DOI: https://doi.org/10.63345/ijrhs.net.v13.i6.1
Pratyush Roy
Independent Researcher
West Bengal, India
Abstract
Caste narratives in regional literature serve as rich repositories of social memory, reflecting both overt and subtle dynamics of hierarchy, mobility, and resistance. This manuscript examines how authors writing in diverse Indian regional languages have portrayed caste identities, conflicts, and transformations from the early twentieth century to the present. Through a sociological lens, it considers the interplay between literary representation and real‐world caste practices, exploring how regional texts negotiate issues of purity and pollution, social exclusion, and aspirational mobility. Employing qualitative content analysis of sixty seminal works across five languages, the study identifies key thematic strands—intergenerational trauma, subaltern assertion, urban migration, and intercaste dialogue—and relates them to broader patterns of social change. Findings reveal that while earlier narratives often reinforced traditional hierarchies, contemporary authors increasingly challenge caste‐based oppression, foregrounding agency and solidarity. The paper concludes by reflecting on the role of regional literature in shaping public discourse and suggests directions for future sociological research.
Keywords
caste, regional literature, social hierarchy, subaltern agency, qualitative content analysis
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