What next for India's Dalits?

By Mari Marcel Thekaekara

INDIA'S DALITS are downcast because the Durban Racism Conference dropped not just the word caste but watered down and diluted the issue of racism entirely. Indian diplomats worked overtime in Durban to eliminate references to work and descent. And succeeded to some extent. So it is likely that there will be some rejoicing in New Delhi's official circles.

But is a victory of diplomatic wheeling and dealing really a victory for India? Just because the word caste has not been included in the U.N. lexicon, is it really a vindication of the Government's position that caste is no longer a problem in India? One has only to read today's or tomorrow's newspaper to realise that caste is alive and well. Kicking, beating, raping and murdering Dalits with impunity.

In spite of the world leaders buckling under pressure from India, the National Dalit Human Rights Campaign (NDHRC) has much to celebrate. Against all odds, it took the issue of caste to Durban and got the whole world to sit up and take notice. The need for and relevance of doing that has been hotly debated. The point is, for us in India, caste is something we take for granted. The average, middle class city dweller doubts that atrocities exist in this day and age. They think reporters and activists exaggerate, make up the stories. Everyday, in every newspaper, there is a news item about Dalits raped, murdered, humiliated or molested and the readers eye, sated and cynical, passes over it in search of something different, something appealing.

Just before the Durban conference, the National Human Rights Commission admitted that the situation for Dalits was intolerable and lent its support to the NDHRC. Men and women of integrity and honour dropped out of the official Government delegation chosen to go to Durban. Their consciences won.

In Durban, Ms. Mohini Giri, former Chairperson of the All-India Women's Conference, stood, in conscience, by the Dalit caucus. ``Ms. Giri what are you doing with them,'' annoyed officials asked her. ``My dear, do you know what we are doing to my Dalit women everyday in our country,'' the feisty lady rejoined. ``How can I not stand with them?'' The Indian spokesperson belittled the Dalits' data, dismissing their atrocities reports and figures as manufactured or merely anecdotal in spite of the fact that all statistics were meticulously sourced from the National SC-ST Commission reports, and UNDP and Government of India Census figures. Our indifference, our cynicism and our blase approach to one of the most shameful situations of the century, was jolted because our izzat (honour) was threatened. Our Government protested. A bit too much. But with little effect.

Whether the Government of India decides to admit the fact or not, the Dalits took caste to the centre stage at Durban. Their cultural troupe in sombre black epitomised the mood of India's Dalits. The stylised, staccato movements to the beat of furious drummers both male and female brought the entire Kingsmead stadium to a halt. The drummers and dancers seemed to carry the anguish of their people. They had an intensity and a passion that communicated their angst and their sorrow. Words were not needed.

The U.N. Human Rights Commissioner, Ms. Mary Robinson, the South African President, Mr. Thabo Mbeki, and the Cuban President, Mr. Fidel Castro, publicly stated that it was time for the Dalits to get justice. And though certain sections of the media went to town on the U.N. Secretary- General, Mr. Kofi Annan, rebuking a small group led by an uncouth politician, it was Mr. Annan who assured the Dalits of his support and invited Mr. Paul Divakar of the NDHRC to address the 12 Presidents and world leaders opening session. Mr. Divakar used the opportunity brilliantly. He made a succinct but moving presentation of the plight of India's 160 million Dalits. And he had his elite audience completely rivetted. At the end of the presentation, Mr. Castro, in his usual inimitable style, threw U.N. protocol out of the window and urged the leaders to take up the cause of Dalits, Romas, migrant workers and Palestinians.

The actual U.N. conference was a pointless game played out by diplomats and politicians. Like most U.N. Conferences, it was an endless round of meaningless, reciprocal backscratching. There is little genuine concern or even decent morality in the way serious issues are treated. It is governed by each country's politics, clean or dirty, and trade and political alliances rule the roost. So the outcome is not a real victory or loss for anyone and certainly does not help the wretched of the earth that Mr. Mbeki pleaded for.

If it proved anything, the Durban Conference proved that racism was alive and well. The passion and commitment reflected in Ms. Robinson's, Mr. Mbeki's and Mr. Castro's speeches inspired the NGO gathering. For the diplomats it was business as usual. Each trying to protect his turf, to hide his country's shame.

U.N. Conferences come and go but hardly anyone in India notices them. This conference grabbed the headlines of every Indian newspaper and TV station and brought caste back into the news with a vengeance. Dalits have made a new beginning because they have seized the opportunity, and used the Durban WCAR to rally people around the issue which for too long has been ignored. It is what activists are meant to do. More importantly, throughout the country, the Dalit Campaign has created a new awareness about human rights in States such as Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Journalists, artists, poets, writers and academicians have joined with Dalit activists to mobilise people to rise and fight for their rights.

If the Government of India is wise, it will use this opportunity to eradicate the evils of the caste system instead of going against the tide. How can we do this ? We can do this by actually punishing perpetrators of atrocities. It is not enough to hide behind the fact that we have enacted legislation to punish them - legislation becomes meaningless if it is not implemented. When the police go after criminals, terrorists or naxalites, they do so with a vengeance. Why can they not treat caste criminals with equal severity? A common thief may be beaten or tortured to death in one of our police stations. But criminals who molest, rape or even murder Dalits get away scotfree in spite of the presence of a draconian Prevention of Atrocities Act.

If we want to stop the murder of Dalits we need to have people who care in positions of power. There are police officers, judges and Collectors whose integrity and courage are well known. These people together with Dalit police, IAS and judicial officials should be in position in sensitive areas where atrocities abound. For this we need political will.

At every point, our Government hides behind the fact that we have had reservation and radical legislation for 50 years. We do indeed have the world's most powerful, inspiring Constitution. But that is cold comfort to the woman who watched her family burnt alive in Chintamani, Karnataka, a year ago.

If the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, and his colleagues in high places could turn their attention to this problem, there would be no need to hide our dirty linen at international conferences. It is a hollow victory for New Delhi. Because, whether we admit it or not, the tiniest African country, indigenous people from New Zealand and South America, and obscure little European kingdoms have listened in horror to the tales of what we do to our Dalits.

It is time to live up to the ideals of our Constitution. To face reality and change our cruel society. Or posterity will judge us severely and all the empty fanfare about our great and glorious culture will be consigned to the dustbin of history. It is after all, only what we deserve.

But whether we like it or not, admit it or not, Indian Dalits won in Durban.

(The writer is a social activist.)

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Opinion
Previous : Towards a global war against terrorism
Next     : Malaise is deeper