A classic of subaltern writing, the autobiographical novel Karukku (meaning the sharp, serrated edge of a palmyra leaf) is a bold and poignant tale of life outside mainstream Indian thought and function. Revolving around the main theme of caste oppression within the Catholic Church, it portrays the tension between the self and the community, and presents Bama’s life as a process of self-reflection and recovery from social and institutional betrayal.

BAMA is the most celebrated contemporary Dalit woman writer. She is a prolific writer who has also penned novels like Sangati and Vanmam, short story collections, and children’s literature.