VOICES ACROSS LANGUAGES: ENGLISH TRANSLATION AND THE MAKING OF DALIT AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL LITERATURE

Abstract

Dalit autobiographies have emerged as a powerful literary and political form that challenges the silences and exclusions of mainstream Indian literature. Rooted in lived experiences of caste oppression, these narratives function as acts of resistance, testimony, and self-assertion, foregrounding voices that have historically been denied visibility and authority. This paper examines the crucial role of English translation in promoting Dalit autobiographies beyond their regional linguistic contexts, arguing that translation has been central to their wider circulation, academic recognition, and canon formation. Drawing on literary theory, translation studies, and Dalit criticism, the study explores how English translation operates as a form of cultural mediation that both enables and constrains the representation of Dalit experience. While translation facilitates national and global visibility, it also introduces challenges related to cultural loss, domestication, market pressures, and ethical responsibility. By analysing debates surrounding authenticity, translator positionality, and institutional reception, the paper highlights the ambivalent nature of translation as a site of empowerment as well as potential distortion. It ultimately contends that English translation, when approached with reflexive and accountable practices, can serve as a critical tool for amplifying Dalit voices while preserving the political urgency and moral force of Dalit life writing.