Archive · 2 Jan 2026
Sharankumar Limbale’s ‘Sanatan’ Explores Caste Oppression
Sharankumar Limbale wrote a book called 'Sanatan' that talks about how caste has always been a big problem in India, especially for Dalits.
The story follows many generations of Dalits and shows how they have always been treated badly, no matter what they do.
The book starts with a sad scene where Dalits are accused of killing a cow and then beaten.
It talks about how Dalits have tried to escape caste by converting to other religions, but it didn't help.
The book shows that caste is like a mountain that doesn't move, even when other things change.
Limbale says that Dalit writing is not about one person but about the whole community.
The book doesn't have a happy ending, but it makes people think about how caste has made life unfair for Dalits.
Sharankumar Limbale's 'Sanatan' is a novel that explores the generational impact of caste oppression on the Dalit community.
The story begins with a harrowing scene of Dalits being accused of killing a cow and facing violence from upper-caste villagers.
The novel traces the lives of several generations of the Mahar community, highlighting their struggles with hunger, humiliation, and exclusion.
Attempts at religious conversion to Christianity, Islam, or Buddhism fail to dissolve caste, which persists in every institution and ritual.
The novel's structure and style reflect the unchanging nature of caste oppression, with recurring images and a documentary-like approach.
- Who
- Sharankumar Limbale, a veteran Marathi litterateur, and his novel 'Sanatan'
- What
- A novel exploring caste oppression and its generational impact on the Dalit community
- When
- The novel spans across centuries, from historical events like the 1857 revolt to the present
- Where
- The story is set in Maharwada, a segregated Dalit settlement, and other locations in India
- Why
- To expose the unchanging nature of caste oppression and its impact on Dalit lives
- Author
- Sharankumar Limbale
- Translator
- Paromita Sengupta
- Original Language
- Marathi
- Primary Theme
- Caste Oppression
- Historical Context
- Dalit Community in India
- Key Characters
- Bhimnak Mahar, Sidnak Mahar (Philip Bush)
- Literary Style
- Documentary, Episodic
- Central Setting
- Maharwada, a segregated Dalit settlement