The Kannada literary world, which was one-sided until the 70s and 80s became more holistic by Dalit and Bandaya literature, said Kendra Sahitya Academy awardee writer Mudnakudu Chinnaswamy.
Speaking on Dalit literature at the 87th Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelana in Mandya, he said: “Former Minister B. Basavalingappa called Kannada literature a ‘boosa’ (cow feed) which led to a serious rethink of the premise of literature and the rise of Dalit and Bandaya literature in Karnataka.”
Basavalingappa had called Kannada literature ‘boosa’ because there were no literary works till then about the pain of downtrodden communities in Kannada literature. “Then, the Dalit movement and Dalit literature came together,” she explained.
Speaking on the topic ‘Dalit literary movement and women,’ Jayadevi Gaikwad said: “The Dalit Sangharsh Samitis (DSS) of Karnataka are like a university. In addition to Dalit issues, DSS has fought on many burning issues of the State, including farmers and labourers and others. They have also been fighting against atrocities and injustices against women,” she said.
She condemned the Union Home Minister’s derogatorily remarks about B.R. Ambedkar in Parliament recently and said that, at such times, “we women must remember Ambedkar’s contributions and we strongly stand by him.”
Published – December 21, 2024 11:57 pm IST