• K. Suriya

The title 'The Pathetic state of Intra-caste Conflicts in Vanmam: Vendetta' revolves around the story Vanmam: Vendetta talks about the two Dalit communities i.e. Pallars and Parayars. It narrates the story of intra-caste conflicts and violence between them. It appeared in Tamil in 2003 and it is not a usual novel of atrocities against the Dalit people as it depicts the police brutality against Dalit women and vengeance of Naickers against the Parayars. Pallars and Parayars were bonded labourers to Naickers. The Pallars supported Naickers and worked under them but the Parayars intention was to live a free life without depending on the Naickers. The economic prosperity of Parayars made the upper caste Naickers furious. The Naickers withdrew their support to Parayars and instigated the Pallars to act against the Parayars by favouring them with all sorts of comfort. The interview at the end of the novel helps Bama to untie all the knots and construct a discovered Dalit identity. Like the proverb “Pen is mightier than the sword” Bama felt that the pen is a powerful tool to establish identity instead of using a sword to fight against the dominant caste to attain a better status. Unfortunately, the trials and tribulations that lay dormant in her mind flowed out in papers and later metamorphosed into literary pieces that became representations of the whole Dalit community and seldom her personal voice. Bama’s works have initiated a kind of new culture, tradition, awareness and identity to nurture new ideas and bring dignity to the life of the Dalits. Bama’s works are also instrumental to sensitise the upper caste about their faults and become aware of the unhealed wounds that have left scars in the hearts of the Dalits.

Dalit literature, intra caste struggle

"The Pathetic state of Intra-caste Conflicts in Vanmam: Vendetta", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.7, Issue 3, page no.1434-1439, March-2020, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2003211.pdf

"The Pathetic state of Intra-caste Conflicts in Vanmam: Vendetta", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.7, Issue 3, page no. pp1434-1439, March-2020, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2003211.pdf