India Untouched- A story that we must spread across.

Tuesday, I saw a documentary "India Untouched", directed by Stalin K. The film was obviously on the plight of the Dalits in India, from Bihar to Kerala, and from Gujarat to Andhra. It focussed on 8 states (the number 8, for no specific reason as the Director himself told after the show), but clearly shows the cross-section of the India Untouched. The film is a rude shock to the urban Indian middle class who still thinks that untouchability is a thing of the past. The fact that the very argument it often becomes the background for hidden attacks on the dalit rights campaign, is also shown in the film when it interviews the rioting "Youth for equality" campaigners. One with no slaved mind cannot but support the director's opinion that the very name ("youth for equality") is ironical and stems out of total ignorance.

One who reads the real "news" in the country's papers carefully, would not be surprised at the film's exposes. The real unique thing about this film is that it reveals, perhaps for the first time about the current practices of untouchability and castes. Many films, even feature films have treated the subject, with the past as the time line.

One of the states the film focuses is Keralam. This one, was obviously speaking the truth only. Through the contradicting statements of a girl, we understand the deep rooted hypocrisy in Keralam's upper caste society. As a keralite, I know about this hypocrisy very well, the elements of which are plenty in my own mind. So, that was also not so shocking, but it gave more insight to the way an average upper middle class (non dalit) keralite thinks. Most people outside Keralam thinks that it is a "Left" state. Though it is a fact that (so called) communists have a strong hold in Keralam's political landscape, the feudal elements are very strong in the very party itself. An interview with a CPM activist shows the glimpses of this phenomenon. But the actual story may reveal far more frightening if probed into.

I have read in newspapers about the discrimination people are facing in the villages in Tamilnadu and Andhra, that they are forced to use different cups for tea in shops, and dalits have to walk without chappals in "upper caste streets" etc. This film shows, and reflects the humiliation a large section of India's citizen is facing in this "modern" century.

There was an interview, with a priest in Varanasi, who openly tells that Indian Constitution is a 'curse' and he will never accept it. He says idiotic arguments against dalits and sudras (dalits are out of the 4 classes of Manu) having proper education and rights to enter temples. I was reminded about the Guruvayoor issue. I was a little bit surprised by his statements initially. But later I remembered an engineering student in IISc, who believed in the chaturvarna theory. And the countless arrogant persons who participate in the most filthy war in Rediff's message forums prove the fact that India is indeed infested with an alarming number of such people. The most funny and ridiculous thing is that these people are referring to these idiotic theories as "shastras"!. I believe it is rather a "sastra", an arrow, aimed at the rights of the people as human beings.

There was another interesting thing about this film. It shows, for the first time perhaps, the discrimination in Islam, Sikhism and Christianity. It is a pity that the very reason why most of the dalits got converted into these religions from Hinduism, is following them in the same form. One observation made by a Muslim - "dalit Muslim" - interviewed in the film was very interesting and factual. He showed a pen and its cap, and referred to the short cap as the "upper caste Muslims" and the pen as the majority dalit Muslims. He said the cap, is sitting on the pen, but the job (writing) is done only by the pen. This applies to the general scene of dalits in India. Though there are several political movements like the BSP in U.P which aims to uplift the dalits, we know clearly the state of affair with such parties. Every one is taking a ride on the poor.

The film speaks about the urban faces of casteism in the form of Matrimonial columns in leading newspapers. One is not surprised again, in Keralam, there are particular newspapers which are sought as place for advertising for a particular cast. This is something which ensures that caste is firmly stamped in our minds, in the name of "same culture", same status, same beliefs, etc. How can we escape from that? I have not escaped it either. How do we raise our children without these mean beliefs of ours?

I hope I will get an answer from my soul, if I haven't lost it yet.

Every inspiring person I see reminds me that I am not even close to a radical mind. The director of this film, Mr. Stalin K, is such a person.

-D.