Indian Caste System Pushing "Dalit" towards Wall

By Zaheerul Hassan

Hindu religion diversify the Indian society and caste system mainly into four castes like; Brahmins, Ks.atriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras (Dalit). According to the Hinduism, the followers of the caste system believes that by birth, Brahmin works for; peace, self-harmony, austerity, purity; loving-forgiveness and righteousness; vision, wisdom and faith. The Ks.atriya are heroic minded, believes to be Constance, resourceful, courage in battle, generosity and noble leadership. The trade, agriculture and the rearing of cattle are the work of a Vaishya. The work of the Shudra is service. It is also added here that Shudra is known to be Herijan and Dalit, [Chapter 18, Juan Mascar translation, Penguin Books, 1962]. The word "Dalit" comes from the Sanskrit, and means "ground", "suppressed", "crushed", or "broken to pieces". It was first used by Jyotirao Phule in the nineteenth century, in the context of the subjugation faced by the erstwhile "untouchable" castes of the twice-born Hindus. Although in 2008 Indian govt tried to tackle the issue when National Commission for Scheduled Castes, noticing that "Dalit" was used interchangeably with the official term "scheduled castes", called the term "unconstitutional" and asked state governments to end its use. After the order, the Chhattisgarh government ended the official use of the word "Dalit". 
It is also a known fact that the large majority of the Dalits in India are Hindus but due to extremists’ Hindu behavior, many of them have been converted to Buddhism, often called Neo-Buddhism and Christian. Moreover, the attitude of Upper-castes Hindus towards low-caste Hindus and minorities have never been cordial. Internationals and local human rights organizations always reported that Dalits are being pushed towards wall continuously. Though, all main political parties like Congress, BJP and Shiv Sena believe in the supremacy of Hinduism in India but Shiv Sena is a known hard liner party which openly believes in carrying out brutality against minorities and Dalits. Extremists Hindus even do not hesitate in killing innocent and sexually assaulting women, young girls and children. It has been found that local police, troops deployed in IOk are involved in raping women fathering children for sexual abuses. In this context even Indian soldiers in Peace Keeping Mission are also found involved in sexually assaulting women and children. Reportedly, 12 officers and 39 soldiers are facing investigations in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India, to conclude if they had sexually abused the local women and children once they were  on  UN Peace keeping Mission  in Congo.

According to the Amnesty International Reports of March 2011 , in Indian occupied Kashmir under the garb of the Public Safety Act (PSA) to incarcerate suspects without adequate evidence, India has not only violated their human rights but also failed in its duty to charge and try such individuals and to punish them if found guilty in a fair trial. Between January and September 2010 alone, 322 people were reportedly detained in addition to the raping women, punishing and killing “Dalits” Maharashtra, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, Tamils and Bru areas.
Amnesty International also prepared the report on the basis of research conducted by the team during a visit to Srinagar in May 2010 and subsequent analysis of government and legal documents relating to over 600 individuals detained under the PSA between 2003 and 2010.

Anyhow, Fa Hien, a Chinese Buddhist pilgrim who recorded his visit to India in the early 4th century, noted that Chandalas were segregated from the mainstream society as untouchables. Although to show positive image of so called secularism of India, K. R. Narayanan and Mayawati have been elected as first Dalit President and Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in 1997 and 2008 respectively but practically no visible change have been noticed towards the improvements of life of poor low-caste Hindus. However both these leaders drastically failed in protecting the rights of their community because of negative influence of upper-caste Hindu in the state affairs. They even were not able to finish the old tradition likes: Dalits are forbidden of ridding the horse, has to stand up for giving respect whenever they come across with the upper-caste Hindus. In this regards, some of the incidents mentioned in succeeding Para would help the readers in understanding of Extremist Hindus negative attitudes toward the low- caste Hindus “Dalits”.

on 17 May 2011, a group of upper-caste Hindus allegedly beat up Dalit people at a wedding in Raura in Madhya Pradesh for not showing respect to them, Three upper-caste men Bal Kisan, Rajju Raja, Vikram Singhbeat the Dalit people at an entertainment programme preceding the wedding, who did not stand up as they arrived. The victims lodged a police complaint and the wedding took place next moring under police security. No one has been arrested yet.

Buhajan Samaj Party legislator Anand Sen and two of his associates have been sentenced to life imprisonment by a Faizabad court for the murder of a 24-Year-old pregnant Dalit. The Milkipur MLA Anand Sen, who was a minister in the Mayawati government, was charged with plotting the murder of law student Shashi Prasad in October 2007. The victim’s father, who is also a BSP worker, had accused Anand Sen of kidnapping and murdering his daughter. After killing the woman, who was pregnant, her body was dumped into the Gomti River, from where her wrist watch has recovered later. In January, BSP MLA Purushottam Diwedi was arrested by the police for raping a minor in Banda.

A Dalit Groom’s wedding procession under police protection proceeded to village of Kaliyahardiya on 15 May 2011, due to threats made by jats of the same village. The Jats had threatened the family that the groom should not move on the road on horseback as the Jat panchayat had passed a farman’ (order) against the Dalit groom.

The Tamil Nadu government has ordered probe into the Police firing in air at Villur village near Tirumangalam on May 1. Madurai superintendent of police Asra Garg opened fire in the air after a mob of around 500 persons belonging to caste Hindu Thevar families allegedly attempted to assault police. The angry mob had demanded the release of five caste Hindus who were arrested by police for assaulting a Dalit youth for riding a motorcycle along the main street of the village against a discriminatory diktat. The caste Hindus, for years, allegedly oppressed Dalrts by preventing them from riding motorcycles on Kaliamman Koil street in Villur. Caste Hindus had also issued a diktat that Dalits should not walk with footwear. Besides, two tumbler systems were also practiced in the village, alleged Dalits. Garg and other police 'officials had gone to the village along with revenue officials to hold peace talks. After initially agreeing to maintain calm, the Thevars attacked Dalit houses when officials left the village. On hearing about the attacks, Garg returned to the village. By then, Thevars had gathered in large numbers near the police station. When they attempted to attack the station, Tehsildar ordered for opening fire.

Christians are demanding an inquiry into how seven dalit and tribal people were falsely charged with the murder of Hindu leader Laxmananada Saraswati, which led to months of violence in which more than 100 people died and hundreds of homes destroyed. Police now say Maoists have confessed to murdering the man. The Christians leaders have stated that innocent Christians were branded and paraded as killers by the police. It smacks of vendetta. Now the state should extend apology to those falsely accused and release them immediately. The government should come up with a comprehensive plan for the compensation and restoration of justice. Others called for a White paper probe, suggesting the authorities acted in cahoots with Hindu extremists. We demand a white paper on the nexus between the administration and Sangh Parivar. Pradhan, whose family was forced to become Hindus for a month, said the hate campaign against Christians still continues. The administration and Hindu fundamentalist should own up and be booked accordingly. In January, 2009 seven Dalit and tribal Christians were charged with the murder the Hindu leader. But this week, police charged seven Orissa- based Maoist leaders with killing Saraswati and four others at Jaleshpata Ashram in the Kandhamal district on the night of August 23, 2008.

In short, we can conclude that injustice in the society, denying of basic rights and violations of human rights of minorities are some of the major factors which gave birth to new states. For example, in nineteenth century, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka appeared on world map as result of extremist’s Hindu discriminatory treatment towards Muslims, Buddha and even Sri Lankan’s Hindus. Similarly some incorrect political decision and Indian intrigue against Pakistan produced Bangladesh. Here, I would also mention that the basis of independence of Pakistan was the ideology of two nation theory. The same theory proved to be correct since Bangladesh did not fall into Indian lap even after separating from Pakistan. Thus, brutality against Dalits and minorities will likely to give birth to new states, Muslim Bengal, Tamilistan, Nagaland, Kahlistan, Kashmir and Nexilites. The Dalit community has to get up to force Indian government of protecting their rights and get some independent state where they should live without fear and perform their religious obligations freely.