"Joothan: A Dalit's Life" by Omprakash Valmiki. A Book Review (PDF)

Literature Review from the year 2016 in the subject History - Asia, grade: 8, Presidency College, Kolkata, language: English, abstract: The malicious practice of the Caste system has formed an essence of Indian society, without any parallel of the same significance. The Caste system has consolidated a hierarchical division of society in which people are subjected to various privileges or discrimination, owing to their birth in a family belonging to a particular caste. Whether the caste system was a colonial construction or an ancient curse requires a separate debate.

In this paper, an autobiography by Omprakash Valmiki, who was said to be a "Dalit" (an outcaste, belonging to the lowest echelon of society), has been reviewed. In it he has described daily struggles in the life of a low-born. While the world had cheered the process of decolonization and applauded the new notions of humanitarian values and worth of every human life, India, which was soon to be the largest democracy, could hardly break away from the shackles of the loathsome caste system. Valmiki has given us insights into the functioning of Dalit lives in the post independence era, that brought about changes in official documents and legal procedures but without much resonance of them in practical application.