Dalit literature with its traditions of protest, anger and rebellion against the mainstream literature has found its place on the world literary scenario thereby establishing itself as a distinct literary genre which has recently emerged in a milieu in which there is rather undoubtedly an increasing recognition and acknowledgement of the value of Dalit writings neatly conveying an unmistakable sense of optimism and sound hope for some better future with a firm sense of conviction that Dalit writings do convincingly interrogate and establish shared assumptions, views or opinions regarding Dalit consciousness in literature. Having received its first impetus with the arrival of notable and respectable leaders like Mahatma Phule and Dr Ambedkar in Maharashtra, who laid emphasis on the seminal concerns of Dalits through their theoretical writings, Dalit literature is said to have given birth to a new trend in Indian Writing in English. This edited volume of 26 research papers is a humble attempt to discover and fertilize the vast virgin territory of Dalit subjects in India with a focus on social hypocrisy and taboos, class discrimination class exploitation, intersectionality of caste, class and gender, panorama of psychological consciousness questioning caste and gender inequalities, subalternity, social realism and casteism, Dalit feminist standpoint, social injustice, Dalit feminism, longing for human integrity and dignity, vanquishing suppression through education, caste-class nexus, conservative and hedonistic religious extremism, marginalization, societal oppression and suppression, female emancipation, Dalit atrocities, class struggle, social and economic injustice, etc. This book will definitely serve its purpose of awakening Dalit consciousness in the readers. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr S. Chelliah is the Dean of Arts, Humanities & Languages, and Professor, Head, and Chairperson of School of English and Foreign Languages, and Special Officer for Planning & Development at Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai (Tamil Nadu). He did his MA in English Literature from Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai and got his PhD degree in English from the same university. He has produced 25 PhD scholars, more than 209 MPhil scholars and 196 MA projects. He has published 11 books and 346 papers in various national and international journals and edited anthologies. He has served as the Dean for Curriculum Development of Madurai Kamaraj University, Director for Board of Studies Section, Director for Spoken English Institute of Madurai Kamaraj University, Co-ordinator for CBCS Wing, Liaison Officer for SC/ST Cell of Madurai Kamaraj University and Member of Board of Studies of both UG/PG of Pondicherry University, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Bharathidhasan University, Trichy, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore and Gandhigrahm University and an Examiner of various colleges and universities at both PG and MPhil levels and also Co-ordinator for UGC remedial coaching scheme for SC/ST/OBC and minority categories. He has been awarded the Best Research Publisher Award (Highest Profile) and DLitt for excellent contribution in English Literature and Language by International Economics University (SAARC Countries). Dr Bijender Singh (MA, MPhil, PhD, DLitt, UGC-NET, U-SET, M-SET, HP-SET, H-TET) is the Editor-in-Chief of The Expression: An International Multidisciplinary e-Journal. Presently, he lives at Rohtak and works as an English lecturer, editor and writer. He has qualified UGC-NET, Uttrakhand SET, Maharashtra and Goa SET, Himachal Pradesh SET, Haryana TET. He has written a few essays, some short-stories and many Hindi lyrics, ghazals, nazms and English poems. He has published many articles in peer-reviewed and UGC-Listed national and international journals and edited anthologies. He has participated in many seminars and conferences as a keynote-speaker, resource person and paper presenter. Many research papers/articles have been written and published on his poetry books from India and abroad. He has written/published more than thirty books. Few of his books are available in the library catalogues of Oxford University (UK), Central Library of Zurich (Switzerland), Stanford University, The University of Minnesota, The University of Chicago, Columbia University, The Library of Congress (USA) and many more world-class libraries.