The Dark of the Dawn: Bhore Ke Andhere Mein

Dhrubo Jyoti, Desraj Kali, Manoranjan Byapari and Sheoraj Singh Bechain in conversation with Harish Trivedi. Transformative Dalit literature has an inspirational role to play in the battle for justice and equity. Iconic writers and journalists who struggled with extreme poverty, prejudice and illiteracy and went on to become highly regarded litterateurs speak of the trajectory of their careers, the hardships and humiliation they faced and the victories and redemptions of literature. Sheoraj Singh Bechain teaches Hindi in the University of Delhi and is the author of several books, including the chilling autobiography Mera Bachpan Mere Kandhon Par. Manoranjan Byapari, a Bengali writer and sociology political activist, learnt to read and write while in jail at the age of 24. He has written over a dozen novels, a hundred short stories and numerous essays. His autobiographical novel, Interrogating My Chandal life, has won several awards. Dhrubo Jyoti is a Dalit and genderqueer person who works on issues of caste, gender and sexuality. Desraj Kali is a Punjabi novelist whose work focuses on the Ghadar movement, the literature and culture of Punjab and Dalit issues. In conversation with writer, editor and critic Harish Trivedi, they discuss their writing in the context of the personal and the political, and the many dimensions of Dalit literature. This episode is a live session from day 2 of #ZEEJLF2019.