Guest Lecture by Dr. Rajan Barrett: Challenging the Boundaries of Dalit Literature

 

Guest Lecture by Dr. Rajan Barrett: Challenging the Boundaries of Dalit Literature

On 4th February 2025, the Department of English at Carmel College of Arts, Science and Commerce for Women, Nuvem, hosted a stimulating and deeply reflective guest lecture by renowned scholar and former faculty of the Department of English, Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara — Dr. Rajan Barrett. The session was titled Dalit Literature: A Misnomer? and offered students and faculty a compelling foray into the complexities and nuances of Dalit writing in India.

The event began with a warm welcome by Principal Dr. Sr. Maria Lizanne, followed by an introduction to the speaker by Dr. Glenis Mendonca, Head of the Department of English. Dr. Barrett wasted no time in diving into the heart of the debate — is "Dalit Literature" a useful category, or does it risk oversimplifying a diverse and layered set of experiences?

In his characteristic style — both provocative and erudite — Dr. Barrett argued that Dalits are not a monolithic group, and their identities are deeply interwoven with intersections of caste and class. He discussed Bama's Karukku (a landmark Tamil Dalit text), while also navigating the revolutionary spirit of the Dalit Panthers movement.

Referencing Aniket Jaaware's powerful essays such as Eating, and eating with, the Dalit and Destitute Literature, Dr. Barrett invited the audience to rethink notions of representation, voice, and literary ownership. The talk also touched upon canonical works like Vijay Tendulkar’s Mitrachi Goshta, bridging the conversation across genres and regions. The event was coordinated by Dr. Brian Mendonça, who currently teaches the Dalit Literature course to Second Year BA students. The session concluded with a thoughtful vote of thanks delivered by student Lysha Fernandes, who captured the audience’s appreciation for a lecture that was equal parts challenging, eye-opening, and intellectually nourishing. The talk didn’t just add to the students' academic toolkit—it inspired a shift in perspective.