Marginalization at the Crossroads: Caste Hierarchy, Ecology and Dalit-Muslim solidarity in A River Called Titas by Adwaita Malabarman

The concept of marginalization is very crucial in exploring the social hierarchies and power dynamics as it refers to the systematic exclusion and oppression of specific groups based on their caste, class, race, gender and religion. Many minority groups globally experience different layers of marginalization. For example, ethnic communities such as African Americans in the United States and Indigenous inhabitants in Australia and Canada, continue to struggle against systemic marginalization. Similarly, in Indian subcontinent, billions of Dalits (previously known as “Untouchables”) and Adivasis (indigenous communities) continue to encounter different forms of both class and caste-based discrimination. Every now and these marginalized groups are deprived of their fundamental human rights and dignity. According to the 2011 Census, in West Bengal, India alone, Dalits consist of approximately 23.51% of the state's population with 10.66% of the entire Dalit population of the country. Dalits of Bengal, however, used to face social, religious discrimination, economic disadvantage, and political exclusion. Time to time, there was a huge outraged and protest against such caste hierarchy and marginalization. In the 13th and 14th century, a large percentage of population mainly from this “untouchables” community, converted to Islam as a means of escaping the long-standing chains of religious oppression. Then, in the early 19th century, Matua Andolon emerged under the leadership of Harichand and Guruchand Thakur which is considered as the earliest and the most powerful Dalit movement in the entire country. Nevertheless, in West Bengal alone, Muslim population consists of 27.01% (census, 2011) and it is quite surprising but historically accurate that the majority of these Muslims are the descendants of the so-called “untouchables,”. These figures highlight the significant presence of both Dalit and Muslim communities in West Bengal, collectively accounting for over half of the state's population. Despites some religious difference, both Dalits and Muslims still share linguistic, cultural and various other similarities in terms of their occupations, lifestyles, and, most importantly, their solidarity during crises and shared struggles. In his poignant novel, A River Called Titas, Adwaito Malabarman explores such Dalit-Muslim solidarity along with themes of caste-based discrimination, economic hardship and displacement due to ecology. The theme of solidarity between Dalits and Muslims plays a crucial role in this novel as it undermines established caste structures and communal divides, illustrating how shared struggles can forge connections among marginalized groups. Through a close reading of the novel, this study highlights Malabarman’s critique of social hierarchies, ecological degradation while exploring the potential for Dalit-Muslim solidarity in resisting these forces in Bengal’s rural landscape. The study also explores the novel’s relevance in contemporary Dalit discourse and its literary significance in the context of subaltern narratives though the application of various literary theories, including Marxist criticism, postcolonial theory, Dalit literary criticism, and eco-criticism.