Dalit Hindu Narratives: In Honour of Professor Alladi Uma

If you are shocked to know that there are Dalit priests, read this book about the priests who have been unheard of. This book is part of Dalit Literature basing on a book entitled Amuktamalyada by Sri Krishnadevaraya, a poet in Telugu and Sanskrit. The uniqueness and profession of this Dalit Hindu is unknown, unrecognized, suppressed, oppressed subalterned and marginalized priest. This book also narrates about him as the winner of heart of the God/Almighty. The discriminators had to bow before the Mala/Vaishnava Dasari due to the wrath of God. Tiruppani Alwar is one of the devotees who had experienced the Divine power of Lord Vishnu is the Mala Dasari himself. He belongs to the Vaishnavite tradition. He is one among the twelve Alwars. The question is raised as how he can be a Dalit and how he can cope with the contradiction of being priest and how he has negotiated as Dalit/Untouchable. Most of the articles are written by Mala Dasaris themselves with authentic knowledge in their native languages and others based on field work. Some of them have been translated by the editor. Most of the Dasaris have referred to the Danurmasa Puja which is so dear to them and on the contrary many of them are converting into Christianity. Surprisingly this book does not contain any Dalit converting into Buddhism and most of them retaining in Hindu religion. The Hindu organizations may look at this Vaishnava Dasari and how he can be retained in Hindu religion in which he is already in at the same time inclined to move to Christianity to attain power.