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@article{173510,
        author = {Dr. Devender Singh},
        title = {The Struggle for Dignity: Caste Discrimination in Omprakash Valmiki's Joothan},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2025},
        volume = {11},
        number = {10},
        pages = {690-697},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=173510},
        abstract = {Omprakash Valmiki’s Joothan is a powerful autobiographical work that delves into the deep-seated caste discrimination and untouchability faced by Dalits in India. Through a personal narrative, Valmiki sheds light on his harrowing experiences growing up in a Dalit family, subjected to social exclusion, dehumanization, and humiliation due to his caste. The book recounts the brutal realities of caste-based segregation. However, it further examines how the psychological impact of such oppression was bound to change one's sense of dignity and self-worth. His search for dignity informs much of the narrative of this book, as Valmiki defies the rigidity of the caste system by offering resistance in his personal life and studies. Joothan portrays the systemic denial of basic human rights and the pervasive social barriers Dalits face, even within institutions like education. Valmiki’s journey of self-empowerment, facilitated by teaching and writing, is a testament to the transformative power of knowledge and the refusal to accept caste-based marginalization. This research paper analyzes the problems of caste discrimination, identity, and social justice in the novel Jonathan based on examining how the novel of Valmiki has influenced Dalit literature and the struggle for social reform and equality in general.},
        keywords = {Caste Discrimination, Dalit Literature, Social Justice, Dignity, Social Exclusion, Social Reform},
        month = {March},
        }