Business to the Buddha

Tag: skin color

  • Cast(e)ing doubts – Narendra Dabholkar







    I am writing a series (on and off) of blogs on – against – the caste system of India (include black skin for other parts of the world). This is another installment in the series.

    Last week, there was a shocking news that Dr Narendra Dabholkar was shot dead. In brief Dr Dabholkar was working against the superstitions in India. If I remember it correctly, his program was once aired on Discovery Channel also. I remember watching some program more than 10 years back. At that time, I never thought that there are so many challenges in India and this (superstition) is a big problem. But yes it is; otherwise why would a simple person be killed for running a social cause. The problem at times is we do not want to change. We accept many things as given and NORM – which Dr Dabholkar wanted to change. When I heard about him in English media the word used was – rational! A good word, rationality asks for a reason. Reason for accepting any belief.

    I would ponder on rationality Vs spirituality or rationality and spirituality in future.

    So, according to Wiki, Dr Dabholkar started his social work with Baba Adhav’s “One village – One well” agitation. Though more on this agitation is not readily available (Google search page 1) on the net. The title of this agitation suggests this – each village should be supplied water from one well.  This seems very naive agitation. Let me tell you – in India there are villages or places where you have one well for untouchables and one well (perhaps one for each caste) for other community. This is the challenges on which I have been writing lately. This all does not stop just here. There are different temples (of same Gods) for untouchables and rest of the community. What more irrational one can ask for? The creator of all is divided by castes. Bhagvat Geeta says soul does not die, it comes back to life after the body dies. What if soul of a Brahmin dies and born as untouchable and vice versa?

    Image source - Dr Ambedkar Wikipedia
    Image source – Dr Ambedkar Wikipedia

    I remember reading that Dr Ambedkar had to face immense discrimination. His container of water (Matka) in his office was separate. Why? Because he was an untouchable. He had to fight this war whole life. We in India define people by their ancestry and not by their action. We define people by their skin color (world over) and not by their character. We define people by their social status and not their thoughts.

    Effectively we have to fight many battles for becoming a more just, equal and inclusive society. Dr Dabholkar was fighting on the superstitions which needs to continue and the other is – equality on financial and social status. All this needs change in mindset – solution? For me it is spirituality.

    Dalits give ‘donation’ to enter temple 2013 – The Hindu

    Dalits told to keep distance from temple 2013 – Times of India

    Dalits enter TN temple first time in 100 yrs – Times of India

    Dalits enter temple amid tight police security 2013

    Dalits enter temples with police protection 2009

    Related blogs

    Cast(e)ing doubt – What’s your (last) name?

    Cast(e)ing doubt –  everyone’s tears are salty

    We the societies

  • My New Year wish!







    In the first month of reaching Dubai, we friends went to Barasti bar in required party wear e.g. shoes, jeans shirts and T-shirts, shaven etc etc. Doorman said “only for pairs”. We said ‘our girlfriends are already in’; we were told call them out and then you can enter. We called them and were waiting outside. The wait outside was the trigger for this wish. [On a lighter note – I do not have a ‘girlfriend’ but yes ‘friends those who are girls’]

    I critically observed the operation of the doorman. By the time our friends came out I observed few things. One, roughly four groups of people went inside. Each group had average four members. Few were in their car, parked their car somewhere and walked toward the Barasti gate. Those were coming from a nearby residence (this is my guess, owning a car and their outfits).

    The teasing and striking part is this. Those groups going in were wearing – floaters [instead of shoes], 3/4th [instead of jeans or pants] and sleeveless [instead of T-shirt or shirts], all were male (perhaps male pairs in the language of the Doorman of Barasti). There was only one group which was 3 males and 1 female. Why were they allowed, I asked myself and to my friends. The only possible reason to let them enter was – skin color. They were European or American ‘white’. We waiting outside were brown skin [on ‘von Luschan scale’ 21-28].
    I decided not going to Barasti in future, my friends are liberal they are giving a chance to Barasti to be ‘racially neutral’ for a better tomorrow. My friends are celebrating New Year at Barasti. I wish for the year 2011, organizations, places and societies become more liberal. I am not saying all are as Barasti – discriminating. There are a few who may still be functioning such that the term – ‘Racist’ still exist in the English Dictionary.

    It was my maiden experience to go to a bar or night club. Oh yes! Eventually we went inside as our ‘girlfriends’ came out.

    I wrote my experience with due respect to all of us and our skin colors, trust you would not mind it. I showed a mirror to myself, trust we also saw ourselves. The thoughts presented in the blog are based on my experience; I am not on one side or the other. In my opinion, in the battle of mind and opinions we – human beings – are on the same side. We need to face the mindset and move towards a direction wherein equality is the name of the game. At times I feel we all are on the same side, still we fight.

    My wish for the year, organizations, places and societies become more liberal and racially neutral.