Treatment of Dalits in the God of Small Things

Dr. Aruna Sharma

Abstract: The nineteenth century witnessed the rise of some socio-religious movements which questioned the rigours of caste system and untouchability. Brahman Samaj in Bengal, Prarthana Samaj and Satyashodhak Samaj in Maharasthra and Arya Samaj in Punjab for a better attitude towards the lowest sections of society on spiritual grounds. A similar approach to social questions was adopted by chattapi swami (1854-1924), Shri Narayan Guru (died 1928) and Swami Agamananda (1896-1961) in Kerala. The first two of them belonged to the untouchable Ezhava community. Shri Narayan Guru, known as "The Great Guru" was the author of two works in Tamil, eight in Sanskrit and over thirty in Malayalam.

Keywords: Dalit, untouchability