Joothan

Joothan: An Untouchable's Life
Author	Omprakash Valmiki
Original title	Joothan
Translator	Arun Prabha Mukherjee
Language	English (translated from Hindi)
Genre	Memoir
Published	c. 1950 (Hindi)
Publisher	Columbia University Press
Published in English	July 2003
Media type	Print (hardcover, paperback), e-book
Pages	208
ISBN	9780231129725
Website	https://cup.columbia.edu/book/joothan/9780231129732/

Last updated September 12, 2025

Joothan: An Untouchable's Life, or Joothan: A Dalit's Life, is an autobiographical novel by Indian Dalit writer Omprakash Valmiki. First published in 1950 in Hindi, it was translated to English language by Arun Prabhas Mukherjee in 2003.^[1] The books describe his life as a Dalit, previously known as 'untouchables,' and their experience of pain, humiliation, and poverty through systemic caste-based discrimination.^[2] The title of the book is derived from Hindi word जूठन referring to 'scraps of food left on a plate, destined for garbage or animals,' that the lower caste was forced to survive on for centuries.^[3]

Synopsis

The text chronicles the journey of Om Prakash Valmiki, a Dalit who overcomes caste-based humiliation and poverty to become his village's first educated member of the Dalit community. The story is set in 1950s of post-independence India, where untouchability has just been outlawed. Beginning with scenes of dire sanitation and relentless harassment, Valmiki's narrative traces his adolescence marked by religious skepticism and public shame upon revealing his caste. His vocational training and discovery of Dalit activism, notably the influence of B. R. Ambedkar, ignite his commitment to social change. Valmiki challenges inherited caste stigma through merit-based achievements and government employment, dedicating himself to uplifting others via cultural engagement and educational outreach, such as drama productions and opening schools. His memoir emphasizes the struggle for a self-defined identity and collective empowerment of Dalits.^[2]

References

↑ Sharma, Deeksha (28 September 2017). "Joothan By Om Prakash Valmiki - Book Review". Feminism in India. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
1 2 Ronkin, Maggie (2005). "Review of Joothan: A Dalit's Life". The Journal of Asian Studies. 64 (2): 504–505. doi:10.1017/S0021911805001324. ISSN 0021-9118. JSTOR 25075805.
↑ Chandrachud, Dhananjaya Y (1 January 2024). "Reformation Beyond Representation: The Social Life of the Constitution in Remedying Historical Wrongs". CASTE: A Global Journal on Social Exclusion. 5 (1): 01–17. doi: 10.26812/caste.v5i1.2040 . JSTOR 48771787.

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[1] Sharma, Deeksha (28 September 2017). "Joothan By Om Prakash Valmiki - Book Review". Feminism in India. Retrieved 5 August 2025.

[:0-2] 1 2 Ronkin, Maggie (2005). "Review of Joothan: A Dalit's Life". The Journal of Asian Studies. 64 (2): 504–505. doi:10.1017/S0021911805001324. ISSN 0021-9118. JSTOR 25075805.

[3] Chandrachud, Dhananjaya Y (1 January 2024). "Reformation Beyond Representation: The Social Life of the Constitution in Remedying Historical Wrongs". CASTE: A Global Journal on Social Exclusion. 5 (1): 01–17. doi: 10.26812/caste.v5i1.2040 . JSTOR 48771787.

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