http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Facing-discrimination-dalits-take-to-hair-cutting/articleshow/8137888.cms
Facing discrimination, dalits take to hair cutting
TNN | May 2, 2011, 12.48am IST
TUMKUR: The barbers in the village refused to cut their hair as they
were dalits. But these people did not turn a hair. They took it as a
challenge. This discrimination by the caste Hindus forced them to
learn hair cutting and prove themselves as professional barbers at
Bisilehalli in Tumkur district.
Residents said barbers in the area used to refuse to cut their hair or
kept separate scissors and combs to trim their hair. But dalits
instead of protesting took this as a challenge and decided not to
visit the village saloons. Instead they started their saloons.
Dalit-dominated Bisilehalli has a decent literacy rate and most
residents are either government servants or work with private firms.
Ravi, a local resident, said dalits have depended on caste Hindus for
their hair cuts. "But saloon owners in the village and neighbouring
areas used separate scissors and combs to cut our hair or used to turn
us away. We were insulted,'' he said. "This forced us to learn the
skill of hair cutting.''
He said barbers used to bathe after cutting hair of dalits. "This
provoked us to have our own shops,'' he said. "We are practising this
for the past couple of decades and now no dalit visits non-dalit
barbers in the village.''
Another villager, Somanna, said dalits are experimenting with
different hair styles. "We are ready to compete with professional hair
cutters,'' he said. He said this has surprised caste Hindus and
village barbers.
Tumkur deputy commissioner Somashekar said he was unaware of the
boycott. "I will look into it. We will take legal action against those
practising untouchability.''
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/
No comments:
Post a Comment