The Hindu Business Line : Untouchability travels beyond death

The book lists more than 50 forms of untouchability, which include access to water facilities, employment of Dalits in house construction work, eating together in school and so on.

Sixtieth Independence Day is definitely an occasion to cheer. Perhaps, more boisterously than when we earned our freedom at midnight, in 1947. In the din of independence, the last thing to touch us may be the fact that the yoke of subservience is yet to lift off for many millions of untouchable Indians.

Hasn't Article 17 of the Constitution of India abolished Untouchability? Yes, it declares: "`Untouchability' is abolished and its practice in any form is forbidden. The enforcement of any disability arising out of `untouchability' shall be an offence punishable in accordance with law."

Microsoft Word doesn't seem to recognise `untouchability', but the evil is very much around us. It is "a distinct Indian social institution that legitimises and enforces practices of discrimination against people born into particular castes, and legitimises practices that are humiliating, exclusionary, and exploitative."

Thus, defines Untouchability in Rural India, by Ghanshyam Shah, Harsh Mander, Sukhadeo Thorat, Satish Deshpande and Amita Baviskar, from Sage (www.indiasage.com) . The book is based on a survey conducted in 565 villages across 11 States.

Comparable forms of discrimination are prevalent all over the world. But untouchability is unique, because its parent institution, viz. the caste system, is found only here.

Dalits, who number 150 million in India, or about a sixth of the population, bear `a legacy of the deepest social degradation in the form of a centuries-old tradition of untouchability,' rue the authors. The obnoxious practice has survived `by adapting to new socio economic realities and taking on new and insidious forms'. The book lists more than 50 forms of untouchability. These include access to water facilities, service of the barber, employment of Dalits in house construction work, compulsion to stand in the presence of upper castes, seating arrangement in the panchayat meetings, eating together in school and so on.

Eerily, untouchability travels beyond death.

"In Maharashtra, Dalit cremation grounds are located on the eastern side of villages, because the prevailing winds are from west to east."

Denial of access to cremation or burial grounds is a widely prevalent form of untouchability, found in about half of the survey villages, say the authors.

Believe it or not, "In one out of 10 villages, Dalits are still not allowed to wear new clothes, sunglasses or chappals, or to use umbrellas and ride bicycles." But, aren't roads public sphere, where all are equal? That seems to be true, only on paper, because the book narrates many more shocking instances of prejudice and inequity.

Such as, how on local buses in Bihar, "upper-caste women are allowed to sit in the seats reserved for women, while Dalit women are asked to sit at the back, along with men."

Antidote to these blatant forms of unfairness lies in `public awareness of its continued presence', argue the authors. "Finally, the State must live up to the responsibility given to it by the Constitution of India," concludes the book, with a rhetoric plea.

Wish the spirit of the Constitution touched our netas.

SayCheek@TheHindu.co.in

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Untouchability travels beyond death