Dalit assertion through effective characters: A study of Joseph Macwan's novel stepchild

Angaliyat focuses mainly on the Vankar community, a Dalit community in Gujarat, but the narrative develops around the structure of domination where the Patidar calls all the shots. The novel opens with two hardworking and simple Vankar friends who, motivated by a deep sense of dignity, confront Patidar youth when they make advances to a Vankar girl in the neighboring village. The incident is followed by a series of conflicts with the dominant community and ultimately both friends sacrifice their lives. Not only their families, but the entire Vankar vas gets involved in the high drama, pain and suffering. Macwan's narrative skills are both engaging and complex, sharply pointing out the enemy ‘within’ and ‘without’. The preposition of the paper will deal with the effective characters portrayed in the novel.