She uses pen to fight for Dalits rights
Published: Sunday, Nov 13, 2011, 18:35 IST
By DNA Correspondent | Place: Ahmedabad, Ahmedabad | Agency: DNA
Faustina Mary Fatima Rani, better known as Bama, never wanted to
become a writer. But she found solace and a friend in a pen after
witnessing the marginalisation of Dalits in society.
Already rejected and humiliated, the behaviour of upper castes towards
Dalits in her a strong desire to work for the betterment of her
community.
As the second edition of her book - Kurukku -- was launched at the
National Colloquium on Indian Women Writers in English - Bama shared
her journey as a writer and how she used the pen as a weapon to fight
for the rights of Dalit.
"When I was in school, I used to play with my friends who never
discriminated against me as a Dalit. As part of a game we played,
everyone had to touch the coconut by climbing the tree. Once, when
everyone finished and my turn came, the coconut fell and my school
headmaster charged me with stealing the fruit. His answer to my
question - why he doubted me -- was shocking. "You are a Dalit and you
must have done it," said Bama, quoting an instance from her school
days and people's attitude towards Dalits during those times.
A teacher by profession, she said that the biggest challenge Dalits
face is that others decide how they can be human in every sense of the
word - culturally, religiously and materially.
Sharing her experiences, she said that when she wrote her first book
narrating the problems faced by Dalits, the villagers fought with her
parents and advised her not to go to the village for six months. "When
the villagers were told the real meaning behind the book, they were
very happy. I became the 'daughter of the village,' as well as my
parents' daughter," stated Bama.
For the younger generation, Bama has a word of advice: "Do not be
ashamed of who or what you are. Be yourself and march on the road to
success."
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