Devipujak by My Dear Jayu- Book Review

 Devipujak by My Dear Jayu

Hello Readers,

Before diving into the review of thre book let us have an overview of the Dalit Literature. 

Dalit literature is known as Akrosh Nu Literature(Literature of Anger), a genre of Indian writing that focuses on the lives, experiences, and struggles of the Dalit community, who have faced caste-based oppression and discrimination for centuries.The movement originated in response to the caste-based social injustices in mid-twentieth-century independent India and has since spread across various Indian languages, critiquing caste practices and experimenting with different literary forms. 

Dalit literature in Gujarati began to gain momentum in the mid-1970s with the launch of Puma, a literary magazine edited by Rameshchandra Parmar. This was followed by the publication of several other magazines such as Akrosh, KaloSooraj, Garud, Dalit Bandhu, NayaMarg, and Disa. The rise of Dalit literature in Gujarat can be attributed to the influence of the Dalit Panthers movement in Maharashtra. Joseph Macwan was the first Gujarati Dalit writer to receive a Sahitya Akademi award.

The book is having ten short stories and Laghukatha. The first story is the "Devipujak", story sets into the rural village and revolving aroung the stealing of the ornaments from temples. As always  the criminal was not a Dalit men, still he became the victim. Morover, the name of the people are same, Gobar. He was beatan, " Mar khavani tev hoy tem e taki rahyo." Indeed it is the tradition that their name was coming from lower background.

Additionally, the book touches upon the themes like aging, political corruption, " Samranone Varmvar repeat karvani chut Ishware vrudhdho api che." Nadi Naav story wovens the theme of alienation and suffering.  Co-existence of lower class and uper class, " Ekbijana ekdhara sadbhavthi j sukh namno pradesh lilocham rehto hato" 

The last story Tunkma, masterfully used language, narrator said, " Karan ke e samje ke hae savalna ek karta vadhu javab hovana ane har javabna anek javab hovana. " As in post-modern time the plurality of meanings said. 

Overall, the book captures various themes and culture, villege and urban life dilema, problems of everyday life etc. 

Thank You.