Born marginalised – The Hindu

What is the very first thing that involves your thoughts once you consider a utopian world? Individuals have totally different views on utopia. Some would consider an infinite circulate of cash, others could take into consideration individuals of various faiths dwelling collectively in concord, equality, no riots, no terrorism, no wars…

However what else come to my thoughts is a world the place I’m not stigmatised based mostly on the group I belong to. After I was born, I used to be given a primary identify and a surname, like every other particular person on earth. However individuals have this uncanny tendency to guage one by surname.

Wish to get a home on lease? Point out your caste first. That is really a prevalent predicament in lots of locations. I keep in mind how vexed my uncle was when discovering a home on lease was an uphill battle for him as a result of nearly everybody he approached wouldn’t let it out to “decrease” castes, not even for further money.

“What’s your caste? You come underneath ‘Basic’ proper?” was the query my then finest pal, a Brahmin, as soon as requested me out of the blue. We had been simply six years outdated and this query was articulated in such a method that it solely demanded a “sure” as the reply.

“Whoever comes underneath ST, SC, and OBC, inform me your names and classes and produce your caste certificates tomorrow,” stated my trainer after I was in twelfth grade. After I shared my particulars, the 2 individuals beside me checked out me. Certainly one of them stated with repugnance, “You belong to SC? You don’t appear to be one.”

“Am I speculated to have horns on my head,” I fired again. How else ought to I interpret the phrases? Was that to make me really feel good? That I’m dissimilar to these in the neighborhood I belong to? That they stated I don’t “look” like an individual falling underneath the SC class displays the notion they maintain that these of “decrease castes” are speculated to look totally different.

I ponder in the event that they think about us as individuals in rags? As even little schoolchildren have this mentality, it makes me query issues comparable to their upbringing and our schooling system. They could have handed the examination, however they, unequivocally, by no means grasped the gist and crux of the issues they learnt. Possibly they missed the category after we had been taught the chapter “Variety and discrimination” within the sixth grade, which manifestly states that discrimination is a nasty factor.

And thus, right here we’re in a world the place girls, non secular minorities, sexual minorities, sure castes, individuals with disabilities are all handled like scum.

What I’ve skilled is completely zilch in contrast with what many marginalised communities face each day. Untouchability, criticism, assaults, destitution, and what not. And what’s our fault? Being born in a group? The best to decide on isn’t relevant right here in any respect, as society believes that an individual is outlined by the group she or he is born into.

India celebrated its 73rd Republic Day in 2022, however nonetheless there are individuals who do not share the identical views as our Structure. Babasaheb Ambedkar did his best by amalgamating his views on egalitarianism with the Structure, however he knew it was just the start. And 72 years later, it’s nonetheless the start.

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