Latest News Update: Jan 31, 2010

Sunday, January 31, 2010

[ZESTCaste] Letter to PM abour reservation bill. [1 Attachment]

[Attachment(s) from uaday singh included below]

Dear Friends,

Please see attached letters and write same type of letters to the PM/MPs etc. to presurise the Govt. of India for the enactment of the SC/ST reservation bill.

Dr. Uaday Singh

Assistant Professor

Deptt. of Mathematics

BHU Varanasi

Your Mail works best with the New Yahoo Optimized IE8. Get it NOW!.

__._,_.___

Attachment(s) from uaday singh

1 of 1 File(s)

Letter to PM.doc

Reply to sender | Reply to group

Messages in this topic (1)

Recent Activity:

New Members 1

Visit Your Group Start a New Topic

----
INFORMATION OVERLOAD?
Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to ZESTMedia-digest@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/

MARKETPLACE

Going Green: Your Yahoo! Groups resource for green living

Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use

__,_._,___

[ZESTCaste] SC team visit Kendrapada to discuss mid-day meal

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/SC-team-visit-Kendrapada-to-discuss-mid-day-meal/articleshow/5521153.cms

SC team visit Kendrapada to discuss mid-day meal
TNN, 31 January 2010, 09:20pm IST

KENDRAPADA: A team of Supreme Court state advisers were shocked to
find schoolchildren refusing to eat the mid-day meal cooked by Dalit
cooks at Sanamarichapali village in Kendrapada's Rajnagar block.

The team on right to food was in the village after reports that upper
caste villagers have prevented two Dalit women from cooking the school
meal.

"We spoke to many villagers, including the schoolchildren. We were
shocked when some children belonging to the upper caste told us that
they will not eat the food cooked by a Dalit," a team member Samet
Panda said.

On Tuesday, many students belonging to the upper caste refused to eat
mid-day meal cooked by two Dalit women in Ma Sidha Marichani Nodal
school. Some upper caste people also forcibly locked both the Dalit
cooks, Ketaki Sethi and Sebati Sethi, in a room when they refused to
quit their job as cooks. "Niranjan Pradhan, a member of village
education committee (VEC) and some villagers abused and locked us in a
school room on Tuesday," alleged Ketaki Sethi.

The Ma Ambika Self Help Group (SHG) was entrusted the task of
providing mid-day meal to students. Initially, the SHG appointed two
upper caste women as cooks. But replaced than with Ketaki Sethi and
Sebati Sethi.

"The Supreme Court in an interim order on April 20, 2004 had stated
that cooks belonging to SC and ST should be given priority in cooking
the mid-day meals," the state advisor of Supreme Court on right to
food, Rajkishor Mishra, said.

"Police are shielding those who prevented the Dalits from cooking in
the school," president of the district unit of Orissa Dalit Mancha
Nagendra Jena said.

"Police have filed case against Niranjan Pradhan under SC and ST
Atrocity (Prevention ) Act . All the culprits will be arrested soon,"
said the police officer of Rajnagar police station.

Contacted, district collector Sishirkanta Panda, told this paper that
"Social discrimination will not be allowed under any circumstance. We
have started a probe into the matter and will take necessary action."

__._,_.___

Reply to sender | Reply to group

Messages in this topic (1)

Recent Activity:

New Members 1

Visit Your Group Start a New Topic

Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use

__,_._,___

[ZESTCaste] 'Police must handle dalit cases with respect'

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mangalore/Police-must-handle-dalit-cases-with-respect/articleshow/5521121.cms

'Police must handle dalit cases with respect'
TNN, 31 January 2010, 09:04pm IST

MANGALORE: Majority of the complaints from the SC/ST community members
raised at the SC/ST grievances meeting held here on Sunday was against
the police department. Dalit organization leaders suggested awareness
programmes on courtesy and human relations for the lower rank police
personnel.
Dalit leaders including Nirmal Kumar, A S Ananda and others brought to
the notice of the district Superintendent of Police A S Rao several
incidents where the police did not cooperate in filing cases under the
SC/ST Atrocities Act or insulted dalit leaders or members when they
approached police stations. They also suggested conducting meetings at
the dalit colonies instead of police stations.

Kumar said the police need to be sensitized on dealing with dalits.
Rao conceded that it was not a welcome development that the SC/STs
were upset with the police. He said the cases brought to his notice at
the meeting would be investigated. At the same time steps would be
taken to bring in reforms among the police personnel, he said and
added that sensitizing the police was a long term process. The issues
would be taken up at the refresher course to be held in February, he
added.

About the SC/ST grievances meetings not being held regularly at police
stations, he said of the 28 stations in the district he had received
reports only from one police station. The matter would be looked into
seriously, he said.

__._,_.___

Reply to sender | Reply to group

Messages in this topic (1)

Recent Activity:

New Members 1

Visit Your Group Start a New Topic

Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use

__,_._,___

[ZESTCaste] Wall on road to Dalit colony demolished

http://www.hindu.com/2010/01/31/stories/2010013157880100.htm

Front Page

Wall on road to Dalit colony demolished

V.S. Palaniappan

ELIMINATING DISCRIMINATION: The wall blocking the road to a Dalit
colony at Periyar Nagar in Coimbatore being demolished.

COIMBATORE: Revenue, police and the Coimbatore Corporation authorities
demolished a wall that had denied 58 Dalit families of Periyar Nagar
direct access to the arterial Kamarajar Road in the city.

The wall was allegedly built by caste Hindus across the 30-ft-wide
Jeeva Road that was supposed to link the colony with Kamarajar Road.

The colony is located in Ward No.10 near the Employees' State
Insurance Hospital to Kamarajar Road.

"The wall, built in 1990, was evidence of the prevalence of
discrimination and untouchability," said U.K. Sivagnanam, district
convenor of the Untouchability Eradication Front. He had petitioned
the authorities on Friday, demanding the removal of the wall.
According to Periyar Nagar residents, the government acquired land for
their colony in 1989 and provided house site pattas to them. Caste
Hindus living along the initial stretch of Jeeva Road had installed a
Vinayakar idol in a small shed and built the wall behind it, exactly
from where the colony began.The temple was used as a pretext for
closing the road with a discriminatory attitude to prevent the Dalits
from using Jeeva Road to reach Kamarajar Road through the area in
which the caste Hindus resided, Mr. Sivagnanam alleged. The Dalits had
used other routes to reach the main road for many years. But with more
buildings coming up on open sites nearby, they were left with only a
narrow street to reach the main road.

On Saturday morning, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi ordered the
district administration to inquire into the issue and take immediate
action.

Officials verified the records and confirmed that the temple and the
wall encroached upon a scheme road. A group of women squatted in front
of the earthmover in an attempt to prevent the demolition. As the
earthmover began the demolition, the residents broke into a thunderous
ovation. When the Corporation workers were removing the debris of the
demolished wall, a group of Hindu outfit activists insisted that the
temple should not be removed. This resulted in police mobilising more
reinforcements.

'Not against temple'

The Dalits pointed out that they were not against the temple but only
its location. Speaking to TheHindu, State convener of the Tamil Nadu
Untouchability Eradication Front P. Sampath welcomed the action taken
by the officials and added that the temple could be relocated with the
consent of both sides.

------------------------------------

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join
(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
ZESTCaste-digest@yahoogroups.com
ZESTCaste-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ZESTCaste-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[ZESTCaste] Pontiff takes out rally in dalit colony

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hubli/Pontiff-takes-out-rally-in-dalit-colony/articleshow/5521177.cms

Pontiff takes out rally in dalit colony
TNN, 31 January 2010, 09:20pm IST

DAVANAGERE: "Do not be afraid of devil and ghost. It is just a
superstitious belief," said Chitradurga Brihanmath pontiff Sri
Shivamurthy Murugharajendra swamiji. He was speaking at a public
meeting at Gandhinagar extension, a dalit colony of Davanagere on
Wednesday midnight, after taking out a padayatra in different streets
of the extension to create awareness among the citizens about
superstitious beliefs.

The padayatra was organized in view of the fear of devils and ghosts
being expressed by the citizens of the area. The seer came down
heavily on certain people responsible for creating and spreading such
false messages.

"We are living in the era of highly evolved society, with the
advancement of science and technology. There should not be any scope
for superstitious beliefs," the pontiff said.

He urged the residents not to be cheated through such blind beliefs.
Noted revolution thinker Prof B V Veerabhadrappa along with other
leaders of Gandhinagar were present.

__._,_.___

Reply to sender | Reply to group

Messages in this topic (1)

Recent Activity:

New Members 1

Visit Your Group Start a New Topic

MARKETPLACE

Going Green: Your Yahoo! Groups resource for green living

Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use

__,_._,___

[ZESTCaste] Dalit student commits suicide, teachers booked

http://www.littleabout.com/news/64199,dalit-student-commits-suicide-teachers-booked.html

Dalit student commits suicide, teachers booked
Published on : Sunday 31 Jan 2010 22:05 - by IANS

Lucknow, Jan 31 : Repeated failures at the examinations led a final
year medical student at the King George's Medical University here in
Uttar Pradesh to allegedly end his life by consuming poison here.

The body of Sushil Kumar Chaudhary, 26, was found in his rented home
in the Kanpur Road Lucknow Development Authority colony Sunday.

In the suicide note, the youth blamed some of his teachers for driving
him to take the extreme step. He had failed four times in his
examinations.

His father Dhruv Nath Singh registered a case against four faculty
members besides the university registrar V.P. Singh.

Alleging gross discrimination by these teachers, the father claimed
that Sushil was often reminded of his Scheduled Caste background and
told that he should give up his dream of becoming a doctor.

"Tum dhobi ke bete ho, doctor banne ke khwab chor do (you are a
washerman's son, forget about becoming a doctor)", was allegedly a
repeated refrain of the teachers to Sushil, his father alleged in the
complaint.

Commotion prevailed in the medical college after the father's arrival
from his home in Gorakhpur.

Fellow students demonstrated on the campus seeking action against the
"guilty" teachers, even as bulk of the faculty members termed the
charges against the teachers as "fabricated".

"The accusations made against the teachers were absolutely baseless...
after all there are so many Dalit students enrolled in the college
every year and it is not the mentality of any teacher to run down
anyone on account of his or her caste," a senior professor said.

According to him, Sushil was a poor student and his father was aware
of his poor academic record, so it was grossly unfair on his part to
blame the teachers.

Another teacher noted that internal teachers only have the practical
examination in their hands and the theory examinations are seen by
external examiners and the copies are bar-coded, so there is no way
that any internal faculty member can influence the marks awarded to a
student.

__._,_.___

Reply to sender | Reply to group

Messages in this topic (1)

Recent Activity:

New Members 1

Visit Your Group Start a New Topic

Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use

__,_._,___

[ZESTCaste] Coimbatore admn brings down ‘untouchability wall’

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Coimbatore-admn-brings-down--untouchability-wall-/573599

Coimbatore admn brings down 'untouchability wall'
Express news service

Posted online: Sunday , Jan 31, 2010 at 0304 hrs
Chennai : A wall built twenty years ago by upper caste Hindus
allegedly to keep out Dalits, was finally demolished by the
authorities in Coimbatore district on Saturday. The 20-feet long wall
built across a public road is the second such 'untouchability wall'
found in the state, the first being the one at Uthapuram village near
Madurai.
According to sources, the wall at Singanellur in Coimbatore was
constructed by caste Hindus after 58 Dalit families were housed in a
new colony named Thanthai Periyar Nagar under a government scheme in
1989. The structure blocked direct access to the main road in an
attempt to prevent the Dalit families from traversing through the
areas populated by the caste Hindus. A Vinayak temple was also built
near it to impart religious sanctity to the structure.

The Untouchability Eradication Front, a social grouping backed by the
CPM that first exposed the existence of the Uthapuram wall, took up
the issue with the district administration, arguing that the wall was
at once illegal and against integration of society. "We brought this
to the attention of the Corporation Commissioner and other senior
officials and also provided them enough evidence to prove that the
wall was build on encroached land and that it segregated public on
caste lines," said a member of the Front. After initial inquiry, the
civic administration decided that the wall was illegal and should be
demolished, said city Commissioner Anshul Mishra, even as he refused
to comment on whether it was indeed an "untouchability wall".

"The local public perceived it as being discriminatory and in our
inquiry it was clear that the wall was constructed across a public
road without any permission. We also consulted the district
administration and finally decided to demolish the wall," said Mishra.

The decision kicked up a row with members from the caste Hindu
families protesting against the demolition on Saturday morning.
However, a strong posse of police men removed them from the spot
immediately.

------------------------------------

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join
(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
ZESTCaste-digest@yahoogroups.com
ZESTCaste-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ZESTCaste-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[ZESTCaste] Tholasampatti villagers boycott Dalits

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?title=Tholasampatti%20villagers%20boycott%20Dalits&artid=w0v4ngl/bO8=&type=

Tholasampatti villagers boycott Dalits

Express News ServiceFirst Published : 31 Jan 2010 03:52:00 AM ISTLast
Updated : 31 Jan 2010 06:50:03 AM IST

SALEM: Untouchability Week is being celebrated by the district
administration, but communal harmony continues to remain elusive at
Tholasampatti where a temple car was burnt down on January 25.

Tholasampatti Dalits, who left the village after violence broke out in
the area after the temple car was set ablaze, returned on Saturday but
social boycott against them continues.

Shops in Dalit areas, owned mainly by the Vanniyar community, remained
shut for the fifth day. Vanniyars, the intermediary caste in the area
who form the second largest population, have joined hands with the
Mudialiars who form the minority caste but are at loggerheads with
Dalits.

As ration shops and the primary school are located in the
Vanniyar-dominated area, Dalits complain of inaccessibility.

As the stalemate continues with continuing social boycott, police have
been posted in the area. The revenue department is likely to call
another peace meeting in two days in which rights sought by the Dalits
are likely to be negotiated, said official sources.

__._,_.___

Reply to sender | Reply to group

Messages in this topic (1)

Recent Activity:

New Members 1

Visit Your Group Start a New Topic

MARKETPLACE

Going Green: Your Yahoo! Groups resource for green living

Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use

__,_._,___

[ZESTCaste] Ambedkar and small states

http://www.hindustantimes.com/rssfeed/india/Ambedkar-and-small-states/Article1-503851.aspx

Ambedkar and small states

Hindustan Times

January 31, 2010
First Published: 23:01 IST(31/1/2010)
Last Updated: 23:03 IST(31/1/2010)

As the nation once again grapples with the issue of reorganisation of
states, BR Ambedkar's book Thoughts on Linguistic States, written in
December 1955, might need an urgent revisit.

His ideas were proved right and his assessment of the creation of new
states in the federal polity is relevant in post-Independent India.

One of the most interesting proposals by Ambedkar in the 1955 book was
to split Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. He wanted Madhya Pradesh divided
into northern and southern states.

Bihar also was to be split into two, with Patna and Ranchi as the
capitals. After a good 45 years, the split came with the formation of
Chhattisgarh out of Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand out of Bihar in the
year 2000.

Ambedkar, fresh after working on the Constitution of India (he was
head of the drafting committee of the Constitution), came out with a
vision for a reorganised India. He felt that a state should have a
people of one language to have uniformity and to retain linguistic
culture. At the same time, there could be two states where people
spoke the same language. He proposed splitting single-language states.
For instance, he wondered at Uttar Pradesh's huge size (still it is
the fourth-largest in India) and wanted to split it into three states.

Ambedkar had a special formula for Bombay, then a mixed-language
province (including the present-day Maharashtra and Gujarat). He
proposed 'city state' status for Bombay. He acknowledged the presence
of people of multiple linguistic groups and their role in establishing
Bombay. He proposed to split Maharashtra (he conceptualised it before
the state came into existence) into three states. At that time,
Maharashtra comprised several districts of the erstwhile Nizam's
Hyderabad. Ambedkar was responding to the report of the first State
Reorganisation Commission (SRC) in 1955, through his book.

Gandhian Potti Sriramulu died on December 16, 1952, after a 58-day
fast demanding a separate Andhra state for Telugu-speaking people (to
be carved out of Madras Presidency). This prompted the central
government to go for the SRC and triggered the formation of linguistic
states. Ambedkar ridiculed Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister:
"The creation of a new Andhra province now being thought of is only a
pindadan to the departed soul of Mr Sriramulu, by the Prime Minister."

One of Ambedkar's major proposals was to make Hyderabad the second
capital of India because of the centrality of location, as a junction
of North and South, and on defence considerations.

The Andhra state issue never died down. The 1955 SRC recognised Andhra
and Hyderaba (Telangana) as separate entities. By then Hyderabad as a
separate state had elections in 1952 and a state government was in
place. The clamour for a single-language state for the Telugus led to
the merger of Andhra and Hyderabad states in 1956 with assurances to
Hyderabad in a "Gentleman's Agreement" that the cabinet will have 40
per cent representation from Hyderabad. There would be the post of
deputy chief minister so that either the chief minister or deputy
chief minister was from Hyderabad.
The failure of the agreement led to the 1969 Telangana agitation,
which too got settled by a six-point formula (between the leaders of
the Andhra and Telangana regions), with equitable opportunities in
education and employment.

In November 1996, a hugely successful meeting called Vidroha Sabha
demanding Telangana was held. Later Telangana ideologues Jai Shankar
(former vice-chancellor of Osmania University) and Mallepalli Laxmiah
(a journalist) released book in 1997 a book called Telangana lo Emi
Jaruguthundi (The Present Conditions in Telangana), which tried to
cite injustice and discrimination as causes of its backwardness even
today. The differences in the conditions of the Andhra and Telangana
regions seem to have accentuated in the post-liberalisation Andhra
Pradesh. This emerged into a fresh movement demanding Telangana and
got a political face in 2001 and the electoral politics around it
followed.

Ambedkar seemed to have solutions to all such problems — all written
down 55 years ago. On splitting one-language states, he said: "Into
how many States a people speaking one language should be cut up,
should depend upon (1) the requirements of efficient administration,
(2) the needs of the different areas, (3) the sentiments of the
different areas, and (4) the proportion between the majority and
minority."

The size of the state for him had a special connotation. Ambedkar
wrote: "As the area of the State increases the proportion of the
minority to the majority (communities/castes) decreases and the
position of the minority (castes) becomes precarious and the
opportunities for the majority to practise tyranny over the minority
become greater. The States must therefore be small."
Ambedkar's appropriate advice for our times: "The formation of
Linguistic States, although essential, cannot be decided by any sort
of hooliganism. Nor must it be solved in a manner that will serve
party interest. It must be solved by cold blooded reasoning."

The author is an IAS officer.

The views expressed are personal

------------------------------------

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join
(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
ZESTCaste-digest@yahoogroups.com
ZESTCaste-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ZESTCaste-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[ZESTCaste] Wall blocking access to Dalits demolished

http://www.ptinews.com/news/493478_Wall-blocking-access-to-Dalits-demolished

Wall blocking access to Dalits demolished

STAFF WRITER 15:21 HRS IST
Coimbatore, Jan 31 (PTI) The district officials here have demolished a
decade-old wall constructed on the corporation site blocking access to
58 Dalit families of Adi Dravidar Colony in Periyar Nagar here to
arterial Kamarajar Road in the city.

The residents of Jeeva Nagar, parallel to Periyar Nagar, had built a
temple of Lord Ganesha in a shed and constructed the six-metre high
and three metre wide wall on the road a decade ago.

Before construction of the wall, the Dalit families used the road for
travelling to the main road. However, after it was raised, they had to
take another route.

Based on a memorandum submitted by Dalit families urging to demolish
the wall, District Collector P Umanath instructed Corportion
Commissioner and Revenue Department officials to look into the matter
and take action, officials said.

__._,_.___

Reply to sender | Reply to group

Messages in this topic (1)

Recent Activity:

New Members 1

Visit Your Group Start a New Topic

MARKETPLACE

Going Green: Your Yahoo! Groups resource for green living

Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use

__,_._,___

[ZESTCaste] Silent revolution: Rise in marriages of others to dalits

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Silent-revolution-Rise-in-marriages-of-others-to-dalits/articleshow/5518307.cms

Silent revolution: Rise in marriages of others to dalits

Subodh Ghildiyal & Swati Mathur, TNN, 31 January 2010, 12:56am IST

NEW DELHI: The figures may be more impressive than they appear at
first glance going by the depth of the caste divide. India saw 4,750
inter-caste marriages involving dalits in 2008-09, the number being
marginally lower at 4,205 in 2007-08. In 2006-07, this stood at 3,945.

Though absolute figures for 2010 are awaited, the estimates from
states have put it at 5,862, showing that the upward trend has not
slackened. These are no mean numbers, given how entrenched caste
prejudice is in society where marriage still remains a largely
insulated institution.

Experts may caution against premature celebrations and counsel deeper
investigation. But the numbers point to a trend that is not just
holding but also perhaps gathering momentum. Even the fact that the
couples in these alliances have stepped forward to document their
marriages speaks of the cast-iron social compartments loosening. After
all, it was Bhimrao Ambedkar who advocated "intermixing of blood" as a
way to reduced caste animosity.

The devil, however, may be in detail. Vivek Kumar, sociologist in JNU
who tracks dalit trends, says, "The numbers are impressive for sure.
But you have to scratch the surface to see how many such ties are
between OBCs and SCs. Also, in SC-upper caste marriages, how many are
women from upper castes."

The touch of caution seems in place. According to data, traditionally
rigid societies are still holding out, while those with reform
movements appear to have embraced the change.

The social justice ministry of Mukul Wasnik gives an incentive of Rs
50,000 to each such couple. The tally, however, only registers those
who come forward to claim the incentive. Hopefully there are more.

Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra lead the chart, registering around
1,000 for three years. In 2010, Maharashtra promises to double its
figures to 2,214.

Kerala and Karnataka have also registered good absolute numbers at 996
and 600, respectively, in 2009 and promise to repeat the show.
Haryana, for all its `khap panchayats' and honour killings, seems to
do well with 94 marriages in 2009, 129 in 2008 and an estimated 80 in
2010. The same applies to MP with 199 in 2009, 117 in 2008 and 95 in
2007.

In sharp contrast, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Punjab and West Bengal seem
unaffected by the winds of change.

While holding out hope for a casteless future, the data also
underlines a frozen social reality. Experts say Gujarat and
Uttarakhand are known to be strong hierarchical societies and absence
of marriages between SCs and non-SCs may reflect a political attitude.

Pradeep Tamta, MP from Almora reserved seat in Uttarakhand, said,
"Even if there are mixed marriages, government does not want to be
seen as incentivising or promoting them. It is politically fraught."

This may be true for Gujarat too. Experts say it is impossible that
mixed marriages don't happen. "Maybe, people are scared of the
publicity for fear of a caste backlash," said Vivek Kumar.

Importantly, the high rate of inter-caste marriages in South may still
not include upper castes as part of this change. The 1911 caste census
of Madras Presidency put upper castes at 2%, which may mean that most
marriages are among OBCs (largely Most Backwards) and SCs.

Real `castelessness' is still a long way off. Experts say that
"hypergamy" (male from Dwija castes) has religious sanction while
"hypogamy" (woman from upper caste) would mean the real breaking away
from stratification.

Bengal, on the other hand, is the unknown entity vis-a-vis inter-caste
tieups. The communist system, with no belief in caste, records no
figures. But this bit of progressive culture could be hiding a
disturbingly static society.

__._,_.___

Reply to sender | Reply to group

Messages in this topic (1)

Recent Activity:

New Members 1

Visit Your Group Start a New Topic

MARKETPLACE

Going Green: Your Yahoo! Groups resource for green living

Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use

__,_._,___