Azaad आवाज़

VOLUME III ISSUE III

Dalit Art and Representation: Understanding Resistance

In This Issue

This edition focuses on the need for language to be the medium that brings together subaltern histories and demands, create a revolutionary force, unite the trampled against the oppressors, and serve as a war cry for equality. In this regard, this edition explores Dalit art as the language, and try to explore how and why it is not a new phenomenon, and is still under the shadows of mainstream media, dominated by the rich, English speaking, upper caste clientele.

Awaaz in Focus introduces one to the varied perspectives shared by those who are initiating grassroot level changes in and across different local communities in a region. The people interviewed vary from academic scholars to grassroot level activists and practitioners.

Awaaz in Focus hosts Dr. Y. S. Alone, a Professor in Visual Studies at the School of Arts and Aesthetics, Jawaharlal Nehru University. He provides insight on the concept of representation of Dalits in visual culture.

The Nazariya piece on representation of caste in Indian cinema discusses the different forms of representation, the ideologies guiding them and the implications of such depictions.

Talk Point is the segment of the Patrika wherein individuals are interviewed based upon their perception and understanding of a certain issue.

Talk Point, instead, for this edition, presents a list of songs by artists, covering themes of caste, protest, religion, food and so on. It spans a range of musical genres and a range of ideologies, from Ambedkarite to Buddhist and Communist.

Vichaar is Azaad Awaaz’s podcast series that aims at engaging with experts and professionals to further the conversation on the marginalisation of communities.

In this edition of Vichaar, Team Azaad Awaaz was in conversation with Miss Rajyashri Goody, a visual artist who talked about what art has meant to her in the current socio-political context we find ourselves in, specifically with respect to Dalit History and resistance. She expounded upon how art has helped her, as a Dalit woman, to learn more about the roots of her own culture, which has not been documented through the decades.

About Azaad Awaaz

Our initiative Azaadआवाज़ aims to tackle an erosion of empathy in our society. This monthly magazine (Patrika) aims to focus on the marginalized sections whose voices are often muted in the cacophony of flashy mainstream media discourse. When referring to the marginalization, this platform does not aim to restrict itself to the traditional focus on social aggregates like caste and race alone but aspires to include a discussion on class, gender, sexual orientation etc.