WATER The poem water by CHALAPALLI Swaroopa Rani presents the struggle, humiliation, anguish and sufferings undergone by the dalits to obtain their rightful share of water. It describes problems faced in the rural areas of Andra Pradesh. Dalits were considered as untouchable by upper caste people. They had to face many difficulties as they were prohibited from the basic necessities of life, the water. Water acts as a silent spectator for the ‘Generations- old strife.’ It knows that untouchability will never disappear like the dampness on the well’s edge. Dalits live outside the village and their colony is called ‘Wada’. They had no right to draw water from the well because water becomes impure. The poet cites biblical incident in which Jesus, the Jew, goes to Samarian woman and asks her for water, who belongs to an inferior race. The speaker says whether one is a cobbler or a weaver, water is essential to all. The speaker presents the instances of panchama who is forced ...