The Politics of Representation: Caste in Contemporary Indian Fiction

Abstract

This paper examines the evolving representation of caste in contemporary Indian fiction published between 1990 and 2023. Through a textual analysis of selected works by authors including Arundhati Roy, Meena Kandasamy, Perumal Murugan, and Sujatha Gidla, the study interrogates how caste hierarchies are depicted, challenged, and reimagined in post-liberalization Indian literature. Drawing on postcolonial and Dalit feminist theoretical frameworks, the analysis reveals a significant shift from symbolic to explicit representations of caste, with marginalized voices increasingly moving from the periphery to the center of narrative construction. The paper argues that contemporary Indian fiction has become a critical site for contesting hegemonic narratives about caste, offering counter-discourses that highlight both the persistence of caste-based discrimination and emergent forms of resistance. This literary intervention contributes to broader sociopolitical conversations about structural inequalities in modern India, demonstrating fiction's potential for both cultural critique and social transformation