Ltibritte Chandal Jibon Vol 2

IIttibrite Chandal Jibon records the life of a rickshaw-wallah writer. It records the Dalit experiences of oppression in Bengal, which is otherwiseknown as a casteless society, as claimed by many a bhadralok. Being a Dalit is central to Manoranjan Byaparis writ- ing. As he says, Im a Dalit by birth. Only a dalit, oppressed by social forces can experience true dalan (oppression) in life. There should be that dalan as a dalit in Dalit writing. Dalit literature should be based on dalit life. Some of my writings deal with dalit life; some to be judged neutrally, without any preconceived estimation. He says he is a chandal in two ways, by birth and by rage (krodha chandal). This second part of Byaparis memoir burns with the rage of a krodh chandal. Byapris investigation into his identity is layered. Besides his cause identity Byapari is a Namashudra- he has also been a refugee, a Bangal, a Naxal, a communist, an activist, a writer and so on. Byaparis autobiography talks of things that have been writ- ten about many times. But the voices from within are few and far between, even these rarely find their way into the so-called main- stream. His narrative is about the need for compassion and dignity in all human relationship. It is powerful, affecting memoir about hunger and deprivation also endurance, struggle and a fierce will to live. It is about the one word that changed Byaparis life forever: Jijibisha. If theres one writer you must read, it is Manoranjan Byapari, with- out a doubt.