by
SAT PAL MUMAN
LONDON
E-mail:
satpal_m@hotmail.com
Chairperson, distinguished
audience and friends,
It is indeed a very great
honour that I have been given this opportunity to address you in this
pioneering conference organised by the Voice of Dalits International. The
officers of this organisation deserve to be congratulated for raising such a
sensitive subject as the cause of the Dalits on an international platform. The
Dalits of India are engaged in a bitter battle to establish their dignity and
self-respect which is the birth right of every citizen.
It is entirely appropriate
that at the turn of the second millennium celebrating the Birth of Christ that
we have availed ourselves of this opportunity to raise consciousness about
those whose lives continue to be a misery since millenniums past! Perhaps it’s
a first conference of its kind being held in Britain to tackle the vital issues
affecting the Dalits.
I am mindful of the time
constraints that I have and shall therefore endeavour to put across my points
of view in the time that has been allotted.
Whilst I make no pretences to be an expert in the field the views
expressed here are views any concerned layman associated with the Dalit cause would
express.
Caste in Britain is a very
relevant subject to tackle and in this address I have only covered very specific areas, that of the Media, and how a particular community in Britain is
promoting and keeping alive Caste Consciousness thorough the medium of music
and how we can address Issues of Casteism in relation to British Law.
I came to Britain in the
late 60s from a remote village in India. I had the good fortune to have
received education here. I remember, very distinctly, that when I was in the
fourth in the early 70s, my Geography teacher, whilst discussing population
control with respect to India, as an aside, asked the class a question about
India. He asked the class to say what the most distinguishing feature of India
was. The class could not respond thinking it was a trick question. My own mind
began to wonder about animals, goats, cows and buffaloes etc that roam the
fields and little children playing in dirty streets etc. However, because there
was no reply forth coming from the class the teacher announced the answer and
said that the most distinguishing feature of India was The Caste System.
In the early 60s and 70s
there was a mass influx of immigrants from the Indian sub-continent. They were
mostly migrant workers seeking fresher pastures to improve their lot. Many of
those arriving were from India and many also arrived from East Africa(Kenya,
Tanzania, Uganda) etc. Over the last thirty years we have witnessed a steady
rise in people of various nationalities with their diverse histories, cultures,
beliefs and languages who arrived and settled here making Britain their home. I
remember that 30 years ago when the numbers were small there was a sense of
kinship amongst fellow compatriots. People were simply viewed as Indians or
Pakistani first and language or culture was only of secondary importance. As
their numbers increased they began to establish their own newspapers some in
English others in their local vernacular Punjabi, Hindi, Gujarati Etc. They
have established temples, businesses and now they run their own Radio and
Television Stations.
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar leader of the so-called Untouchables remarked that wherever the Hindu will go he will take his Caste System with him. In modern Britain Caste System is not only just ‘alive and kicking’ but is actively being promoted in the media. Not only have the Indians brought their ‘Indian curry’ to Britain but they have also brought their Caste System with them. Whilst the Indian curry may be enjoyed by all, the Caste System is not so palatable and leaves an indigestion.
David Haslam in his book
Caste-Out on page 4 quotes a book ‘Caste
and Class: Dynamics of Inequality in Indian Society’ by Raja Jayaraman in which he
says that Caste System is ‘a type of social stratification in which an
individual’s social status, that is his or her prestige and honour are
determined by his or her birth into a particular Caste .. He says that this
status is directly linked to his or her Caste Group within the hierarchy of
Caste”.
I will add that amongst the
many ways Dr. Ambedkar blasted the Caste System in his book Who were the Shudras, Dr. Ambedkar describes the Caste System ‘as a social heirarchy in which there is an
ascending scale of reverence and a descending scale of contempt. This Hierarchy
of inequalities is sanctified by religion based on the Theory of Chaturvarna
and is fixed and permanent’.
Another characteristic of
the Caste System is that whosoever is born in it propagates it to their
descendants in ways biological genes are propagated. Although, through
evolution, genes may mutate but The Caste System, due to its Religious
sanction, is beyond mutation.
As I have indicated earlier
there is a thriving Asian Media in Britain providing variety of services. There
are many cases and incidents that occur in Britain where prevalence of Caste
and its bearing on the Asian community can be directly shown. For my evidence I
have taken random samples from what is put out in the media as evidence that
Caste is alive and kicking in Britain. But before I present this evidence I
want to communicate to you the demographic nature of the ethnic mix found in
Britain and some concerns I have about raising the subject of Caste so publicly
and the consequences this may have.
One concern that I have is
this: Asians are already victims of racism in Britain. There may be a curious
affect caused whereby the indigenous community may use the Caste divisions
amongst the Asians as a weapon of further oppression. The Asians could be
accused of in-fighting and those Asians who are fighting against Racism itself
may see their work being undermined by our outcry against Caste. Some thought
ought to be given to this as to how best we can achieve our goals
notwithstanding the fact there will certainly be a backlash at least from the
conservative elements of the Indian community for placing Caste System in the
public domain. The Right wing Fascists could also use this to further their
aims.
The young British Asians are
growing in an admixture of Eastern and Western Culture. Having been exposed to
affects of Racism, the young Asians are expressing their identity through
capitulating into their own cultures. Examples I have taken show how the young
are reverting back to their communities in search of their own ethnic cultures.
Those belonging to the so called higher castes view their superior social
position as an advantage. A kind of social security; a kind of kinship amongst fellow Caste men. Having been victims
of Racism themselves, the Asians have fallen foul of Caste Consciousness
causing them to treat their compatriots less favourably then would otherwise be
the case.
Mark Tully, a long serving
BBC correspondent based in India and an apologist for the Caste System, in his
book ‘No Full Stops in India’ writes on page 7 as follows:
The Caste System provides security and a community for millions of Indians. It gives them an identity that neither Western science nor Western thought has yet provided, because Caste is not just a matter of being a Brahmin or an Untouchable: it is also kinship system. The system provides a wider support group than the family: a group which has a social life in which all its members can participate.
Mark Tully was severally
criticised for holding these views on Caste. As history often repeats itself,
Hindus are likely to defend the obnoxious system in similar terms.
(Incidentally, Mark Tully no longer works for the BBC. He was forced to resign when he fell out with BBC).
If you look at the way
Indians have set up their temples, temples which are not only places of worship
but also substitute as community centres , you will see that not only is there
a religious divide but there sectarian sub-divisions within the religions. For
example you will see Valmikis temples, Ravidasia temples, whole range of Hindu
temples named after myriads of gods/goddesses and a whole variety of Sikh
Temples e.g. Ramgarhia, Bibi Nanaki, Dashmesh Temple, Guru Nanak etc etc. The
common denominator is not merely a religious separation but the dividing
element is the underlying Caste System.
According to the last census
held in Britain in 1991 the population of Britain is at 55 million out which 3
million people (5.5%) belong to the ethnic minorities. Out of the various
ethnic minorities present the Indians represent a figure of 840, 255 of which
42% are actually born in Britain. The Punjabi language is the most commonly
language spoken amongst the British Asians (52% overall over all, which
includes 95% of all Sikhs and 74% of Pakistanis). Urdu follows at 31% and then
Hindi(27% overall including 70% of all Gujaratis) and then Gujarati at 25%.
Although no official figures
are available on the size of religious communities it is estimated that there
are around 130,000 Buddhists between 400 – 555,000 Hindus and over 1.5 million
Muslims and between 350- 500, 000 Sikhs. The areas in which the Indians have
mainly settled include the Midlands and the South East.
The figures quoted above are
from the 1991 census. Since then there has obviously been a sizeable increase
in population of Asians and there is also a tremendous cultural output at the
same time, especially in the field of
Punjabi music. If you tune into your Sunrise Radio or your Radio
Exel or any of the regular ethnic Radio
stations, you will hear news, views and Punjabi Bhangra music being broadcast.
Music Videos are regularly broadcast on numerous television stations like Zee
TV, Asianet, Sony TV, Lashkara and others. You have programmes like Top Ten, Up Beat, Music Fusion, Hit Music etc
which the young tune into for the latest hits!
I have indicated earlier
that Punjabi is the most commonly spoken language amongst the Asian and to many
young Punjabis the Bhangra music has proved to be the cultural refuge they were
seeking. There are many programmes dedicated to Bhangra music and many Punjabi
folk believe that Bhangra music has
been the restitution of their withering culture and views as the saviour of the
young from the clutches of the decadent West.
Bhangra Music with its catchy Dholak beats provoke and enthral the
listeners to rhythms of dance and ecstasy.
Bhangra is the hallmark of a Punjabi.
But wait! This is not all
joy! One of the dominating Castes amongst the Punjabis are the Jats. The Jat
Caste is one of the sub-Castes of the Sudra Caste in the Punjab. Jats are in
the main landlords and farmers and consider themselves to be of a superior
stock than any of the so called Untouchable Castes; especially the Chamar Caste which is the dominant Untouchable
Caste in the Punjab and also here in Britain. We are well aware that the
landless Untouchables are at the mercy of the feudal landlord Jats. The Jats in
the Punjab are the main oppressors of the Untouchables. Not only does the Jat
thinks he is superior by virtue of his Caste,
he is also in the nasty habit of making his views publicly known and
also makes a big song and dance about
it. Many songs and ballads are composed which are set to the tunes of Bhangra
music. The Ballads are written to show that the Jat is the only creature
beholden to greatest of virtues , the
greatest of emotions of sadness, joy,
happiness and elation. The Jat is the greatest lover the greatest dancer. The
Jat proclaims his Caste antecedents for his greatness. However, I have yet to
see a Jat proclaim to be the greatest fool but the Jat obviously knows his
limits.
Here are some random
occurrences of songs broadcast in the media that I have noted:-
Date |
Time |
Broadcast Media |
Subject |
Saturday 22nd
July |
10:45 |
AsiaNet |
Song depicting Jat crying
for his beloved |
Sunday 23rd
July |
16:25 |
East London Mela |
Sunrise Radio invite
Bhangra Group to their public stand. The group open the program by singing
that jat will sell all his harvest(grains and crops) to enable him to go to
the see the Mela |
Monday 24th
July |
09:35 |
SunRise Radio |
The presenter Sevak opens
the programme with a song I wish I was in the Punjab enjoying the luxuries of
life like a Jat enjoys |
Thursday 27th
July |
09:15 |
SunRise Radio |
Same song |
Monday 31st
July |
09:40 |
Zee TV (S R G M ) |
I am Jamla Jat why don’t
you become my beloved |
Saturday 26th
August |
18:54 |
AsiaNet |
The Sons of Jats are
having great fun |
Saturday 26th
August |
18:58 |
AsiaNet |
Oh the Jat has got
intoxicated |
Those amongst us from the
Punjab will know what I am attempting
to explain. It fills me with outrage to see how the media is being manipulated
by the Caste Jat to promote himself as bearer of greatness and superiority; A
kind of self aggrandisement. The mention of Caste conjures up images of Caste
Consciousness and Caste promotion. The young listening to these songs often
wonder what it all means and the unavoidable imagery is created of Castes and
Caste hierarchies and the so called upper Caste young are picking this up!
Questions are raised in
school playgrounds, colleges and even Universities where students enquire about
others Castes. Questions of Caste are raised in pubs and clubs and on the
factory floor. There was even a case of a Shopkeeper in Wolverhampton where the
customer refused to take Change from the vendor lest they found there touch
polluting and insisted that the change be placed on the counter to avoid
contact. On the factory floor, again in Wolverhampton, we know of women of so
called upper Caste Jats not taking water from the same tap from where the so
called lower caste person drinks.
I have even seen banners
painted on car windscreens which read ‘Jattan de putt’ imploring sons of Jats to be the greatest.
One other glaring example of
Caste prejudice occurred last year. The story goes that Sikh temples hold
annual inter-temple sports tournaments. One such tournament was held in
Birmingham where the Langar (sanctified food) will be served by one of the
participating temples who happened to be belonging to the Ravidasia community.
Whilst their teams participated in the tournament but the Langar did not get
eaten by the majority Jats because it came from the Chamaars.
On the question of
matrimonial section appearing in the ethnic press, again I have taken some
Random Samples:-
Date |
Newspaper |
Matrimonial |
16th June |
Des Pardes |
Khatri Family seeks Ramdasia family seeks .. Respectable Jat Sikh
educated family seeks … Educated Saini Sikh seeks
.. Ramgharia Sikh Family
seeks .. Tank Kshatriya Sikhs
seeks.. |
14th July |
|
Many Jat Sikhs… |
28th July |
|
Kamboj Sikh Family … |
18th July |
|
Majabi Sikh.. |
26th April |
Punjab Times |
Sikh Rajput .. |
26th July |
|
Ravidassia Sikh parents
seek .. |
|
|
Respectable Ravidasia
Adharmi |
|
|
|
Matrimonial sections of the
English speaking ethnic press also have Caste underpinning. There have been
cases of physical violence against those who have broken through the Caste
barrier and have undergone inter Caste marriages or those who have
eloped.
From time to time we see
members of the Hindu religious fraternity, a mahatama , a maharaj, a maharishi
etc appearing Television enunciating some religious doctrine or the other. On
Saturday 26th August on Zee TV in their programme ‘Out and About’ an item was broadcast at 10:30. This item was an interview with
one Hindu Maharaji who was an alleged expert on the Gita. He was asked a
question relating to the central message of the Gita. He replied that the
central message of the Gita was that we should uphold Chaturvarna and to do our
duty accordingly. I can go on and on sighting numerous examples of Caste and
its manifestations in the Media.
Again, last year, The
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan held seminars on Manusmiriti and the ideals it portrays.
The work was praised by majority of the audience as a most wonderful example of
Sacred Literature Hindus have produced. I remember when some noises of dissent
were raised they were quickly suppressed by the presenter and even some members
of the audience began to quarrel amongst themselves.
Due to the preponderance of
ethnic minorities in Britain, the British Parliament enacted the Race Relations
Act 1976 to give them some protection from Racial discrimination.
Part 1 Section 1 of the Act
reads as follows:
A person discriminates
against another in any circumstances relevant for the purpose of this Act If---
(a)
on
racial grounds he treats that other less favourably than he treats or would
treat other person etc etc
Section 3(I) gives meaning
of Racial Grounds and Racial Groups as follows:
Racial Grounds means any of the following
grounds namely colour, race, nationality or ethnic or national origin
Racial Group means a group of persons
defined by reference to colour, race, nationality or ethnic or national origins
and references to a person’ racial group refer to any racial group into which
he falls
Article 3(2) says The fact that a racial group comprises
two or more distinct racial groups does not prevent it from constituting a
particular racial group for the purposes of this ACT.
Whilst no firm conclusion
can be drawn as to whether Casteism is Raceism - I believe the
Jury is still out on this, I propose the Race Relations Act 1976 should be
amended and brought up to date to include Casteism. The above definitions that
of Racial Groups and Racial Grounds should specifically
incorporate Caste in addition to colour, Race, nationality etc. This change is
needed now as Caste discrimination is likely to play a key role in the future
as we move towards an ever increasing Asian population in Britain. The British
law will need be brought into line with an emerging new social order in
Britain.
Legal precedence has already
been set by the Indian Constitution when dealing with Discrimination based on
Caste.
Article(15) on Fundamental
Rights covers Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth.
Article(16) (2) on Rights to
Equality reads that No citizen shall, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, descent, place of birth,
residence or any of them, be ineligible for, or discriminated against in
respect of, any employment or office under the State.
Clearly this move to
incorporate Casteism into British will have wider implications for the
world as a whole. Laws which address Discrimination based on Racism
should take cognisance of Casteism and place it on par with
Racism.
With these words I thank you
for your time.
1. Caste Out, David Haslam, CTBI, Inter-Church House, 35-41 Lower Marsh, London SE1 7RL.
2. No Full Stops In India, Mark Tully, Penguin Press
3. Who Were The Shudras, Dr. B R Ambedkar, Govt of Maharashtra, India
4. Race Relations ACT 1976
5. Ethnic Minorities In Britain, CRE Factsheet