Rudali: A Quintessential Figure of Subalternity, Hegemony, and Marginalisation

Dalits are closely identified and recognized as subaltern. This term finds its origin from the Latin word submeaning next below and alterns meaning every other. Subalterns are a group of people or community whoare excluded because of their inferior rank in the Varna system and are under the hegemony of the dominantclass. In the Indian context, marginality stresses on the notion of boundary, edge, and limit. Subalterns ordalits occupy the edge or boundary of the Indian societal arrangement. This has given rise to their literaturewhich is arresting the attention of its readers for its authentic descriptions of invisible lives. Mahasweta Devihas worked effortlessly and dedicated her entire life for the upliftment and betterment of this class of tribalsand dalits, who are tortured, disrespected, and exploited. Her short fiction Rudali portrays the constantstruggle of exploitation and survival of Sanichari. This paper explores her journey as a winner, a quintessentialfigure of subalternity, hegemony and marginalisation.