Representing Subalternity The Works of P Sivakami Sharankumar Limbale Gogu Shyamala and Omprakash Valmiki

Abstract

newlineIn the early Vedic period, the people of ancient Indian Hindu society assumed newlinesocial status on the basis of certain approved code of Guna (quality) and Karma newline(actions) and the social order was known as Chaturvarnic Vyavastha (a four-fold newlineVarna scheme) the populace was divided into Brahman (priest), Kshatriya (warrior), newlineVaishya (merchant), and Shudra (servant). The former three groups were constituted a newlinebroad category and were Dwija (twice-born) and the last group Shudra usually was newlinecalled Ekja (once-born). Ancient literature mentions Antaja or Antyaja (last-born), newlinethe term refers to the untouchables who had no place in the Varna scheme. Since newlinemedieval times a fifth Varna called Ati-shudra was added to the original four. The newlineAti-Shudras used to live outside caste Hindu settlements. newlineIt is observed that Dwija had three common duties viz. acquisition of newlineknowledge, the performance of sacrifices and making over gifts. The Shudras were newlinemainly meant to provide menial services to the twice-born. Manu, the lawgiver newlineassigned to the Shudras the status of slaves, who in defiance of prescribed rules were newlinetreated harshly. They had no right to contradict the views of the twice-born but to newlinecapitulate before them. They were deemed ineligible for performing a certain rite in newlinemarriage and funeral ceremonies. Furthermore, they had neither gotra of their own, newlinenor had the right to wear the sacred thread. The caste next to the Shudras in the newlinehierarchy was an extremely separated category of caste. It occupied the lowest newlineposition in the social caste order and were called untouchables because of the belief newlinethat the physical contact of untouchables will defile them.