Caste and Popular Culture: Caste in Literature, Film, and Arts

Mulk Raj Anand's novel 'Untouchable' delves into the experiences of an untouchable boy named Bakha and the social injustices he faces due to his caste.

Satyajit Ray's 'Pather Panchali' portrays the struggles and aspirations of a Dalit family in a West Bengal village.

Girish Karnad's 'Yayati' explores the complexities of caste and dharma through the story of King Yayati, who exchanges his youth for old age.

Arundhati Roy's 'The God of Small Things' delves into the lives of two fraternal twins, Estha and Rahel, and the social barriers they face due to caste prejudices.

Mira Nair's 'Salaam Bombay!' portrays the harsh realities of street children in Mumbai, highlighting the struggles of a young boy named Krishna who faces discrimination due to his caste.

Bama Faustina Sooriyamoorthy's 'Karukku' is an autobiographical novel that recounts her life as a Dalit woman in Tamil Nadu, shedding light on the challenges and discrimination she faced.

Mani Ratnam's 'Roja' follows the story of a Kashmiri woman, Roja, and her husband, Rishi, an army officer, as they navigate the challenges of inter-caste marriage and political turmoil.

Omprakash Valmiki's 'Joothan' is a powerful autobiography that chronicles the life of a sweeper in contemporary India, exposing the harsh realities of caste-based discrimination.

Shyam Benegal's 'Ankur' portrays the story of a young Dalit boy, Laxman, and his relationship with a Brahmin landlord's wife, highlighting the tensions between caste and class in rural India.

Shrilal Shukla's 'Raag Darbari' is a satirical novel that exposes the hypocrisy and corruption prevalent in Indian society, particularly in the context of caste and politics.

Ritwik Ghatak's 'Meghe Dhaka Tara' follows the story of a refugee family in post-Partition India, highlighting the struggles and displacement caused by caste and communal violence.

U.R. Ananthamurthy's 'Samskara' delves into the conflict between tradition and modernity, caste and individual identity, through the story of a Brahmin priest who is forced to confront his own hypocrisy.

M.S. Sathyu's 'Garam Hawa' explores the struggles of a Muslim family in post-Partition India, highlighting the discrimination they face due to their religion and caste.

Mahasweta Devi's 'Aranyer Adhikar' tells the story of Birsa Munda, a tribal leader who fought against British colonial rule and exploitation, highlighting the struggles of tribal communities in India.

Govind Nihalani's 'Aakrosh' portrays the story of a Dalit family in rural Maharashtra who face discrimination and violence from upper-caste landlords, highlighting the deep-rooted caste tensions in Indian society.