I strongly recommend viewing this movie clip. Don’t stop it half way even if you feel disgusted with some of the stuff you see. See it all the way to the end!
Is there a way, any way, we can create a nation where people do not have to feel so alienated?
Dear Commenters:
Please identify yourself. At least use a pseudonym. Otherwise there will be too many *Anonymous*; making it confusing.
Do NOT write personal information or whereabouts about the author or other commenters. You are free to write about yourself. Please do not use abusive language. Do not indulge in personal attacks and insults.
Write comments which are relevant and make sense so that the debate remains healthy.
Very revealing. Its very shameful that in today's world, people are discriminated against like this especially when they are in a majority. I read in an RSS blog that they were trying to do away with the caste system. We seem to have a long way to go.
ReplyDeleteI don't think RSS or VHP want the inherent hierarchy in caste system to go away. These groups are dominated by upper caste groups who are not interested in parting with their socio-economic power.
ReplyDeleteAn immediate thought that came to my mind was the recent media frenzy over reservation issue. Let's juxtapose the images from national news channels where young, urbane and 'educated' people in designer clothes were protesting the supposed injustice of reservation system with those from this video clip. It would be priceless. Then again the upper class/caste dominated media would never run stories like this.
Hierarchy, concepts of caste and color based superiority and inferiority are so deeply embedded in our psyche, even with a healthy growth in literacy, economy and urbanization it will take generations to lessen the effects of evil caste system.
Most of the social and religious reform movements that fought caste system in our history have achieved only limited success. This is because traditionalists and clergy class have always fought to thwart anything that challenged their power. I can attest to this as a member of the lingayat community living in Karnataka. Lingyat movement was started 800 years ago by Basaveshwara on a premise that all people were equal. The movement rejected vedas, fought caste system, gender inequality and promoted dignity of labor. The upper caste groups tried to stop this social reform which came to a violent end when a brahmin bride and a shudra groom were about to be married. This intercaste marriage was 800 years ago!! But the subsequent generations of lingayat followers went back to the very caste system they were supposed to fight!! Many even practiced caste based arocities themselves!! Only now with higher literacy and awareness, some are beginning to understand the philosophical roots of their movement. Many other reform movements especially Bhakti movements probably have similar stories to tell. Even the non-Hindu regligions are not immune to caste system in India. Just look at the various sub-groups or sub-castes among sikhs, christians and muslims and you get the picture.
Powerful movie! I could feel the stench and the sadness, as the video medium transcended beyond sound and pictures...
ReplyDeleteVery good video Sujai! I go on laughing when people say India will become super-power without solving fundamental problem like this. Very shameful.
ReplyDelete>>Then again the upper class/caste dominated media would never run stories like this. >>
ReplyDeleteThe top three media networks in south India including the top 4 kannada channels (Udaya, Udaya News, Ushe, Udaya Music) are owned by OBCs. The top two dominant Kannada communities are OBCs - one had 5 CMs and another had 6 CMs. The top newspapers in Kerala / AP are owned by minorities (who also happen to be classified as OBC).
Maybe you are referring to NDTV, CNBC and the like. Even if that is the case, you cant compare West Bengal with any other state because they have only 6% OBC compared to say, TN with 65% OBC. Pronnoy Roy, Sardesais, Sengupta may be classified as OBC had they been born in the south.
What is true is that Dalits are not repersented in the media.
The whole problem of dalits is a lot different then OBC problems
ReplyDelete@ rc
ReplyDeleteDid you see what happened with the Anti Reservation protests
How they were covered by CNN and other Delhi based Media
Why Indian media eyes cant show this .
ReplyDeleteWhy my Indian bureaucrats cant see to implement a rule on this.
Why Judiciary cant see this .
Why politicians eyes cant visualize on this
Probably these eyes are filled with crocodile tears
BUT ALL CAN SEE G.D.P GROWTH
Great clip!!!
ReplyDeleteI don't see how providing reservation in IIT's and IIM's can benefit people who can't make it through school. These benefits only go to kids of the few priviledged amongst these people or those who have faked their caste.
They need help such as compulsory school enrollment, free lunch at school to make it financially easy for their families, free books, etc.
Russ
LESS HYPED MANAGEMENT QUOTA [RICH QUOTA] IS WORST
ReplyDeleteManagement quota is
1) Illegal [donations are illegal acc. to UGC , and for which they can be deaffiliated ].
2) It affects more people as private colleges comprise 70% of the total seats.
3) It divides rich and poor people [as u say reservations should be provided to poor, here it is reservation for the rich].
4) It compromises merit and SC/ST quota acc to u just satisfies last 2 points but its not illegal.
BUT STILL SOME PEOPLE PROTEST AGAINST SC/ST QUOTA [EVEN STUDENTS JUSTIFY DISCRIMINATION IN COLLEGES AGAINST SC/STs BECAUSE OF THEIR QUOTA], AND DO NOT RAISE THEIR VOICES AGAINST MANAGEMENT QUOTA. THEY SAY SC/ST DOCTORS ARE NOT CAPABLE OF TREATING PEOPLE AND DO NOT SAY SO FOR MANAGEMENT QUOTA GUYS, WHO BUY SEATS AND GET MBBS DEGREE FROM A PRIVATE COLLEGE RUNNING IN SUBSTANDARD CONDITIONS. THEY DO NOT SAY SO ABOUT DEFENCE GUYS, GOVT QUOTA GUYS , NRI QUOTA GUY'S. IF ACCORDING TO THEM, SC/STs DESERVE DISCRIMINATION BECAUSE OF THEIR QUOTA, WHY DON'T THEY TREAT MANAGEMENT, DEFENCE, GOVERNMENT, QUOTA GUYS THE SAME WAY
www.reservationfacts.blogspot.com
Very well portrayed. Its heart breaking to see what a large proportion of our society continue to live a life worst than we could imagine.Can India really become a super power if her very foundations are down in the dumps? It is a question that not only the people in power need to answer, but also, every human being which ceases to be human and practice the disgusting & inhuman act of untouchability needs to answer as well.
ReplyDeleteAt what cost are we progressing? This makes me think if I am really proud to be an Indian. I want to answer in affirmative, but the condition of these lot creates a doubt.
I dont know what else to say untill i find how I can clean this shit of untouchability from my india.
you did a great work to stir us to think that. Well done.