I read a highlighted news of an incident described in one of our local newspapers. A family of a higher caste and a family of the lowest caste, which people call the untouchable caste, were neighbours. The higher caste family had a dog as pet. One day he saw how the dog ate a piece of flat bread which originally was from their neighbours. The lower caste family had thrown it out because it was old.
The higher caste family became very angry. Their dog had eaten bread made by the hand of an untouchable person! They shouted at the lower caste family, accusing them of making their dog become untouchable as it has eaten bread from them. They claimed that the lower caste family had to take their dog, as it could not be with them anymore, and pay them 15000 Rupees, about 300 Dollar, the price they said they had paid for the dog. They did not ask, they just tied the dog’s leash to their neighbour’s house and threatened them, if they did not pay them 15000 Rupees, they would kill the family!
Scared, the lower caste family brought the dog to the police and filed a complaint. The police officers said they would take action against the other family.
I am writing this intentionally today, on the 2nd October, because today is the birthday of the ‘father of our nation’, Mahatma Gandhi. His whole life was devoted to a non-violent fight for freedom and equality. Freedom for the Indian people from the British and equality of all people among each other. He condemned the idea of higher and lower castes and most of all the idea that any person could be untouchable.
However unfortunately still today his dream has not been realized, as the case above shows. The moment when this kind of behavior will not anymore be present in this society, it will be true remembering of Mahatma Gandhi. The work and efforts that we do for this goal are our flowers in honour of him.
Related posts
Caste Discrimination in India’s Schools – Equality in ours! – 17 Jul 12
3 Groups of People who want to keep the Caste System and their Reasons – 20 Jun 12
5 Ideas how to get rid of the inhuman Caste System in India – 19 Jun 12
Daily Hypocrisy among Followers of the Caste System – 18 Jun 12
Legal Version of Honour Killing – Making your Children Outcasts – 22 Nov 11
Honour Killings due to Caste, Religion, Culture and Society – 21 Nov 11
Honour Killing due to Castes – Attempt to control Love – 18 Nov 11
No Respect for lower Castes in Hinduism? Become a Buddhist! – 3 Oct 11
Westerners supporting Caste System by pretending to be Hindus – 20 Sep 11
Gr8 thoughts, Goswami ji and a worthy article about the unpretentious saint, to boot! By the way, I think it’s too early for 2nd October, 2011… Today is 3rd October, 2010… ;-))
Sometimes I think that Delusion is the human condition.
That is so sad that the dog could be treated with such disrespect too. It just shocks me that so many people could believe in someone being “untouchable.” It makes no sense from any logical, rational, or scientific point of view. And really it is only the people of higher castes that could believe in the caste system because they want to maintain their status in society. People of lower castes know that they are normal humans that are being cut down and discriminated against.
I think it’s fortunate that Gandhi is considered the “father of India.” Eventually it will sink in and be celebrated…