A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF OMPRAKASH VALMIKI'S OWN EXPERIENCES AS A DALIT IN HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY: “JOOTHAN”

Omprakash Valmiki has given a brief preface to his autobiography, “Joothan”. He explains in that preface how this autobiography was originated or what gave him idea to write this autobiography. He begins by stating that this autobiography is a record of his painful experiences which he has undergone. He mentions that a dalit's life is always painful and it does not find any place in the literary creations of the main stream of literature. In the writing of this autobiography, it was possible for him to change the names of places and people by whom he was ill-treated. But he didn't do that because he wanted his experiences to be authentic and verifiable so he kept the same names of places and persons. Valmiki concludes by saying that though India is changed and she has now a superior civilization, the condition of the dalits is the same. He also mentions that only one who has suffered those bitter experiences, knows the sting of it.