[1][2] Kharat was part of the Mahar community born in Atpadi, the secondary capital of the former princely state of Aundh, now in Sangli district.
[5][6] During his lifetime, Kharat wrote six novels, eight short story collections, an autobiography, and several non-fiction books, all centered around the issues important to the Dalit struggle.
His most celebrated work, Taral Antaral, an autobiographical novel, was first published in 1981 and gained prominence for its portrayal of Dalit life in Maharashtra.
[4] In addition to his fictional writings, Kharat authored the non-fiction historical work Maharashtratil Maharancha Itihaas (The History of Mahars in Maharashtra), which remains a magnum opus in its field.
Kharat's literature not only narrated stories but also aimed to resurrect the buried and appropriated histories of marginalized communities who had been denied a place in the literary imagination of the country.