मक कृतियों के साथ उनके काव्य-संग्रह भी आए। 'जूठन’ का यह दूसरा भाग उनके उसी दौर का आख्यान है। आत्मकथा के इस दूसरे भाग की शुरुआत उन्होंने देहरादून की आर्डिनेंस फैक्ट्री में अपनी नियुक्ति से की है। नई जगह पर अपनी पहचान को लेकर आई समस्याओं के साथ-साथ यहाँ मजदूरों के साथ जुड़ी अपनी गतिविधियों का जिक्र करते हुए उन्होंने अपनी साहित्यिक सक्रियता का भी विस

Genres: Autobiography, Nonfiction, Indian Literature, India

124 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2015

About the author

Omaprakāśa Vālmīki or Omprakash Valmiki (30 June 1950 – 17 November 2013) was an Indian Dalit writer and poet. well known for his autobiography, Joothan, considered a milestone in Dalit literature. He was born at the village of Barla in the Muzzafarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh. After retirement from Government Ordnance Factory he lived in Dehradun where he died of complications arising out of stomach cancer on 17 November 2013.[3]

Being a Dalit child, he was tortured and abused everywhere in society. He was fortunate enough to be born in a household where everyone loved and cared for him. The support and encouragement he gained from the family enabled him to face the dangers of being a Dalit. Right from the early stages of his life, Valmiki was conscious of the importance of studies and hence he was always a bright student. Reading and writing made him an enlightened human being. Valmiki married Chanda; despite the protestations his father accepted her as his daughter-in-law. He was not allotted a house in the government colony. They had to struggle a lot during the initial days of marriage. But he soon settled and both Valmiki and Chanda started a happy married life.

In his novel Joothan he talked about the discrimination they had to face in the school at different points. He says: “During the examinations we could not drink water from the glass when thirsty. To drink water, we had to cup our hands. The peon would pour water from way high up, lest our hands touch the glass”. 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 animals. Dalits have been forced to accept and eat joothan for centuries, and the word encapsulates the pain, humiliation, and poverty of a community forced to live at the bottom of India's social pyramid. Although untouchability was outlawed in 1949, Dalits continued to face discrimination, economic deprivation, violence, and ridicule. Valmiki shares his struggle to survive a preordained life of perpetual physical and mental persecution and his transformation into a speaking subject under the influence of the Dalit political leader, B. R. Ambedkar.

Besides Joothan (1997) Valmiki published three collections of poetry: Sadiyon Ka Santaap (1989), Bas! Bahut Ho Chuka (1997), and Ab Aur Nahin (2009). He also wrote two collections of short stories, Salaam (2000), and Ghuspethiye (2004). In addition, he wrote Dalit Saahity Ka Saundaryshaastr (2001) and a history of the Valmiki community, Safai Devata (2009), Do Chera' (a play).

Reviews

[Himanshu Rai · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a finishing touch to the courageous life of Omprakash Valmiki that is already written down in जूठन: पहला खंड. The book continues to encapsulate his courage in front of pain, humiliation and discrimination. This book will force us to face injustice and shame into an introspection.

[Shashank Bharatiya · Rating 4 out of 5]

प्रथम खण्ड से थोड़ा हल्का कह सकते हैं क्योंकि निजता अधिक है और सामाजिक सरोकार अपेक्षा कृत कम। परंतु यह दोनों किताबें सामान्य मस्तिष्क में भूचाल लाने वाली हैं। मैं शायद इतना उद्वेलित इसलिए नहीं हुआ क्योंकि मैंने इससे पहले मुर्दहिया और मणिकर्णिका पढ़ रखी थीं।

[Neeraj Pandey · Rating 4 out of 5]

जूठन खंड १ के संघर्षों को दिशा देती है और उन्हें पूरा करती जूठन का यह दूसरा खंड।

[Durgesh Deep · Rating 4 out of 5]

जूठन-2 को पढ़ना उतना ही पीड़ादायक था जितना जूठन-1 को ।

[Alex Marcus · Rating 4 out of 5]

So what if you are educated? So what if you are a government officer? You should never dream of breaking those shackles! You are a Dalit, you were born untouchable and you shall ever, forever in your life remain a Dalit. A person who can not be touched lest he would pollute others. Part two of Valmilki's life is about his achievements or in better words his struggles to reach those achievements. These are no normal struggles that any successful person might have faced. These are the walls that humanity has created to stop people like Valmiki. But courage and dedication are hard to be broken. And Valmiki did achieve success not only by his work but by building a family around him where there were no more walls, neither of 'jati' nor religion! And this is his achievement. This is the legacy he left behind.
The second part of his autobiography traces his way from Dehradun factory to Jabalpur and then to Dehradun back again. In the midst of all this, he had to repeatedly face the attacks of casteism from his colleagues and higher officials. But he emphasizes there were always people who supported him, becoming light in the darkness. There is always humanity that is alive. Valmiki also traces the story of a few labourers who had died in an accident and that how caste and class together took their lives, working in a conspiracy. The book ends with the writer's ill health. 'The world matters till the time you breathe. Everything ends the moment your eyes close. If anything is left then it is your work, otherwise, no one remembers anyone.' And just before his death, he left us this work - just another part of himself to the world!

[Harsh Kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first part is a little bit better than this one. But the most important takeaway I have from the book is that forcing people to talk about their oppression is also bad.

In this book he also covers the consequences of writing the first part. While writing about his trauma, he had to feel those awful emotions once again. Expecting anyone to do that is unfair, and we should appreciate people like Omprakash for
1. Being able to suffer through his childhood to get to where he did.
2. Writing a book like Joothan part 1, and not only disclosing his caste, thereby opening up that can of worms. But also,
3. Facing opposition for showcasing the ugly aspect of Indian culture.

Leaving aside the devastating display of caste based discrimination at all hierarchy of India. The book also gives us an excellent role model. The way Omprakash lives his life should be a lesson to learn us all. He presents incredible amount of determination and patience in the face of near constant adversity.

How I had never encountered him during my school years is a simple mistery, whose answer I don't wanna think about on this new year's eve.

[Sagar Chamoli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joothan 2 continues the author’s life story, this time focusing on his experiences in the corporate world. Even after working hard and proving his abilities, he still faces mistreatment at work because of his surname. The book shows how caste discrimination can appear even in modern offices.

However, the author also thanks the many good people who supported him. He appreciates those who stood by him during difficult times and treated him with respect.

Overall, Joothan 2 is an honest and meaningful book about struggle, dignity, and support. A strong read — 4 out of 5 stars.

[Manisha Verma]

जूठन एक कथा में कई कथानक

किताब के लिए जितना भी लिखा जाए कम है। बहुत सरल सी आत्म कथा है। पढ़ते हुए और जानने की इच्छा बनी रही। मुझे ऐसा लगा जैसे बहुत कुछ नहीं लिखा अपने आप को रोक लिया। लेखक ना भावों में बह गया ना ही अपने रोष में। बहुत विवेक से एक सीधा सादा कथन लेकिन जो आप को समाज की संकीर्ण मानसिकता पर सोचने को जरूर विवश कर देगा।

[Keshav · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok Ok book. The first part was really heart-wrenching but this second part feels dragged. There are too many names and the story feels repetitive. The author did face hardships on his job but still he was negotiating from a strong position as compared to when he was a child. Initial pages are good but then the story just feels dragging.

[Vinay · Rating 3 out of 5]

there was nothing much in this book but it worth to read if you have already completed the first one

[Keshav Singhal · Rating 4 out of 5]

पठनीय

भारतीय समाज और कार्यालय व्यवस्थाओं में जातिगत भेदभाव और स्थितियों का वर्णन करता एक उपन्यास, जो पाठक को सोचने के लिए एक दिशा देता है।

[Hari · Rating 4 out of 5]

ok ok

[Kshitiz Goliya · Rating 3 out of 5]

While in the first part of Joothan Valmiki described his struggles growing and getting employment, the second part shows the discrimination he had to face at his government job. He decribes the castiest behavior of many of his colleagues and shows that caste is ingrained in Indian institutions. However, he ends on a positive note and believes that the change is coming. It is a deserving conclusion to a heart wrenching autobiography.

[Tony Sheldon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as good as part one.Follow up on the story and still the ongoing discrimination.4 stars and hope.

[Saumya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as interesting and new as Part 1. The first 25% of the 2nd part showcased Valmiki's ordeals, till then it was quite new.