FEMINIST PERSPECTIVE IN URMILA PAWAR'S “THE WEAVE OF MY LIFE”

Abstract

The Weave of My Life is a memoir by Urmila Pawar, a Dalit woman writer and activist. This memoir was originally written in Marathi and was translated by Maya Pandit. The Marathi title was Aaidan (1988)  which means ‘weave’. The memoir, The Weave of My Life, serves as a poignant exploration of the intersectionality of caste, gender, and class in the lives of Dalit women in India. The present paper examines the feminist perspective embedded in Pawar's narrative, highlighting the systemic oppression faced by Dalit women and their struggle for identity, survival, and equality. Through her autobiographical account, Pawar critiques the patriarchal structures that perpetuate gender discrimination within both the broader society and the Dalit community. By weaving her personal experiences with the collective struggles of her community, Pawar not only challenges the dominant narratives of upper-caste feminism but also asserts the importance of Dalit women's voices in the discourse on gender and caste.