சி பாமாவின் படைப்புகளும் செயல்பாடும்: ஒரு விரிவான தலித் பெண்ணிய ஆய்வு: Bama’s Works and Activism: A Comprehensive Dalit Feminist Study

Abstract

Bama is a pioneer who took Dalit Feminist theory and the aesthetics of the oppressed people to a global level within the landscape of Tamil literature. This article subjects Bama's life history, her literary journey, and her social activism to a comprehensive study. Born as Faustina Mary Fatima Rani, Bama—as a Dalit Christian woman—has used her works to place the caste and gender oppression she faced before the conscience of society.

While her novel Karukku begins as an individual’s history, it evolves into a ‘Testimonio’ depicting the collective trauma of a community. In the novel Sangati, Bama records the labor of Dalit women, their resistance against violence, and their culture of rebellion. The novel Vanmam courageously explores the sub-sectarian conflicts existing within Dalit communities. Bama’s linguistic style transcended the grammatical boundaries of traditional Tamil, gaining literary recognition for the regional dialects and profanities of marginalized people. This article provides a detailed perspective on power, resistance, language, and social change as reflected in her works.

Keywords

• Dalit Feminism
• Bama
• Karukku
• Sangati
• Vanmam
• Caste Discrimination
• Linguistic Power
• Social Activism
• Sub-sectarian Conflicts
• Christian Church