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New publisher
gives voice to Dalit literature
Papri Sri Raman
Indo-Asian News Service, Chennai Nov 10
A new publishing house for Dalit
literature called Navayana has quietly taken birth
here, with the release of five books on issues
concerning the oppressed classes. Navayana literally
means a new vehicle, said the publishers Sunday
evening at a function organised on the occasion
at the Landmark bookshop. The publishing house
has been set up by Pondicherry-based Dalit activist-theoretician
Ravikumar and journalist S. Anand.
N. Ram, editor-in-chief of The
Hindu newspaper, released the English version
of Dalit writer and bank official Narendra Jadhav's
book "Outcaste: A Memoir". The original
was in Marathi, "Amcha Baap Aan Amhi (1993)",
a personalised account of Dalit metamorphosis
in India. Ram said, "Political democracy
will remain if not hollow, at least very limited,
if there is no social democracy."
Author Jadhav, who was present
at the function, said education itself was the
greatest saviour of Dalits. His book, however,
drew criticism from rights' activist and Tamil
writer Sivagami for what it has left unsaid on
problems faced by Dalits. K. Kanimozhi, poet and
daughter of DMK president M. Karunanidhi, made
the very observation that "people think that
there is no Dalit problem now. As though reservations
have made Dalit problems disappear; people tend
to think as if reservation does miracles."
Ram, Jadhav and several other speakers admitted
that the caste system continued in India even
today. The publishers said that Navayana is intended
to be a niche publishing house that "deals
exclusively with caste and Dalit related issues".
Among the other books released were the first
editions brought out by Navayana in English of
six autobiographical notes of B.R. Ambedkar, who
was a Dalit but rose to draft the Indian Constitution.
"Brahmans & Cricket" by S. Anand
analysed how the game, known to be secular, has
been dominated by the upper castes. Anand also
includes a critique of Aamir Khan's famous film
"Lagaan" and of the character 'Kachra',
and how cricket and cinema both have upper caste
beginnings.
Meera Nanda's "Postmodernism
and Religious Fundamentalism" was yet another
book from Navayana. "Touchable Tales"
is the last of the books released by the new publishers.
It is a chronicle of how Dalit writing and publishing
has grown in India. The publishers hope the house
will make a difference in the way people look
at Dalit issues, "encourage debate and dialogue".
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