Writing caste / writing gender: reading dalit women's testimonios

The last decade saw the emergence andassertion of separate Dalitbahajun women's organizations both at the nationaland regional levels. This assertion against their exclusion from political andcultural spheres sought to transform Dalit and feminist politics in India. Inthe same decade, anti-Madal protests saw upper caste youth mourning the 'deathof merit' and publicly endorsing endogamy. The reproduction of caste in modernspaces like universities, bureaucracies and women's movements and studies wasthus apparent. The assumptions about caste identities being private and personalwere called into question and serious challenges posed for understanding casteand gender in contemporary India.

Located within this context, Women Writing Castebrings together extracts from KumudPawade's Anta Sphot (Thoughtful Outburst), Babytai Kamble's Jeene Amuche (Ourlives), Shantabai Kamble's Mazhya Jalmachi Chitarkatha, (The Picturesque Storyof My Life), Mukta Sarvagod's Mitleli Kawade (Closed Doors), Shantabai Dan'sRatraandin Amba (For Us...these Days and Nights), Vimal More's Teen DagadanchiChul (The Hearth of Three Stones) and Janabai Girhe's Marankala (Deadly Pains).