Unheard Voices: A Study of Bama’s Sangati as a Narration of Cultural Violence

Abstract

The voice of the writers in a work of art is important to the understanding of the works that they create. Bama is one of the very few voices of recognised Indian writers from communities that have been oppressed. Sangati is an autobiography of Bama which unfolds the culture of violence against women and the tribulations of women in her community. The present study ventures to explore the intricacies of women lives as a dalit and also examines the violence imposed on women’s bodies as an embodiment of suppression from the prism of cultural violence. It further extends itself to trace the normalised and legitimised violence that a society permits to be exercised on its people.