DALIT WOMEN AND IDENTITY: STUDY ON GOGU SHYAMALA'S SELECT SHORT STORIES FROM FATHER MAY BE AN ELEPHANT AND MOTHER ONLY A SMALL BASKET, BUT...

Dalit women in India are the victims of triple oppression of caste, class and gender which are the key factors for their discrimination, humiliation and subjugation. They are subjected to violence, inhuman living conditions and discrimination which deny them better choices, opportunities, and freedom in every walk of their life. Each of the works studied here represents the female protagonist’s constant search for her authentic self. Separating themselves from oppressive familial ties, these women seek to find meaning and values in their life. Dalit women, who have been labelled as “weak” and “untouchable,” overcome all obstacles to create an identity of their own. The present paper explains how this happens in the short stories selected for study