Anatomy of an Oppression: A Dalit Poet's Challenge to the Tyranny of Purity

Authors

  • V.Sandesh Keerthinath Author

Keywords:

Devastating, invisible, psychological, scavenging, and visceral.

Abstract

This reflection confronts the chilling reality of the caste system, an "invisible prison" built not of brick and mortar, but of psychological conditioning and inherited cruelty. Anchored by the visceral poetry of Gorenti Venkanna, this 
essay demands accountability for the systemic denial of human dignity, exposing the devastating hypocrisy that defines purity and pollution in India. It highlights the continuing crimes against Dalits and lower castes—from manual scavenging to sexual violence—and asserts that the struggle for justice is fundamentally a struggle for shared humanity, imploring every reader to participate in the necessary demolition of this "state of mind."  

Author Biography

  • V.Sandesh Keerthinath

    Senior Assistant Professor

References

Ambedkar, B. R (1936). Annihilation of caste. Publisher. (Original work published 1936).

Gogineni, B. (2009). Public advocacy against superstition and discrimination [Speech].

Teja. (2018, Dec 13). Public commentary on caste in media and society [Video].

Varma, R. G. (2017, Nov. 20). Public commentary on caste as a psychological virus [Interview].

Downloads

Published

22-04-2026

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 1 (2026): First Issue

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2026 V.Sandesh Keerthinath (Author)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

 

1. The Core Permissions

The license grants the public the right to:

  • Share: Copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format (e.g., posting it on a blog, emailing it to colleagues).

  • Adapt: Remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, including commercial purposes (e.g., using your data in a for-profit textbook or software).

2. The Author’s "Attribution" Requirement

While others can use your work for free, they must follow these rules to remain in compliance:

  • Credit: They must give appropriate credit (your name/institution), provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made.

  • No Additional Restrictions: They cannot apply legal terms or technological measures (like passwords or DRM) that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.

  • No Endorsement: They cannot suggest that you, as the author, endorse them or their use of your work.

How to Cite

Anatomy of an Oppression: A Dalit Poet’s Challenge to the Tyranny of Purity. (2026). International Journal of Language, Literature and Culture, 1(1), 14-15. https://scirojournals.com/ijllc/article/view/17