THE RICKSHAW AND THE REVOLT: MANORANJAN BYAPARI’S JOURNEY AS A DALIT WRITER THROUGH WORDS AND WOUNDS

Abstract

Dalit literature has emerged as one of the most powerful forms of resistance against caste-based oppression in India, offering an alternative historical and socio-political perspective from the margins. It is not merely a literary movement but an assertion of identity, dignity, and a demand for justice. Among the many Dalit voices that have contributed to this genre, Manoranjan Byapari stands out as a significant figure whose autobiographical works capture the lived realities of caste oppression, economic deprivation, and the struggle for self-assertion. His narratives are not just personal stories but testimonies of an entire community that has been historically silenced and systematically excluded from mainstream discourse.