Poisoned Bread : Translations From Modern Marathi Dalit Literature

by Arjun Dangle

Silenced for centuries by caste prejudice and social oppression, the Dalits of Maharashtra (formerly called ‘untouchables’) have only in the last forty years found a powerful voice in Marathi literature. The revolutionary social movement launched by their leader Dr Ambedkar was paralleled by a wave of writing that exploded in poetry, prose, fiction and autobiography of a raw vigour, maturity, depth and richness of content, and shocking in its exposition of the bitterness of their experiences. One is jolted, too, by the quality of writing by a group denied access for long ages to any literary tradition. This important collection is the first anthology of Dalit literature. The writers more than eighty of them—presented here in English translations, are nearly all of the most prominent figures in Marathi Dalit literature, who have contributed to this unique phenomenon.

Genres: Fiction, India, Short Stories, Anthologies, Politics

343 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1992

Reviews

[Rakesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historically significant Dalit Literature from the Marathi Dalit Literature Movement that began with the first Conference of Dalit Writers in 1958.

[Nikhil · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-curated collection of Dalit writings that were part of the Dalit Literary Movement in the 60s-80s, and translated from the original Marathi. Much of the writing is excellent: the short stories and autobiographical excerpts are particularly good. The short stories are enjoyable to read, tautly paced, with explosive plots that stand on their own merits regardless of the context of their creation. Focused on urban and rural poverty, and the humiliations that this poverty and caste create, the stories nonetheless transcend what could have been the narrow confines of socialist realist propaganda.

The poetry and essays are of more mixed quality (this may also reflect that they are harder to translate). Some of the poems (e.g., Under Dadar Bridge) are really superb, but others are basically agitprop. I understand the importance of poetry that names your oppressor, names your oppression, and calls you to arms to fight it; it just gets a little bland to read 50 such poems in a row.

Besides Ambedkar’s speech, the essays were a wash (Ambedkar, unlike the other essayists, is a skilled rhetorician). The essays were primarily interested in Marxist historiography of South Asia or debates on socialist realist vs. less constrained aesthetics, neither of which are that interesting. The discussion of Black Arts vs. Dalit Literature was interesting, though much of the Dalit authors understanding of race was incorrect and rooted in now debunked “scientific” understandings of race.

Likely a reflection of the original movement itself, this text is gendered. The authors are almost all male, as are their characters, as is their understanding of the oppression of Dalit women (rape as lost honor or undone family structure more than traumatic violence), and as is the aesthetic/political sensibility advanced (I.e., male citizens claiming full citizenship). I would be interested in more collections/examples of Dalit women’s writings, as I suspect they would add more nuance to these texts.

[Kookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The short stories in this volume were exceptional.

[Amaan Pirani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really powerful short stories, poems, and literature on indian casteism

[Kasturi Dadhe · Rating 4 out of 5]

an emphatic read..

[Carly Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book what something…I was hooked but mainly because I wanted to know what was going on and never got the answers I was looking for

[Ashley Y · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genuinely so heartbreaking. Made me want to cry.

[Themreichonreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

stories of social oppressions and castes prejudice. a heart wrenching stories of social woes and the struggles of the Dalits. Good book .

[Raunak Bose]

Magnificent piece of work. Dalit poetry has had few anthologies better than this one.