Subalternities in India and Latin America : Dalit Autobiographies and the Testimonio

This volume presents a comparative exploration of Dalit autobiographical writing from India and of Latin American testimonio as subaltern voices from two regions of the Global South. Offering frames for linking global subalternity today, the chapters address Siddalingaiah’s __Ooru Keri__; Muli’s __Life History__; Manoranjan Byapari and Manju Bala’s narratives; and Yashica Dutt’s __Coming Out as Dalit__; among others, alongside foundational texts of the testimonio genre. While embedded in their specific experiences, the shared history of oppression and resistance on the basis of race/ethnicity and caste from where these subaltern life histories arise constitutes an alternative epistemological locus. The chapters point to the inadequacy of reading them within existing critical frameworks in autobiography studies. A fascinating set of studies juxtaposing the two genres, the book is an essential read for scholars and researchers of Dalit studies, subaltern studies, testimonio and autobiography, cultural studies, world literature, comparative literature, history, political sociology and social anthropology, arts and aesthetics, Latin American studies, and Global South studies. This volume presents a comparative exploration of Dalit autobiographical writing from India and of Latin American testimonio as subaltern voices from two regions of the Global South. Offering frames for linking global subalternity today, the chapters address Siddalingaiah’s Ooru Keri; Muli’s Life History; Manoranjan Byapari and Manju Bala’s narratives; and Yashica Dutt’s Coming Out as Dalit; among others, alongside foundational texts of the testimonio genre. While embedded in their specific experiences, the shared history of oppression and resistance on the basis of race/ethnicity and caste from where these subaltern life histories arise constitutes an alternative epistemological locus. The chapters point to the inadequacy of reading them within existing critical frameworks in autobiography studies. A fascinating set of studies juxtaposing the two genres, the book is an essential read for scholars and researchers of Dalit studies, subaltern studies, testimonio and autobiography, cultural studies, world literature, comparative literature, history, political sociology and social anthropology, arts and aesthetics, Latin American studies, and Global South studies. Cover 1 Half Title 4 Title 6 Copyright 7 Contents 8 List of contributors 10 Acknowledgements 13 Introduction 14 Part I Towards a conceptual and definitional framework 32 1 The touch of the other: Testimonio and autobiographical writing in India and Latin America 34 2 Some notes on the testimonio 57 3 The testimonio in Latin America and India: Critical contestations of the collective voice 67 4 In defence of the “subaltern”: Tracing the concept through/across South Asia and Latin America 82 Part II Autobiographies in the pluriverse of Dalit writing 98 5 Autobiography and the defacement of the self: Siddalingaiah’s Ooru Keri 100 6 Muli’s life history as Dalit testimonio 109 7 Dalit writing in Bangla: A thematic reading of selected narratives by Manoranjan Byapari and Manju Bala 124 8 Opening the self or the other? On the emergence of Bahujan self-narratives on new media 135 9 Studying caste up: Yashica Dutt’s Coming Out as Dalit 146 Part III Revisiting the testimonio with cross-cultural readings 158 10 At the threshold of literature: Testimonios after Menchú 160 11 The small voice of history: Revisiting Biography of a Runaway Slave 176 12 Resistance through recipes: Locating testimonial aspects in Dalit and Chicana food narratives 191 13 Testimonio as a repository of subaltern memory: Reading women’s narratives from Guatemala and India 208 Index 222 This Volume Presents A Comparative Exploration Of Dalit Autobiographical Writing From India And Latin American Testimonio As Subaltern Voices From Two Regions Of The Global South. Offering Frames For Comparing Global Subalternity Today, The Essays Address Siddalingaiah's Ooru Keri; Muli's Life History; Manoranjan Byapari And Manju Bala's Narratives, Yashica Dutt's Coming Out As Dalit, Amongst Others, Alongside Foundational Texts Of The Testimonio Genre. While Embedded In Their Specific Experiences, The Shared History Of Oppression And Resistance On The Basis Of Race/ethnicity And Caste From Where These Subaltern Life-histories Arise Constitutes An Alternative Epistemological Locus. The Essays Point To The Inadequacy Of Reading Them Within Existing Critical Frameworks In Autobiography Studies. A Fascinating Set Of Studies Juxtaposing The Two Genres, The Book Will Be An Essential Read For Scholars And Researchers Of Dalit Studies, Subaltern Studies, Testimonio And Autobiography, Cultural Studies, World Literature, Comparative Literature, History, Political Sociology And Social Anthropology, Arts And Aesthetics, Latin American Studies, And Global South Studies. This volume presents a comparative exploration of Dalit autobiographical writing from India and of Latin American testimonio as subaltern voices from two regions of the Global South. O ering frames for linking global subalternity today, the chapters address Siddalingaiah’s Ooru Keri; Muli’s Life History; Manoranjan Byapari and Manju Bala’s narratives; and Yashica Dutt’s Coming Out as Dalit; among others, alongside foundational texts of the testimonio genre.While embedded in their speci c experiences, the shared history of oppression and resistance on the basis of race/ethnicity and caste from where these subaltern life histories arise constitutes an alternative epistemological locus. The chapters point to the inadequacy of reading them within existing critical frameworks in autobiography studies.