Review by reader: This autobiography is a stunningly honest account of the many trials and tribulations of a courageous and sensitive man, born a despised Untouchable, who perseveres through the cruel and mindless dominance of upper caste hierarchy in modern India. From a poor village where almost everyone is illiterate to sit in a high seat of prestigious academia, Professor Wankhede's account of his lifelong struggles had me weeping and at times shouting in anger. Dr. Wankhede's candid description of his moods and mental states will open your heart to the many inner and outer challenges faced by India's Dalits as they attempt to better their lives in swimming upstream against the biased, entitled minority that rule India with their flawless English, manicured fists and elegant saris. My Life provides authentic insight in how India really works, or fails to work, for its millions of Dalits
Collection of various anti-caste books for children - including links to where to find the books.
“Dalit women who carry the double burden of gender and caste, and are one of the most socially undervalued in India, are therefore under constant pressure to project an acceptable version that mimics the savarna ideal. In a romantic pursuit or a partnership, we are expected to operate along a behavioural band that is far narrower than what is required of a non-Dalit woman.” From the excerpt of ‘Swipe Me Left, I’m Dalit’, by Christina Dhanaraj in the book 'Love is not a word: The culture and politics of desire' edited by Debotri Dhar.
Review – life as an ‘untouchable’ in modern India A wonderful book details the hardships faced even by educated Dalit in the first three-quarters of the 20th century, and how the horror of caste is all-pervasive
“My parents were bonded labourers. The women in my family belonged to the Devadasi tradition. We had to face oppression on both counts. I dropped out of school and helped my family for a while. I joined back a year after this incident,”
In a family of eight children, he was the youngest and he could only complete graduation with the support of his elders. “Even today, people living in my colony are restricted from entering temple and a community hall in the village. I and my family members have faced difficulty in getting houses for rent in places like Hassan. A few years ago, my sister’s family was forced to vacate the house within minutes, after the house-owner learnt about her caste. I too faced such ordeal, when I moved to Hassan after getting a job,” he said. He has narrated these incidents in his book. “These are not old stories, but happening every day. In my village, upper caste people do not have meals with Dalits. The upper caste people have to be served food in hotels, when they attend Dalit marriages,” he said.
Persistence of Poverty in India argues that there is a close correlation between poverty and the persistence of caste-based hierarchy of occupations in India."Dalits and adivasis who are still engaged as agricultural labourers have the highest incidence of poverty.
Caste and Caste-Based Discrimination among Indian Muslims - Part 11: Hindutva, Gandhism, and the Caste Question