The Prisons We Broke

$18.00

$20.00

In stock

Free & Quick Delivery Worldwide

Writing on the lives of the Mahars of Maharashtra, Baby Kamble reclaims memory to locate the Mahar society before it was impacted by Babasaheb Ambedkar, and tells a consequent tale of redemption wrought by a fiery brand of social and self-awareness. The Prisons We Broke provides a graphic insight into the oppressive, caste and patriarchal tenets of the Indian society, but nowhere does the writing descend to self-pity. With verve and colour the narrative brings to life, among other things, the festivals, rituals, superstitions, snot-nosed children, hard lives and hardy women of the Mahar community. The original Marathi work, Jina Amucha (serialized in 1982 and published as a book in 1986) re-defined autobiographical writing in Marathi in terms of form and narrative strategies adopted, and the selfhood and subjectivities that were articulated. It is the first autobiography by a Dalit woman in Marathi, probably even the first of its kind in any Indian language.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Baby Kamble

Baby Kamble lives in Phaltan, a small town in the Satara district of Maharashtra. She is a veteran of the Dalit movement in Maharashtra. Inspired by the radical leadership of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, she has been involved with the struggle from a very young age. She has been honoured with awards for her literary and social work. Collections of her poetry have also been published.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Maya Pandit

Maya Pandit is an activist who is involved with the women's and teachers' movements in Maharashtra for the last two decades. She has published research papers on issues in the women's movement as well as education. She has also been associated with the alternative Marathi theatre and has translated Marathi plays into English. She now works as a professor and teacher educator at English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad.