Dalit student Rohith Vemula's tragic suicide in January 2016 ignited discussions on caste-based discrimination in Indian universities. For journalist Yashica Dutt, living in New York, it was a pivotal moment to confront a hidden truth: she was Dalit. In her memoir, Dutt shares the exhausting burden of concealing her identity for over a decade and the fear of exposure. The empowerment she felt upon embracing her true self and rejecting the false upper-caste persona she had constructed is palpable. As she delves into the inequities of the caste system, she grapples with the guilt of denying her heritage and the struggles faced by her grandparents and Dalit reformers who fought for equal rights. This personal narrative also chronicles the broader Dalit experience, addressing the historical context of the Dalit movement, the impact of limited access to education and culture, the necessity of reservation, and the underrepresentation of Dalit voices in mainstream media. Dutt highlights the contributions of Dalit women’s movements and poses critical questions about caste and privilege. Through her own story and those of others, this book confronts caste injustices and serves as a powerful call to action.
