Depiction of Dalit Conciousness in Bama’s Vanmam

Abstract

              Bama is a celebrated Dalit woman writer who has contributed a lot to Dalit literature. Her third novel Vanmam(2002) which has been translated into English by Malini Seshadri exposes the clandestine act of the Upper-Caste Naickers to instigate enmity between two Dalit sub-castes, converted Christian Parayars and Hindu Pallars. The writer, instead of grieving over and complaining about the sufferings of the marginalized, raises her voice and emphasizes the need for staying united in order to alter their position in the hierarchical society. At one level, the novel describes the motives of the Caste Hindus, incidents of violence, the atrocities against Dalit and the brutalities of police against women and at another level it highlights the willingness of the Christian Parayars to initiate dialogues with the Hindu Pallars and reconciliation takes place. Only Naickers have been elected to the post of President in Kandampatti village for many years. After the union of the two Dalit sub-castes, the joint candidate becomes the President. On the day of unveiling the statue of Ambedkar they vow to stay together ever. Solidarity of the marginalized is emphasized by Bama through Vanmam.