Scripting Dalit Resistance

This anthology presents English translations of ten plays by Raju Das (1953-2025), one of the foremost Bangla Dalit playwrights and activists. Written and performed between 1980 and 2022, these works engage with the networks of oppression and injustice that inform the realities of Dalit lives.

The plots range from reworkings of episodes from the Mahabharata and dramatisations of historical events and individuals to fictive narratives rooted in contemporary political contexts. These varied narratives not only expose modes of socio-cultural marginalization but also suggest possible avenues for the empowerment of the oppressed. The plays underscore the forms of resistance that Dalits carve out in their everyday lives, offering powerful insights into survival, dignity, and agency.

Part of the Voices from the Margins series, this critical edition will be an essential resource for students and researchers in Literature, Comparative Literature, Modern Indian Literature, Minority Studies, Dalit Studies, and Gender Studies. It will also be of interest to those engaged with contemporary Indian and South Asian literary cultures, Social Sciences, History, and Sociology.