| 1. Yashica Dutt is an Indian writer focusing on social issues like gender inequality, caste discrimination, class, and identity. |
| 2. She grew up in a family considered untouchables or Dalits, at the bottom of the Indian caste system. |
| 3. Yashica's mother advised her to hide her Dalit identity to survive in a school with upper-class students. |
| 4. Yashica followed her mother's advice, concealing her caste and imitating upper-class girls' lifestyles. |
| 5. Yashica underwent ubtan treatments to lighten her skin tone and hide her Dalit features. |
| 6. Her upbringing lacked the empowerment needed to stand up against discrimination due to her caste and financial background. |
| 7. Yashica changed her surname and attended a convent school as strategies to pass as a non-Dalit. |
| 8. The family adopted the surname 'Dutt' in place of their original surname 'Nidaniya.' |
| 9. At 15, Yashica publicly disclosed her Dalit identity, resulting in rejection from a friend's family. |
| 10. Yashica concealed her caste for over a decade before publicly identifying as Dalit in 2016. |
| 11. After this revelation, Yashica encouraged others to share their stories on discrimination. |
| 12. The shared stories inspired Yashica to create a platform named 'Document of Dalit Discrimination.' |
| 13. This platform aimed to help those facing discrimination and depression in South Asia. |
| 14. Yashica's book based on these experiences, 'Coming Out as Dalit: A Memoir,' won awards. |
| 15. In her book, Yashica highlighted how Dalits often have to sacrifice their identity to fit in. |
| 16. Yashica is also known for sharing her breakfast cooking experiences on social media. |
| 17. She lives in Brooklyn, New York. |
| 18. Her book 'Coming Out as Dalit' received the Sahitya Akademi award and the Indian National Arts and Letters Award in 2020. |
| 19. She was born in a Valmiki Hindu family. |
| 20. She is currently working on her second book, on caste in the United States. |
| 21. She introduced the expression 'coming out as Dalit' which has become part of cultural lexicon in Indian communities worldwide. |
| 22. Her journalism has been featured on BBC, The Guardian, and PBS NewsHour. |
