Testimony of Bhagwan Das before UNO
UNTOUCHABILITY
AND THE
UNTOUCHABLES
----------------------
Testimony given by
Bhagwan Das, Chairman,
All India Samata Sainik Dal,
and
Ambedkar Mission society
------------------------
In the 36th Session of Commission on
Human rights Sub-Commission on Prevention
Of Discrimination and Protection of
Minorities, held at Geneva on
23rd August 1983
I am grateful to the chairman of the
sub-committee for granting me an opportunity to present the case of the
Untouchables living in India and the neighbouring countries that came under the
influence of Hindu religion and culture. I am giving this testimony on behalf
of Secretary General (Dr. Homer A. Jack) World Conference on religion and Peace
(WCRP). I also speak on behalf of various Untouchables and Buddhist
organisations of India namely All India Samata Sainik Dal (Volunteers for
equality) an organisation founded by Dr. Bheem Rao Ambedkar, Indian Buddhist
council, Ambedkar Mission Society, Ambedkar Mission Incorporated (Canada) and
Dr. Ambedkar Mission Society, Bedford, UK.
I take this opportunity to mention here
that WCRP in its first conference held at Kyoto, Japan in 1970 discussed the
problem of discrimination including the practice of untouchability. In its
third conference held at Princeton (USA) the problem of the Untouchables in
India and Burakumin of Japan was discussed and mentioned in the declaration. In
the Asian Conference of Religion and Peace (II) held at New Delhi the problem
of Untouchability and discrimination against the Buddhist converts was taken up
and recommendations made in the declaration issued at the end of conference.
Human rights Commission of ACRP decided to set up an office at New Delhi and an
office is now functioning at New Delhi with the help of the Japanese Committee
of WCRP under the title Asian Centre for Human Rights.
Untouchability is a phenomenon peculiar to
Hinduism and it is an integral part of their religion. It took birth in India and
it’s from India that this abominable practice spread to other religions and
countries. No religion in India is free from this contamination; not even those
who loudly preach from house tops the fatherhood of God and brotherhood of man.
Hindu society is divided vertically and
horizontally on the basis of caste. Christianity and Islam have allowed caste
to exist in their society. Lower caste Christians especially in Southern states
of India are meted out discriminatory treatment in the matter of burial in the cemeteries,
appointment of parishnors, priests etc., and matrimony. Upper caste Christian
seldom marries a girl from the lower caste Christians. Islamic society is also
modelled on the pattern of Hindu society. It is divide into three or four
groups namely ‘Ashraf’ upper caste, Moghuls, Turks Afghans etc., ‘Ajalaf’
converts from upper castes of Hindus and at the lowest rung of ladders sit the
lowly ‘Arzal’, butchers, tanners, shoemakers, sweepers and scavengers etc.
Sikhs who claim to be more progressive and
egalitarian but unfortunately even they have not been able to keep their
society free from caste system and untouchability. Even in a country like
Britain they rigidly follow caste system and practise untouchability and
discrimination against the Untouchables (Ramdaasia and Mazhbis) living in
England. A ‘jat’ Sikh shuns the company of the Untouchables and avoids going to
the pubs patronised by the Balmikis and Ravidasis-two untouchable castes of
Punjab. An upper caste Sikh (Jat, Khatri, Arora,-trading communities of Punjab
never misses an opportunity if he can offend an Untouchable by referring to his
caste.
Untouchables
in various countries
Nepal
Nepal is predominantly Hindu state and 89%
people either return their religion as Hinduism or are registered as Hindus in
the census. Barely 7% of the Nepalese are Buddhists. Proselytization is
prohibited. Hindu society is divided into as many as 59 castes and several
artisan and other castes such as Paura (sweepers and scavengers), Damais
(smiths), Sarakis (leather workers) goldsmiths in hilly regions are treated as
Untouchables. Even though there is free education, very few among those castes
can take the benefit owing to the practice of untouchability. In the Nepalese
Panjyat (Panchyat) not more than one or two members of this community can get
elected owing to the deep rooted prejudices against these people whose only
fault is that perform useful duties. Their exact number is not known because
unlike India Nepal census reports don not register caste. Owing to the fear of
dominating upper castes Hindus, even Buddhists avoid contact with the
Untouchables in Nepal. These communities suffer from numerous disabilities
arising from untouchability. So far as I have been able to ascertain they have
not been able to organise themselves for struggling against discrimination.
Those who can in contact with these people were mulcted by the authorities and
only paying the fine and performing some ceremonies they could be readmitted in
the society.
Pakistan
Pakistan with 97% of its population owning
Islam as their religion is divided into numerous castes, tribes etc., Hindus
constitute about 2% of the population and are listed as caste Hindus (296,837)
and Scheduled Castes (603,369). Scheduled Castes is the statutory title given
under the government of India Act 1935 to the Untouchables. Most of them earn
their livelihood as sweepers, scavengers, cobblers, weavers, etc.. Muslims also
treat them as Untouchables like Hindus throughout the World. Pakistan also has
a Christian population numbering about 908,000. Christians are divided into three
groups, Europeans and Anglo-Pakistanis, Eurasians like Goanese, converts from
upper castes of Hindus and Muslims and people belonging to upper stratum of
society. At the bottom sit the most despised sweepers and scavengers who are
known as ‘Christian Punjabis Sweepers’ (CPS). They are the descendents of the
members of Chuhra community, traditional sweepers, who embraced Christianity to
escape the tyranny of Hinduism and the stigma of untouchability but the
partitioning of the country compelled them to revert to the traditional occupation
of sweeping and scavenging. Although they are economically better than the
rural workers so far as the wages are concerned but they are compelled to live
in segregated localities and are treated as untouchables. Like their
counterparts in India, CPS are the most despised people in Pakistan. They
suffer from numerous disabilities arising from untouchability.
Sri
Lanka
Sri Lanka is predominantly Buddhist
(population 8,537,000, 67.3%) with Hindu constituting the second largest
religious group (2,239,000) divided into clean and unclean castes. Among the
Sinhalese, Goyigama is the highest caste and those engaged in occupations like
butchers, drum-beaters. Toddy tappers, sweeping, etc. are considered ‘hina jati
hina sippi’ people. Discrimination in the matter of marriage is practised among
the Sinhalese. Siame Nikaya, a Buddhist sect does not admit the members of the
lower castes as Bhikkhus but the other two Nikayas admit men belonging to the
lower castes if they desire to join the order. But among the Tamilians, caste
system is rigidly followed and untouchability practised in the Jaffana area
which is predominantly Hindu (Tamalian). Society is divided into two major
groups, namely clean castes and unclean castes. Among the unclean castes are included
Palla (potter), Seneer (weaver), Parriyar, Kadaiyan (lime burner), Chikkalyan
(leather worker and sweeper), Vunnan (washer man) and Thurumba etc. Upper
castes (Vellala, Brahmin, Chetty etc.) treat them as Untouchables. Present conflict
has temporarily obliterated the differences but after the trouble has subsided
caste feelings revive.
Bangla
Desh
Bangla Desh is predominantly Muslim (80%)
with 4,926,448 (20%0 Hindus divided into two groups namely caste Hindus
(Brahmin, Kayasthas, Baidyas etc.) and Namoshudras, Kaibartas, Hadis, Moschis,
etc.). Many of the Muslims are converts from among the Untouchables and
Buddhists. Yet discriminatory treatment is meted out to the untouchables in
Bangla Desh. Our informants have stated that the Hindus of upper castes are
treated as equals but the lower castes are discriminated in the matter of
housing, employment etc.
All these countries were part of greater
India until 1947 and were influenced by Hindu religion in the matter of rituals
and customs.
Untouchability
in India
Untouchability has not been defined by the
sociologist or the legislators. At the time of discussion on ‘Untouchability
Offences Act’ in Parliament when a question was raised about definition, the
law minister said, ‘There is no need to define untouchability. Everybody knows
it’. He was trying to avoid definition but he was telling the truth that
everybody knows whom to avoid, whom to persecute. Untouchability is deeply
embedded in the minds of Hindus and regulates their behaviour with other
people. Stratification of society and restrictions on inter-marriage between
different classes or groups are not unknown in other societies or cultures but
to use the words of Dr. G.S. Ghurye, a renowned sociologist, “Hindu system is
unique only in this that it alone classified some groups as untouchable and
unapproachable.” Other religious groups only copied them. Since Hindus treated
the scavengers, sweepers, cobblers, basket makers, weavers etc. as
untouchables, Christians, Muslims, Sikhs also treated them as lowly, despised,
degraded people. Since untouchability had religious sanction behind it, all
efforts made by social reformers failed. Hindus avoided the discussion and
foreigners did not want to take up the cause of the untouchables for fear of
antagonising the Hindus. They were also taken in by the propaganda carried out
by the followers of Gandhiji. Dr. Ambedkar had rightly observed, “The old
orthodox Hindu doesn’t think that there is anything wrong in the observance of
untouchability. To him it is normal, natural thing. As such it neither calls
for expiation nor explanation. The new modern Hindu realises the wrong but he
is ashamed to discuss it in public for fear of letting the foreigner know that
Hindu civilisation can be guilty of such a vicious and infamous system or
social code as evidenced by untouchability.”
Mass conversion of Untouchables to
Christianity and Islam and growing importance of number in the politics of
India coupled with criticism of Hindu society by Western writers, sociologists,
travellers etc., led Hindus to introduce certain changes in their social
system. While they wanted to remove untouchability, they did not want Hinduism
and caste system to suffer in any way because Hinduism is sustained by caste
system. If caste system goes, Hinduism cannot survive for long. On the other
hand Hindus have developed a vested interest in Untouchability and caste
system. More than 75% population of India is illiterate and people sincerely
believe that caste is god-made and there is no hope or scope for change. Any
laws made by man are interference in the God’s work. Hindu law makers had made
elaborate laws and rules to keep Untouchables in degraded condition
perpetually. Economic measures were adopted to perpetuate degradation,
segregation and poverty. Laws were framed and strictly enforced to keep them
divided, dispirited, poor, ignorant, illiterate and physically weak. They were
not allowed to acquire wealth; higher interest was charged on loans; good,
wholesome, nutritious food proscribed so that they may not grow strong. Right
to bear arms was denied so they may never revolt. Low wages and excessive work
was prescribed so they may have no leisure. Identity marks and symbols were
prescribed so that even by mistake pure Hindus may not eat or drink with them.
This system was rigidly followed by the Hindus for centuries. Even Muslims did
not disturb it. British especially after the sepoy mutiny of 1857 for fear of
antagonising the Hindus tried to maintain those laws and enforce them through
courts of law.
Progressive Western educated Hindus however
felt uneasy and promised to bring about changes after attaining independence.
Accordingly provisions were incorporated in the constitution abolishing
untouchability and certain ameliorative provisions such as reservation in
legislature, services of Union Government and states, educational institutions
etc. Untouchables were subjected to some inhuman laws like forced labour in
rural area. A provision to abolish slavery of this kind was made in the
constitution but the law was enacted in 1976. Millions of Rupees were provided
for the economic upliftment of the Untouchables in the Five Year Plans.
In spite of these laws the Untouchables
suffer from numerous disabilities especially in smaller towns and villages of
India. Untouchables don not have well in thousands of villages and upper caste
people do not allow them to dig wells. Untouchables have to beg for water from
a distance lest their shadow should pollute the upper caste Hindus. Sometime
the water pipes are laid and stopped a few yards short of the Untouchable
locality. The present writer struggled for seven years to get a public hydrant
installed in a village of Himachal Pradesh while every Minister or even the
Chief Minister announced that water had been provided.
If the Untouchables demand higher wages in
villages, the caste Hindus pour filth or kerosene in the wells so as to starve
them of water. Untouchability is widely practised. A mild and harmless law
which was neither educative nor awarded deterrent punishment was enacted in
1955 under the title ‘Untouchable Offences Act, 1955’. This proved to be
ineffective. This law was amended and passed as Protection of Civil Liberties
Act 1976 containing a provision of minimum punishment. Owing to illiteracy of
Untouchables majority of whom live in the rural areas, very few cases are
reported and a very small number reaches the courts of law. Untouchability in
worst form is practised in the Hindi region but the largest number of cases is
registered in the state where the Scheduled castes people are awakened and
better organised.
Of all the countries where untouchability
is practised India has the best of laws and the most generous provisions in her
constitution. British had introduced quota system with a view to giving share
in administration to all religious groups and other minorities. Untouchables
were however denied a share on the plea that there were no educated men
available. Through the efforts of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar undisputed leader of the
Untouchables ‘reservation in services’ was introduced in respect of the
Untouchables also in 1943 during the vicerolty of Lord Linlithgow. Later o
provision was made in respect of the Scheduled castes and Scheduled Tribes but
reservation in favour of other minorities was abolished. During the early years
there was little resistance because very few qualified people were available to
fill up the reserved seats. Resistance was offered by non-implementation of
government orders, or by declaring that suitable candidate was not available or
if available ‘not found suitable’ and also through courts of law by filing writ
petition. Since 1974 organise resistance is being offered by the upper caste
employees who have enjoying monopoly of all government jobs. Private sector
does not employ the Scheduled Caste people, excepting in the lowly, low paid
and degrading situations. Table below gives some idea of the success in the
part of the opponents of the reservation:
Quota Reserved
15%
Reservation given in
Class 1 = 4.95% Class 11 = 8.54%
Class 111=13.44% Class 1V = 19.46%
Discriminatory treatment is being meted out
to the Scheduled Caste people in the matter of recognition of their unions on
the plea that it is the policy of the government that ‘communal’ organisations
of employees will not be recognised. On the other hand organisations of the
Hindu employees who are opposed to the reservation have the support and
blessing of administration as well as the political parties, especially of
those who have their base among the middle classes of Hindus.
Scheduled Castes (statutory title of the
Untouchables) is an artificially created minority under the constitution. Names of castes can be deleted or added by
the president. Pressure is mounting now through press to delete the names of
more awakened and better organised castes. Majority of the Untouchables (about
76%) live in 568,000 villages of India. In some places they are allotted land
by the government. Dr. Ambedkar demanded nationalisation of land with
collectivisation of allotment on cooperative basis. The government favoured the
creation of small holdings and peasant proprietors. Fragmentation of land is
non-productive but the untouchable farmers who never owned land because of the
laws prohibiting possession of land in some states desire to own land. The
landholding dominating upper castes do everything possible in their means to
obstruct distribution of land. Even if
land is allotted, the upper caste landlords do not allow the Untouchables to
take the fruit of their labour. If Untouchables demand higher wages or even the
minimum wages prescribed by the Government, the upper caste landlords indulge
in murders, torture, arson and Rape etc.
to terrorise the poor ignorant untouchables. Thousands of men are employed as
bonded labourers and kept away from the cities, police etc. Hundreds of women
are forced into superstition by exploiting their ignorance, poverty and
superstitious beliefs and sold into the brothels of Bombay, Calcutta, Madras,
Kanpur and Delhi.
Untouchables are becoming increasingly
convinced that the Hindus hate them not because they perform unpleasant duties
but because their religion teaches them to hate certain castes. Many embraced
Christianity and Islam. Dr. Ambedkar who saw no hope of Hinduism reforming
itself exhorted his people to renounce Hinduism and embrace Buddhism which he
had revived in 1956. Millions of people responded to his call and embraced
Buddhism. Government of India immediately issued order that if an Untouchable
renounce Hinduism and embrace any religion other than Sikhism he will become
disentitled to concessions and grants allowed to the Scheduled Castes. When a
few hundred Untouchables in Madras embraced Islam because the Hindus harassed
and humiliated them and did not allow them even to wear shoes or loin cloth
which went below the knee cap, Hindu militant organisations turned riotous and
burnt the huts of Untouchables and molested their women. Even Prime Minister,
Mrs. Indira Gandhi forgetting that she was the head of a secular government
showed concern and delivered speeches discouraging the conversion of
Untouchables. Some states have enacted laws making conversion difficult. Those
renouncing Hinduism have to obtain a certificate from the Magistrate that the
person desiring conversion to Islam or Christianity is doing it voluntarily.
Police is dominated by the upper landholding castes of Hindus and is generally
hostile towards the Untouchables. Indian Penal code contains certain provisions
under which police have power to arrest and detain a person if he has no
ostentatious means of livelihood. This is in a country where majority of the
people have no employment, house or shelter of any kind. Police abuses its
powers especially against the Untouchables and many people are killed or
incapacitated through torture in police custody.
Hinduism have closed the doors of armed
forces to the Untouchables for ever. Untouchables were admitted to the armed
forces of Islam after embracing Islam which many did. During early decades of
their rule, British recruited Untouchables in their armies but after sometime
they began to close the doors especially in central India and Bengal under
pressure from the high castes of Hindus. They introduced the pernicious theory
of ‘martial races and non-martial races’. Later on they disbanded the
Untouchable armies and raise class regiments recruiting men belonging to upper
castes. Indian government has not completely abolished the class regiments and
has officially removed the ban on recruitment. But Government have not taken
any measure to change the mode of recruitment. Recruiting officers, mostly
belonging to peasant castes owing to to deep rooted prejudices based on caste
and their medical; officers invariably ask a man’s caste and reject him on
medical grounds. Untouchables have little share in army (0.44% in officers
cadre and 10.62% in other ranks), 7.63% in other ranks of navy and 0.156% in
officers cadre and 2.568% in other ranks.
Untouchables have the equal right to vote
and contest elections. 79 seats are reserved in the House of the People (Lok
Sabha) out of the total number of 542. Out of a total strength of 3997 members
in the state legislatures and Union Territories 540 belong to the Scheduled
Castes. On paper the number appears to
be very impressive but owing to the election system of the country it is the
majority community which elects the representatives of the candidates. In the
rural areas the Untouchables can not exercise their right to vote freely and
independently. Very often police protection has to be provided. After the
election heavy price has to be paid tb the Untouchables if the members of
higher castes owning land feel that they did not get the support of the support
of the Untouchables.
Violation
in Villages
Scheduled castes in the rural areas demand
land, better wages, right to wear dress according to their liking, assert the
rights granted under the constitution. Hindus on the hand want to maintain
status quo in all fields. Tensions arise and often result in confrontation.
Landlords have raised armies of trained men released from army and police to
terrorise the Untouchables landless labourers. Police protects the strong
against the poor. Government through its machinery and religious policies
strengthens casteism and superstition because it helps the ruling classes.
Leaders of struggle are picked up and either involved in false criminal cases
or murdered by the police in encounters. Men, women and children have been
massacred and burnt alive whenever they put up resistance against oppression.
Men have been killed for offering Ganges water in a shrine. A man was killed in
Aligarh (UP) for affixing the word Chauhan to his name. Women’s toes were
crushed for wearing rings. Man was killed for twirling moustaches. In
Meenakshipuram where mass conversion to Islam took place, men were not allowed
to sit beside the upper caste men in the state buses, nor allowed to walk
through the streets; women were punished for wearing sandals. In Kafalta 11
persons were done to death for crime of riding a horse in marriage procession
and for using palanquin. The incidents of violence in the villages have been
showing an upward trend for the last five years:
Year No. of incidents of atrocities
1976
6197
1977
10,879
1978
15,055
1979
15,070
1980
13,341
Recent figures are not available but the
Home Minister Mr. N.R. Laskar during the last session stated that the number
was showing an increase but during the Monsoon session of last week, he said
that number of incidents has fallen considerably. Figures furnished by the Government
do not represent the fact. These represent only a tip of the iceberg because
many of the cases remain unreported. Untouchables feel very insecure owing to
the growing resentment against the declared policies and programmes of the
government which are very rarely accompanied by implementation. Bureaucracy is
being blamed for non-implementation but is the government which lacks the
political will to take action against those who flout the government authority.
This weakness is evident from the fact that
even a simple and harmless demand by the Scheduled caste legislators in the Parliament
to have a portrait installed in the Central Hall of Parliament where Dr.
Ambedkar played a very important and historical role both as a member of the
Executive Councillor in the Viceroys Executive Council (1942-46) and as first
Law Minister and Chairman of the Constitution Drafting committee (1947-51).
Government have been resisting this demand on some pretext or the other.
Similarly in recognition of the great services rendered by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in
the field of education a unanimous decision was taken in the Maharashtra
Assembly to change the name of Marathawada University to Ambedkar University.
This university came into existence chiefly owing to the establishment of three
colleges by Dr. Ambedkar in the most backward region of Marathawada of
Maharashtra. Orthodox Hindus in the region felt offended and instigated the
illiterate and ignorant villagers that now ‘Ambedkar’ an Untouchable will enter
your houses in the form of degrees and diploma certificates and you will have
to repeat his name. As a result many houses of Buddhist converts were looted.
Women molested, old men insulted, buildings demolished or set on fire and some
people killed. Hundreds of men were forced to leave their villages and seek
shelter in the towns, railway platforms, footpaths etc. Government could not
implement its decision and the oppressor won the field. Untouchables and
Buddhists continue the agitation with unshaken determination.
In spite of the that Indian Constitution
has the most liberal provision, Government have failed to implement its own
declared programmes and policies for the removal of untouchability and
upliftment of the deprived and disadvantaged section of society. Prejudices can
not be removed merely through legislation. Religious policy of the government
is discriminatory and is based in favour of Hinduism and Sikhism and
prejudicial to the religions like Buddhism, Christianity and Islam. Government
in accord with the wishes of the orthodox Hindus has used coercive measures to
check the conversion of Untouchables to Buddhism lest they should unite and
organise themselves for struggle. Present policy of the government appears to
be based on the tenets of Hinduism. Methods may have changed but the aim of the
Hindu law makers and religious leaders have not changed. Anything which the
untouchables consider good for then is vehemently resisted and opposed.
Whatever goes to make them week, dispirited, disunited and dependent is
encouraged.
Proposals
- A commission should be set up to investigate and submit a report on the practice of Untouchability in the countries wherever it is practised.
- Action should be taken against countries and institutions who encourage this practice and the name of religion and custom.
- Government should be asked to eliminate discrimination against the despised and segregated groups in the matter of freedom of religion.
- To set up a commission to monitor the activities of government and religious groups in the countries where untouchability is practised.
- Governments of the countries where the Hindus and Sikhs have migrated and practise untouchability and discrimination against the Untouchables should be approached to enact laws to discourage this practice.
- A separate office should be set up to receive cases of untouchability and disability and the states concerned should be asked to report what measures they have taken to eliminate discrimination in their respective countries.
No comments:
Post a Comment