Daya Pawar (1935[1] - 1996[2]) or Dagdu Maruti Pawar was a Marathi author and poet known for his contributions to Dalit literature that dealt with the attrocities experienced by the dalits or untouchables under the Indian caste system.[2] He gained fame for his autobiographical novel Baluta (1978) written as a story by Dagdu Pawar being told to the more literate Daya Pawar, with both being personas of the author.[3] The novel recounts the \"experiences of an untouchable struggling for a peaceful existence, mentally tormented but incapable of retaliation in word and deed.\"[4] The book shook Marathi society and was a critical success in both Marathi and in its Hindi translation, but received considerable anti-Dalit blowback for its frank exposition.[4][5] Pawar is also known for his poetry, including the collection Kondawada,[citation needed] and was the writer of the 2000 film, Dr.