In this presentation I have Presented the concept of Untouchability with reference to poem 'One Eyed' by Meena Kandasamy

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Concept of untouchability
With reference of
One Eyed
-Meena Kandasamy
Prepared by: Hirva Pandya

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Name: Hirva Pandya
Sem:3
Roll No:10
Enrollment No:4069206420210022
Sub: Indian English Literature
Sub Code:22407
Paper Code:202
Email:pandyahirva815@gmail.com

3. Points To Ponder
 About Poetess
 About Poem
 Concept of Untouchability
 Untouchability in Mythical characters
 Untouchability in History
 Untouchability in Bollywood Movies
 Untouchability in Literary Text
 Untouchability During Menstruation
 Critics review
 Conclusion
 Works Cited

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About Meena Kandasamy
• Meena Kandasamy is a young Chennai-based poet, fiction
writer and translator.
• Her first book, Touch, was published in 2006. Two of her
poems have won prizes in all-India poetry competitions.
• Her poetry has been published in various journals,
including The Little Magazine, Kavya Bharati, Indian
Horizons, Muse India and the Quarterly Literary Review,
Singapore.
• She edited The Dalit, a bi-monthly alternative English
magazine of the Dalit Media Network in its first year of
publication from 2001 to 2002

5. About Poem
 One Eyed, the short poem highlights various
atrocities committed against the Dalit
women.
 The pot, the glass and the water quench the
thirst of a person while the teacher, the doctor, the
school and the press are indifferent to the needs
of the people.
The Dalit woman dhanam was “torn in half” when she
tries to get a pot of water at the cost of her left eye.
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6. “My poetry is naked, my poetry is in tears,
my poetry screams in anger, my poetry
writhes in pain. My poetry smells of blood,
my poetry salutes sacrifice. My poetry
speaks like my people, my poetry speaks for
my people."
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 As V.P. Rathi Mentioned in one Article of Research
Gate
 The concept of untouchability is practiced mainly
against the lower caste as well as the lower section
people.
 They are the worst sufferers. As they do not have the
political and economic power to fight against the
upper class
 people’s supremacy, they mutely accept
subjugation. They do not have the voice to express .
 The Dalits have very few opportunities to alter their
fate because the society.
 which is controlled by the elite class, closes the
options like education, awareness and equal rights to
elevate their position.
concept of
Untouchability

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Untouchability in Mythical characters
Karna
 Karna is character of
Mahabharata.
 He is known as son of sutha
and because of this low caste
identity he was insulted many
time
 He also facing trouble when he
went for education because of
idea of untouchability
Eklavya
 Eklavya is character of
Mahabharata.
 Eklavya was the son of Hiranyadhanu
who was the King of the forest-
dwelling Nishad (tribal/lower-caste)
community.
 Guru Drona refused to teach
Eklavya because he was not a
Kshatriya, and belonged to a tribe.
 This incidents was happened
because of untouchability

9. Untouchability in History
• Ambedkar led a movement against untouchability in 1927.
• he Criticised Hindu religious texts for their propagation of
untouchability
• -. He worked to ensure the ‘untouchables’ were allowed to enter
religious places as well as draw water from public wells.
• Ambedkar signed the Poona Pact with Mahatma Gandhi in 1932,
facilitating the reservation of seats for Dalits (then known as
Depressed Classes). Earlier in 1930, he had led around 15000
Dalits to enter the Kalaram Temple to help them see God for the
first time.
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Untouchability in Bollywood Movies
• In one article by Siriyavan Anand he wrote about untouchability in Lagaan movie
with the reference of kachra’s character.
• As the character belongs to low caste no one is ready to take him in team because of
bhuvan’s request villagers are ready.
• Kachra’s character is supposed to be based on Baloo Palwankar, the first world-class
spinner the country produced (1910s, 1920s). Baloo, a left-armer, was a Dalit, and an
inspiration to the young Ambedkar. Baloo, however, went on to become a
Congressman, was member of the Harijan Sevak Sangh, and part of the Gandhian
team that forced Ambedkar to sign the Poona Pact.
• For the first time, a Dalit is being positively portrayed in colour cinema, they feel. It is
the acknowledgement of caste (in passing) and its negotiation/accommodation on
casteist/brahmanic terms that makes Lagaan the darling of the liberal-seculars.
Moreover, it is Kachra’s socially and physically disabled presence that offers an ideal
foil to Bhuvan’s sheer physicality (well-toned body, clean-shaven looks, a doting
girlfriend, and overall leadership qualities). Lagaan had to have a Dalit. But it also had
to make his talent a congenital physical problem. (Strongly Agree with this)

11. Idea of untouchbility in Literary Text
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 In many literary text the idea of untouchbility is there, Here I take Ghashiram
kotwal.
 This all aspects are observed by Dr. Krishna I. Patel ma’am who was pursuating
Phd from veer narmad university surat.
 Ghashiram Kotwal is a revolutionary play that criticizes the orthodox Brahamin
society of the time.
 Though based on a historic legend, the play depicts the life of a common man it
can be seen as a glimpse of each power drunk official in any political complex.
 The Brahamins of Poona disown Ghashiram- the kotwal, when he attends the
Dakshina ceremony at Parvati hills to get Dakshina.
 The People of Poona disrespect him; therefore he swears to avenge his fury
from the citizens of Poona.
 He was insulted by the people of poona.

12. Untouchability During menstruation period
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 As Suneela Garg and Tanu Anand wrote in artical of national library
of medicine that during the time of menstruation girls and women
are called as they were untouchable. This is not true as the writer
argued.
 Many girls and women are subject to restrictions in their daily lives
simply because they are menstruating. Not entering the “puja” room
is the major restriction among urban girls whereas, not entering the
kitchen is the main restriction among the rural girls during
menstruation.
 Menstruating girls and women are also restricted from offering
prayers and touching holy books.

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Max Weber review on Theory of Untouchability
 In one of study Weber argues that poor and
oppressed Indians readily accept their lot.
Because by so doing they know that their
condition will improved in next life.
 Weber also Claimed that perfectly
internalized Brahminical concept of sansaar,
karma and dharma.so they do not revolts
against their state.

14. Conclusion
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 To sum up the idea of Untouchability it can be said that
it is widely spread in all over world
 In all type of aspects it can be seen as a big issue either
it is mythical one or in historical, it can be seen in
movies also in literary text also this idea is seen.

15. Work Cited:
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• Drishti IAS. “Dr. Ambedkar: Abolishing Discrimination.” Drishti IAS, 25 Jan. 2022,
https://www.drishtiias.com/blog/dr-ambedkar-abolishing-discrimination.
• Garg, Suneela, and Tanu Anand. “Menstruation Related Myths in India: Strategies for
Combating It.” Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Medknow Publications &
Media Pvt Ltd, 2015, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4408698/
• https://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1711215.pdf
• https://www.jstor.org/stable/2804238
• “Meena Kandasamy.” India - Poetry International, https://www.poetryinternational.com/en/poets-
poems/poets/poet/102-9972_Kandasamy.
• https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/d3ef/391bd0ee9909ee5d39049a803d8c3fe439dd.pdf
• Ritu. “Eklavya and Karna: An Understanding of Discrimination against Marginalised in Indian Education
System.” Round Table India, Round Table India, 11 May 2020,
https://www.roundtableindia.co.in/eklavya-and-karna-an-understanding-of-discrimination-of-
marginalised-in-indian-education-system.
• Savage Treatment of Untouchables in Meena Kandasamy’s “One Eyed.”
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/V-
Rathi/publication/342466334_Savage_Treatment_of_Untouchables_in_Meena_Kandasamy%27s_On
e-Eyed/links/5ef5af5e299bf18816e81e01/Savage-Treatment-of-Untouchables-in-Meena-
Kandasamys-One-Eyed.pdf?origin=publication_detail.

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