Atrophy in Dalit literary criticism: role of translators in overcoming the five absences

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this paper, I review works of Dalit literary criticism in regional languages and their absences in the English language. The paper discusses five absences that continue to make Dalit literary criticism in English deficient. It discusses the nature of these absences and their interconnectedness. The article proposes that translators and editors play a very crucial role in recuperating these absences in Dalit literary criticism, but they must become aware of the necessary and specific challenges involved in the translation and compilation of works of literary criticism. It highlights that translating works of literary criticism is qualitatively different from translating works of Dalit literature. The paper then provides what these specific challenges in the translation are and how overcoming these challenges can remedy the five critical absences discussed in the essay. The paper argues that the discursive strength of Dalit literary criticism in English depends on addressing these five absences, and so does the development of Dalit literary theory.