Friday, August 31, 2007

In Jesus, Dalits don't need a mediator...

One of my professor who is not familiar with the Dalits and Hindu society, asked me, what does this photo caption mean?

Presently I'm reading a book on 'Dalits Freedom now and forever' written by Dr. Joseph D'souza. On page 96 of this book, there is a photo of a dalit woman, seems to be praying (with joined hands). And the caption of the photo is "In Jesus, Dalits do not need a mediator between God and mankind". well, I happned to show this book to my professor. After going through some pages of this book, He stopped, on page 96 and asked me what does this caption mean?

Well, My professor is a scholar of theology and knows well, what it means to have a mediator between God and man. He knows well, about the priesthood of Christ and teaches to the master level.

When He asked me about the meaning, I thougt he caught some theological mistake. After a minute I answered him. The caption does not say about the belivers but about the unbelievers (dalits).It did not says Christian, Otherwise the meaning of the caption would have been compeletly wrong.

The Acutal Meaning of the Caption is, "Dalits don't need A Brahmin priest to represent them to God in rituals, cermonies and worship of God, once they come to Jesus Christ. Dalits can become themselves priests to the God. Anyone, who belives in Jesus, becomes a Priest of God. Now, we don't need anymore the 'Church Father' or Pastor to pray on their behalf but every beliver of Jesus can have access to their loving God. The 'priesthood of all believers' has been established by the word of God. Although, the Pastors or other learder can pray for the believers, and they do but God also accepts us individually too.

But the photo caption meant more than that. Actually having a mediator smbolized that the particular man or family are not worthy to reach to God. And it also implies that as if God only accepts the prayers and worship of Brahimin only. It also teaches that Some people are more holier than others, so that God accpets them, and rejects others. This also brings us to another dimension that the one who calls a Priest in his home, is of lower status. And this, unnessarily puts some poeple higher than others or the family. But Thank God there is no Jew or Greek, no slave or master, nor male or female (no Guru or bhakta) in Christ, all are equal. Although on the basis of knowledge of the Word and age can make differentce but overall Anybody can reach to their Saviour in worship and prayers.

The Dalits don't need a mediator in Jesus, meaning- they don't need to pay money as daksina to pundit jee and buy expensive incences, milk, fruits, and many kinds of foods. Actually what happens, when Dalits or others call a pundit to perform puja (worship), the pundit demand money very shrewedly in the name of differnt daan (alms and offerings), in the olden times and even now the Pundit ask the bhakatas (devoutess) to offer their expensive lands, animal which gives good amount of milk(it used to be cow but the traditional cow does not give milk anymore,so no body want them now, but they replace money instead of a cow now, since nobody want to give an expensive buffallo or a Jersy cow) different kinds of grains. Many people have been looted in this way, by  so called mediators everyday.

When people go to take bath in the pilgrimage, the pandas, over there asks the bhakta to make vows to pay differnet kind of daan, if the amount of money or grains is not sufficient with the bhakta, then Pujari (guru) ask him to pay later, when the harvest is over, (the guru later on sends his chelas (disciples) to collect the money and grains and colthes from the field), the bhakta then is helped in his/her puja. And by giving happily or not with a happy heart the bhakta gets his puja done. I have heard it, and seen with my own eyes in India and Nepal, many have been looted in the name of "religious mediatiorship."

And not only this, but if the pujari is not a Brahmin but belongs to any other caste then they also ask wine, and meat, along with money. So this is the practice of mediators.

This way, dalit or anybody when they come to Christ, he/she does not need to be looted/oppressed again in the name of religion and mediatorship. God accepts us as it is. God loves his people, the barrier, the curtain in the temple had been torn by Christ death, and now we can have direct acces to holy God.

Now finally, we do have a Mediator in the house of God, He is Jesus Himself. But Jesus is not the kind of mediator we have talked just now, on the earth, who loot and oppress but this mediator carries us to God, accepts us, prays for us, interceedth for us, and above all gave his life for us. So his mediatorship is for us and not against us. True mediator brings peace, love, joy, life, and prosperity but the thief (false mediator) takes it away.

Those who do not know true Mediator please read about Him in the holy word of God (the Bible).

Posted by Raj at 09:00:46 | Permanent Link | Comments (2) |

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Dalit Education: a threat to some people

LUCKNOW: : The Pratapgarh Police have arrested Santosh Mishra, one of the main accused in the murder of Dalit boy Chakrasen Gautam on August 15. Second accused Akash Dubey surrendered on Thursday afternoon.

When contacted, Pratapgarh Superintendent of Police Brij Raj Meena confirmed the news. ?We managed to trace Mishra who was hiding at a friend?s place and arrested him,? he said. Gautam was allegedly killed by upper caste people as he had qualified for the engineering exams.
http://www.indianexpress.com/story/210855.html

For centuries the Dalits have not been given education opportunities by the so called upper caste Hindus. Whoever tried for it,they were punised. And through the punishment others were were given a lesson not to repeat the same.

The education is the key to success and new ideas. Education is the basic to any human being, but the oppressors have used this to control the massess from being awakened. This is not true only of our country but also of many others. In the similar way, the Ranas in Nepal did not allow people to get education. In the Philippines the Spainish did not allow the man to be educated. In India the Brahmans did not allow the Dalits to have education. All these Oppressor's  policy was to keep the people in 'slavery and darkness' and continue enjoy their 'supermacy'.


But the time has changed and the constitution of our nation has given freedom to all to get the education. Thank God for that. Thanks to the social reformers, like Pandita Ramabai, Raja Ram Mohun Rai, William Carrey, Dr Ambedkar, Gandhi jee and Nehru jee etc who contributed to the cause.


Today with the help of Education department and other national and international agencies education work is progressing and the slogan "sab padhey, sab badhey' (let all read and let all grow). has been implemented all around. Many children of Dalits and other castes are going to school but still it's not time to rejoice.


But as things are changing, some people of the same "oppressor's" thinking does not want others to be educated and grow and have the right to live and survive. For that reason these people killed a Dalit young man who was intelligent and tried to excell in life and society. This is the thinking of guru Doroyonacharya of Pandavas, who when came to know that Eklawaya had excelled in bow/arrow skill through his personal attempts, comparing to a royal family member called Arjuna.  So this guru asked Eklawaya to cut his right thumb and give it to him guru as 'guru dakshina'. The main idea was to stop this  (of lower status) boy getting ahead the high family. This guru forgot to encourage this boy and to have two ("Shishya") excellent disciples. He feared the royal family, and not God. He killed the person and his talent alive and discouraged him and others for doing the same, so that only a handful of poeple would succeced.


 When we we have this kind of gurus to follow and are being taught as models in the schools, what can we learn from them. It is the same thing which happend in above mentioned case. However, I do agree there are some exceptions of good teachers.

These people did not give opportunities in the past and want to do same today. Sad thinking. We call India our mother and all Indians our brothers and sisters in our pledge  but in reality we dont accept all Indians our brothers and sisters. Our ideas are narrow minded and blinded by the wrong philosophy.


They forget India can grow only if all her citizen get education and take part in nation building. All the people have differen gifts and talents to use for the nation and for society devolepment.


May God give wisdom to the people of our country to see that nation's building can be achieved only through the education of all.  And may all recognize that no single caste or people can devolep alone and be a great contribution as a whole. May everyone come to their senses and And be proud of our nation as a whole.

Thanks to the people who are contributing to the social awakening and illitracy emancipation.

Posted by Raj at 02:52:33 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Friday, August 24, 2007

Listen the story from A sister who lived among Dalits...

In the year 1992, we four sisters opted to live among the Dalits in Pallapalayam village, Indira colony at Udumalpet Taluk in Coimbatore District Tamil Nadu.

Dalits are the untouchables of the society and so we opted to live because they are the Dalits, among the Dalits, because they are scavengers, who do all kinds of dirty work, like cleaning the public toilets, gutters of the streets in the villages and towns, burying dead animals and so on. Also they are considered very low in the status and looked down on by all the people in the country. They are called ?????????sakkiliar?????????. We chose such people to live with because we learned that they are the majority in our district and whose socio, economic, political and cultural rights were curtailed. They were denied their basic human rights, especially by the caste people and the local landlords.

The residence of the Dalits in almost all the states of India is the same for they do not have houses or land of their own. They fully depend upon the local land owners or government for work. It is impossible for them to get government jobs because they are illiterates, and if they are employed by the government it would be for scavenging work, and they are paid very low wage and considered as `D?????? grade workers. Eg. I found only three male and two female primary school teachers in Udumalpet taluk among the Dalits of this particular caste.

Women and men were going for ?????????coolie????????? work and children too were accompanying their parents to graze the cattle for the land owners or working with their parents for daily wages.

We learned that only 12 children were going to primary school, and many of them were bonded to the landlords in whose fields their parents were bonded labourers. That is, they work for the same land owner from generation after generation faithfully with low wages. We regularly visited the families and built a rapport with them. We also went to work with them in the fields of the landlords. The landlords were suspicious of our going to work and so strictly told the women not to bring us to work with them. They worked more than eight hours, but they were not aware of it. We contacted 10 more colonies of the same type of people; there too we found the same type of oppression.

After learning the situation of the people for six months, we started literacy classes for the women and the youth. For the children we started special coaching classes and so we were able to send many children to the schools. The children were enthused to do their studies well and so the people of the area demanded we take tuitions for their children too, which was very impossible for us because they asked us to come to their areas (because they would not send their children into a Dalit colony.)

There are 200 families in the colony -- they had no leaders among them and for any disputes they would approach the local leaders who are non-Dalits. Our stay among them brought some changes in their lifestyle and they began to solve the problems by themselves through meetings and so on.
E.g. There were lots of superstitious beliefs, the people were going to receive blessings for sicknesses such as diarrhea or fever etc instead of going to the hospital. The women stopped completely going to the temple priest for the blessing.

The women and children were organised and simultaneously regular awareness and literacy classes were conducted and so, the people of the area, the non-Dalits questioned the women and men of the colony and learned all the details of the programmes and the changes in the colony.
E.g. There were no children to graze the cattle and women were going to work irregularly, for they had their own self-help scheme (ie micro credit unit.)

With our help and guidance the children were faring well in their studies. Apart from that the women and the children were encouraged with a small savings scheme and so they were confident to educate their children and then onwards they were independent to take decision for their children and the family.

We took part in all the activities of the people in the colony such as their temple festivals, family functions, joys and sorrows which brought us close to people to know more about their culture and their attitudes about caste discrimination. We found that they have been oppressed in all the ways possible (e.g.) socially, economically, politically and religiously. The more we got involved the more they strengthened their confidence in us and accepted us.

Our regular meetings and discussions on human rights, women?????????s rights and various caste-based issues created in them confidence and courage which made them move to take part in different meetings organised by the Dalits movements and women?????????s movements in various places. Usually they do not go out of their place because they do not know to read and write and fear meeting outsiders.

If the police entered the colony the people would hide themselves for fear of them. Our constant accompaniment and follow-up in creating awareness and teaching to read and write made them go ahead in their activities. This helped them to participate actively in movement meetings, strikes, hunger strikes and so on.

It had taken nearly two years of time, and then began the problems for us. Our stay among the people was at risk, for the local landlords who were Hindu fundamentalists questioned some of the men in the colony and forced them to vacate us from there, for we have come to convert them to Christianity. With the help of some men in the colony they arranged to pick a fight among men and women who were involved in the micro-credit unit. They confused the entire situation of colony which led us and the women to the local police station and then to the local magistrate court, a signature campaign, petition to the collector and so on.

The more we were troubled, the deeper were our strength and courage to commit ourselves and to stand by the people, and be with them until the situation was ended. We were asked to leave the place by the provincial for fear of further troubles and danger to our lives. We were away from the place for two days but returned. It was a hard task for us to maintain peace among the people because there was an attempt to split the people and create fights among them. We were extremely careful to tackle this issue without any breakout of fights. We used peaceful tactics, that is, not to pick a fight with anyone, even if it wounded them very much and so women were very careful and did not react to anyone and to any situation. Almost every day we discussed the issue and finally the decision was made to forgive all those who caused us to suffer. The solution was to deepen the commitment of women in this issue and to create clarity on their rights, and to be united to work together.

The children played a very important role in this issue. They refused to eat at home and sign the signature campaign paper. They questioned people who were bribed by other caste men to send us away from the colony. When two children were threatened to say to the police that we taught prayers, the rest of them shouted together to the police that these children were saying lies. Finally, we all discussed to put an end the problem and to rebuild the unity and bring peace in the colony.

As the temple feast was approaching it was an appropriate opportunity at that moment so we planned to join those who created problem to celebrate the temple feast. So the women took initiative and the feast celebration put an end to the situation. The government officials did not support us very much for they were reluctant to get involved in this issue for fear of their officials who were non-Dalits. We too sent petitions to the collector for not allowing us to do the service to people which was in collaboration with the government scheme; the micro-credit unit.

The Hindu fundamentalists tried their level best to chase us from the colony by arranging public meetings in front of the colony to influence the people, also they bribed the police to threaten us and so the policemen came to call us to the station for an enquiry. Our petition to the Superintendent of Police (S.P.), made them come enquire in the colony. The entire village gathered, nearly 2000 people might have gathered to see what the Deputy S.P. (D.S.P.) would do to us. Many of the people thought that he would arrest us and so the women and children were crying bitterly for fear of our arrest.

We were told by the D.S.P. not to leave the colony and not to convert the people. Then the local Magistrate (Thasildar) took a further step to put an end to those Hindu fundamentalists and the landlords who were the cause, he called out the parents of those men for discussion and warned them not to allow them to get involved in this issue.

I lived among them for 12 years empowering women, youth, and children and learned that the poor have many values to teach us: especially sharing, love for the neighbor, love for the nature so on. They are very human and affectionate people. I found meaning for my religious commitment in being and living a simple life ????????? for they were living a very simple and contented life. Now, our sisters are continuing the work but moved to another area and continuing the contacts and the programmes with the people.



Sr Alphonsa Fatima

 FMM Geneva
Posted by Raj at 08:03:16 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Hope Of Social Transformation through Biblical Perspecitve


Dear Friends!

BELIEF BEGETS BEHAVIOUR? I hope you are well aware of this fact and can see the consequences of this everyday.

 The Problems: The Bible in Proverbs 13:23 says, "A poor man's field may produce abundant food, but injustice sweeps it away." It’s absolutely right in India and in Nepal . People work day and night so hard to produce the wheat and rice, But no benefit of such toiling because at the time of harvest the rates of grains/cotton are brought down by the businessmen.  It becomes very hard for the farmers and laborers to buy grain and cloth, once produced by them. Price controlling is impossible for an ordinary because the businessmen and political leaders CONTROL it for their own benefit.
Why do people hate each other? Why they think of high and low. Why people can not see others prospering? Why don’t they care about each other? How can we have concern about our neighbors, our friends, the oppressed people, the exploited ones, the illiterates, and the so called lower human beings?  What can make us think about the needy? What can think us that we all are equal people created in the same way?  How can we make the hateful and covetous heart into a heart of caring and full of compassion?

Fake Assumptions: Some might say, "The problem must be the system", some might blame it on the level of education, But we have the 100 percent education in Kerala? Some might say it is because of poverty, well, how about Gujarat and Punjab ? These are well to do states. I believe the system is ok; our constitution is one of the best ones in the world. What really matters is the heart of the people, and secondly, the philosophy of life, which makes our people life hell.

We can have concern and compassion for our brothers and sisters in need through the idea of ONE GOD THE FATHER: the Root of All and The biblical perspective of life are vital to make us understand that.

We are commanded by God to love HIM and to Love HIS Creation. NO matter who they are, what their color are, what languages they speak, even what they believe, where they live and we are to love them.

The people of God are doing this and inspiring others to do that. The Lord is our Father, we are His Children ...IF we are His people, Then WE are ONE blood and Relative of each other... Who teaches this...? It is only Bible, which speaks like this and gives hope for making this world and system better.
 All the relatives and One family people should know, if one suffers, if one does not have food, or if one's kids are not going to school, or if one does not have the means to raise his kids and to provide them warm clothes, food and medicines on time then we have to think in our family (as God's children).
 Remember ‘Ideas have consequence.’ Right from the beginning we learn that god did not create us equal but higher and lower. Some are there to be on top others to be their slaves or servants for birth after birth. This makes life miserable. This makes life hopeless and captives. This gives people rights to treat others lower and to oppress them. These are the ideas and philosophies which make people do anything in the name of divine.  

 Model of A Changed life: Why did Zachaeus care about the people, he cheated? How his life was changed? How did he become a new man? Why did he start caring about the poor and needy? Why did he think about the people, whom He never bothered about? It was only when Jesus came to his heart and house literally. It was Only when he had heard that all the people are God’s children. Jesus shared Gospel or the message of the kingdom with him. After hearing to Jesus, when he accepted God as his father then he began to think, I should not just live for myself but I need to care for others too.
Through Jesus’ teaching, talk and fellowship Zachaeus life was changed. And then the chief tax collector philosophy also changed. And I personally believe that the people under him must also have been changed by his testimony. AND THIS IS OUR HOPE. It is the biblical belief, THAT TO CHANGE THE WHOLE Corrupted  SOCIETY AND faulty SYSTEM, WE NEED JESUS AND UNLESS JESUS CHANGES OUR LIFE, NO GUN, JAIL , COURT, CONSTITUTION CAN CHANGE THE Corrupted SYSTEM OF THE SOCIETY.
JESUS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CHANGE THE LIVES, VIEWS, PHILOPHSIES, AND UPROOT ALL KINDS OF EVILS from OUR SOCIETY.

 WE NEED PEOPLE WHO CAN exhibit THIS TRUTH LIVE IN TODAY'S modern World. JESUS IS CALLING CHRISTIANS FROM Their HOMES, JOBS, FAMILIES, TO SPREAD THE Good News OF SALVATION AND LIBERATION.

 Jesus the facilitator: JESUS TOOK THE INITIATIVE TWO THOUSAND YEARS AGO FOR THIS. HE LOVED THE PEOPLE, HE CARED FOR THEM, HE INSPIRED PEOPLE TO DO GOOD AND GLORIFY THE FATHER. HE IS NOT ONLOOKER or passive BUT WITH US IN THIS STRUGGLE. HE IS OUR LEADER, WE ARE His followers, HE IS MOVING AHEAD OF US TO CHANGE THE lives, SYSTEMS AND SOCITIES. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT? YES WE DO THIS, BY SHARING THE GOSPEL OF HOPE AND SALVATION.

 THE CAPTIVES WILL BE SET FREE NO MATTER OF WHAT...

The summary of God’s Law: WHEN WE LOVE OUR GOD WE LOVE HIS CREATOIN too.  Apostle JAMES SAYS, “DO NOT JUST LOVE WITH WORDS BUT WITH LOVE and ACTONS .”

 Gospel the only WAY: I HOPE by now, YOU have understood the Principle OF CHANGING THE LIVES, VIEWS, AND PHILOSOPHIES. It is only the Gospel, which has the answers to our problems. The Gospel was not given by any men or women. It was not an invention of library research. The Good News came from the heaven through Jesus Christ for all the mankind and not just for the Jews. The Apostle John tells us that, God loved the world and because of that He sent his dear Son for all the people and nations of this world. Jesus did not come to be the Savior and Messiah of the Jews or Samaritans, The apostle says, “Jesus came as the light of the world.” Jesus is the bread of life, which is given for each person on this earth.
 Jesus has to incarnate in our land, in our home and most of all in our hearts to change us right from the bottom of our heart. Jesus must become the Center of our thinking and lives. Jesus must make us move. Jesus must make us think and behave.  Unless Jesus sits on the throne of our hearts and society, He can not do it.
 To bring the Reform and purge all the evil from our society and home and family and individual life, Jesus should be invited.
 The Unique Philosophy:  This is the only hope which can cure our Corrupted hearts and minds. This is only philosophy which Jesus preached to reform the evil system of his time. The same philosophy also brought reform in the Europe and America . The barbarian became the ‘first world’ in the world. The head-hunting tribal became the gentle and most educated community of North East India. The same philosophy worked for the good of our people in British time.
 The same philosophy had worked for the liberation of women in the early history of our time. The women and Dalits were freed socially and economically. It gave our sisters and brothers to have education in the same school and as one people. All the children sat together as one community. All of them prayed to one God and learned that it is One God who created them one and equal.
  The same philosophy has the power to reform our people and society. We are reaping the fruits of this society such as democracy, banning of sati (widow burning), child marriage, banning of untouchablity, equal treatment of all the citizens. The Hindu Scriptures and philosophies never did anything in this regard; rather they divided and made us miserable people.
 THE BIBLE HAS THE ANSWER FOR THE DALITS AND FOR THE ENTIRE SUFFERING WORLD. Bible’s message can bring hope, a life full of compassion and care. The Bible IS A MIRROR, IN IT OUR LIVES, VIEWS, THOUGHTS, STRUGGLES, AND INITIATIVES BECOMES CRYSTAL CLEAR.
 If we people submit ourselves to the authority of True God and his Word, the Bible then we can correct our self and we can correct others too. If we don’t have the standard then on what basis, do we stand for the social justice and social reform? How can we ask people to be corrected and to behave well for the betterment of human beings? IT is the Bible which gives us the base and challenge for this noble task. It is the Bible which can guide us and bring our society into compassion and caring community.

 Conclusion: I HOPE We CAN overcome the political, social economical and religious problems WITH GOD'S Word and people who love God and his Word. All the problems can be solved on the basis of THE people, WHO LOVE God as their FATHER And THINK ALL THE HUMANITY AS the BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
 The concept of one brotherhood and sisterhood makes it in the light of God’s word.
THE God SOCIAL JUSTICE IS WITH US. Believe in HIM and start working for the betterment.
 If the Belief system and the philosophy of life are ok all will be ok.  If the foundation is wrong then the whole building is going to be shaky and in trouble. So think of your foundation and philosophy!

Posted by Raj at 15:42:04 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

So that they may have life...

Jesus Christ mission to this world was to save people from sin, suffering, death, condemnation, injustice and hell. His mission was to reach out the people who were living without hope. He came as  a Messiah to save and to fulfill the hope of his people. Jesus came to identify with those who were looked down, the downtrodden, the sinners, the aduterers, the tax- collectors, the uncleans etc. He, because of his association with these people groups was called the friend of sinners by the so called righteous and religious people.

Many so called high educated people and others who thought to be, of clean race, did not like Jesus for his ideas to have fellowship and union with the masses. But Jesus did not care for them and for their approval. He went ahead to peach the kingdom to the Poor, to serve the marginalized, to help those with physical disabilites, He healed many, loved the little children, and served the people in need such as hunger and thirst. He became the bread and living water for his people.

He loved the people, who were considered the lowest such as Samaritans. He not only walked in their village but also went to talk to a woman, and drank water from her. He told her that He HAS THE WATER OF LIFE AND SHE CAN HAVE IT FREELY. And later from the story (John chapter 4) we do know that this woman drank that living water by faith and became the follower of Christ, who loved her and made others love her. This woman said, I have met the living Savior and I will ask you also meet HIM personally. The people of her village also accepted her testimoney and they believed too in HIM for life. And they said, now we not only belive because you say so, but we ourselve have seen HIM and met the Saviour.

Jesus cares for his people even today. He wants to come to Dalits and other Oppressed people life and home. He wants to give them hope and life. He wants to change their life, belief, living system, the moral life, the philosophy, and want to make them His own dear children (John 1:12). It is now in the hands of Preachers, who will have to take this "Good News" to the people who are suffering and groaning for liberation. And it is for the oppressed, to accept the offer to "have life" on this earth and in heaven.

God loves his people and can not see them suffering anymore. He is sending us, his disciples and and the followers to carry out the message of LIFE to His dear children. He wants His suffring people to liberate. My friends let's say here I am, Lord send me and use me or use my gifts for the same cause.

God wants them to have life. God wants them to be liberated. God wants them to be freed from captivity. Will you play a role in it?

Raj 

Posted by Raj at 03:38:29 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Hard realities of Dalits

Shame on India & Indian - 2 (Hard Realities)

Every hour 2 Dalits are assaulted,
Every day 3 Dalit women are raped,
Every day 2 Dalits are murdered & 2 Dalits Houses are burnt in India.
(Report of Ministry of Welfare of the Govt. of India 1992-1993)

* 37 percent of Dalits living below poverty in India.
* More than half (54%) of their children are undernourished in India.
* 83 per 1000 live birth children born in Dalit community are probability of dying before the first birthday.
* 45 percent of Dalits do not know read and write in India.
* Dalits women burden double discrimination (gender and caste) in India.
* Only 27 percent of Dalits women give institutional deliveries in India.
* About one third of Dalit households do not have basic facilities.

(Source: NSSO, Census of India and NFHS-II)

BSE, (Mumbai Stock Exchange) set up in 1875. 3500 companies traded every day, no Dalit owned company traded in 1875, none in 2005.
CII (Confederation of Indian Industry), set up around 1895. 57, 00 member organizations, and 80,000 individual members, no Dalit member till now.
ASSOCHAM (Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India), set up in 1920. One lakh individual company membership, no Dalit company member.
FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry), set up in 1927. 1,500 corporate members, and over 500 chambers of commerce, no Dalit member in 1927, none in 2005.
IIC (India International Centre), set up in 1962. With 4828 individual, and 296 corporate membership, no Dalit member in 1962, and probably, none in 2005.

(From India Today’s website)

Over 28,000 incidents of crime against SC/ST in 2005
Over 28,000 incidents of crimes, including murder and rape, were committed against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes across the country last year, the Lok Sabha was informed today.
While 24,792 cases were reported against Scheduled Castes, as many as 3,691 crimes were committed against Scheduled Tribes, Minister of State for Home I D Swami said in a written reply.
The maximum numbers of 4,892 cases against Scheduled Castes were reported from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh topped the list in atrocities against Scheduled Tribes with 1643 cases.
Police: Over 68,000 complaints were received against police personnel in the year 2000 alone, but only 26 of them were convicted, Swami said.
In 1999, 135771 cases were reported, 137492 cases in 2000 and 125152 last year, as per the data compiled by National Crimes Record Bureau.

See the above given facts and there will be no need of saying anything else about the condition of the Dalits (UNTOUCHABLES) here in India. Although some of these facts are of 1992-1993, 2005 I don’t think the condition of the Untouchables have improved a lot. The crimes have increased year by year (In 1999, 135771 cases were reported, 137492 cases in 2000 and 125152 last year, Over 28,000 incidents of crime against SC/ST in 2005 as per the data compiled by National Crimes Record Bureau.).The condition has become the worst in the present context as India is developing India Shining!!! Where it is developing where it’s shining? India is Developing towards a Civil War, Developing in creating Hate between the People & Developing in Dividing people based on Caste System etc. Where it is shining why at least me not able to see India Shining? India might be shining for the families like TATA, BIRLA or AMBANI’s. India is not shining for the common people (Dalits) those constitutes 85% population of the India. See the facts and you can yourself come to know where India is shining or developing.
People below Poverty Line:
SC: 31.64 %
ST: 44.2 %
OBCs: 21.8 %
Upper Castes: 12.78 %

The Government enacted the Prevention of Atrocities Act in 1989 and over the years it has proved to be a lame duck. Nothing has improved, changed for the Dalits (can’t say about the upper caste people, those who think they are but not in reality. Their condition might have improved by torturing Dalits!!!! Shame on these people)
While out of the total cases, only one in five were disposed, out of the disposed cases, a mere 2.31 per cent ended up in conviction. The number of acquittals is six times more than the number of convictions. (These are the facts of 2005) Many cases remain unnoticed by this Casteist media and not just the media the police and the judicial system have failed to report all the crimes happening against the Dalits. Media can provide information about what’s going in the one’s bedroom but can point out the atrocities happening to the Dalits. Why so? Doesn’t this show the discrimination? Why media feel so much feared about giving such news or they just don’t want to show people the real face of India and Hinduism as they are also Hindus? I won’t say anything about this almost everyone will understand this very well itself. (Top 500 posts in Media there are no one from Dalits at Delhi).
Now see 1st three days (Millions of Rupees) of the parliament (winter session, 2006) are wasted by these politicians discussing on Greg Chappell. What the hell common people is going to get from all this? Is this going to give anything to the economy of India? Or by discussing on Greg Chappell India is going to become developed nation? I think only politicians can answer this better those don’t even know the meaning of Economy!!! Has anyone raised the case of Khairlangi? I don’t think so. They can discuss all about Schin’s marriage, Greg Chappell, Britney Spears & Mandir’s etc. there in the Parliament but what happens when the turn of raising voice for eliminating Casteism or discrimination comes? Almost every leader becomes silent then why so? At least Dalit leaders should have raised this Khairlangi Case but they are becoming puppets in the hands of these Manuwadi people days by day. Shame on all our own leaders those haven’t raised such points of Casteism and discrimination from where all world listen them.
Shame on all the ministers also those are filling their own pockets by giving all atrocities happening over Dalits a political look for the development of own party.
Is there any scope for human development if we go on committing such indecent? Can’t say and can’t expect anything from Indian at least.The Untouchables are made “Religious, Economic and Political Slaves” by means of “Hindu Caste System” and its religious fake rituals. The people who believed in “Basic Human Rights” from all over the world should have to come forward to destroy “Hindu Caste System” and give justice to millions of people suffering since last thousands of years. Shame on India and me that I am still trying to wake up the people here in India those are DEAD and following stupid and fake rituals!!! Shame on me that I couldn’t save my mother, sister and brothers those died in Khairlangi and also those are being tortured daily by these so called Upper Caste people (Those who think they are but not in Reality).
NOTE: Please see more details below:
Latest Category Wise %Age Census in Govt. Jobs.
Since Independence SC/ST/OBCs Have Been Completely Used & Thrown in Free India by UC people.
GOVT. JOBS UC%AGE SC/ST%AGE OBC%AGE
SHOULD BE AS PER POPULATION 25% 23% 52%
EXISTING SITUATION
1ST CLASS POSTS 89.62% 5.69% 4.69%
2ND CLASS POSTS 71.19% 18.18% 10.63%
3RD & 4TH CLASS POSTS 56.62% 24.18% 18.18%
REFERENECE LOKNAYAK, MARATHI DAILY FROM BOMBAY, DATED 29-04-2006
Brahmins Grabbed/Snatched Rights of SC/ST/OBCs. The Glaring facts as per following Table:

GROUP POPULATION POLITICS EMPLOYEED COMERENCE LAND EDUCATION
BRAHMIN 3.5 41 62 10 5 —–
XSHATRIYA 5.5 15 12 27 80 —–
VAISHYA 6 10.5 13 60 9 —–
TOTAL 15 66.5 87 97 94 78
SC 15 11 4 0.1 0.5 6
ST 7.5 7.6 1 0.1 0.5 2
OBC 52 8 7 0.8 4 2
MINORITIES 10.5 3 1 2 1 2
TOTAL 85 33.5 13 3 6 22
REFERENECE MAHANAYAK, MARATHI DAILY FROM BOMBAY, P-1 HEAD NEWS, DATED 30-04-2006.
FOR FUTHER REFERENECE READ THESE PAPERS OR SEE IN MAGAZINE NAMED “BEGAM SHEHAR”.

#Pardeep Singh Attri (Punjab)

Posted by Raj at 03:13:39 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Monday, August 20, 2007

Atrocities on Dalits

Dalits are a people who have been mistreated for thousand of years by the so called Hindu high castes. There are hunderds of atrocities, everyday occuring in India. But only few of them come to the notice of media and law. Most of the dalits do not dare to go to the police station and to court against the injustice and misdeeds done to them. As it further worsens their life.

Let me mention a few here:

Uttar Pradesh: A girl of 16 years was burned alive in Hapur district on 19th Aug/07, after she protested the high caste 3 boys, trying to rape her. The culprit ran out of village after the incident.

Urai District: Three teachers were suspended by the District Magistrate, after they were found out that they ask the dalits kids to sit in a seprate place from other students. The mid-day food was given from a far to them. And the teachers used a seprate stick to beat the dalit kids and the other students. The children told that the teacher washed their hands after beathing them, thinking it made them unclean.

Bihar: A child's fingers were cut after he stole some tomato from a field.

Madhya Pradesh: A village chief, a dalit woman was insulted when she did the flag hosting on Independance day. 

Some more facts: Dalits almost 20 % of the total, a significant population

*The dalit issue was raised up in House of Commons in U.K. this year in May.

*In certain parts of our country if the dalits refuse to work in the fields of land-lords, they get killed.

*After every 18 minutes there is a new case of dalit atrocities.

*Every day 3 dalit woman get raped.

*  Same time 11 dalits are being beaten everyday.

*13 Dalit get killed every week.

* And 5 house get burned

*Even in jails and Police stations they suffer the stigma of being a dalit.

*Dalits are most poor and uneducated people.

* Leading Hindi news paper (amar Ujala) says, " Socially we are still living in the pre-indepandance times"

There is more than this, in the real India. How sad it is being a human being to behave this way. But people those who behave this way, have their own philosophy to support even these criminal acts.

Yes, the people are groaning and few to comfort them. Hope somebody will respond to these dear people of God.

 

*most of the infomation based on AmarUjala.com editorial, Aug 20th/07

 

Posted by Raj at 05:19:02 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |