A Song by Poykayil Appachan - Dalit Studies

Summary

In this lecture, Miss A discusses the poem 'A Song' by Poignant, a Dalit writer and founder of a socio-religious movement. The poem, a song reflecting the struggles of the Dalit community, highlights their lack of representation in historical narratives. Themes of discrimination, caste system, and the quest for justice are explored, questioning societal and divine fairness.

Takeaways

• 📜 The lecture discusses the poem 'A Song' by Poignant, a part of Dalit Studies.
• 👤 Poignant, originally named Spoygal Srikumar Gurudevan, was a Dalit writer and the founder of a socio-religious movement.
• 🌏 Poignant was born in Travancore and later converted to Christianity, being associated with the Mar Thoma Church and the Brethren Mission.
• 📚 The poem is in the form of a song, reflecting the oral tradition, and is translated from Malayalam by A.S Shaker.
• 🏛 The caste system in India historically categorized people into four varnas, with Dalits being the 'broken' or 'oppressed' class.
• 📉 Dalits, also known as 'Untouchables', were marginalized and often overlooked in historical records and literature.
• 🎓 Dalit literature emerged in the 1960s as an expression of Dalit consciousness, challenging the mainstream narratives.
• 📝 The poem 'A Song' begins with the poet lamenting the lack of historical recognition for his community.
• 🤔 The poem raises questions about discrimination, identity, and the role of God in perpetuating social injustice.
• 💬 It emphasizes the poet's personal and communal struggle with caste-based discrimination and the desire for recognition and respect.
• 🔍 The lecture concludes by inviting questions and further discussion on the themes and issues presented in the poem.

Q & A

Who is the author of the poem 'A Song' discussed in the script?

The author of the poem 'A Song' is Poignant, originally named Spoygal Srikumar Gurudevan.

What significant movement did Poignant found?

Poignant founded the Pratik Shareksha Devasabha, a socio-religious movement aimed at eliminating discrimination and the caste system.

What is the meaning of the term 'Dalit'?

The term 'Dalit' means 'broken' or 'oppressed' in Sanskrit and was later used to refer to the 'untouchables' in the Indian caste system.

What is the significance of the paper 'Dalit Studies' in the context of the poem?

The paper 'Dalit Studies' provides a framework for understanding the socio-political context and the struggles of the Dalit community, which is central to the themes of the poem.

How does the poem 'A Song' reflect the experiences of the Dalit community?

The poem 'A Song' reflects the experiences of the Dalit community by highlighting their historical invisibility and the discrimination they face, as expressed through the poet's lament for the lack of written history about his race.

What is the role of education in the emergence of Dalit literature?

Education played a crucial role in the emergence of Dalit literature, as it allowed members of the Dalit community who became literate to write about their own experiences, struggles, and concerns, thus giving voice to their community.

What is the significance of the character Velutha in Arundhati Roy's 'The God of Small Things'?

Velutha, a character from the Pariah community in Arundhati Roy's 'The God of Small Things', represents the discrimination and ridicule faced by the Dalit community, even after conversion to Christianity.

How does the poem 'A Song' address the issue of caste discrimination?

The poem 'A Song' addresses the issue of caste discrimination by questioning why the Dalit community is blamed and ostracized, and by challenging the notion of divine justice in the face of ongoing injustice.

What is the main theme of the poem 'A Song'?

The main theme of the poem 'A Song' is a lament for the lack of recognition and historical representation of the Dalit community, along with a critique of the caste system and societal discrimination.

How does the poem 'A Song' challenge the reader's perspective on the Dalit community?

The poem 'A Song' challenges the reader's perspective by presenting the Dalit community's experiences and struggles in their own words, thereby humanizing them and inviting empathy and understanding.

What is the poet's response to the historical erasure of the Dalit community?

The poet responds to the historical erasure of the Dalit community by expressing regret and pain, and by attempting to write their own history and song, thereby reclaiming their narrative.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Dalit Literature and Poet Apache

The video begins with an introduction to the topic of Dalit literature, focusing on the poem 'A Song' by the poet Apache. The speaker, Miss A, is an assistant professor at K A H M Unity Women's College in Manchester. She provides a brief biography of Apache, whose original name was Spoygal Srikumar Gurudevan. Born in 1879, he was a Dalit writer, poet, and the founder of a socio-religious movement. He later converted to Christianity and was associated with the Mathuma Church and the Brethren Mission. The speaker also discusses the caste system in India, the term 'Dalit,' and the emergence of Dalit literature in the 1960s. This literature is distinct from mainstream writings as it represents the perspective of the marginalized, focusing on their struggles and experiences.

05:02

📜 The Neglect of Dalit History in Literature

In the second paragraph, the speaker delves into the poem 'A Song' and its significance. The poem starts with a lament about the lack of representation of the Dalit community in historical writings. The poet uses the phrase 'not a single letter seen on my race' to express the absence of any written history about his community. The speaker explains that this is a reflection of the broader neglect of the Dalit community in historical studies. The poet further emphasizes the contrast between the extensive histories of other races and the complete absence of any mention of his own community. This lack of representation is a source of pain and regret for the poet, who feels compelled to add his own voice and melody to the historical narrative, recounting the story of his people in Kerala and their transformation into 'demons' due to societal discrimination.

10:05

😔 The Struggles and Discrimination of the Dalit Community

The third paragraph continues the discussion on the poem, highlighting the themes of discrimination and the struggle for identity and recognition. The speaker references Arundhati Roy's novel 'The God of Small Things' to illustrate how Dalits were treated in earlier times. The character Velouta, from the novel, represents the Dalit community's experience with caste discrimination, even after converting to Christianity. The speaker also discusses the historical treatment of Dalits, who were considered 'untouchables' and were subjected to severe social ostracization. The poet questions why his community is blamed and ostracized, despite not having committed any过错 (note: the text seems to have a typo here, possibly meant 'wrongs'). The poem ends with a poignant question directed at God and society, questioning the persistence of injustice and discrimination.

15:05

🌐 Conclusion: Reflections on Dalit Literature and its Themes

In the final paragraph, the speaker concludes the discussion on the poem 'A Song' by summarizing its main themes. The poem is described as a lament or expression of disappointment, reflecting the sad plight of the Dalit community and their absence from historical records. The speaker also touches on the personal emotions of the poet and the broader societal context, questioning who should be blamed for the ongoing discrimination and injustice. The speaker invites any further questions or clarifications, emphasizing the importance of understanding and addressing the issues raised in Dalit literature.

Keywords

💡Dalit

Dalit is a term derived from Sanskrit, meaning 'broken' or 'oppressed.' Historically, it referred to the lowest caste in the traditional Hindu caste system, often referred to as 'untouchables.' In the context of the video, it highlights the marginalized community that faced significant discrimination and social exclusion. The script discusses how the Dalit community has been historically overlooked in historical narratives, emphasizing their struggle for recognition and equality.

💡Caste System

The caste system is a hierarchical social structure that has been traditionally prevalent in India, dividing people into four main categories: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras. The script mentions this system to underscore the deep-rooted social stratification that has led to the marginalization of the Dalit community. The caste system is central to understanding the historical and ongoing challenges faced by the Dalits.

💡Poignant

Poignant, in this context, refers to the poet and writer Spoygal Srikumar Gurudevan, who is also known as Apache. He is a significant figure in Dalit literature and the founder of the Pratik Shareksha Devasabha, a socio-religious movement. His work is highlighted in the script as a representation of the Dalit struggle and their quest for social justice.

💡Dalit Literature

Dalit Literature is a genre of writing that emerged in the 1960s, primarily in the Marathi language, reflecting the experiences, struggles, and perspectives of the Dalit community. The script discusses how this literature is distinct from mainstream writings, as it provides a voice to the marginalized and challenges the traditional narratives written by the upper caste. It is a crucial aspect of the video's theme, showcasing the Dalit community's fight for recognition and equality.

💡Dalit Consciousness

Dalit consciousness refers to the awareness and activism around the issues faced by the Dalit community. The script mentions how this consciousness began to emerge with the education and literacy of the Dalits, leading to their own writings and advocacy. It is a key theme in the video, illustrating the community's efforts to assert their identity and rights.

💡Pratik Shareksha Devasabha

Pratik Shareksha Devasabha is a socio-religious movement founded by Spoygal Srikumar Gurudevan, also known as Apache. The script highlights this movement as a significant step in the Dalit community's struggle for social justice and religious liberation. It represents a collective effort to challenge the caste system and promote equality.

💡A. S. Shaker

A. S. Shaker is the translator mentioned in the script who translated the poem 'A Song' from Malayalam. His role is significant as it brings the work of Dalit writers to a broader audience, thereby amplifying their voices and struggles in the global context.

💡Oral Tradition

The oral tradition refers to the cultural practice of passing down stories, songs, and poems through spoken word rather than written text. The script describes the poem 'A Song' as being in the form of a song that can be sung, emphasizing the importance of oral tradition in preserving and sharing the Dalit community's history and experiences.

💡Discrimination

Discrimination is a central theme in the script, highlighting the systemic and social exclusion faced by the Dalit community. It discusses how even after legal and constitutional rights were established, the Dalits continue to face prejudice and marginalization. The script uses examples from literature and historical practices to illustrate the pervasive nature of this discrimination.

💡God of Small Things

The script references Arundhati Roy's Booker Prize-winning novel 'The God of Small Things' to illustrate the discrimination and marginalization faced by the Dalit community. The novel, through its characters and narrative, provides a vivid portrayal of caste-based discrimination, which is relevant to the themes discussed in the video.

💡Pariah Community

The Pariah community, as mentioned in the script in relation to Arundhati Roy's novel, refers to a historically marginalized and discriminated group in India. The script uses this term to highlight the systemic exclusion and social ostracization faced by such communities, even after attempts to integrate into mainstream society, such as conversion to Christianity.

Highlights

Introduction to the poem 'A Song' by Poignant, part of Dalit Studies.

Biographical details of Apache, original name Spoygal Srikumar Gurudevan, a Dalit writer and poet.

Apache founded Pratik Shareksha Devasabha, a socio-religious movement, and later converted to Christianity.

The poem is in the form of a song, reflecting the oral tradition.

Dalit Studies focuses on the caste system and the marginalized Dalit community in India.

Dalit means 'broken' or 'oppressed', and they were historically known as 'untouchables'.

Gandhiji referred to Dalits as 'Harijans', meaning 'children of God'.

Dalit literature emerged in the 1960s, focusing on the experiences and struggles of the Dalit community.

The poem begins with a lament about the lack of historical records for the Dalit community.

The poet expresses regret that no one has written about the Dalit community's history.

The poem highlights the discrimination and exclusion of Dalits from mainstream society.

The term 'demon' is used to describe the negative connotation associated with Dalits.

Reference to Arundhati Roy's 'The God of Small Things' and the portrayal of caste discrimination.

The poem questions why Dalits are blamed and ostracized despite not being at fault.

The poet challenges the notion of God's justice in allowing such discrimination to persist.

The poem concludes with a question directed at God and society about the ongoing discrimination against Dalits.

Themes of the poem include lament, disappointment, and the struggle for recognition and justice.

Transcripts

hello

good day to one and all this is miss a

krishna sunda assistant professor

department of english k a h m unity

women's college manchester

today we're going to discuss the poem

titled as a song written by poignant and

this is actually a part of

the paper dalit studies

so before moving on to the poem let's

take a brief look at the biographical

details of the writer

apache

his original name is spoygal srikumar

gurudevan and he was born in the year

1879

he was a dalit writer and poet he's also

the founder of pratik shareksha

devasabha which is a socio-religious

movement

he later converted to christianity and

was known as

he was born in travancore he was also

associated with the mathuma church

and the brethren mission

he left everything for a greater cause

which was to eliminate the kind of

discrimination

and caste system that existed

he worked for religious liberation he

was also a part of saudi jana and his

uncle by ayan kali

now this is a title of his work unknown

subjects

songs of poligay lapachin and this was

translated from malayalam by a.s shaker

so the poem is not actually in the form

of a poem

but

rather it is like a song which can be

sung in an oral tradition

so before we get into the details of the

poem a few things about dalit studies

now we all know that india had gone

through a very solid past with caste

system embedded in that so there is a

kind of hierarchy here and a dalit stood

out of the four warners so we are

talking about the vadna system in indian

caste system

and here are the four classifications it

begins with brahmins then comes

shatriyas then vaishyas and sudras so

dalit means broken or oppressed now this

is in fact a sanskrit term and it means

broken or oppressed now later they came

to be known as the untouchables

now it was gandhiji who gave them the

name harijans

so hari here is

the god

so god's children so they were around 40

million bullets at this time when gandhi

was propagating these ideas

now more than that this began with

ambika's mission and

a literature

to face

the issues relating with dalit

consciousness slowly emerged

so the ultimate aim was human freedom

and to get inspired for freedom of life

and

most of these works are not about their

personal experience but more than that

they stand for a whole community

and dalit writings are often different

from mainstream writings

because

till then

it was the upper class society who wrote

about the problems of the marginalized

so therefore there was a difference in

the perspective in which it was seen

because they were not seen through the

eyes of the marginalized but

they were seen through the eyes of the

oppressor themselves

now it was during the 1960s

specifically in marathi language that

dalit literature started emerging

because still then dalits were not

educated they never got education they

never knew how to read and write

so the only writings that came up till

1960s were the writings of the upper

class society and the upper class

society never found time to discuss

the sufferings and struggles of the

lower class group

so from 1960s onwards

the lower class group who got educated

who knew to read and write started

writing about their concerns their

experiences and their struggles now the

slowly paved way for something known as

dalit consciousness so many people from

different communities started

contributing to valid literature and

this is exactly what we see today as

dalit literature

so moving on to the poem

song now this is a very simple poem

no

not a single letter is seen on my race

so many histories are seen on so many

races so this is how the poem begins it

begins with a negative term no

not a single letter seen on my race so

see right from the very first line

onwards the poet is not talking about

his

personal freedom or personal right

in fact he is talking about the entire

struggles that his community has gone

through so not a single letter is seen

on my race which means nobody has

written anything about my community

so many histories are seen on so many

races now if you check a number of

historical books you can see there are

lots of studies and investigations even

research studies done on different races

and ethnic groups if you go to the asian

site or the european side or even the

african side we come across a number of

communities and races which are recorded

as a part of history

but we cannot find any such history in

connection with this valid community so

in fact the poet was lamenting about

this condition

not a single letter a scene on my race

nobody ever bothered to write something

about my community

so many histories are seen on so many

races so there is a comparison made

there are lots of historical studies on

many other communities but

not in our community

scrutinize each one of them the whole

histories of the world

not a single letter is seen on my race

so this is again a reputation the same

meaning comes here scrutinize each one

of them if you do not trust me go and

check the details of the whole histories

of the world so he is not just confining

it to kerala or india he says even if

you check the entire histories of the

world not a single letter a scene on my

race so there is no one who talked about

my community

there was no one on this earth to write

the history of my race in the olden days

what a pity and you can see the

exclamation mark

so he says no one was there to write

about this history now why

the first thing is that the daluts were

never educated then they never knew how

to read and write and therefore nobody

from their community got a chance to

speak about

the struggles that they had gone through

so nobody wrote about my community what

a pity so that was so sad

think of it

regret fills with him

let me add something in my own melody so

whenever i think about this that not a

single line has been written regarding

the history of my community it pains me

i'm feeling pained

regret fills with him because this is

something where you don't have an option

left

this is the past

it is over you can't rewrite the past so

regret fills within

let me add something in my own melody so

let me try saying something else in my

own words

in my own language

the story of a people who lived in

kerala since the ancient times and how

they became demons

so now he says nobody has written

anything

so let me write something about this

community in my own language in my own

song

the story of a group of people who lived

in kerala so this is again dallas since

the ancient times so they were the

inhabitants of this land and they are

very close with these land and nature

because they were working in these

agricultural fields so they had become a

part of the history

culture and economy of kerala long long

back

but

nobody has bothered to write about this

group

and how they became demands so demon is

actually

a negative term a negative connotation

something which is not divine something

that is scary something that is negative

so these people are always considered as

demons which means a bad woman now if

you look at the earlier books written

during the 1960s and 1970s you can

clearly understand how these dalit

people were actually treated now

arundhati roy in her novel her booker

prize winning novel the god of small

things she writes about this segregation

or this kind of a discrimination so

beautifully

now there is a character called velouta

in arundhati roy's god of small things

now willitha belongs to the pariah

community

so he has always been a butt of ridicule

in front of the society

so to overcome this caste discrimination

his family gets converted to

christianity believing that they won't

be discriminated again but things

remained the same because when these

people from pariah community got

converted to christianity

they were not considered as normal

christians instead they were called as

rice christians which means

they separated the rice christians as a

different group

they had separate churches they had

separate places to live in so in every

walk of life they were discriminated

even after getting converted

to christianity so this kind of a

discrimination or a categorization

existed in india long long back so you

might have seen in movies where these

dalits were not allowed to use umbrellas

and sometimes when an upper class person

was

coming up they had to crawl backwards

and their foul breath should not reach

the upper class person they were totally

negated from the normal walk of life

and in a way you can see they were

known as untouchables

so this is the history that the poet is

talking about

those people who once served in these

agricultural lands they were considered

as

bad almonds later

no shame have i to say the falls of my

cast so i'm being very open here even if

there had been some mistakes done my

done by my community i can openly say

that i don't have any shame for that

though all blame me a cursed offspring

on earth

so whenever an untouchable is seen

that person is considered as a cursed

offspring on earth because nobody wants

to see them and nobody wants to take

care of them

how is it possible that all blame us

so this is a very beautiful question

that the poet is asking how is it

possible that all blame us what have we

done

we haven't done any mistakes

the only thing we did was even without

our knowledge we were born into this

kind of a community so how is it

possible that all blame us

till the end of earth and sky

so

why are people blaming us

and from one end to the other of earth

and sky means wherever they go they are

ridiculed and they are completely

relegated to the background

how can god who shaped everything and

love this to happen on earth today so

this is a question which is posed

towards god

it can also be considered as a question

that is posed towards each one of us

how can god who shaped everything i love

this to happen on earth today now even

today when we talk about

cars discrimination legal rights

constitutional rights we still know

there are lots and lots of people who

still carry this kind of an attitude in

their mind so even if discrimination is

not existing externally

internally in the mindset of a lot of

people this kind of a discrimination is

still relevant

so he's asking a question how can god do

this and we all know that god is not

always just and sometimes we feel there

is a kind of injustice in the way in

which god is treating everything in this

world so this is the same question that

he is asking how can god who shaped

everything and love this to happen on

earth today so why is god becoming

unjust

or why is justice not met by god because

even today despite all these arguments

systems and law and constitutional

rights

dalits are still treated as dalits or as

untouchables

so with a question towards god with a

question towards the society he

concludes the poem

so some of the main themes in the poem

this is a song of lament or

disappointment

now this is the sad plight of his race

and they do not have a place in history

and

from community to personal emotions the

poet is discussing things

and the final question like who should

be blamed is it the god

is it the people around

or is it the dullet themselves or is it

the society around them

so with this we come to the end of this

pool so thank you very much for your

patient listening in case if you've got

any doubts clarifications or if you need

any more assistance please do not

hesitate to connect with me so thank you

very much thank you