The voices of Dalits and the marginalised are often left unheard, lost in the mainstream literary festivals where their narratives are sidelined. To change this and to provide a platform dedicated to Dalit, tribal, and other marginalized communities, the Fourth Dalit Literature Festival is set to take place from February 28 to March 1, at Aryabhatta College, Delhi University (South Campus). The event organized by Ambedkarvadi Lekhak Sangh, Aryabhatta College, and Dalit Adivasi Shakti Adhikar Manch (DASAM), aims to use literature as a tool in dismantling oppressive structures and amplifying voices that mainstream spaces fail to accommodate.
This year’s theme for the festival, "World Peace is Possible Through Dalit Literature", is more than just a literary discourse – positioning literature as a tool for social change. Taking inspiration from Ambedkar, the festival aims to reclaim literature, culture, and art from dominant and popular narratives that have failed to talk about the experiences of Dalits. There are fresh themes, too, to raise issues concerning women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and tribal communities besides incorporating the movement for environmental protection.
Seema Mathur, a professor at Kalindi College, who is associated with the festival, emphasised the importance of organising a separate event for Dalit literature. “Other events offer Dalit literature a corner but it needs a centre stage to gather the attention it needs and share its stories to the people.”
“Through such events, we aim to break the stereotype regarding the term ‘Dalit’ as it is not just a community based on caste but comprises women, LGBTQAI members, and everyone who has faced discrimination and injustice in any form”, she added. The organisers feel that the pain of injustice and discrimination is common and hence this platform will unite everyone and create a vibrant space to celebrate oneself.
The two-day festivities will host writers, academicians, cultural scholars, singers, playwrights, and artists representing various languages. The programme has also included research paper presentations, panel discussions, cultural performances, book exhibitions, and art exhibitions, making it a platform for artistic and intellectual exchange. The aim is to explore Dalit literature’s contribution to addressing caste oppression, gender issues, and social justice through cinema, poetry, education, climate, and environment.
