Published Paper Details:

Through her powerful storytelling, Bama, a Dalit writer from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, dismantles oppressive narratives and creates a liberating world by weaving complex webs from her lived experience. This paper embarks on a linguistic journey through selected works by Bama, focusing mainly on his novel Karukku and short stories, and how he used language as a tool for social criticism and cultural flexibility. Examining Bama's skillful use of code-switching between Tamil and Dalit dialects, we see how she subverts linguistic hierarchies and brings the marginalized Dalit voice to the fore. We analyze the deployment of imagery and metaphors often rooted in nature and the body to highlight the harsh realities of caste discrimination and its embodied experiences. This study explores Bama's innovative manipulation of syntax and narrative structure, particularly his non-linear storytelling, to challenge dominant social stereotypes and offer a subversive perspective on history. It acts as a transformative weapon and destroys the language of the oppressor. Creates alternative worlds within the fabric of words. Their linguistic choices empower Dalit communities by fostering a sense of shared identity and weaving paths of resistance and liberation.