After having written two blog posts on Gujarati literature,
I wished to write the third on the Dalit literature in Gujarat. The wish
grew stronger with the shocking incident of public flogging of Dalit youths in
Una, Gujarat, my home state. However what would I write? I know very little
about Gujarati Dalit literature! While I have read Dalit literature of writers
from Maharashtra, I must admit that my knowledge of Gujarati Dalit literature and
its history is extremely limited. I felt terribly ashamed of this fact and
decided to make a beginning and get familiar with Dalit literature in Gujarat.
I began by turning the pages of the books in my
possession on Gujarati literature and its history. I was taken aback that none
of the books that I have, had anything substantial on Dalit literature and/ or
its history! In fact, some books with me give information in detail about Jain,
Parsee, women, Muslim, Christian literature in Gujarati and its history, but not Dalit
literature! I contacted some of my friends in Gujarat to recommend some books
on the subject but there too, I came to a dead end. I searched the web and
there is substantial material on the subject but it requires considerable time
to come to the right information.
Therefore to begin with, I limit myself here to a
song that has touched my heart deeply. I had heard this song first when it was sung
by the well known singer-activists of Gujarat, Charul Bharwada and Vinay
Mahajan. The song is about the life of a Dalit man and is written by the poet
Sanker Painter. After hearing this song, it had reverberated in my mind for a
long time and I had learned it by heart. However the song had faded from my
memory as years passed by till the Una incident.
The poet, Shanker Painter has described the life and
work of Kaliyo Dholi (a drummer named Kaliyo[1])
and I make an attempt to translate this heartrending song here. Traditionally
in Saurashtra, Gujarat, 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.
Please note
that the translation by me here is not accurate and does not do justice to the
original song in Gujarati by Shanker Painter.
I also wish to thank Vinay and Charul for having sung this song several
decades back, a song which has remained with me since.
Kaliyo Dholi (Drummer named Kaliyo)
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[2] , the drums
are played by Kaliyo dholi!
There
are ripples in the heart, as maidens’ dance to the tune of that Kaliyo dholi;
Courageous
men are filled with heroism, with the booming of the war drums by Kaliyo dholi!
On
every auspicious occasion, without fail in ones court yard, stands this Kaliyo
dholi;
When the end is near, invariably accompanying the pall-bearers[3], his
feet bare, this Kaliyo dholi!
Picking shroud from the dead to
cover his own self, that Kaliyo dholi;
He is forever cleaning the lanes with a
broom, that Kaliyo dholi!
At dinner time, begs for leftover food
to fill his stomach, this Kaliyo dholi;
Habituated to abuses, rudeness and insults,
this Kaliyo dholi!
And yet, with folded hands he calls them his
providers, this Kaliyo dholi;
Beaten with a shoe, cleans and returns it
back, this Kaliyo dholi!
Laughs at meaningless talks and indulges
in flattery, this Kaliyo dholi;
Just a glance of the upper caste, and he
shivers in fright, this Kaliyo dholi!
Toils all day and night without remuneration,
that Kaliyo dholi;
He has mud, grass bundles and straw as his hut,
this Kaliyo dholi!
To forget all his sorrows he drinks
excessively, this Kaliyo dholi;
For no rhyme or reason he beats his wife
and children with dhoko[4],
this Kaliyo dholi!
In
democracy, the rulers are elected by this Kaliyo dholi;
Drum
as his pillow, under the peepal tree, continues to sleep that Kaliyo dholi!
Bhim
Kranti Gaan, by Shanker Painter.
For those interested in Dalit literature
from Maharashtra, I recommend Upara by Lakshman Mane, Aydan by Urmila
Pawar, and writings by Namdeo Dhasal. Their writings are available in
translations also.
And finally, on this Independence Day, I
salute the struggle of the Dalits in Gujarat against their oppression over centuries. While I cannot be at Una in body, my mind and heart will be there.
Zindabad!
End
