THE EXISTENTIAL FIGHT OF VOICELESS PEOPLE IN THE WRITINGS OF SAVERA

Abstract

In the modern Telugu literature, the Dalit literature has been a great wave during 1990-2010.  It has been the navigating light for the existential fight of Dalits. But in fact, Dalit literature can be traced in Telugu from a long time back nearly ninety years ago. The problem of casteism and the fight against it are as ancient as the civilization in the history of India. India is the nation in which the society has been configured based on the occupation/professions of the people especially caste wise occupations. Any of these occupations is dependent on the physiological work. In the Indian caste system there are four main castes, and apart from that, there is a fifth group - the Dalits treated as the untouchables in the society. Even some decades back Dalits were considered as the insignificant part of the society. These people have been remained as second class citizens who are severely exploited, and downtrodden. There has been no significant difference in these circumstances anywhere in the Indian subcontinent.

But it can be remarked that where ever there are fertile lands and fruitful resources there is a possibility for exploitation of the working class population. And simultaneously there is possibility for revolution through ways. In Andhra Pradesh, East Godavari district is the richest in agricultural prosperity. The same is the place well known for the prolific writers in Telugu Dalit literature. Kusuma Dharmanna, Boyi Bhemanna, Savera (Sarella Venkata Ratnam) are the warriors with pen to fight against the social evil of casteism. This paper focuses on the literary work of the contemporary poet SAVERA who has been considered as the mighty poet with a great impact on the existential fight of Telugu Dalits.