Unearthing the Subaltern: Literary and Historical Interventions on Manual Scavenging in India

Abstract

This article looks at manual scavenging through the combined lenses of subaltern theory, history, and Dalit literature. By putting the lived experiences of sanitation workers front and center, the research shows how deep-rooted caste hierarchies survive despite strict legal bans (Ambedkar, 1936/2014; Mendelsohn & Vicziany, 1998). Relying on Gramsci’s (1971) ideas about cultural hegemony and Spivak’s (1988) questions about who gets to speak for the marginalized, this paper argues we need new narratives to challenge traditional history. We can see this reclamation of identity in autobiographies like Valmiki’s Joothan (2003) and Bama’s Karukku (2011). The research also breaks down how caste and gender overlap, leaving female manual scavengers to face entirely unique layers of discrimination (Guru, 1995). Ultimately, this article calls on the academic community to prioritize subaltern voices. Merging literature and history might be our best tool to redefine how we understand both oppression and resistance.