This panel discussion brings together celebrated Dalit feminist writer Bama, whose seminal novel “Karukku” has profoundly shaped Tamil literature and Dalit identity; poet-activist Meena Kandasamy; and visual artist Kritika Sriram, whose work draws deeply from Bama’s writing. Together, they explore how texts like “Karukku” transcend time and geography to foster personal connection and artistic expression. In an era of emerging Dalit visual culture, this discussion examines how literature reshapes representation and offers transformative new narratives beyond mainstream frameworks, highlighting the enduring power of storytelling to shape identity and inspire cultural change.

Meena Kandasamy - Moderator

Meena Kandasamy is an activist, poet, novelist and translator. Her books of poetry include Touch (2006) and Ms Militancy (2010) and she is author of three acclaimed novels, The Gypsy Goddess (2014), When I Hit You (2017) and Exquisite Cadavers (2019). Meena’s work has been shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction, the International Dylan Thomas Prize, the Jhalak Prize and The Hindu Lit Prize. 

Meena’s writing has appeared in The White Review, Guernica, The Guardian and The New York Times. In 2002, she was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (FRSL) and was also awarded PEN-Germany’s Hermann Kesten Prize for writing and her work as a “fearless fighter for democracy, human rights and the free word.” 

Bama Susairaj

Bama is a celebrated contemporary Dalit writer in Tamil. She has been in the forefront of feminist and anti caste literature activism and has given Dalit aesthetics tremendous visibility on the literary campus and literature Fests of India and abroad. She has a compelling insight into human nature and the rare ability of painting portraits of unforgettable characters, detailing innocent pleasures and every day rebellions and deceits. Besides her path breaking autobiographic novel, KARUKKU (1992), which won the Crossword Award in 2000; her other works include SANGATI 1994),KISUMBUKKARAN (1996), VANMAM (2002), ORU THATH AVUM YERUMAYUM (2003), KONDATTAM (2009), MANUSHI (2012), THAVITTUKURUVI (2015), VIRUTCHANGALAGUM VITHAIGAL (2022). Some of her works have been translated into English, French, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Gujarathi and Malayalam.

Krithika Sriram

Krithika Sriram (b. 1993) is an Indian visual artist based in Banglore, Karnataka. Her work stems from her interest in Identity Politics and marginalised cultural narratives. Krithika uses various photographic techniques to explore concepts of Self, identity, and personal history.

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