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Untouched...
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The launch of the book, "Untouchability in Rural India" provided a forum for an interesting discussion the other day
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The book is the result of the combined efforts of Ghanshyam Shah, Harsh Mander, Sukhadev Thorat, Satish Deshpande and Amita Baviskar
As we are rounding up six decades of Independence, it is easy to forget in the euphoria, that in many ways, India has not progressed at all from its condition of 1947.
This is especially true of the practice of untouchability, which continues unabated in many parts of India.
The recently released results of a survey undertaken by a group of social scientists showed that in 565 villages across 11 States, this long `outlawed' practice continues.
The findings were discussed at the launch event of a book authored by this group, "Untouchability in Rural India".
]Arjun Singh, Minister for Human Resources Development, released the book.
He pointed out that the authors had used their skills to compile the data, and we should remember it "relates to us" rather than to any other country or society.
The book, brought out by Sage publications, is the result of the combined efforts of Ghanshyam Shah, Harsh Mander, Sukhadev Thorat, Satish Deshpande and Amita Baviskar.
The discussion brought out commonly known yet distressing facts. Untouchability, caste and Dalits are inter-related, since all the victims of untouchability are Dalits.
What exactly is untouchability? It is when on the basis of caste, a certain section of people is deprived of the privileges enjoyed by the other sections.
It is when Dalits and weaker sections are not welcomed into the society and are referred to as a nuisance and an ill effect on the rest of the community. Caste discrimination and untouchability may be two different words, but they cannot be seen in isolation.
There are many forms of untouchability and caste-based discrimination: Denial of access to temples/places of public worship, denial of access to teashops, hotels and restaurants, etc., denial of access to drinking water sources are just a few of the forms it takes.
A change from within
The discussion drove home the point that while measures have been taken over the years to eradicate untouchability, these can only be successful when all the individual members of society are able to free themselves of feelings of discrimination.
This practice is nurtured from within society and can only be got rid of from within, the laws against it notwithstanding. Till then, the threat of punishment rarely deters those who practice it to torture and humiliate their fellow human beings, since there is a prevalent feeling that the punishment will not be implemented.
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