Reminiscing the portrayal of the unheard through Gujarati Poetry and Movies

Drum as his pillow, under the peepal tree, sleeps that Kaliyo dholi;
In a democracy the rulers are elected, by this Kaliyo dholi!
While the maidens are dressed in finery, in tatters is that Kaliyo dholi;
When the richly dressed maidens dance, the drums are played by Kaliyo dholi.
(Translated lines from Shankar Painter’s (1946- 2020) Kaliyo Dholi Poem)

The song is about the life of a Dalit man and is written by the poet Shanker Painter. He has described the life and work of Kaliyo Dholi (a drummer named Kaliyo). Traditionally in Saurashtra, Dalits have been excellent musicians/ drummers and even singers. Donning several responsibilities in a village, the Dalit man -invariably an excellent drummer, his work, life and condition are expressed intensely in this song.

Dalit struggles and the questions of folk culture has been portrayed through literature in innovative ways. In Gujarati literature, the Dalit scholarly pattern began in 1975 and bloomed completely after 1980. It is out of the present circumstance that Dalit writing starts to characterize itself as being basically divergent in nature, extension, suggestions, and bearing. Like other Dalit works, Gujarati Dalit writing is additionally the result of a rebel against the well-established double-dealing and torment of the Gujarati upper classes. In a real sense, it is a rebel against excessive Modernism in Gujarati Literature. Like different parts in India, Gujarati Dalit writing is still up in the air and directed by the Dalit Movements in Gujarat. There are a few notable works that we wish to ponder over on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti.

Zaverchand Meghani’s Chaaran Kanya

Meghani is one of the foremost Gujarati author and poet, one whose works had influenced even Mahatma Gandhi, so much so that Gandhi conferred on him the title of ‘Rashtriya Kavi” (National Poet). His composition Chaaran Kanya is a masterpiece that brings Shaurya Rasa to the fore. It is about a young 14 year girl by name Heerbai of the Chaaran tribe of Gujarat. To this day, raw grit is a defining feature of many tribes in Gujarat, Chaaran being one of them. They traditionally lived at the foothills of Girnar – the home to massive and ferocious Lions.

Rather than repeatedly writing about the oppression and discrimination against the ones who belong to the ‘lower’ rung of the society, he chooses to write about the valour of a tribal girl. He writes about Heerbai who loses her cool when she saw her calf being carried away by a ferocious lion.  Without a flinch or hesitation, swinging a stick in her hand, she runs towards the lion. She won’t allow the calf to die, not till she stands there strong. She roars, she burns, like Durga she jumps before the lion. So terrifying is her spirit and valiant is her resolve that the lion loses his vigor. Turns back and off he goes, leaving the calf behind. This poem is an ultimate ode to the powerful tribal women.

Looking through ‘Tame Keva’ and ‘Bhavni Bhavai’

“Sir, I am the one who is always afraid that no one will ask my caste,” says Ramji in the movie ‘Tame Keva’ directed by Dr. K R Devamani in 2018. He shows Ramji, a frustrated, annoyed and an old Dalit man who considers casteism as pointlessness and insensitive. He decides to give up on his religion. However, his ever-pious wife is against it and prohibits from doing so. Nonetheless, Ramji goes ahead with his plan of fighting casteism, bringing out the truth of modern casteism in a comical yet emotional manner.

“Our homes are burnt, our women are raped, we are treated like animals, and you don’t feel anything?” says the lower caste man, looking straight at the camera in the movie ‘Bhavni Bhavai’ directed by Ketan Mehta. In the entire movie, he refers to the moral blindness of people who practice or tolerate discrimination. “Nadi behti jaaye”, sings the protagonist to comfort his children. He assures the kids that all will be well in the end, that bigotry will be crushed in the same way that the river crushes rocks along its path. But in vain.

Casteism is a problem that is constantly being turned a blind eye to. Sometimes we don’t like the reality. Racism is one such bitter reality that people cannot accept. The upper castes still hold the notion that casteism does not exist. But it does.

Remembering Ambedkar on his day today, he rightly points out that one cannot build anything on the foundation of caste. One cannot build a nation. One cannot build a morality.