Caste based discrimination in India is a blot on humanity

Untouchability has its roots in India’s caste system, a powerful tool for social segregation, which is supposed to be more than 2,500 years old.  Discriminatory and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment of over 165 million people in India has been justified on the basis of caste. Caste is descent-based and hereditary in nature. It is a characteristic determined by one’s birth into a particular caste, irrespective of the faith practiced by the individual. It denotes a traditional system of rigid social stratification into ranked groups defined by descent and occupation.  This is how I know that I am a Dalit!

Castism runs deep in the minds of Indians and has implications in everyday life. It weakens the human urge to excel and liberate since there is little chance of rising above one's status at birth. Despite caste being a violation of international human rights standards and domestic law prohibiting caste-based discrimination it continues to exercise a debilitating influence on the lives of millions in India daily.

Caste divisions in India dominate in housing, marriage, employment, and general social interaction—divisions that are reinforced through the practice and threat of social ostracism, economic boycotts, and physical violence.  Thus, untouchability is not just social discrimination; it is a blot on humanity. 

The Constitution of India provides certain safeguards against caste discrimination. However, the constitutional remedy is often inaccessible to Dalits and lower castes, therefore literally taking away the equality quotient of human rights in terms of implementation. Considering India's vastness and its limited resources and poverty, the possibility of a victim, who is otherwise deprived of basic standards of living, approaching a constitutional court is most unlikely. Compounded by the burden of expenses in litigation and the immense time it takes for reaching a final verdict, such legal attempts are rarely taken by victims.  India has consistently cited its numerous legislations and government policies as a measure of compliance with its obligations to end caste-based discrimination, choosing to ignore its failure to implement these measures which has resulted in continued, and sometimes enhanced, brutalities against Dalits.

Hence, given this concern of mission, I firmly believe that the Churches in India have an irrefutable obligation to stand in solidarity with Dalits (the untouchables) in their struggle for peace and justice ensuring their human dignity and rights to equality because we worship a God who is always mindful about the people chucked to the periphery by social systems and prejudices.

Kasta Dip