no-longer-a-slumdog

No Longer a Slumdog
the “Prevention of Atrocities Act,” spelling out the illegality of
such things as parading people naked through the streets, forcing
them to eat feces or burning down their houses. Nevertheless,
thousands of acts of public humiliation and group violence,
such as lynching and gang rape, continue to take place. It seems
that the rules of untouchability don’t apply to acts of violence or
sexual abuse against Dalits.
A Dalit might be beaten to death just for asking for his daily
wages. On June 16, 2009, an article by Thaindian News reported
that a 48-year-old Dalit laborer had been attacked by a group of
men in Uttar Pradesh after asking he be paid his salary that had
already been withheld for an entire month. Five men in total attacked
and killed the Dalit worker by beating him mercilessly
with wooden sticks. 6
For the most part, Dalits have no one to turn to for help.
Because they are at the bottom rung of the proverbial social ladder,
they have little chance of ever getting their case through the
courts.
Crimes against Dalits are rarely reported to authorities because
of the fear of reprisal. Sadly, the police will often turn a
blind eye even when they know the full story.
I remember hearing of a Dalit girl who was raped by several
men. Her parents were told by the girl’s attackers not to go to the
police, but they did anyway. A few days later, they found the dead
body of their daughter lying in a field.
It is nearly impossible for us to imagine the mental anguish
Dalits live with, growing up as children in a society that views
them as expendable, being called worthless and treated with contempt.
We must hurry to reach those who continue to live in pain
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