Singing/Thinking Anti Caste: Essays on Anti Caste Music and Text

by Yogesh Maitreya

Non-dalits may find it unbelievable, but death for Dalits is metaphorical. An "untouchable" never existed as a person worthy of respect from society or recognized as a mind. He was simply invisible, except when his labour was extracted, exploited and used for free. Thus it was not very difficult for Dalits from a few generations ago to understand how it feels to remain invisible. This reality has not ceased to exist even today, although its forms vary.

Not existing for others, not being recognized by others, is a condition of simply not being extant. It is in this sense that death is metaphorical for Dalits. Yet, this is not a normal reality. It is an abnormal condition, an ecology, to use a broad term, that has been constructed by brahmins and all other castes who follow them.

Genres: Nonfiction, Essays, India

108 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2021

About the author

Yogesh Maitreya is a poet, writer, cultural critic, and a translator. He is a PhD scholar at TISS, Mumbai.

He is a founder of Panther's Paw Publication that publishes only Dalit-Bahujan authors.

Reviews

[Mridula]

This is easily the best book that I have read in a long time, possibly ever. Each essay made my eyes water a little and filled my heart with gratitude. You must must read it. Jai Bhim.

[Vijetha]

"...that as long as the caste system will prevail, physical death for Dalits will always remain metaphorical. Their actual death lies in an inability to be in text, or transform into a text as a story, memory and history. But before death there is life. And here, Dalit literature today proclaims their passionate existence, and passion for life."

[Nandini Godara]

A fantastic collection of essays that educate, illuminate and provoke thought long after you've finished reading them. Written by Yogesh Maitreya and published by Panther's Paw Publications - an anti-caste indie publishing house. You can order the book and follow them on Instagram.
(@pantherspawpublication)
https://instagram.com/pantherspawpubl...

[Nargles]

I appreciate this book for challenging my belief systems and showing me just how it feels to belong to a marginalized community. While there is a lot of fun to be had in reading fiction, I also think reading books like these which question the fabric of the society we live in are equally important to consume.

[Aditya Ajith]

Powerful contemporary essays. At some points I felt the content was repetitive but overall it was thought provoking and highlighted issues that are often overlooked.

[Ashna]

This book has given me a new lens to look at things! Amazing, must read.

[Abirami]

excellent collection