Reclaiming Identity through Words: Literature as a Catalyst for Social Justice and Equality

Abstract

The paper analyses literature as a tool for resistance and empowerment for marginalised audiences: Jews, 'Blacks,’ ‘Dalits,’ women, and transgender individuals. It documents the shift in literature from a record of oppression to a tool for reclaiming identity and asserting equal rights. Through the works of representative writers such as Elie Wiesel, Toni Morrison, B.R. Ambedkar, A. Revathi, and Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, the study demonstrates how personal stories are transformed into collective struggles for dignity and justice. Each section illustrates the particular historical and social conditions of marginalisation, and how these writers transformed silence into speech and oppression into self-articulation. The paper claims that ‘class’ literature does more than chronicle marginalisation. However, it redefines the ethical and humanitarian paradigm of civilisation, encouraging readers to interrogate entrenched ways of thinking and propose more ‘acceptable’ alternatives. It assigns ‘class’ writing as a core element of human rights and social change advocacy.