Sanatan Truth Untold (Best of Dalit literature; Saraswati Samman winner)

Sanatan is the gut-wrenching story of Bhimnak Mahar and his ilk, who have been subjected to barbaric abuse and inhuman discrimination by the upper castes over centuries. The story begins with the young Bhimnak in pre-Independence India. It then traverses time and geographical boundaries to end with Bhimnak’s grandson. The circular narrative pattern is reflective of the endless cycle of pain that the Mahars are unable to break free from, no matter how hard they try, no matter where they go, no matter if they change their identity and religion. Using myths, the Puranas and historical texts as resources, Sharankumar Limbale rewrites Dalit history in this novel as he attempts to tell the truth, with an intention to build what he calls ‘a new and progressive social order’. Limbale not just brings his reader face to face with uncomfortable realities, he also suggests what could be an alternative social order in the future.

Paromita Sengupta is director of studies of Griffith Institute of Language, Griffith College, Ireland. Her published works include a critical edition of The Persecuted, the first drama to be written in the English language by an Indian, and Bimukta, the Bengali translation of Volga’s The Liberation of Sita. She has a PhD in English from the University of Calcutta and taught English language and literature at graduate and postgraduate levels in various colleges in India between 2002 and 2019. In 2020 she was awarded the Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship to pursue a master's course in media studies from Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick, Ireland.
Sharankumar Limbale is a Dalit author and poet. He writes in Marathi and has forty-four published works to his name. His books have been translated into several Indian languages. He is widely known for his autobiography, Akkarmashi (The Outcaste). His book Towards an Aesthetic of Dalit Literature is highly acclaimed in the academic world. He is the first Dalit writer to have received the Saraswati Samman, one of India’s highest awards for Indian literature. His work is taught at many universities.