A Study of Sharankumar Limbale’s Dalit Literature with Special Reference to Akkarmashi (The Outcaste)

Abstract

This paper examines Sharankumar Limbale’s contribution to Dalit literature, focusing on his landmark autobiography Akkarmashi (The Outcaste). Limbale’s writings serve as a powerful voice of protest, chronicling the centuries-long oppression and exploitation of Dalits in India. Through vivid narration and lived experiences, he challenges caste hierarchies and exposes the hypocrisy, violence and discrimination inherent in the social order. This study explores Limbale’s depiction of identity crises, economic exploitation, social ostracism and the collective trauma of the Dalit community. It also contextualizes his work within the larger framework of Dalit criticism and aesthetics, showing how literature becomes a means of resistance and social change.