Words Unspoken: A Testimonial Discourse of Bama’s Karukku : A Gratification of Self-reflection and Inner Strength of the Subaltern Women

Abstract

If untouchability lives, humanity must die.

—M.K. Gandhi

In this present and current global research scenario, the theme of subaltern has become a household word in regular usage and also in various disciplines other than literature. Literature, on the other hand, represents life in relation to social reality. The word ‘subaltern’ has its origin in the German word which means ‘inferior rank’ or ‘secondary importance’. Julian Wolfreys defines subaltern as a concept: ‘It contains the groups that are marginalized, oppressed and exploited on the cultural, political, social and religious grounds’. Thus, subaltern literature reflects various themes such as oppression, marginalization, gender discrimination, subjugation of lower and working classes, disregarded women, neglected sections of society and deprived classes of the existing society. As De Boland rightly confesses, ‘literature is an expression of society’. Literature in itself embodies life and life is a social reality of society. A writer, who is a member of a society, is influenced by specific social status and receives some degree of social recognition and recompense. Though this may benefit them in one way: it obviously helps them bring to limelight the sufferings and difficult paths the downtrodden tread upon. Thus, this article focuses on the voice of the voiceless in bringing out their voices to be heard in the outer world. In Bama’s Karukku, she testifies her situation of life and narrates her feelings in this small writing. In a world where problems relating to human privileges have been under perilous focus, literary portrayals of the experiences of demoted groups have assimilated great implication. The modern stream in Dalit literature in India is a challenge to bring to prime the experiences of discrimination, inequality, violence, injustice and poverty of the Dalits.