There is much in Vasant Moon's story of his vasti, his childhood neighborhood in India, that would probably be true of any ghetto anywhere in the world. There is hunger and deprivation, to be sure, but also a sense of community, an easy acceptance of petty crime and violence, the saving grace of sports and organized activities led by caring adults, the off-again on-again aid from relatives, the inexplicable cruelty and unexpected generosity, and escape through education. But there is much here that is peculiarly and vividly Indian as well. Primary among these is the factor of caste, a hierarchical system unrelated to race but based on ancient principles of hereditary pollution and purity, with Brahmans the purest and Untouchables the most polluted. Second is the presence of a hero so important he is described as a "wave," and surely no despised group has ever had a leader as meaningful as Dr. B. R. Ambedkar was and remains for India's awakened and ambitious Dalits. Third is nature, with Moon's compelling descriptions of Nagpur's heat and the vivid joy brought by the monsoon. Indeed, every tree, every fruit, every nook and cranny of the world in and around the vasti plays an important part in his story. Dalit literature, poetry, plays, and autobiographies have been one of the most important developments in the culture of India in the past thirty years, yet little has been translated for a Western audience. Vasant Moon's Growing Up Untouchable, the first Dalit autobiography to be published in English, is a moving and eloquent testament to a uniquely Indian life as well as to the universal human spirit.

Reader Reviews

Conrad Barwa

(4/5)

Feb 27, 2016

Not as powerful as Valmiki's 'Joothan' or as caustic as Murli's 'Untouchable'. Moon's Mahar background is relatively more priveleged and less deprived than that of paraiyars or bhangis but it offers nonetheless an insight into the Ambedkarite tradition of Dalit thought and experience common in Western India, along with the Buddhist influence that isn't found as strongly elsewhere.

Ajeng Puspitasari

(3/5)

Jul 26, 2008

wanna learn more about caste system in india? it's a good one to read

Apr 30, 2012

Though the pacing of this book is a bit uneven, it is about a topic which I knew very little about. I tried to read this and not to be too upset at the caste system.

Bethany

Jun 14, 2007

pretty good, alittle confusing at times, but overall really interesting

Multis

(5/5)

Dec 16, 2020

Yogesh Potbhare

Feb 18, 2018

Tanvi Sood

Dec 08, 2012

Saloni

Apr 07, 2017

Sophie

Dec 07, 2018

daniel

(1/5)

Jul 24, 2007

Ankita Maurya

Dec 26, 2018

Antonio Rossano Mendes Pontes

Apr 23, 2017

Jade Ashli Soisson-Thayer

Oct 26, 2018

Nicole Pesce

(2/5)

May 20, 2011

May 24, 2018

Keshav

Sep 21, 2017

Bernie

Jun 30, 2020

Athira Jayaraj

Oct 08, 2017

Himmat Solanki

Nov 14, 2019

Inter N.

Jan 14, 2014

Sagarika Prabhakar

Nov 03, 2012

Minke Y.

Oct 07, 2013

Almas

(0/5)

Mar 18, 2008

Chaps

Aug 20, 2009

Sabrina Rutter

Sep 15, 2009

Brittany

Nov 16, 2009

Dablu Alguram

Jul 25, 2011

Balasaheb

Oct 25, 2011

Akshay Hajare

Dec 04, 2011

Saburi Pandit

Apr 20, 2012

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Growing Up Untouchable in India: A Dalit Autobiography

Growing Up Untouchable in India: A Dalit Autobiography

Growing Up Untouchable in India: A Dalit Autobiography

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Reader Reviews