Namasudra Literature and the Politics of Caste in West Bengal
The paper examines the popular claim that West Bengal politics is ‘unique’ due to an absence of caste-based assertions in post-colonial period. By taking Namasudra literature as the primary site, the paper argues that since the late twentieth century there is numerous literatures written by low cast...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Boibhashik
2019-10-01
|
| Series: | Sanglap: Journal of Literary and Cultural Inquiry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://sanglap-journal.in.cp-in-6.webhostbox.net/index.php/sanglap/article/view/150 |
| _version_ | 1818470721637056512 |
|---|---|
| author | Rajat Roy |
| author_facet | Rajat Roy |
| author_sort | Rajat Roy |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The paper examines the popular claim that West Bengal politics is ‘unique’ due to an absence of caste-based assertions in post-colonial period. By taking Namasudra literature as the primary site, the paper argues that since the late twentieth century there is numerous literatures written by low caste people in West Bengal on the issue of caste. These writings have created a literate Dalit public sphere operating at the grassroots level and mainly outside the framework of governmental party politics. One of the dominant themes of Namasudra literature is the visions of anti-caste utopia. By analysing a Namasudra writer and activist Manindranath Biswas’s texts Harichand Tattwamrita, the paper argues that Dalit’s writings on history don’t follow a linear or a mythical structure; rather, there is a political exigency for history, in which utopic past/future is often invoked through a logic of circularity and yet redemptive fulfilment of time. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T21:41:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-da56903960af4ac58940b8c41bc150ce |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2349-8064 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T21:41:08Z |
| publishDate | 2019-10-01 |
| publisher | Boibhashik |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sanglap: Journal of Literary and Cultural Inquiry |
| spelling | doaj.art-da56903960af4ac58940b8c41bc150ce2022-12-22T02:28:46ZengBoibhashikSanglap: Journal of Literary and Cultural Inquiry2349-80642019-10-01617887150Namasudra Literature and the Politics of Caste in West BengalRajat Roy0Presidency University, KolkataThe paper examines the popular claim that West Bengal politics is ‘unique’ due to an absence of caste-based assertions in post-colonial period. By taking Namasudra literature as the primary site, the paper argues that since the late twentieth century there is numerous literatures written by low caste people in West Bengal on the issue of caste. These writings have created a literate Dalit public sphere operating at the grassroots level and mainly outside the framework of governmental party politics. One of the dominant themes of Namasudra literature is the visions of anti-caste utopia. By analysing a Namasudra writer and activist Manindranath Biswas’s texts Harichand Tattwamrita, the paper argues that Dalit’s writings on history don’t follow a linear or a mythical structure; rather, there is a political exigency for history, in which utopic past/future is often invoked through a logic of circularity and yet redemptive fulfilment of time.http://sanglap-journal.in.cp-in-6.webhostbox.net/index.php/sanglap/article/view/150castebengal politicsnamasudra literatureutopia |
| spellingShingle | Rajat Roy Namasudra Literature and the Politics of Caste in West Bengal Sanglap: Journal of Literary and Cultural Inquiry caste bengal politics namasudra literature utopia |
| title | Namasudra Literature and the Politics of Caste in West Bengal |
| title_full | Namasudra Literature and the Politics of Caste in West Bengal |
| title_fullStr | Namasudra Literature and the Politics of Caste in West Bengal |
| title_full_unstemmed | Namasudra Literature and the Politics of Caste in West Bengal |
| title_short | Namasudra Literature and the Politics of Caste in West Bengal |
| title_sort | namasudra literature and the politics of caste in west bengal |
| topic | caste bengal politics namasudra literature utopia |
| url | http://sanglap-journal.in.cp-in-6.webhostbox.net/index.php/sanglap/article/view/150 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rajatroy namasudraliteratureandthepoliticsofcasteinwestbengal |