The term, Subaltern, is derived from the Latin word 'Subalterns; as a noun it means an officer below the rank of captain, especially a second lieutenant; at an adjectival level it means of lower rank, as far as literature is concerned the following meaning is applicable. Obviously, the term covers the subject, the masses, the deprived and neglected part of society. It seems that the term “subaltern” came into force in the postcolonial era. Ranjeet Guha worked on the project entitled Subaltern Studies; but his project concerns postcolonial history. Gayatri Spivak, in her controversial essay Can the Subaltern Speak, attributed the term its special effect, as far as literature is concerned. But his essays on the subaltern are especially associated with women. The term subaltern includes not only women but also those people who have been deprived of freedom, equality, fraternity and justice. The group of Indians who have been deprived of all this are called Dalits and write Dalit literature. Since Dalits are deprived of the right to life, their writings are marked as a revolt against the social system and efforts to establish social justice. Arjun Dangle, an eminent Dalit writer and activist, rightly points out: “Dalit literature is marked by revolt and negativism, as it is closely associated with the hopes for freedom of a group of people who, as untouchables, are victims of social unrest, economic inequality and cultural". Difference and revolt are the special qualities of Dalit literature. Compared to traditional literature, Dalit literature is different in terms of language, experience and hero. While traditional literature is merely for entertainment, Dalit literature puts the heart… at the center of the paper… but at the real world of overlooked people. Works Cited1) Guha, Ranjit. Ed. A reader of subaltern studies. Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2000.)2) Dangle, Arjun. Ed. Poisoned Bread: Translations from Moedrn Marathi Dalit Literature. Hyderabad: Orient Longman Limited, 1994.3) Garud, Shyamal. Dalit Stri Atmakathane. Pune: Yashshree, 2010.4) Sathe, Anna Bhau. Samagra Anna Bhau Sathe. Kolhapur: Shramik Pratishthan, 2011.5) Limbale, Sharankumar. Towards an aesthetics of Dalit literature. Trans. Alok Mukherjee. Hyderabad: Orient Longman Private Limited, 2004.6) Ibid.7) Karhade, Sada. 'Dalit Sahitya Chikitsa' (Dalit Literature: A Critical Study.) Aurangabad: Swarup Prakashan, June 2001.8) Pantawane, Gangadhar. “Sahitya: Prakruti Aani Prawruti” (Literature: Nature and Form). Aurangabad: Swarup Prakashan, August 199.