Part I - UP AGAINST THE BONDAGE
The memoir "Outcaste" follows Damu, a young man in his twenties, as he undertakes his Yeskar duty in his village, a role that involves announcing the arrival of a senior revenue official, the Mamledar. Damu runs barefoot, out of breath, singing praises of the Mamledar to alert the villagers of the official's visit. After escorting the Mamledar back, Damu feels tired and hungry, looking forward to having hot tea and bhakris at home.
However, his day takes a grim turn when a policeman approaches him and informs him that a dead body has been discovered in a broken well. He orders Damu to guard the corpse until the police inspector, the Fauzdar, arrives. The constable threatens Damu, emphasizing the serious consequences if anything happens to the corpse, leaving Damu anxious but obliged to comply.
As Damu stands guard, he hesitantly approaches the well only to be horrified by the sight of the disfigured body of a woman in white garb, previously a widow. As darkness falls and the stars emerge, Damu grapples with his hunger and the desire to go home but ultimately decides to stay vigilant. The constable returns and further chastises Damu, calling him a “lowly outcaste” and dismissing his pleas to inform his wife about his absence.
Dawn breaks, and villagers arrive, gossiping about the dead woman and speculating on the causes of her death. Damu listens to their speculative gossip, which ranges from thoughts of suicide to the character of the deceased. Meanwhile, he struggles with hunger while waiting for Fauzdar, hoping the police will soon take action and allow him to return home.
At last, one of Damu’s cousins, Namya, arrives with bhakris sent by Damu’s wife, Sonu. However, as Damu prepares to eat, the constables return and violently disrupt his moment, scattering the food on the ground. Damu feels a deep sense of injustice, angering at the dispassionate cruelty of the police. Although he wishes to eat openly, he fears the backlash. Namya encourages him to hide while eating, but Damu challenges this notion, asserting his humanity against systemic oppression.
When the Fauzdar arrives, he acts with arrogance, demanding Damu retrieve the body from the well, which Damu declares would be sacrilege, as the deceased woman belongs to a high caste. The Fauzdar responds with threats and aggression, humiliating Damu further and compelling him to act against his moral compass. As tension escalates, Damu stands his ground, proclaiming his dignity and resistance to being treated as less than human.
The situation erupts into chaos as Damu defiantly calls out against the Fauzdar's abuse. This catches the attention of the onlookers, and Damu finds himself facing a violent beating from the constables. Despite the physical punishment, he vows not to bow down to their authority, demanding recognition of his plight as a Mahar.
The part I of the memoir concludes with Damu and his wife, Sonu, planning to escape the oppressive environment of the village due to the trauma and humiliation faced. Damu's determination to leave represents both a refusal to accept his societal position and a yearning for liberation from the pervasive injustice he has endured. Together, they set out toward an uncertain but hopeful future, seeking freedom from the systemic oppression inherent in their lives.
