Coming Out as Dalit by Yashica Dutt [Hardcover]

Coming Out as Dalit is a deeply personal memoir by Yashica Dutt, a journalist who, after years of concealing her Dalit identity, publicly confronts the oppressive realities of caste discrimination. Triggered by the tragic suicide of Dalit student Rohith Vemula in 2016, Dutt’s decision to reveal her true identity marks a moment of liberation but also exposes the immense psychological toll of living with a false upper-caste identity.

In this powerful narrative, Dutt reflects on the years of fear and guilt she endured while hiding her Dalit heritage from friends and colleagues. As she grapples with the empowerment of embracing her true self, she also confronts the weight of her ancestors’ struggles and the Dalit movement’s long history of fighting for equality. Through her journey, Dutt not only narrates her own coming-out story but also discusses the broader societal issues faced by Dalits, including systemic inequality in education, the need for caste-based reservations, the underrepresentation of Dalit voices in the media, and the vital contributions of Dalit women to social change.

Part memoir, part social critique, Coming Out as Dalit serves as a poignant exploration of caste, identity, and privilege in modern India, urging readers to confront these deeply ingrained injustices while offering a call for solidarity and action.