原文标题：Can’t be a superpower as long as untouchability exists龙腾网版权所有 原文链接：
印度种姓制度下的贱民
In a number of ways, Gandhiji was different from other freedom fighters and leaders of the time. One difference was that he gave equal importance to one more fight along with the struggle for independence, and that is, the emancipation of those ostracised as “untouchables.” Gandhiji’s work against untouchability began in South Africa around five decades before our independence. After his return to India, an incident at his Kochrab Ashram near Ahmedabad shows us how much importance he gave to the concept of equality between castes. The year was 1915. Thakkar Bappa, a close associate of Gandhiji, sent a Dalit by the name of Dudha Bhai to live in the ashram. Everyone in the ashram, including Kasturba, was opposed to this, and this was specifically due to Dudha Bhai’s status, as deemed by the caste hierarchy. Gandhiji made it clear that Dudha Bhai would not leave the Ashram. Anyone who was not comfortable with this was free to leave. He was informed that no one would agree and that even the funding for the ashram might stop. Gandhiji was undeterred. He was ready to shift his ashram to the Dalit basti, he said, even if it meant that his ashram would have only two members, namely Dudha Bhai and himself. Finally everyone turned around, except Gandhiji’s sister Gokiben, who left Kochrab as a result of her brother’s firm stance, never to return.
Why did Gandhiji give so much importance to the removal of untouchability, or discrimination based on caste? Let’s reflect on that for a moment. I think it is because the freedom he was fighting for was not just political. He did not merely want a different set of people in the corridors of power. Freedom for him meant freedom for each and every citizen of India. A freedom that could only be born from genuine equality, and the protection of the dignity of every Indian. Untouchability was clearly incompatible with his vision of freedom.
Working together
Today, many of us have a vision of what our country should be, what it can be, what India’s rightful place in the world is. Many of us dream of India becoming a superpower. But can this ever happen in a country where society is so fractured; where walls divide us? Can we ever achieve our vision if we don’t believe in a shared social good? A common vision?
Public property is a shared social good, a street or a road is a shared social good, our public health system is a shared social good. Unfortunately we are so fractured that we don’t see all this as ours. No wonder we throw garbage on our roads because we don’t really see the road as ours. We are not interested in our public health system because we don’t really see it as ours, which is why it is in a shambles. We can have a shared common goal, or a shared vision, only if we as a people are one.
Our forefathers who wrote the Constitution of our country, led ably by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, have clarified and laid down their vision for us — a vision of a country where all are equal. Where brotherhood and fraternity are pillars of our Constitution. Our leaders have shown us the way. They have laid down laws that tell us that discrimination based on caste and religion is illegal. Now, we have to find place in our hearts to follow them. We also have to find place in our hearts to accept that discrimination between people is against the very concept of humanity.
To be a cohesive team, and to have a common, shared vision, we have to start by first accepting that we have built up differences, walls, barriers. Then, we have to start working towards removing these differences. For example, there are umpteen housing societies all across the country which don’t sell houses to either Dalits or Muslims or Hindus or Christians or Sikhs, or to people from a different caste. This kind of petty thinking has to be done away with. And perhaps a great way to start making amends and moving in the right direction is to start with our children. Let us not sow the seeds of separation in our children. Let us not teach them the lessons of differences that we have been taught. And maybe if we stop practising these differences, in the innumerable ways that we do, then these divisions will not percolate to our children.
When I speak of a shared vision, of a shared common good, I am reminded of my own shortcomings in this regard. One of the most heartbreaking encounters for me was listening to Mr. Bezwada Wilson speak about manual scavenging. Words fail me. I am ashamed to admit that it was as late as last year, at the age of 46, that I came to recognise and actually see the existence of manual scavenging. At this late age, for the first time I felt the horror and inhumanity of it. How could I have for 46 years accepted, without batting an eyelid, the fact that some of our countrymen are made to clean the excreta of others with their hands as a means of survival? That they have no means of escape from it because of the caste that they are born into? Why didn’t I notice or react to this earlier? Not because it wasn’t happening around me. No. I did not notice it because I guess I had grown so used to seeing it around me right from my childhood that it didn’t seem unusual to me! And as I was not the victim, the horror and injustice of it probably did not occur to me. I am afraid I am guilty of this insensitivity. How can I even think of a shared common good as long as manual scavenging exists?
Well, having reacted to it now, I think it’s high time I do something about it. Because, I do believe that we should work towards a shared common good, a shared vision, a dream which can belong to all Indians.
from: Raveendran Chinnasamy Posted on: Jul 9, 2012 at 08:08 IST
We have to make the low caste people to educate. If they are educated then no one will feel that they are untouchable. The government should punish the people who makes the difference among the people.龙腾网版权所有 Always we do tell like this only. But why can't we do something instead of depending on government or on the some other higher officials? Think once.
Satyamev Jayate on Manual Scavenging:- Even though the government has already declared Manual Scavenging illegal by passing the Act, existence of such inhuman practice is still there in our society. The Act or the Law is not the solution of this growing problem… Government’s Law coupled with effective welfare schemes and commitment to meet the deadlines will be the best ways to deal with the situations. This societal problem should not be left with government itself to handle, we the common citizens must come forward and work in tandem, accepting the problems of our owns not of a particular caste or community, lend our helping hands to stop the Manual Scavenging practiced as a means of survival. And also need to create an atmosphere for scavenging professionals to lead normal human life. They must be taught either formally or informally that carrying or gathering human excreta are inhuman and even health hazards. from: Rajeev Kumar
Great work! Mr Amir. This is an eye-opener and something of which we all are guilty of. from: misha
Posted on: Jul 9, 2012 at 08:46 IST
做得很棒！阿米尔先生。真是令人大开眼界，我们都应该为此感到内疚。
No doubt untouchability still exist in India Whether it is educationally developed state or backward state..Indian educational system has serious flaws in this regard..Reservation alone will not solve the purpose..a moral obligation of every human being is to respect the personality irrespective of their caste and creed..but People who belong to lower caste should also take the responsibility and should come forward and should not be under estimated... from: PRATEEK GUPTA
The point is well made but what is the solution? Legal remedies have mostly failed to eliminate these evil practices. Maybe a special incentive in jobs, education for inter-caste marriages can be given but seems largely unworkable in a conservative society like ours. Similarly mixed-housing, if provided a legal cover, may help building a more cohesive and inclusive society. But ultimately its the attitudinal change which has to happen, and it can't be forced. In long-term, universalisation of education, skill-development for gainful employment and mobility due to economic growth is the best bet. from: sanjay singh
Given that manual scavenging is outrageous should we not stop it RIGHT NOW !!!
Why are we still writing and discussing - do we need a committee to discuss on this.
Pathetic - Amir people like you who have the influence must see to it that state govts do the needful - please don't stop at writing, which in itself is no doubt a great service.
though I appreciate the main topic of this article, what I fail to understand is a couple of things
a. what makes a country super-power? what do people really mean when they say a country as a super-power? b. and why is each and everything tied up to being a super-power.
just being cynical, didn't USA become a super power with untouchability having been practiced for decades.
please lets not mix each and every social indicator with a super- power. Every one have their own definition of being super-power. For one I don't believe India can never be a "economic" super-power. from: arun mony
"Love Marriage" is a solvent which can dilute the two unacceptable practices in our society namely dowry and caste system. from: Mano
Posted on: Jul 9, 2012 at 11:05 IST
“爱情婚姻”是可以淡化我们社会里嫁妆和种姓制度这两种不可接受行为的解决办法。
@Sanjay Singh - Solution is within us. If every person changes himself/herself and try to change their own family then change will be visible. from: Maulik Chandya
Posted on: Jul 9, 2012 at 11:35 IST
解决办法在于我们内部。如果每个人都改变自己看法，并努力改变家人的看法，那么变化会是显而易见的。
Dear Mr. Khan, On the broader topic of the episode - casteism, I feel that the team should have covered the views of the economically poor upper caste people too. The story covers only poor dalits and not the rich lower caste people who continue to exploit the system by getting seats for their sons/daughters who might not even qualify otherwise.
Lower caste people atleast have a ladder called "Reservation" that they can use to uplift themselves. The upper caste people dont even have that - the same argument holds true for the upper caste too - "Why should we suffer now".
The problem starts with the Government - all the Government form asks for "Caste". If the Government is hell bent upon removing casteism, they should first stand corrected. They should also work towards creating a reservation system that will take into account only the economic (and NOT caste) status of a person. Till the time vote bank politics exist, caste based reservation will continue to exist. from: JR
Caste and untouchability are one thing, and practices like manual scavenging are another. The latter can be eliminated if the government acts tough and wields the stick mercilessly. But as it was found in Vidarbha (article in The Hindu), even people who had no financial compulsion were voluntarily continuing on the job! Strange. On the other hand, caste will go away only with education of the mind. Because, here both the oppressor and victim are responsible. While the oppressor feels superior for no reason, the victim adapts double standards. A well-to-do "backward" citizen (be in BC, SC, ST, anyone) should stop enjoying reservations. Else, they are perpetuating the very system they blame. from: Ramana Murthy
The Indian sub-continent is not a land where rich and poor reside. This is a country of touchables and untouchables, high-castes and low- castes, pure Brahmins and impure Chandalas. The poor can hope to shed his poverty tomorrow, but how can an Untouchable ever become a Brahmin. So, the whole societal structure needs to be done away with; if we ever wish to be one, the notions of high and low via the mere accident of birth should not remain. And the only and the greatest impediment to that is religion - the fetter that enslaves us. from: Vicky Chandra Ranjan
My experience after visiting USA,Canada and living in Africa long time,NRI working in different countries are not at all particular about casteism especially unaccountability is not heard of.Even in social gathering friends from different countries mix up as Asians (Desi)without indulging in dirty political talks.The day we land up in India every problem starts.If I allow my cook to sit with me at dining table as we do abroad,my Indian friends will prefer to leave without having meals.Although, we are following WEST but to the full like equal treatment for all citizens. from: Ravindra Raizada
Amir Khan is used as pawn to publicize the show and thereby to hide the real heros of India's true history. In this episode of untouchability cleverly hidden the greatest pioneer of Indias freedom struggle as well as the equality and upliftment of India as whole i.e. Dr Ambedkar. This has clearly proved that this show is created by vested interests. from: Dr Param Anand
This column on untouchability is a clear example of failure of caste based Reservations in our country.Reservations based on castes should be ruled out because we can see rich and poor in every caste.Reservations should be based on Economical backgrounds and government should fastrack the awareness programmes.I can say government itself is indirectly encouraging castes,untouchability etc to get benefited from vote bank politics. from: Santosh Kuamr Kanala
Untouchability exists everywhere, even if it is United States ... but what is making the difference over there... its law. Law should be efficient enough to give the verdict in time and it should be amended to suit the modern society. Even now the penalty for a homicide is 5 lakh rupees. What can one do with that? Another factor is in efficient judiciary system. It is not helping the common people. Whether it is meagre or major verdict should come within stipulated time period. If this is not happening, then the number of courts should be increased. I will not blame any one or dependent on police or securities if I have a proper law coverage. Most of the caste system and all other criminal activities are mainly on the budding environment of lawlessness. Law should come foolproof, only then we can strive here, and make our country a super power. All other factors will vanish if we have a very good and efficient law delivery mechanism. from: Renjith
my heart aches. Its a shame it happens in our country sometimes right in front of us.. i am so shameful that i cant help them. I am so spineless.. from: sampathkumar
Posted on: Jul 9, 2012 at 13:07 IST
我的心好痛。真可惜，它有时候就发生在我们面前。我太羞耻了，无法帮助他们。我太懦弱了...
stop going to toilet in the trains. how do we "ordinary" citizens feel about stoping this ? we want somebody who has power to stop this. what else is the solution ? do our part. for a train travelor, the first sentence mentioned is the solution. The same theory applies even to waste disposal. no proper system to do this. either solid or liquid waste. we have "sub chalega" attitude. The changes will eventually come. it is a matter of time.. Satyameva jayathe... but it never says how much time it takes for the truth to win.. from: Joseph
Excellent, Wonderful. But I don't agree with Aamir Khan's statement or thinking that untouchability is the main factor for not becoming a super power. The main factor should also include RESERVATION. India MUST abolish this reservation immediately. It should provide financial support to all backward or weaker socities but not in the form of RESERVATION. from: Balu S
