Dalit-Concept As A Theory Of Analysis: Social And Literary Context

Abstract

To solve any research problem — be it science, society, literature etc. — the primary task is to collect appropriate data. To analyze the collected data, there need some proper theories. One such theory is Dalit Thought. At the heart of the Dalit thought, the people from the lower strata of society, who have been exploited, deprived or oppressed by the powerful upper classes since time immemorial. This idea of ​​lower class and upper class was formed in our minds mainly from the aspect of caste and social position. From that point of view, there is a close relationship between Dalit thought and Subaltern thought. However, Dalit thought is currently being transformed into a theory of sociology and literary analysis, which is almost same with Subaltern theory. However, there are some differences between these two concepts, such as casteism at the root of Dalit thought on the contrary in the Subaltern thought, only the upper-class and lower-class distinction is seen.