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Ssc SOCIAL STUDY CIRCLE di (ESTD
1982) www.dalitindia.com dalitindia@rediffmail.com *********************************************************************** |
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DALIT DEVELOPMENT THROUGH MEDIA
ABSTRACT
The
SC&ST Dalits - formerly the Unseeables, Unhearbles, Unapproachables,
Untouchables and undinables - with a population, approximately 260 million
plus, larger than the entire United States of America, are really a very big
force to reckon with. But they, today
are sadly nothing. Practically they can
be dismissed easily, neglected conveniently, and still managed
comfortably. This is what the Indian
Political Leaders and their Parties have been doing all these decades. Even after Independence of the Country, and
its emergence as a Free Secular Socialistic Democratic Republic, things have
not really changed, even though the details might have transformed much, making
recognition of denials discriminations marginalisations and betrayals
difficult! Many Dalits still suffer
daily from a level of discrimination, similar in some respects and much more in
others to that being suffered by the African-Americans in the United States or
elsewhere in the World, and also the blacks in South Africa under
Apartheid. But very little is known
about the Dalits - both the SC and ST Dalits - even in the Indian Society, as
the Media also neglect them as a matter of fact.
An
examination of Media Access of the Dalits reveals that most have some access,
but limited invariably to only the point of being hearsay knowledge of Printed
News told or retold or read-out to them by others who can read and also afford
to or manage to get some paper or journal sometime at least, casual or passing
listeners of Radio, and viewers of Television.
The Government at the Center controls the biggest networks
of both the State run public Radio and TV Services in the Coutnry. On the other hand, News Papers and Magazines
- mostly owned by big industrial and business houses belonging to the trading
castes - are available generally in towns and cities, and the near-by
surrounding areas from a variety of Publishers. But the poor transport facilities, economic conditions and
literacy rates, particularly in the distant Rural Areas keep readership low,
although many illiterate Dalits in towns and cities often have some Newspaper
or other Magazines read to them. The
basic fact is that all Medias have
little Dalit involvement, both in ownership, news gathering, news compilation
or editorship. Their absence in turn,
results in a negative bias, most of the times.
Education
and motivation of Indian Newspaper Editors, to increasingly involve the Dalits,
and to take up sincerly open frank and active discussions of Dalit Issues in a
Medium to which the Dalits have some access.
That is the best way that holds some practical hope. And it is a realistic feasiblity, for
bringing about a Change in the general Indian Outlook. Only this would ensure a justified and quick
Development of the Indian Nation, its Economy, Levels of the Society and
Standards of Living of the People. That
includes, bringing down the big burden on the Nation, and reducing the drag on
the State, of more than 260 million poor illiterate SC&ST Dalits of the
Country, who can contribute much more than what they are doing today to the
Developmental Efforts of the Society and Govts!
ACCESS TO INFORMATION
Access
to information is the most important aspect of life, particularly for
education, knowledge and development.
All
the wealth have been created by Nature and working people!
The
physical efforts of labour struggles and sweat of the workers!!
All
developments were feasible because of great honest thinking!
Creative
minds of many of those from working classes of people!!
All reforms and
justice in society World over have become reality
And possible only by
exposures of the frauds and manipulations!!
Cheating
robbing and swindling by all those at the helm of affairs!
Whom
people trusted believed and entrusted them with powers!!
Those
who come serving people called upon to work for Nation!
Often
resort to cheating lies robbing and swindling out of greed -
Wrecking
the society and people leaving injustice suffering misery!!
All
around forcing the people to cry struggle and fight for justice!!!
Exposures
exposures possible only by access to all information!
Open
free discussions by people alone could bring out the truth!!
Reveal
the truth to the society and help all the people to find truth!
Real
truth original truth basic truth fundamental and all the truth!!
Freedom
Liberty and Justice possible only by open free access!
Of
all information and knowledge that systematically are denied!
To
the people about every doings undoings misdeeds and frauds!
By
those in power and positions of authority and resposibilities!
- thus penned an informed
Dalit Poet sometime ago!
I.
THE CASTES AND DALITS IN INDIA
The word Caste, originates from the
Portugese and Spanish Casta, meaning
"race," "breed," or "lineage." It was first applied to the jatis of Indian Society by the Portugese
Travelers in the 16th Century. This has
a strong Racial base, Ethnic foundation and a Cultural bias. Although, now the
superstition and belief created by the Caste System appear to have started to
deteriorate and change, the unjust social structure and unfair recognition of
individuals groups and their contributions, that was created by the Castes is
still very much in place, especially in Rural Areas. There are about 3,000 jatis or Castes and more than 25,000
sub-Castes in India. India's 3,000
Castes are grouped loosely into four varnas.
The word varna
is Sankrit for colour, which later came to also mean classification and
grouping. The varnas or classes, traditionally determined the occupations of the
People. Those at the top had reserved for themselves the purest,
most sanctified and lightest or easy occupations, and those at the bottom were
coerced and forced to deal with things that were taxing, heavy, risky,
dangerous, difficult, uncomfortable and impure. Thus Classes based on varnas,
do not depend upon any ones education, intelligence, occupation,
suitability, capablities, achievements, income, wealth and potentials; but the varna determines the Class of a whole
Segment of the Society, the Group, the People, and the education one born there
in can have, the occupation one can take inspite of education intelligence
knowledge suitability skill capacity capablity potential, the income they can
have, the heights to which they can grow, and the wealth they can acquire
retain hold and own. Hence, in this
Country, Caste is varna based
determinant of Class, and Class in the Indian Society is dependant on the varna based Occupational Caste! And it holds good even today, inspite of
some exceptions. Exceptions they are,
not a measure of the changes taking place in the Indian Society. This is true, not only in India, but
anywhere in the World amongst the Indian Society, be it in USA or Canada, or
Britain and Europe, Asustralia or Russia, South East or Middle East, Ceylon or
Burma!
In traditional terms, the four main varnas and their occupations were, in descending order:
Brahmans: priests and vedic scholars
Kshatriyas: warriors and rulers
Vaisyas: merchants
and traders
Shudras: artisans,
labourers and servants
These are the visible mainstream, and hence
recognised and acceptable part of the Indian Society, that is directly
dominated by the brahmins. The occupations indicated against each
of them are what generally is attributed to them. But don't ever
ask what the brahmins as scholars were doing, why they were said to be
scholars, whether they were students and teachers, what they were learning or
teaching anything, what they were teaching, whom they were teaching! And don't question as to what developments
and progress did the prayers and scholarship of brahmins ever led this ancient
Nation, large Society in this Country and the invariably hard working but poor
people!!
A
very very small Part of this mainstream Indian Society, is the exclsively
closed small numbers of brahmanic society, believing in their
original god Brahma - with the brahmins
his original followers! They are at the
Center, on an average only about 3 to 5% of any region in the Country! But they always, even if poor or illiterate,
are at the top of the visible Indian Society.
The
immediate bigger circle, which is also relatively small - being only about 15%
including the brahmins with a
National presence of about of 3% of the Indian Society, is the core of the 'Sanathan Dharm' of dominant caste hindus, the DCH - BKVs. The larger outer circle, of the mainstream brahmin controlled Indian Society, is of
the 'caste hindus' of the 'chatur varnas'
or four varnas. That is based on the Varnavavastha or Varnashram System of four basic castes of the Religion - Sanathana Dharma. This is the fourfold
'hindu system' of the BKVSs. It is
slightly less than 50% of the total Indian Society.
Outside this brahmin controlled hindu system
exist, a very large section of People, who are by and large still invisible or
kept invisible. They are the
marginalised and neglected Indian Society.
They are the non-hindus. They
were originally the non-caste people or casteless people. They were the original Indegenous People of
the Country, of the Indus Valley Civilisation. They were the Ati-Shudras. And these Ati-Shudras form
the backbone of the Indian Society, and are the prime movers of the Nation's
Economy!
The
Ati-Shudras were treated at different
points of time of the Indian Social Evolution, as being the unseeables,
unhearables, and Unapproachables of the Indian Society. They were confined to exclusive areas
outside the specific main hindu habitations.
Some of them remained totally unknown even to the rest of the Indian
Society till British Times. They were
driven out and banished or distanced themselves safely that far, and hence were
forgotten completely and totally. The
rest had to keep safe non-polluting distances.
Today they are still the Untouchables and or the unwanted Unacceptables! All Social Assurances, Political Promises,
Legal Safe Guards and Constitutional Guarantees to them have really no
meanings! The only difference is that
most of them now have a new Constitutional Identity as the SCs and STs. And they have their own identity, a single
identity as Dalits, cutting across all Parties, Regions, Languages, Ideologies,
philosophies, faiths, castes, sub-castes, tribes, sub-tribes and
Religions! That is the reason, why
inspite of the great historic ancient Indus Valley Civilisation, temperate
weather conditions suitable for agriculture, settled habitation, development
and growth, India could not develop into a really vibrant and progressive
society, or develop to be a great Nation.
Till today this Country could not evolve an Indian Society! Even now the Indians, their Govts and
Scholars are chasing the mirage of a hindu society, in a Nation of brahmins
baniyas kshatriyas kayasths and shudras, surrounded from all sides by the
SC&ST Dalits believing in Buddhism, Christianity and Islam! Then there are
also others who are non SC&ST Buddhists, Christians, Jains, Jews, Muslims
etc.
The
Ati-Shudras are basically
agricultural workers, miners and settled specilist skilled workers. For,
tilling the land for agriculture and digging the earth for mining, were
considered to be defiling mother goddess earth, and amounted to molestation,
unforgivable and unpardonable grievious violation of her body, and was nothing
but rape! But there was never any
prohibitary measure on the part of the caste hindus to prevent agriculture and
mining, since they were necessary for the survival growth wealth and good
living of the dominant caste hindus.
But they were used as one of the ploys to keep ot the Ati-Shudras, experts in agriculture and
suitable for hard dangerous taxing work of mining, from the main stream
society. Therefore, tilling or mining the land was basically
left to the Untouchables! And anyone
touching the plough even by mistake, would loose caste and declared an
Untouchable and ex-communicated from the orthodox hindu society.
The Ati-Shudras,
were and are, and hence will always be a different people! They were and are still different racially,
culturally, ethnically, and in their habitation and social practices. They are generally strong stocky well-built
black stub-nosed and curly haired, with the women having thick long curly hairs
of immense personal value and to the jealousy of others. The women are socially equal in almost all
respects, enjoying nearly all the rights of their menfolk. They are, in fact socially free and are
equal partners with men - whether it is at the work place or in cooking at
home, or drinking and smoking at home or in public, or marriage divorce and or
remarriage. Specifically, these are
some of the charecteristics that set Ati-Shudras
apart, ethnically and culturally as a class different, distinct and far
away from the dominant caste hindus.
The Ati-Shudras
have their own gods and goddesses even today, starting from that Paraya god Shiva, and his consort that Parachi
- the Jungli goddess Kali.
The gods of the Ati-Shudras have
their own temples. What is more, even
their goddesses have their own independant and exclusive temples - free from
their consorts. These Temples have their own distinct but simple
constructions, with bright colourful architecture, and with very little
restrictions. Ati-Shudras follow distinctly different but simple ritualistic
practices of worship, that include offerings of meat, blood, and intoxicating
home-made or community brewed liquor.
Ceremonial occassions, invariably involve serving of food in public to
the whole community. And the unique
fact is that these Temples did not have any Priests. Anyone and everyone praying and or making offerings is at that
time a Priest himself or herself. It is
not that this is because the Ati-Shudras did
not have the benefit of brahmin priests.
The brahmins and Ati-Shudras in a traditional society or in an orthodox
setting, never ever came anywhere
near. The only persons who came into contact
with the Ati-Shudras were the Slaves
of the brahmanic society - the Shudras, and
the traders and merchants - the vaishyas
or baniyas. Hence the question of the
brahmins and their priests serving the
Ati-Shudras or Ati-Shudra Temples
and the Ati-Shudra gods and godesses does
not arise at all, even today in most parts of the Country. Well,
that becomes a problem in Ati-Shudra
Christian Churches, where the dilema crops up as the Church as an
International Institution or Theology or Ideology is a stranger to the Castes,
and the Dangers Evils and Trauma of Castes; where is it is a reality in India,
in the whole Indian Society including the Indian Christian Society; and very
much exists and is practiced within the Church, along with the attendant dangers
evils and trauma; even though the Official Church does not accept or discuss
this that openly, and in reality does not know till date how to handle
this. So the Official Church does not
accept the existance of castes within the Church, or the discriminations of the
Ati-Shudras within the Church, and
refuses to face the Castes squarely within the Church and Christian
Communities. Therefore, often the
Problem arises today, as to which priest(s) will go to the Ati-Shudra Churches, when and at what cost to the Ati-Shudras Christians. For, in the Indian Church, though there
are no hierarchic Priesthood as amongst the caste hindus, most of the Christian
Priests are by and large are of caste hindu origin, still carrying with them in
their heart caste hindu biases, specifically the discrimination of the Ati-Shudras.
The Problem of a caste hindu Priest does not
arise in the traditional Ati-Shudras'
Temples, as there is generally no priestly-intervention or
priest-intermediary between the praying Ati-Shudra
and the god or goddess. Every Ati-Shudra can by himself or herself
directly communicate with his or her god or goddess, casually in passing; or
seriously with offerings and sacrifices, touching his or her god and or goddess
personally and physically. But this does not mean that the Ati-Shudras did not or do not have any Priests. They always had and even now have their own
Priests, who step-in on special occassions.
But they were and still are uniquesly different and distinct from those
of other Religions and Communities.
They were highly proffessional, great masters in their art and knowledge
of rituals prayers and songs. The
prayers and prayer songs etc were and still are in local languages, but chaste
and pure, within the knowledge understanding and grasp of the common man of the
community. These were professionals
alright, but were not professional priests!
They were and still are, ordinary members of the Ati-Shudra Community, attending to normal household and
professional works like anyother individual.
But they were and are called, in only for formal ceremonies - such as
those associated with death and organised marriages. This again, even though a man and a woman, on their own choice
secretively by themselves, or exclusively with only their close friends and
confidents, without others knowledge can go to any of their own or chosen god
or goddess for the occassion - anywhere in the Village, or on the roadside, or
in the fields, or even in the jungles - to get married as per the custom they
know or choose to adopt. This they may
declare to the community, or may keep it as a secret till they choose to
declare at a later date. That is
perfectly valid, as for as the Ati-Shudras
are concerned with-in their communities, whether there were any witnesses
for the marriage or not, or whether such a marriage proposal had the approval
and sanction of the community, or was opposed by anyone else.
The Ati-Shudras
as Untouchables were treated as special servants of the hindu society,
meant for exclusively reserved unwanted tasks.
They were the Slaves of the Indian Society, freely available to anyone
and everyone in the hindu society, for exploitation. They were destined
to do all difficult dangerous risky dirty or filthy works. But no-one in the hindu society were
responsible for their welfare and well being.
Manytimes, no one was responsible to even pay for the actual works done
for the hindu society. Often times, and
even today, they are expected to work free, merely on getting a general
information, without anyone calling any particular one of them
specifically. They were to work for the
general good and public upkeep of the hindu society, just in return for some
leftover food that someone may give, or manytimes not even that. They are generally expected to fend for
themselves, and be on their own. But
they should always be available, and be ready at the beg and call of the
brahmanic society.
Today, for various historic and political
reasons, particularly to keep the Scheduled Dalits away from the Muslims, and
also the Christians and Sikhs, particularly the anti-hindu Sikhs otherwise
referred to as militant Sikhs, they are being referred to as 'Panchamas' of the hindus or the fifth varna.
Thus they were never, and even today are not part of the hindu society. Yet, today the
Scheduled Dalits are considered an appendage or extension of the hindu
society. And in common parlance, they
are loosely referred to as hindus, even when they are not, and are actualy
outsiders, living outside and away from chaturvarna
hindus of four-caste-brahmanic system!
The Scheduled Dalits are outside, and still not openly and publicly
stated so, for political and intra-religious reasons today, as being
outside! The Scheduled Dalits are said
to be inside, but really not treated so, and honestly not accepted as being
inside. This crude fact, has been
repeatedly stated publicly by jagatguru (world teacher) Sankaracharya of Puri,
and frequently reported in the Press - Print and Electronic Media, to the great
discomfort and ebarassment of the Govts!
The Dalit being a hindu is great
fraud and illusion played on the Dalits, created deliberately and sustained at
a very big cost and social tension in the recent decades. Affected are not only the SC&ST Dalits, but
also the whole Church in India, Christianity in the World totally confused and
not knowing what to do and how to deal with the double-dealing Indians and
Indian Leadership, and the whole Indian Muslim Community that is
The Dalits were also called as the 'Mlechas' that means foreigners from
beyond big turbulent rivers, seas and oceans, the hills, and the hill
people. Infact all Persians, Greeks,
Romans, Afghans, Arabs, Burmese, Ceylonese, Chinese, Tibetans, Turks, Mongols,
Moghuls, Europeans including the British Colonial Rulers, the Black Africans
etc, irrespective of the fact whether they were just travellors, visitors,
settlers, invaders, crude conquerors and all powerful rulers, and even deciders or determinators of the
destiny of all caste hindus, were referred to by the single term 'Mlechas'. This, even when the
foreignerswere infact were the deciders or determinators of the destiny of all
caste hindus. They were all considered
actually as Untouchables only, irrespective of their position status and power! The brahmins had a knack of treating and
saying so, or making it clear to the lesser caste hindus without offending the
foreigners and getting into trouble themselves. The last publicly known case of such a discriminative treatment and
public humiliation was that of Lord Mountbatten, the last and said to be the
most influential and powerful Viceroy of India with plenipotent powers, after
he visited a Temple in South India. Today,
the non-hindus of the Indian Society are actually in majority, but are mortally
weakened by extreme fragmentations and mutual suspicions and distrust. They are very badly divided and refuse to
come together, even to face the crafty caste hindus for their own
survival. A good number of them are
other Religious Settlers from outside the Country, converts to Islam and
Christianity from mostly the Shudra and Ati-Shudra Communities, and perhaps a
few outcasted caste hindu families. In
fact, the biggest punishment and fear or humiliation for a caste hindu, always
had been being outcasted, loosing the caste, and ex-communication from the
caste hindu society.
The division, differentiation, marginalisation or basic
stratification of the Indian Society is as -
brahmins
and non-brahmins,
dominant
caste hindus and non-DCHs,
caste
hindus and casteless people,
and finally as,
hindus
and non-hindus.
The SC&ST Dalits always and everywhere
were pushed down to the very bottom of the whole Indian Society - inclusive of
the caste hindus and non-caste hindus.
The practices and methodologies may vary from place to place, but the
end results remained always to be the same.
To the Dalits were left the occupations that involve the most
undesirable and impure work and occupations, such as that of midwives, leatherwork, slaughter, scavenging, disposal
of the dead, including the humans and the brahmins' own sacred cows, etc. Even today there are not much changes,
though the form and actuals jobs might have undergone some modifications, such
as - nursing in addition to midwifery, and to work as poorly paid rural
teachers in uknown places where no body wants to go, attendants in very
dangerous places in mines, power plants, nuclear stations, etc. They having been condemned to the bottom of
the Indian Society, had to always remain there permanently at the bottom. They are said to be impure, and always
retain their impurities. They could
even transmit the impurities of their birth as Ati-Shudras, to others through
physical contact, use of the same physical facilities, or even by having their
shadow cast on any of the caste hindus, however dirty polluted and mean the
latter might be! This, even if their
present occupatios may be modern, respectable, professional and much more
superior to that of the brahmins and other caste hindus. This lead to the literal practice of people
being segregated as untouchables. This
happens, and such meaningless and thoughtless untouchability, much worse than
Apartheid, is being practiced today at the end of the Twentieth Century in this
Country, even in the highest Govt Offices Universities and other big and higher
centers of learning - though such incidents are rarely reported in public and
carried by the caste hindu press and electronic media, or investigated. Officially,
the practice of Untouchability was outlawed by Article 17 of the Indian
Constitution, and made a punishable criminal offence. In reality, however, it is still a very real debilitating painful
practice that actully pulls down not only the Ati-Shudras, but also the progress and development of the entire
Nation.
A Population, slightly larger than the
entire size of the United States of America suffers daily from a level of
discrimination, similar in many respects but more harmful and evil than the
Racial Discriminations of the African-Americans in the United States, and the
Blacks in South Africa under Apartheid.
These discriminations range from
discriminations in admission to schools to being forbidden to share public
facilities with caste hindus, to lethal violence. The Violence against the Ati-Shudras are carried out by various
hindu groups, the most well known being the hindu ultra-conservative RSS
militia. The later always attack the
Muslims and others for liberating, by enmass Conversion, the Untouchable SC
Dalits and invisible ST Dalits. They
have now specifically turned their fury against the Christian Missionaries for
the past Conversions, particularly the distant still to be recognised Tribal
Dalits.
The name Dalit, a self-adopted one, has come
to replace the term “untouchable," and the derogatory term harijan of Gandhi, and the denigrating
name girijans of the Govts. Dalit, literally means “broken” or “crushed
under foot.” And this today is
preferred to other terms, as it is thought to represent the true conditions of
the people. And what is important, it
is not demeaning or condescending in any way.
Originally, the term Dalit applied
only to those formerly Untouchables, but it has been expanded in many places
today to include the Tribal Peoples, who being nature worshipping anemists like
the SC Dalits, are also not a part of the hindu caste structure. Other terminologies for peoples in this
condition include Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, or simply SCs&STs,
which derive their origin from the Indian Constitution’s “scheduling” of those
castes and tribes that are disadvantaged.
All of these terminologies tend to be rather amorphous, and are used
still interchangeably. SCs&STs are
still part of the overall group of Weaker Sections of the Indian Society. Being non-hindus living outside the caste
fold, they were also considered earlier as one of the non-hindu
Minorities. And being poor and backward,
SCs&STs were part of the large number of Backward Classes. But, with the Govt having specifically taken
them out of the Backward Classes, away from the Shudra Backward Castes and
other Minorities, and declared them to be the SCs&STs, the rest of the
Backwards, minus those who follow major non-hindu Religious Minorities are now
classified as the Other Backward Classes.
Today, some progress in upward mobility of
Dalits appear to have been made in metropolitan areas. However, most rural areas still remain mired
in the social traditions of caste, which hold lower and non-caste peoples down. It is also important to note that while
casteism is declining in some areas, as a determinate of occupational and
economic status; it remains a formidable tool in forming political groups and
support. Both the President of India and the recently appointed
President of the governing coalition leader Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are
Dalits. It should be however noted that both are largely symbolic
appointments. They are infact proving
to be the uncomfortable cause of many legal political and social frictions,
even at those highest levels.
II. MEDIA AND
DALITS
As the experience of groups from around the
World have shown, a major key to overcoming Oppression is access to Media, and
uncontrolled mediums which allow free and open discussion of all issues. This
report provides an examination of whether or not this is true as for as the
Dalit Community in India is concerned, and if not, what can be done to take
steps in that direction.
III. OVERVIEW
OF INDIAN MEDIA
In India Media is reasonably well
developed And the Media today has a
wider reach, in urban and semi-urban areas, and urbanised rural areas nearer to
State Capitals, business centers etc.
It has a powerful role to play in business promotion, and political life
of the Parties and their Leaders. It is
for these specific reasons that big industrial and business houses are running
many of the News Papers, and are also branching off to the now powerful visual
media.
A. PAINTINGS
apart
from Paintings this includes Drawings, Line Sketches also. The painters in early days were generally
Dalits. They used their artistic skills
in paintings and drawings to show their resentments against the brahmins and
brahmanic gods and goddesses. Hence,
they always included an unusual animal with various gods and goddesses to
depict their inhuman nature and animal qualities! They also invariably painted them with crude aggressive weapons
in their hands and on their person, to tell their People, the Dalit Communities
and the World that they are not godly but are cruel killers, and one has to
keep away from them. That is the reason
that unlike the brahmins, Dalits as a People are not close to the exploitative
demanding and bribe taking gods and goddesses, who act only on getting their
considerations! These gods and
goddesses are that way worse than the corrupt caste hindu officials, both in
the private and Govt Sectors.
B. SCULPTURES
Except
for the modern day high flying caste hindu cultural ambassadors casually
working as Sculpters to rake in money, the Sculpters who have produced millions
and millions of innumerable statues in different media are the SC&ST
Dalits. For various reasons those who
have been working on gods and goddesses have been included as some lowly caste
hindus. But the patterns and norms laid
out by the Dalit Painters have struck, and they always followed them while
producing the gods and goddesses, providing killer weapons in their hands. Added to that, they often went one step
ahead, showing these gods and goddesses as cheap perverted creatures indulging
shamelessly in public fornication. As
result any rational unbiased analysis of these gods and goddesses, as done by
Baba Saheb in his Riddles, or by Annadurai Karunanidhi etc in the South would
show how third rate they were unfit toeven be considered as human beings!
C. FOLKLORE
The
Folklore alive particularly in the Rural Areas is always of the Dalits. They are in the form of Stories, Childrens
Stories, Fairy Tales, Legends, Lullabies, Poems, Songs, Bhajans etc. They are rich with many interesting and useful anecdotes,
historical accounts, witty sarcasm and sensible irony. They effectively convey the seathing anger
and silent protest of the Dalit People, against all the social cultural
ritualistic and religious practices of the brahminic society. They reflect the peoples animosity and
general antagonism against the brahmins, other dominant caste hindus, their
gods and goddesses. They are clearly
understood by the masses, unlike the ununderstandable meaningless Sanskritic
Sloghas, which are not often clear to the brahmins themselves, who had only
mugged them up blindly from oral recitations by some one else. They are therefore varying, and are
invariably not reliable hearsays!
It
is for the above reasons that the huge colossal white elephant of irrelevant
Indian Education System in the brahminic hands, including the rare few Dalits
who had managed to worm their way in, are very systematically consciously and
carefully avoiding any collection compilation documentation preservation study
and research of local and regional folklores. Instead, the whole dominant caste hindu Govts and the brahminic
controlled Media, are always working overtime to hoist the literatures
beneficial to the brahmins like Ramayana and Maha-Baratha as National and Religious
Indian Epics. This inspite of many meaningless
irrelevant immoral evil anti-people, anti-social, anti-development and
pornographic references in them.
Studies and publication of the Folklore like the Kannada Grama-Devathalu
or Village Deities and such
other works by Siddha-Lingaiya in Karnataka had crudely shaken the
brahmins. And as usual they could
effectively silence them by buying him out for his silence! No such publicly known contributions to
highlights the Works of our Dalit Forefathers specifically denied formal
education by the brahmins and other DCHs had been done by any of the Dalits
elsewhere in the Country.
D. FOLKSONGS AND BHAJANS
Folk
Songs and Bhajans are also infact part of the Folklore of the People. Most of the Folklore are, except some of the
the Folk Stories are in the form of Folk Songs and Bhajans composed and sung in praise of dalit gods and
goddesses. They were the easiest form
of handing over socially relevant messages, particularly protests against the
corrupt, evil and the wrong doers in the society, authority and at the higher
levels of Govt and Religious Institutions like the Temples. In fact these were the most popular form of
Mass-Media of the People from time immemorial.
It is sad that today the Dalits have invariably lost their faith and
their capacity to use these. Instead
the Dalits, particularly the educated urbanised ones even from the Rural Areas
and Villages, have become more dependant on the evil brahmins, their advice,
and their media, and have developed implicit and deep faith in all their doings.
E. POETRY
Poems
and artistic expressions are by deep thinkers, disturbed minds worried about
the unfair and unjust happenings all around them in the Society, Educational
Academic and Research Institutions, Govt Offices, Religious Bodies etc. They quickly effectively and in short few
sweet couplets could deliver their messages strongly and with due focus. Poems by Great Dalit protest Poets like
Joshua and other nameless millions of conscious and concerned Dalits can shake
the berahmins and drive them to suicide and death if only they have any shame
and conscience! This is a powerful
Media which the modern Dalits should again make use of. Here is one great literary medium in which
even illiterate unlettered Dalits have traditionally been masters. And many great Poetic Literary Works are by
such great immortal legendary Dalits, whose Dalit origins and backgrounds are
systematically being concealed and denied even today! This inspite of the facts that the existance name background and
origins of many Dalit Authors, and even the Works of hundreds of Dalit Poets
having been suppressed and destroyed by the highly destructive evil
brahmins! Like the Tamil brahmins who
deliberately threw the Palm Leaf Writings of ancient Tamil Scholars in flooded
Cauvery, saying that real good worth preserving works will flow against the
current of the River in Spate and reach the banks, and that other useless works
should left to get washed away! What a
scheming evil mindset the brahmins have!
F. DRAMAS
This
include the Street Dramas, Dramas in Street Corners and Melas, as well as the
irony and sarcasm even in Bakthi Movements.
But Drama had not evolved into a big medium in this country except in
some States, like Andhra Bengal Maharashtra Tamil Nadu etc, to refer a
few. The impact of Drama and also
Cinema on the Society and Culture in awakening and throwing out, even the
massive wide-spread oppressive yoke of the brahmins and their extreme social
suppressive mechanisms and injustices, as well as the radical political changes
they have brought in their wake in Tamil Nadu is very well known to recount
here in any more detail.
G. WRITINGS
This
includes plain writings, novels, posters, hand-outs, hand-bills, wall writings
publication of books, etc. But with the
all round massive illiteracy in the Society, and the specific denial of all
Education to Dalits all through the history of this Nation, writing is not very
popular amongst the Dalits. But it is
heartening to know that protest writings are showing up in a big way in States
like Andhra, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
But they are still a long way for these protest Dalit Literature to make
an Impact on the Society in a real big way.
The problem is compounded by the lack of interest in buying books, and
non-existant habbit of reading particularly others writings. This situation is further hampered by the
increasing cost of books, entry of brahmins and baniyas in printing and
publishing, their poor quality and unattractive printing, effect of inflation,
higher costs. And the extent of reading
particularly amongst the target groups of Ati-Shudra
Dalits, Shudra OBCs and other poor is very poor because ofthe still
prevailing massive illiteracy amongst these massive sections of society!
H. CARTOONS
This
is another special area where Dalits have not entered so far to make a
mark. But this a very convenient area
to criticise castigate and send a quick message.
I. RADIO
Radio is perhaps the oldest, and the most
available and reliable form of media. All India Radio (AIR) has 305 Transmitters. AIR claims to provide Radio Coverage for
97.3% of the population(?) over 90% of the country. AIR Stations are the only domestic Radio available, but there are
foreign services such as the Voice of America, BBC World Service, Radio Ceylon
once the most popular in South, Radio Pakistan, Voice of Bungladesh, Radio
China etc from the surrounding Nations.
But their availability is not as wide spread as that of AIR. Everyone with in the villages visited, had
access to a radio and said that they listen to AIR. It was the preferred source of media for very few people.
J. CINEMA
Cinema is the oldest largest most
influential Media in the Country. It
has on any day the farthest reach and far-fetched reach to reach the unreachable
if one desired so. The potentials of
Cinema have never been fully realised, nor have they been tapped and utilised
for any positive development, in the real sense! Ofcourse, Govts through
their News Reals, Documentaries, Short Films, Clippings with the Media Units
and Films Divisions, had been trying to reach the rural masses, educate the
rural people children and students, and bring about changes in the rural
societies. This they have been doing
through the compulsory screening of weekly and monthly News Reels screened in
Cinema Theaters, or by screening them in special shows in schools, rural areas,
festival times and in the fairs.
Missionaries and Church had also been using Cinema and Documantaries to
carry the message of Peace, Life, Brotherhood and Fraternity, the Message of
Jesus and the Spirit of Christianity amongst its folks in the Church and Church
Compounds. But sadly today the social
and educational role of Cinema as an agent of change and medium of good
meaningful and useful message had ceased in this Country long long ago. But it still exercises a great influence in
certain cercumstances particularly in Politics, specially in the Southern
States.
K. PHOTOGRAPHY
This
is again another area of contradictions.
While this is basically a foreign medium evolved as a result of
scientific and technological developments elsewhere in the world, and millions
of photographers and photographic workers are the Ati-Shudra Dalits and
Shudras, those who actually use Photography as a Media of Professional
Journalistic Value and rake in millions and names for themselves are again only
the brahmins and other DCHs promoted patronised and projected by their own
ruling classes in Govts and other offices of power authority and patronage! Thus the Dalits have by and large could not
make much of a mark, though it has very important and great potentials. World would not have forgotten the cold
blooded blood thirsty trigger happy Colonial Officer firing to kill a
protesting Native in South-East Asia, with the small-arm right on the temple of
the hapless victim. There are many more
such historic pictures, which had rudely shaken the conscience of the World and
ultimately brougt down even even the crude criminal cruel heartless and
mindless down to their knees. Thus
Cameras and Photography, particularly the very Small Detective Cameras,
Movie-Cameras, Video Cameras, Digital Cameras etc have great potentials of
capturing the cruelties real intentions scheming and planning of the brahmins
and their petty backward agents, or the actions and doings of their
cold-blooded blood thirsty RSS, VHP and Bajrang Dal killer operators, against
the helpless Dalit Women, Children, the aged etc etc. These are yet to be realised and made use of by the Dalits in any
effective way, because of their foreign high technolgy origin as said earlier,
as well as lack of exposure, familiarity, knowledge, experience, confidence and
the cost factor!
L. EXHIBITIONS
Exhibitions
of Paintings, Wall Writings and Posters etc etc that bring out the suppressed
and hidden anger and simmering dissent and under the surface protest,
M. TELEVISION
Television is the most favored form of
media. Television includes shooting
and filming TV Programmes Messages News etc, either in professional
well-equipped Studios, make shift places, in the open field or even in remote
and wild araeas. The opportunities for
the Dalits to enter these areas are very limited, even though some break is
available to learn the skills formally in Govt run Film and TV Institutes,
thanks to the much criticised and run down Reservations in admissions.
Through Antenna Reception, only one or two
Channels of Doordarshan, the
Government of India’s National TV network, is now available to the common man,
though earlier almost all Channels of Doordarshan
were available for the average TV Viewer without a Cable Connection. This is so,
because for reasons unexplained,
Doordarshan had handed over most of its Channels to local private cable
operators. Thus the common man, with-out
personal Satelite Dish Antena Reception, or the ones accessed through cable
connections, can not access most of the Channels of even Govt run Doordarshan. Yet, Doordarshan
claims to have a reach of about 87% of India’s Population; which given the inaccessible
backwardness, poverty and endless miserable routine in the rural areas and of
the massive large sections of Weaker Sections of the Indian Society, is
definitely a doubtful bogus tall official claim.
In
most areas, Doordarshan’s National
Programming is supplemented by State and Regional content from the State
Capitals. What can be received through
cable and satellite is an entirely different story. As said earlier most of Doordarshan's
Channelsn are also available on Satelite Cable. These Multiple Channels come with more diverse programming. And Satellite Channels such as CNN, BBC
World Service, and StarTV are also available.
These deliver a wide variety of American, Australian, British, and other
Nations' TVs, as well as Indian programming, to those households able to afford
Dish, or have access to Satellite Cable Television. Inspite of these, most Dalits only have access to Doordarshan through Antenna Reception,
though access to Satellite Cable TV is expanding steadily.
A recent quick small study by some scholars showed that -
In Gangoh, the largest Village near Delhi, with a Population of
50,000(?) nearly 80% of all People have access to TV, but only one percent has
colour TV. Only 1100 of the TVs in the Gangoh have a Satellite Connection. And of these, only 10 or 12 of them are
owned by Dalits, providing access to Cable Satellite Channels for at most 200
Dalits.
In the smaller Villages, with populations below 3000, about 50% of the villagers
have access to TV. But probably only
10% watch the News on a regular basis.
Access is generally restricted to Antenna Reception, as ownership of
Satellite Dishes is limited by cost.
Some of the small Villages have no Satellite Dish, and in those Villages
where one exists, the owner is invariably a dominant caste hindu, who generally
does not allow others to come anywhere near by. Thus the Dalits do not
have access to Satellite Cannels.
The
most popular programmes on TV are reported to be religious serials, cricket,
movies, and cinema songs. Appearance of
Dalits on TV, even as News Readers is for the most part unknown, and not
seen. Rarely do any Dalit Star appear,
or is allowed to come on the TV. Hardly
are there any, for these are profitable and highly paying businesses. Hence, carefully and meticulously Dalits are
being kept out. Hence they are not
being seen. Recently, it was said that
a serial on Doordarshan had a few Dalit Characters in it, though the actors
were not actually the Dalits! The
Dalits in this serial were portrayed to be very submisive subserviant
supportive and working in favour of the
caste hindus. And when one of
the Dalits made a mistake of some kind, the punishment by the caste hindus was
quite severe. This in a TV Serial, a
story! That is the type of Message, a Value-System
the TVs want to build up, sustain and uphold in the Society even today.
When
it comes to TV News Focuses on the issues of Rural Areas and the happenings
there-in, where the most oppressed Dalits live, the News generally does not
deal with them, and skirts them out very skillfully, unless there had been some
grievious or serious sensational issue. But these days, some other private
programmes do take some interest, but even these are limited to issues of crops
and the like. And where Dalit Issues
had to be discussed, they bring in co-opted or co-optable elements, who do all
their best to whitewash the harm being done to the Dalits by others. Otherwise the TVs project some half-backed
upstarts, and even drop-outs from some colleges and universities, only because
they are the hand maidens of those who matter in the ruling circles. Thus, the Dalit Issues fall by default, or are thearetiacally as an abstract
matter casually and indifferently discussed, by those not at all concerned but
make a living out of Dalit Sufferings, like the Professors and Officials
dealing casually with Dalit Matters as their Profession, or are handling them
for the time being as a matter of course.
N. NEWS PAPERS
News Papers being in private hands, have
remained the exclusive terrain of the dominant communities of the country. Most of them ofcourse are the dominant caste
hindus, specifically the brahmins. They
systematically keep out SC&ST Dalits, and hound out any SC or ST Dalit who
may manage to stray in. That is all to
their credibility and charecteristic merrit and honesty!
News
Papers in this Country are not well developed.
And People do not have an attitude to News Gathering and decimation of
the right actual facts and happenings.
That is part of hindu characteristic of untruth and deciet!
News
Papers and Journalistic practices like writing, editing, proof reading,
publication of Journals and News Letters in Schools, local and neighbourhood
Communities are all unknown and strange to this Country! Hence handwritten, cyclostyled mimeograph or
photocopied publications, private circulations, informations amongst friends
circles, in family or extended families all do not almost exist in this
Country.
Hence
Dalits are nowhere near News Papers and in the business of bringing out
Magazines News Letters Journals etc.
News Papers are the only form of media that
Dalits generally have an easy and reasonable access to, that are able to
present a diversity of opinions. Even
in the smallest Villages, there reach copies of atleast a couple of different
Newspapers. And in larger Villages, nearer to metropolitan cities and State
Capitals, local, regional, and national Papers could be found.
A
small Survey by some Dalit Friends and Sympathisers showed the following -
In Gangoh, approximately 1900 copies of Newspapers are distributed
daily. Many of the Papers are national
and regional. An, there also reach
three other local Papers. The local
Papers do have a good focus on local issues, but not on the issues of
Dalits. About 40% of People in town
read a Newspaper, but of that 40% only 3-4% are women, even though they are
approximately 50% of the population.
Of the Dalit Population, only 20% read any Newspaper.
When
considering circulation and readership, it is helpful to remember that while
many people read one copy of a Newspaper, the Newspapers are often read out to
many who don't get a Paper and to those who are illiterate. So in both cases, numbers tend to be larger
than reported. Taking these factors
into account, 90% of all of People near the State Capitals have access to
Newspapers. This percentage of
readership seemed to hold true for even the smaller Villages near by, even
though fewer copies of Newspapers reach them.
Mainstream
News Papers do some coverage of Dalit Issues, especially when there are
atrocities like murder, etc. And
sometimes, they will run pieces which consider the situations and lives of
Dalits, as The Hindu and The Pioneer have recently done. However, the truly controversial stands are left
to the Dalit's Alternative Media, which consists of many informal private
circulations, some local regional language tabloids and journals - the most
popular one being one English Journal named The
Dalit Voice, run by a rich dominant caste hindu.
O. INTER-NET, WEB
PAGES AND WEB SITES
The
Inter-Net, Web Pages and Web-Sites are still in infant stages even in the
cities. They are accessible only by the
well to do, well connected and well placed, better educated, and highly paid
employed sections of the society.
Hence, understandably, Dalits hardly have any access to them. And strangely enough, those well-off and
well-placed Dalits who can afford them, hardly take any interest in general
Dalit Issues, unless that hurts them the most.
Otherwise, they tend to be indifferent, and neglect Dalit Issues of even
their own concern or having a direct impact on them also, leaving them all to
the Govts to resolve, or expect someone else just someone else to comeforward
and take up the task, and to those non-interested Dalit Leaders who are not
even affected by the Problem to deal with!
In the Rural Areas, these are not even heard off! Thus, these are practically inaccessible to
the Dalits and most other Weaker Sections.
And the poor Literacy Rates, lack of Computer Literacy, prohibitive cost
of Computer Education, poor Knowledge of Inter-Net, non-availability of
Computers, very high cost of the Computers and Lap-Tops, unaffordable cost of
Inter-Net Connections, poor quality of the Connections and Inter-Net Services,
too high a cost of Telephone and other interlinkages, non-appreciation of the
Potentials and Uses of Inter-Net in Dalit Development are not only big
obstacles, but even keeps this out of the focus of the Dalits as an useful
tool.
A Western Scholar
on Dalit Issues had recently reported -
After
extensive searching, only one Dalit specific Web Site of Indian Origin could be
found, though other Sites set up by advocacy groups operating from West and
OECD Countries could be found! All
parties interviewed or visited, regarded the Inter-Net as a tool with no reach
to the Dalit Community itself, although One Group stated that it was an
effective way to bring out Information on Dalit Issues in the first place. And, naturally, it is that group that
operates the one Indian-based Dalit-Issue Web-Site.
Inter-Net, Web-Pages and Web-Sites are
potentially very useful spheres, where Dalits have to be brought-in large
numbers, and they need to be watched and encouraged carefully steadily and
monitored closely. This then will
become a very great and powerful tool amongst the large Dalit People,
particularly if they are properly guided and appropriately helped and
encouraged from time to time till they take-off by themselves.
III.
DALIT INVOLVEMENT IN MEDIA AND BIASES
Dalit involvement in the local media in
Gangoh is relatively weak compared to the rest of the Nation. Of the
10 Journalists based there, 3 were from Backwards Classes, and only one was an
“untouchable” Dalit. Generally the coverage of Dalits in the
News is always rare, as even Dalit Journalists tend not to report on Dalit
issues. The Reasons given for this
are -
i) The
Dalit Journalists are afraid that if they cover Dalit Issues, they might lose
their jobs
ii) Such
Reportings unless sensational to be of commercial news value are generally
dumped out
iii) The
Dalit Journalists are simply not interested in covering the issues.
Conversations
with local Leaders of a Dalit Party, which had incidentally emerged as the
third largest All India Party after BJP and Congress, advocating the Rights of
Dalits and other disadvantaged peoples also revealed dissatisfaction with the
present Indian Media. They noted that
the Media adequately covers issues such as the murders and sexual harassment of
Dalit individuals - perhaps because of their shock value and sensationalism,
does not do any analysis as to why these Atrocities occur. In regards to bias, he thought that Dalit
Participation in the ownership of mainstream media would have to happen, before
biases of the mainstream media started to disappear. Many others, were in agreement with thes. Caste hindu ownership and control of media
exists very very strongly. It actually
prevent the entry of formally qualified dalit journalists, even while
accomodating a lrge number of dominant caste hindus of known dubious values and
fraudulent experiences. These all
together create, at best, a negative bias against the Dalits, the real facts
behind Dalit Issues and the truths of the caste hindu dominated Indian Society,
that is still poor and backward in many respects.
Members
of the Villages are also concerned about the geographic bias towards regional
centers. Also, if something happens in
a village, the information may pass through several hands before a reporter gets
a hold of it, and this in turn can increase the biases and inaccuracy of the
information. One of the small villages
recently held elections, and no media organization covered in any form. When asked if they would be more interested
in the News, if it showed information about events in their village like the
election, the answer was resoundingly in the affirmative.
When
asked whether more channels and competition would help to alleviate biases,
many said that it was difficult to say because of a lack of anything for
comparison, especially for TV and Radio.
However, they did say that ownership or management of Media, if not
direct control probably influenced bias, and said that ownership by Dalits
would be a great help. One Dalit
gentleman mentioned that, ownership by well to do members of the Backward
Classes, many of whom are very very better off, would be much more
helpful. He felt that they being as
Shudras basically working classes like the Ati-Shudra Dalits, but being
acceptable and recognised members of the caste hindu society, might be able to
bridge many of the differences between the Dalits and the rest of the
society. Though this is an odd comment,
may be influenced by some personal considerations, there still is some truth
and merrit in this, however small that may be.
Dalit
alternative Newspapers, play a crucial role.
But that is “not well ventilated” and it often does not consider issues
in their entirety. Its role in
transforming the mainstream Media is limited.
Hence it is necessary that Dalits must become players in the mainstream
media, to remove the biases that exist against the Dalits there-in.
CONCLUSIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
As
one can see, the Channels of Information
that Dalits have access to are limited, especially in the Rural Areas. Television, Radio, and Newspapers, as well
as Cinema, Photography still and movie, Exhibitions etc - organised and or
managed through Govt, Community and other public and private efforts - suffer from
little involvement of the lower castes, and practically no involvement from
“untouchable” and "invisible" Dalits. In addition, there are limitations to what can be expressed and
discussed on TV and Radio, since they are centrally controlled by the
government and caste hindu officials, with some form of under-the-surface
active vigilant Censorship or agenda which is currently set by the hands of the
hindu-conservative BJP and Sangh Parivar.
Given
the overall constraints of the situation, as well as the living standards of
the Dalits, there are two specific short-term recommendations and two long-term
possible solutions, that could redeem the Dalits in this Country, and Develop
them with the help of the Media.
A. The Short-Term
i)
First - The only form of Media,
that has the ability to express varied opinions to the Dalit Population is the
Local Indian Press, both the English and Language Press. The Big
Industrial Business House and Politically Controlled Press can hardly
recognise or appreciate the aspirations and needs of the large mass of poor
Rural Dalits and the poor Urban Dalits.
But the Reporters of small newspapers are very poorly paid. Hence, they are open to persuasion through
the purchase of meals and other small favors.
It would be to the advantage of
all concerned and those interested in the Development of a large Continental
Size Community of 260 million plus SC&ST Dalits, to organise a Systematic
Program and also set up very Specilised
Formal Institutions, to introduce debate and deal with issues that are of
concern to Dalits. Those who own
and edit Indian News Papers, particularly the regional language papers, should
actively be involved in these activities and exercises, that they in turn can
themselves look into and organise their own special programmes to involve more
and more SC&ST Dalits and Dalit Journalists in News Gathering, News
Reporting, News Writing, News Editing and Presentations. Meetings accompanied by materials and means in Regional and State Centers with
regional and also popular Dalit Leaders could be appropriate. It is important to remember that many of
those involved with Indian Language Papers have some political ambitions, and
Dalits can be politically powerful because of their large population.
ii) Second - The second short-term solution is to identify issues of concern to
Dalits, and encourage Indian language media outlets to discuss them. One example for
this would be, discussion about Economic Liberalisation. While the Governments now strongly support
Economic Liberalisation, most Dali Leaders Activists, and by and large the
entire Dalit Communities, save for some odd exceptions, are fiercely opposed to
it, because of the short-term negative impact it is having on the poor rural
populations, who are mostly the Dalits.
Open discussions about the differences in opinion in this area, could
lead to better understandings, and in turn, constructive action on both sides
of the issue. After all what will the SC&ST Dalits loose by the
evils of Economic Liberalisation if at all there is any, as the Dalit Activists
fear? Only their bondage to the most
oppressive caste hindus! The economy was never in the hands of
Dalits, or within their reach, even though as the labouring working classes, it
is only their labour hardwork sweat and blood built up this Nation and its
Economy so far! They were never
recognised. Their hard work labour and
fruits of value addition were always taken away by their caste hindu
supervisors managers senior-officers bureaucrats and politicians. Let
this unfair structure be torn apart - and rebuilt afresh on the basis of
competition, hardwork, skills, intelligence, creative strength, mental and
physical stamina, constructive capablities, and productive capacities. It is here that many Western Nations,
Capitalistic Countries, and even Foreign Multi-National-Corporations can chip
in liberally, and deal with the Dalits directly through the New Institutions
and Special Programmes. Even in Global Terms, 260 million plus
Dalits is a big force and power. And if
they could be educated, woken-up, honestly employed, and reasonably-paid, oh
then it is going to be real big market.
For the SC&ST Dalits, unless like the caste hindus practically need
anything and everything for a decent life.
The caste hindu society over the millenniums have vertually left them
naked and without any means!
B. The Long Term
i)
First - There is nothing more
imperative than education. The Govts and Foreign Missions in India, UN
Agencies and International Aid, Donor Organisations must enter this sphere to
unflinchingly advocate access to free public education to all Indian citizens,
particularly the Dalits. Education is
key not only to Literacy but also tp Knowledge, and therefore is the portal to
access to the Press and other Media, but also in broadening of worldview. These, in turn would help in weakening, if
not in breaking down the caste system, that had historically served all along,
the dominant caste hindus well. Of
course, Mass Education will also result in many other benefits, including economic
improvement and better self-governance. Hence the Govts in the Country, right from the Local Govts and
also the Voluntary Organisations, real NGOs and local Peoples' Organisations
should explore the possibilities of entering into some sort of bilateral
understandings and exchange programmes, to bring in open free liberal thoughts
for the benefit and use of the whole local community, as well as build and
establish good Centers of Learning and Knowledge open and actually accessible
to the common man
ii)
Second - Finally, the Govt, foreign Missions in India, UN and
Aid-Agencies must continue to advocate the improvement of access to information
technologies to Dalits in the rural areas and other oppressed peoples. Both cable/satellite television and the
Internet represent opportunities for people to make themselves heard, without
being subject to the control of a controlling authority that might be opposed
to their ideas.
Although
progress in this area will likely be slow, all gains that can be made are
significant. For an oppressed people like the Dalits, expression of
their views to their own Population and their Nation is paramount in improving
their condition. As such, the UN and
Govts of the World, should actively encourage media organisations to consider
and involve the Dalit people and their views.
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