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"I'm a fighter": The Dalit lawyer taking on the caste system

Manjula Pradeep is an Indian activist helping other Dalit women fight caste prejudice.

Manjula Pradeep was born in Western India to a Dalit family, a community considered to be on the lowest rung of the caste ladder. Growing up she experienced discrimination and indignity because of her background, but she excelled at school, and managed to defy expectations to become a lawyer and high-profile activist. Now she's helping Dalit rape survivors get access to justice. Manjula spoke to Divya Arya.

Joy Harjo survived prejudice and abuse, failed marriages and single motherhood to become one of America's most acclaimed poets. In 2019, she was appointed the US Poet Laureate, becoming the first Native American in history to be awarded the post. Her poetry is deeply rooted in indigenous histories and myths but part of her inspiration comes from jazz, including the Miles Davis tracks her father played in the car when she was a child. Joy's latest poetry collection is called An American Sunrise and this year, she was appointed to a third term as Poet Laureate. Joy spoke to Outlook's Emily Webb in May 2020.

Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com

Presenter: Emily Webb

Picture: Manjula Pradeep
Credit: 主播大秀/Divya Arya

Available now

41 minutes

Last on

Tue 26 Oct 2021 02:06GMT

Broadcasts

  • Mon 25 Oct 2021 11:06GMT
  • Mon 25 Oct 2021 17:06GMT
  • Tue 26 Oct 2021 02:06GMT

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