The challenge of caste
The first of a three-part series which explores books that give us a vivid insight into caste.
Reading, for the voracious, is often like a good cup of tea. It is light, comforting and warm and lifts up your spirits on a bad day. Often, as you discover yourself and your interests evolve, you realise that the books you accumulate reflect them — science fiction, horror, history and so on. Reading books can also be a way to learn something serious, under the shroud of a story. Whether it is the political or social history of a place or even just a glimpse into unchartered territory, nothing delivers it better than a racy book, vivid with detail. And at the end of it, you will realise that the dates and facts have stayed with you long after the book is over. Here is a list of five books that deal with the issue of caste in the Indian context.
The House of Blue Mangoes
Alive with descriptions and set in the caste-based society of the south Indian village of Chevathar, The House of Blue Mangoes by David Davidar is an exploration of the socio-economic systems of a village drenched in tradition. It describes how caste rules the everyday lives of people who belong to the andavar and devar communities, through the family of Solomon Durai, the headman. The book begins in the 1880s and moves through three generations of his family, with a panoramic view of the political changes that the country goes through in the process.
Karukku
This book is by celebrated author Bama, originally in Tamil and translated into English by Lakshmi Holmstrom. It details the coming-of-age of a young Dalit Christian girl, and through her eyes, exposes the reader to the lives of her people. The story is autobiographical and the narrative talks about the girl’s religion and how it influences the community. It unfolds as the protagonist grows and voices out issues that are normally never looked at.
Vasudeva’s family
An inter-caste marriage in a traditional Brahmin family opens up a Pandora’s box. In the novel, Vasudeva’s family, a translation of author Vaidehi’s Kannada book Asprushyaru, a traditional Brahmin family grapples with the changes taking place around it. The book throws light on people who are empathising and yet enslaved by the rules of their caste. More importantly, it touches upon the subject of untouchability and its many layers.
Gardener in a wasteland
Marrying history, politics and caste, A Gardener in a Wasteland, by Aparajita Ninan and Srividya Natarajan, is the story of Jyotirao Phule and his beliefs. Inspired by his book, Gulamgiri (Slavery), the graphic novel flows like a conversation between Jyotirao and his wife, Dhondiba, touching on many important subjects. Issues like class, caste, slavery and women’s rights are spoken about in the grand context of the Indian freedom movement.
Toss of a lemon
What happens to a young Brahmin widow in the early 20th century south India? When Sivakami marries Hanumantharaman, she envisions a life of domestic bliss. But tragedy strikes three years after the birth of her son, Vairum; her husband dies and she is now a Brahmin widow with two young children. Sivakami, though adhering strictly to caste norms, does one unconventional thing; she continues to inhabit her husband’s house, deciding to lead an independent life. While Sivakami defies caste rules to raise her children, she herself never steps beyond its limits. The book, by Padma Viswanathan, weaves a poignant tale of caste and life in a Brahmin quarter in South India.
