---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Shiva Shankar <sshankar@cmi.ac.in>
Date: Thu, Feb 16, 2012 at 12:18 PM
Subject: Photo book: Dalits, the untouchables of India
To:
The Bijak of KABIR, Shabda 41
Pandit, Look in your heart for knowledge
Tell me where untouchability
came from, since you believe in it.
Mix red juice, white juice and air -
a body bakes in a body.
As soon as the eight lotuses
are ready, it comes
into the world. Then what's untouchable ...
We eat by touching, we wash
by touching, from a touch
the world was born.
So who's untouchable? asks Kabir.
Only he
who has no taint of Maya.
http://www.vivienfrancis.com/Photo_Book.html?utm_source=IDSN+Newsletter&utm_campaign=5599cd8cf8-IDSN+Ja-Feb+2012+Newsletter&utm_medium=email#grid
PHOTO BOOK: DALITS, THE UNTOUCHABLES OF INDIA
Vivien Francis
The Indian social structure is traditionally divided in a caste system based on Hindu beliefs. There are four principal castes and many other sub-castes defined by profession, religion, language and other characteristics. Many Hindus believe that people are born into a specific caste as a result of karma of a past life and spiritual purity. The caste characteristics are inherited permanently.
Based in India's caste system the highest caste, Brahmans, are destined to be priests and teachers, Kshatriyas are rulers and soldiers, Vaisyas are merchants and traders and Sudras are laborers. According to the Hindu belief, there is a fifth social group that is unworthy of falling within the caste system. They are outcast and considered impure from birth, less than human and "polluted." This fifth group is the Dalits, often referred to as "Untouchables." "Dalit" is a word that comes from Sanskrit and means "broken to pieces," "suppressed" or "crushed."
The book Untouchables of India is a photo-documentary book created to tell the story of human rights abuses against the community that occupies the lowest place of India's social structure, Dalits or the so called "Untouchables."
... ...
... The 'Untouchables' of India are relegated to the lowest and most degrading working conditions. They constantly fear being humuliated in public, stripped and paraded naked. They are often beaten and raped by upper caste members of their communities who seek to keep them disempowered and spiritually broken to perpetuate the cycle of abuse. Even walking in an upper caste neighbourhood or near an upper caste member can represent a menace to Dalit's lives. Usually the police and government officials support the caste system that is based on the teachings of Hinduism and because these beliefs are so ingrained in their worldview many crimes go unreported. Dalits fear reprisal, are intimidated by the police or simply know that the police will fail to investigate reported crimes or charge offenders. As a result, Dalits prefer not to report crimes to avoid a double victimization. ...
From: Shiva Shankar <sshankar@cmi.ac.in>
Date: Thu, Feb 16, 2012 at 12:18 PM
Subject: Photo book: Dalits, the untouchables of India
To:
The Bijak of KABIR, Shabda 41
Pandit, Look in your heart for knowledge
Tell me where untouchability
came from, since you believe in it.
Mix red juice, white juice and air -
a body bakes in a body.
As soon as the eight lotuses
are ready, it comes
into the world. Then what's untouchable ...
We eat by touching, we wash
by touching, from a touch
the world was born.
So who's untouchable? asks Kabir.
Only he
who has no taint of Maya.
http://www.vivienfrancis.com/Photo_Book.html?utm_source=IDSN+Newsletter&utm_campaign=5599cd8cf8-IDSN+Ja-Feb+2012+Newsletter&utm_medium=email#grid
PHOTO BOOK: DALITS, THE UNTOUCHABLES OF INDIA
Vivien Francis
The Indian social structure is traditionally divided in a caste system based on Hindu beliefs. There are four principal castes and many other sub-castes defined by profession, religion, language and other characteristics. Many Hindus believe that people are born into a specific caste as a result of karma of a past life and spiritual purity. The caste characteristics are inherited permanently.
Based in India's caste system the highest caste, Brahmans, are destined to be priests and teachers, Kshatriyas are rulers and soldiers, Vaisyas are merchants and traders and Sudras are laborers. According to the Hindu belief, there is a fifth social group that is unworthy of falling within the caste system. They are outcast and considered impure from birth, less than human and "polluted." This fifth group is the Dalits, often referred to as "Untouchables." "Dalit" is a word that comes from Sanskrit and means "broken to pieces," "suppressed" or "crushed."
The book Untouchables of India is a photo-documentary book created to tell the story of human rights abuses against the community that occupies the lowest place of India's social structure, Dalits or the so called "Untouchables."
... ...
... The 'Untouchables' of India are relegated to the lowest and most degrading working conditions. They constantly fear being humuliated in public, stripped and paraded naked. They are often beaten and raped by upper caste members of their communities who seek to keep them disempowered and spiritually broken to perpetuate the cycle of abuse. Even walking in an upper caste neighbourhood or near an upper caste member can represent a menace to Dalit's lives. Usually the police and government officials support the caste system that is based on the teachings of Hinduism and because these beliefs are so ingrained in their worldview many crimes go unreported. Dalits fear reprisal, are intimidated by the police or simply know that the police will fail to investigate reported crimes or charge offenders. As a result, Dalits prefer not to report crimes to avoid a double victimization. ...
Palash Biswas
Pl Read:
http://nandigramunited-banga.blogspot.com/
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