Two headlines on Monday which must surely have left most Indians wondering if they have really progressed socially in the 76 years after Independence were those pertaining to four Dalit youth tied upside down and thrashed in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra and a Dalit youth beaten to death in Madhya Pradesh.
The Ahmednagar incident happened because of the suspicion that the youth were involved in stealing, believe it or not, pigeons and a goat!
In MP, the lynching reportedly happened due to old enmity with reports doing the rounds that it was also linked to pressure for a compromise in an old case of harassment.
There are enough provision in the law and under the Constitution to deter those involved in such obnoxious acts.
The Constitution has banned the practice of untouchability under Article 17 and the Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities Act), 1989 was introduced to combat persecution and discrimination against Dalits and Adivasi (tribal) people.
The Constitution also assures the right to equality and the right against exploitation. There are several programmes and schemes specifically meant for Dalit upliftment, there are hostels for them and there are subsidies galore but what has not happened is a melting away of the ancient barriers of caste and prejudice against them.
Going by the recent incidents, it is more than obvious that the statute book alone will not suffice in preventing people from turning on their brethren just because they are victims of a regressive caste system.
Nothing seems to have changed in the rural landscape where the caste divide is as deep as it was a thousand years ago. There is no rubbing of shoulders, no sense of social equality with castes living and functioning within the strict confines of the varna system, maybe because of the fear that they may face ostracism in case they do something which may seem antagonistic to the social hierarchy.
So how do we surmount this Himalayan obstacle which has disrupted our social cohesion several times in the past, led to riots and conflicts?
Is it time for every political party to make a campaign against Dalit oppression a mandatory part of their poll manifestoes?
Isn’t it time for governments both at the Centre and in the state to conceptualise and implement a national level campaign to make people shed the antipathy against lower castes and regard them as equal citizens of this great country, who are entitled to the same rights and freedom?
Caste continues to wield its ugly influence in educational institutions, in institutes of higher learning and even in government offices where reports say, there are caste-based groups which work to further their own interests.
A secular, progressive and bias-free society is the last thing such groups would even think of which explains why one’s caste continues to be the most pervasive influence in modern-day living despite all the laws which discourage it.
A social movement to enlighten people about the pernicious effect caste can have on our lives and the need to shed antipathy towards the less fortunate in society, is one way to make people think less about caste differences and more about why economic issues affect everyone irrespective of caste, creed and religion.
Stricter punishment for anyone who is prone to make use of the caste factor to further individual interests, can be another way to keep caste influences away from politics and society.
There have been too many killings and too many riots in the name of caste and for a nation of more than a billion aiming for ambitious goals and economic freedom, one of the biggest debilitating factors no doubt is caste which will have to be relegated to the shadows before it spoils our dreams
Courtesy : News Trail
Note: This news piece was originally published in newstrail.com and used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes exclusively for Human Right
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