Published Paper Details:

The word caste originated from the Spanish and Portugese word `casta` which means race and lineage. It is a determining factor of traditional position in society. Therefore, division of society into various groups is a common feature in all human societies. Traditional pattern of stratification of Indian society has certain unique and pervasive features that are rooted in past. Indian society, especially Hindu society is divided into four fold Varna system that interlinks to the theory of caste system as it is rooted in Varna division. The four major varnas or castes are Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas and Sudras. The last varna or caste is called Dalits who represents a marginal section of society that is denied access to the worldly affairs. Since ages, they have been oppressed and exploited socially, politically and culturally in the name of religion, God, Goddess, rebirth, paradise and other factors by the upper caste sections which is depicted by Omprakash Valmiki in his autobiography Jhootan. This paper is an attempt to explore how Omprakash Valmiki through his autobiography Jhootan portrays the cruelty of casteism and pathetic pain of Dalits.