Manoranjan Byapari (Bengali: মনোরঞ্জন ব্যাপারী; born c. 1950–51) is an Indian Bengali writer, socio-political activist, and a politician.[4] He stands as one of the pioneering authors in the realm of Dalit literature in Bengali, hailing from the Indian state of West Bengal. Hindered by financial constraints, he was precluded from availing formal education, thereby distinguishing himself as a unique exemplar—a former convict turned rickshaw puller—having authored a substantial corpus comprising twelve novels, in addition to over a hundred short stories and non-fiction essays.[5][6]
Early life
Byapari was born into a Namasudra family in Turuk-Khali, Pirozpur, Barisal, East Bengal.[7] His family relocated to West Bengal when he was three years old, initially settling in the Shiromanipur Refugee camp in Bankura. Subsequently, they were compelled to relocate to various locations, including Ghutiyari Sharif, Gholadoltala Refugee Camp in South 24 Paraganas, where they resided until 1969. However, at the age of fourteen, Byapari departed from his familial abode, engaging in a series of economically modest positions within the informal sector across diverse cities such as Assam, Lucknow, Delhi, and Allahabad. Following a two-year stint in Dandakaranya, he resettled in Kolkata in 1973.[8] Notably, he briefly affiliated with the Naxals in central India.[9] It was during his period of incarceration that he embarked on a self-directed educational pursuit, acquiring literacy. His close association with the labor activist Shankar Guha Niyogi is also noteworthy.[10]
He gained prominence following the publication of his influential essay titled "Is there a Dalit writing in Bangla?" which was translated by Meenakshi Mukherjee and featured in the Economic and Political Weekly.[12] Concurrently employed as a rickshaw puller, he encountered Mahasweta Devi fortuitously, and she subsequently invited him to contribute to her journal, 'Bartika.'[13] Within his scholarly contributions, he posits the contention that upper-caste refugees from East Bengal were accorded preferential treatment during their resettlement in Kolkata.[14] Furthermore, a documentary chronicling his life has been produced by Rajya Sabha TV.[15]
Books
He authored a memoir titled "ইতিবৃত্তে চণ্ডাল জীবন" in Bengali, which was subsequently translated into English by Sipra Mukherjee under the title "Interrogating my Chandal life: An Autobiography of a Dalit" (Sage-Samya), and it received The Hindu Prize.[16] This literary work documents the myriad experiences of oppression and marginalization faced by Dalits in Bengal, a region often characterized as a 'casteless society' by the prevailing bhadralok narrative.[17] His identity as a Dalit is integral to his literary expression, wherein he emphasizes, "I’m a Dalit by birth. Only a Dalit, oppressed by social forces, can experience true dalan (oppression) in life. There should be that dalan as a Dalit in Dalit writing. Dalit literature should be grounded in Dalit life. Some of my writings delve into Dalit life, deserving impartial evaluation devoid of preconceived judgments." He articulates his dual identification as a chandal, both by birth and through a manifestation of indignation (krodha chandal).[18]
^Byapari, Manoranjan (2018). Interrogating My Chandal Life: An Autobiography Of A Dalit. Translated by Mukherjee, Sipra. New Delhi: SAGE Publications. p. 11.
^Byapari, Manoranjan (2018). Interrogating My Chandal Life: An Autobiography Of A Dalit. Translated by Mukherjee, Sipra. New Delhi: SAGE Publications. p. 234.
^Byapari, Manoranjan (2018). Interrogating My Chandal Life: An Autobiography Of A Dalit. Translated by Mukherjee, Sipra. New Delhi: SAGE Publications. pp. xiii.
^Ahluwalia, Mallika (2018). "Jijibisha: The Will to Survive: Manoranjan Byapari". Divided by Partition: United by Resilience: 21 Inspirational Stories from 1947. New Delhi: Rupa Publications. pp. 60–66.
^Byapari, Manoranjan (2018). Interrogating My Chandal Life: An Autobiography Of A Dalit. Translated by Mukherjee, Sipra. New Delhi: SAGE Publications. pp. 280–308.
