Indian caste society has willingly embraced it’s violent and toxic ethos. Deep hatred of the Other is a fuel for survival. India has been unleashing caste terrorism upon ‘lesser’ defamed bodies since the advent of Vedas-sponsored casteism.
-Suraj Yengde, ‘Caste Matters’.
First lemme explain to you why I chose to start my caption with such a blatant quote. TBH It was very difficult for me to choose one particular paragraph to present as my hook for this post coz each page in the book is an eye-opener (Why eye-opener? Coz this book talks about oppression on Dalits. Dalit a terminology unknown or you could say carefully wiped off for outsiders and for half the people of my generation INDIANS such oppression is a bygone/manipulative story) but this particular lines will help you as a reader decide if you would like to read further or scorn.
The Book is divided into 6 chapters with a powerful introduction which makes it clear how the life of the Dalit community is subservient, exploited and neglected by the Indian society since the genesis of Hinduism till today i.e 2020 with an increase in abuse and suppression of the voices that raise in defense and objection in recent years.
What is sad and disgusting is to know the Hindus of India still practice untouchability and despotism towards a group of people only and only because they belong to a certain caste which they have declared as inferior, forget about people belonging to other religion (who also show disgust towards the Dalits just bcoz the vile thought is infested in their minds)
OK! Nor me neither the book mean everybody but to say it is only in rural India would be a shame for we have cases like Rohit Vemula and Payal Tadvi (if you don’t know about it please educate yourself)
What is a bigger disgust? The outsiders or the institution like #UN who are caretakers for oppressed people don’t even identify these people as ill treated although the Indian news is filled with rape cases, lynching, bondage, police brutality, arson, forceful imprisonment of these people.
I particularly liked the chapter The Dalit Middle Class coz most of the books donot talk about them and their negligence towards the upliftment of their own fellow. And I hope there are more Brahmin against Brahminism.
The courage and the writing is plausible, the author has shared many personal experiences making the reader actually feel the anguish and anger felt by the Dalits everyday.
I would recommend it to everyone honestly especially if you are someone who regularly reads about Blacklives, Islamophobia, Uyghur muslims, humanrights.
Bombay Reader 