MEG-13: Writings from the Margins

This course Writings from the Margins has two components, The Dalit Discourse and the Tribal Discourse. The main objective of the course is to familiarise students with the literature, culture and thought of the Dalits and Adivasis that has been in the margins. The aim of this course is to sensitize the learners about issues and problems faced by a whole population of the marginalized in our country. With this in view, the course content has received focused critical attention in the various blocks prepared for the learners. The division of the argument into areas of culture, history, ideology and aesthetic concerns is particularly valuable in this regard. There is also an added significance of the course with respect to selection of texts under categories of fiction poetry, drama and autobiography, not to mention aspects falling under ideology, critical thought, language and socio historical background. This will go a long way in enhancing awareness about our country‟s diversity. The course will add to our appreciation of what has been termed difference.

Weeks

Topics

Week-1

1. Literature From the Margins: Dalit Theory : A View Literature From the

2. Margins: Dalit Theory : Going Further in Argument

Week-2

1. Dalit Canon: Distinctive Features

2. Making of Dalit Canon: Basic Points

Week-3

1. The Social Division Concerning the Marginalized in Early and Later Medieval India

Week-4

1. Dalit Culture and Identity

Week-5

1. “Oppressed” and “Marginalized” and the Historical Viewpoint

2. Dalit Autobiography I

3. Dalit Autobiography II

Week-6

1. Balbir Madhopuri:Changia Rukh against the Night I

2. Balbir Madhopuri: Changia Rukh against the Night II

Week-7

1. Balbir Madhopuri Changia Rukh: History and consciousness I

2. Balbir Madhopuri: Changia Rukh: History and consciousness II

Week-8

1. Dalit Poetry: an Overview Part-I

2. Dalit Poetry: An Overview Part-II

Week-9

1. Dalit Poetry Part-I

2. Dalit Poetry Part-II

Week-10

1. Adigopula Venkatratnam Telugu Dalit Poetry

2. Basudev Sunani :Oriya Dalit Poetry Part –I

Week-11

1. Short Stories: „The Poisoned Bread” and “The Storeyed House‟

2. Short Stories: “The Flame” and “Fear”

Week-12

1. Datta Bhagat Routes and Escape Routes Part I

2. Datta Bhagat Routes and Escape Routes Part II

Week-13

1. Understanding Tribal History

2. Tribal Writing: History and Orality

Week-14

1. Tribal Discourse: Concepts and Forms

2. Tribal Discourse: Features and significance

Week-15

1. Tribal world view: A Conceptual Perspective

2. Tribal World View: Some Broad Concerns

Week-16

1. Nature in Tribal Life

2. Celebration as the Core of Tribal Living

Week-17

1. Two Traditions: Oral and Visual

Week-18

1. Organic Link Between Humans and Environment

Week-19

1. Tribal Culture: Mythical Narrative of the Ancestors Story

2. Folktale Narrative of the Moneylender and his Debtor Week

Week-20

1. General Aspects of Mother Forest: The Unfinished story of C.K. Janu I

2. The context of Mother Forest: The Unfinished Story of C.K. Janu II

Week-21

1. The Novel Kocharethi: The Arya Woman-Background

2. Context of the Novel Kocharethi: The Arya Woman

Week-22

1. Denotified Tribes Part-I

2. Denotified Tribes Part-II

Week-23

1. Budhan-I

2. Budhan-II

Week-24

1. Writers of short short fiction: Temsula Ao and Lummer Dai Part I

2. Writers of short short fiction: Temsula Ao and Lummer Dai Part II