• Bhagyasree B.
• Dr Sujarani Mathew

Karukku is a private chronicle publicizing the Dalit personal experiences to a broad spectrum of people born with silver spoons in their mouths. The stinging struggles by Bama – a Tamil Dalit woman born in a Roman Catholic family – and her fellow people to make a living out of their stinking existence is the part and parcel of this autobiography. Bama’s restructuring of her performativity – both as a woman and a Dalit writer – bestows her work a unique leap in the tradition of Dalit writing. A genuine rendering of a victim of double marginalisation, untouchability and financial hegemony, Bama’s narrative is the tale of every Dalit who fall prey to the brutality of the prosperous upper castes. The narrative style of the plot is never cut off from the readers and they feel one with the author and literally witness the spiteful discriminations while treading on through the plot. Direct, open and courageous exposure of a Dalit heart with tremendous confidence and composure, Karukku - as the name suggests, like the palmyra leaves - becomes a double edged sword cutting deep into the flesh of false caste consciousness, wealth and power. Karukku – the influential manifesto of Dalit consciousness – delineates the plight of every Dalit born human trying to carve out a life of him/her. The paper attempts to delve into the nuances of Bama’s performativity and her resilience after the traumatic experiences.

Dalit consciousness, performativity, double marginalisation, untouchability and financial hegemony.

"A DALIT LEAP: RECONCEIVING CASTE AND GENDER PERFORMATIVITIES.", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 6, page no.178-182, June-2019, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1906C29.pdf

"A DALIT LEAP: RECONCEIVING CASTE AND GENDER PERFORMATIVITIES.", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 6, page no. pp178-182, June-2019, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1906C29.pdf