We have a constitution which guarantees equality to all citizens, irrespective of their caste, creed, religion, gender, class. But the truth is farthest from this wonderful preamble.
Seventy years after independence nothing has changed.
In Kalahandi, already infamous for deaths due to starvation in the past, showed us what we do to our poor and those without means of any kind. A man walks 12 kms with his dead wife's body on his shoulder with his daughter weeping beside him. There are people on the road who merely gawk like they do always in every tragedy, be it accident, rape, murder, lynching There is no sense of empathy or responsibility towards another person in distress. No one comes forward to help. But then you could say they were all poor too. Even though I would say you are never too poor to help. But what about those who are in the establishment. The hospital, the doctors, the civil administration. They could not arrange anything. Are they not accountable for anything.
This is India's cruel, indifferent humanity.
The kind of apartheid we follow is mind boggling. Like not allowing women and dalits in temples, killing female child at birth, poor representation of minorities in jobs, continuing to use human scavengers, upper castes killing those from lower castes wanting to marry, not allowing dalits to take water from wells even in drought situations, parading them naked, making them drink urine and eat human excreta. It goes on and on. It doesn't ruffle any politicians conscience.
So many recent incidents remind us daily we are socially and morally bankrupt and we are selective in our brutality. The flogging of Dalits in Una, the lynching in Dadri, the hacking of a poor dalit couple for not being able to pay rupees 15 for biscuits they bought. Extreme violence over minor things. This emboldened powerful lot which either has money power or muscle power or political power or are merely in a larger number so they can beat, kill, molest, burn people openly and walk away. Who do they fear? None. They know nothing will happen to them. And governments rush to cover up.
The biggest reason is the vote bank politics practiced by our political parties. They go to election each time fanning communal and caste issues. Parties distribute tickets on basis of caste, religion, family ties and proximity to party leaders. The clout and winnability depends on how big you are in terms of money and muscle. Credibility and integrity be damned. We are a nation which sends the maximum of criminals into our assemblies and parliament.
The perpetrators of all forms of apartheid know their victims are poor, helpless people who do not even dare to complaint leave aside file a police complaint. And the lengthy, unhelpful judicial system will never give them any justice.
Seventy years after independence nothing has changed.
In Kalahandi, already infamous for deaths due to starvation in the past, showed us what we do to our poor and those without means of any kind. A man walks 12 kms with his dead wife's body on his shoulder with his daughter weeping beside him. There are people on the road who merely gawk like they do always in every tragedy, be it accident, rape, murder, lynching There is no sense of empathy or responsibility towards another person in distress. No one comes forward to help. But then you could say they were all poor too. Even though I would say you are never too poor to help. But what about those who are in the establishment. The hospital, the doctors, the civil administration. They could not arrange anything. Are they not accountable for anything.
This is India's cruel, indifferent humanity.
The kind of apartheid we follow is mind boggling. Like not allowing women and dalits in temples, killing female child at birth, poor representation of minorities in jobs, continuing to use human scavengers, upper castes killing those from lower castes wanting to marry, not allowing dalits to take water from wells even in drought situations, parading them naked, making them drink urine and eat human excreta. It goes on and on. It doesn't ruffle any politicians conscience.
So many recent incidents remind us daily we are socially and morally bankrupt and we are selective in our brutality. The flogging of Dalits in Una, the lynching in Dadri, the hacking of a poor dalit couple for not being able to pay rupees 15 for biscuits they bought. Extreme violence over minor things. This emboldened powerful lot which either has money power or muscle power or political power or are merely in a larger number so they can beat, kill, molest, burn people openly and walk away. Who do they fear? None. They know nothing will happen to them. And governments rush to cover up.
The biggest reason is the vote bank politics practiced by our political parties. They go to election each time fanning communal and caste issues. Parties distribute tickets on basis of caste, religion, family ties and proximity to party leaders. The clout and winnability depends on how big you are in terms of money and muscle. Credibility and integrity be damned. We are a nation which sends the maximum of criminals into our assemblies and parliament.
The perpetrators of all forms of apartheid know their victims are poor, helpless people who do not even dare to complaint leave aside file a police complaint. And the lengthy, unhelpful judicial system will never give them any justice.
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