A Study of Select Dalit Mens Autobiographies

Abstract

1 newlineA Study of Select Dalit Men s Autobiographies newlineABSTRACT newlineChapter I-Introduction The first chapter explores the question of autobiography and the evolution of Dalit autobiography with special reference tocaste issue,struggle for liberation, identity and socio-movements.The prominent criticRobert Southey was the first to use the literary term autobiography in 1809, which means recording of one s own life. When the individual becomes aware of the self, the autobiographies would come into being. The subjective narration in the form of I or self becomes predominant in the autobiography. The self is presented in two ways: inner self, which means the author s individual and historical self. There should be no room for fantasy and imagination. newlineThe autobiography is a testing ground for the critical issues ranging from the ideas of the authorship, representation, selfhood and division. The autobiographies are traced back from the time of Plato and have been expressed itself in the form of a genre since the time of Rousseau s Confession was written. Now it is popular across the world. newlineThe roots of the autobiographies can be seen in the ancient Indian mythological literature. The identical traces are found in Hindu and Buddhists scripts, are similar to autobiographies. HarshaCharita by Banabhatta, written in 7th century is treated as the earliest biographical writing of ancient Indian literature. Babar Nama, Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri and others of Mughul emperors are known as the early autobiographical narratives in Indian literature. Babar Nama, which was written in Chagatai language by Emperor Babar, literally means Book of Babar. Tuzuk-i- newline2 newlineJahangiri written in Persian language by Emperor Jahangir was another autobiography talk of art, politics and his family. newlineThe autobiographies began to establish as a literary genre by the end of eighteenth century. Several autobiographies were written after the middle of the 19th century due to English education. Works by women were also published during the period. One of the remar