One of my friends, Shiva Acharya, says he doesn't like the word "Dalit". I tell him I don't have any other appropriate word to name the socially discriminated "untouchable" community.
The word "Dalit" comes from the Sanskrit root "Dal" (meaning: broken, ground-down, downtrodden, or oppressed). The dictionary meaning of Dalit is "scattered, dispersed, broken, destroyed and crushed". The word Dalit was coined in post-colonial India by influential leader Bhim Rao Ambedkar. Untouchables did not accept the word "Harijan" (Men of God) used by Mahatma Gandhi for the untouchables in Hindu social order because of their aversion of Gandhi. The word Dalit, therefore, became the vernacular for oppressed classes.The untouchables of Nepal tried to find the right word to represent their community but ultimately accepted the word "Dalit". If not Dalit, we need another widely acceptable term to represent untouchable caste group. Even educated Dalits may not have proper knowledge of Sanskrit and Nepali due to lack of proper schooling and humiliation they had to suffer in schools. But these days most untouchables have proper schooling, enabling them to know right from wrong. Those with good command of Sanskrit and Nepali should find a word that defines this community meaningfully.
To be frank, untouchables are not interested in the title "Dalit" anymore. It is not their choice. They want emancipation from being Dalit. The caste system is not their creation. So justice for the suffering Dalits is the responsibility of upper caste who made this dirty design.
The new constitution has banned discrimination on caste. This is nothing new. However, I happily welcome new constitution because it has finally recognized the plight of untouchables and announced equal opportunities for them in state mechanism as well as specific educational and vocational privileges; scholarship in higher education and legal security. But my reservation is that the state is still being miserly about proportional representation for untouchables in all state organs.
The Constituent Assembly dominated by upper caste members did not agree to 13 percent proportional representation of untouchables in all state mechanisms, with additional compensation of three percent representation in federal, five percent in provincial and 10 percent in local government. The good news for landless untouchables though is that the government is providing them land.
Even if untouchability has been banned, Dalits still face discrimination and violence that prevents them from enjoying basic human rights and dignity. Untouchables are socially excluded and isolated in social gatherings. Constitutionally, untouchability is abolished but socially it is in practice. In villages, untouchables are still prohibited from restaurants and hotels owned by upper caste people. They have to stay in a separate corner and wash utensils after eating in restaurant. Upper caste people arrange for separate sitting and food arrangements at social functions and festivals. Untouchables are not permitted in houses of dominant castes and they have no access to common public property and resources like wells, ponds and temples.
Some upper caste people don't like the word Dalit, fearing that rise of untouchables may jeopardize their monopoly in state resources. Upper caste people have no problem with words like women, Janajati, and Madheshi but they have problem with Dalit. Dalit is a subjectivity chosen by untouchables who want to annihilate caste system; it is not an identity.
Still there are some Dalit activists who lack ideological clarity on material prosperity of Dalits. I am not for it. I say that, with the disappearance of untouchability, special facilities provided in the name of untouchables must also be removed; otherwise it will create further social disorder by promoting caste hatred based on ancient Varnashram. The objective of Dalit movement is to remove caste-based discrimination and provide equal ground for all communities to grow and prosper.
Dalits have suffered a lot. Our fathers and forefathers were exploited and even young people like me are suffering. Growth of untouchables was stunted. Dalitism is the reason why. If you hate the word Dalit, abolish untouchability. Initiation has to be taken by upper caste people. Please invite Dalits to your home, bring untouchables to your kitchen, and your worship room. Eat with untouchable. What is wrong with inviting a man into your home when dogs are allowed?
Go to the untouchable's homes, ask for a glass of water, tea or if possible food and see the glowing face of that untouchable family. Is it wrong to drink water from an untouchable if we accept the urine of cow as sacred? Greet them, hug them and love them. Don't let them feel inferior and outsiders.
Teach them the secret knowledge and Sanskrit mantras that you are privileged to learn, educate them to be healthy and hygienic and bring them to your level. Empower them socially, economically, educationally, culturally, politically and religiously. If you change your attitude towards untouchables, sooner or later the word "Dalit" will vanish.
The author is a meditation practitioner, women self-defense expert and sociologist
girithejorba@gmail.com
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