Literature, Philosophy, and Subaltern Ethics: Dalit, Feminist, and Modern Perspectives

This essay examines the intersection of literature, philosophy, and ethics through Dalit, feminist, and modern perspectives, emphasizing both Indian and global frameworks. It demonstrates how literature functions as an ethical site, revealing lived experiences of marginalization and interrogating systemic injustice. By analyzing canonical and regional texts-including Bama, Omprakash Valmiki, Urmila Pawar, Mahasweta Devi, Vaidehi, Du. Saraswati, and Saraswati Bai Rajwade-the essay highlights the moral implications of narrative voice, testimony, and resistance. Philosophical engagement with thinkers such as B.R. Ambedkar, M.K. Gandhi, Sri Aurobindo, Simone de Beauvoir, Emmanuel Levinas, Iris Marion Young, and Martha Nussbaum elucidates the ethical dimensions of freedom, responsibility, and empathy. Cross-cultural comparisons within India and globally demonstrate both the specificity of local experiences and the universality of ethical challenges, emphasizing the role of literature in fostering moral reflection. The study argues that contemporary literary analysis benefits from integrating narrative ethics with philosophical inquiry, enabling a nuanced understanding of justice, recognition, and human dignity.