RX-189 passed away yesterday at noon. She was a brave dog. She was about a year old and had been suffering from some disease for a long time. Her loss is mourned by all my family members.
I found RX-189 on the street, her fur having almost disappeared due to disease and all her ribs showing. That night she was sitting and trembling just outside our door and I fed her. Soon this became a regular feature. She used to come racing whenever I called her and always escorted me and my brother to the end of the street. By the time she had died, her fur had almost grown back completely and only a few of the ribs could be seen.
What must be intriguing everyone is the name, RX-189, given to her. This name was given by my brother and cousin. When we found RX, she did not have any fur and had a metallic colour. They saw in that a robot and called her RX-2011, according to the year we found her. As the fur began to grow back, they reduced the number, saying that the robot was being upgraded. Finally the name stood at RX-189. They said that when she will grow healthy, they would call her just RX, signifying that the robot had evolved completely, like in the movie Bicentennial Man.
RX-189 was a fine dog. Even though physically not very strong, she never flinched from fighting off dogs thrice her size. A pat on her head was all the encouragement she needed to wag her tail vigorously. She was not the pet of the family but everyone was concerned about her. Initially my parents expressed their concern over me feeding a diseased dog but when they saw her health improving, they encouraged me.
But she did not respond to my call the night before yesterday when I came out to feed her. I looked around in the usual places but she was nowhere to be found. Since we had seen him in the evening, we thought that she must have gone roaming and we left the food where she generally sleeps. But in the morning we found her in a nearby drain, foaming at her mouth, unable to get up and attempting to bite everyone who tried to help her, including me. We had to leave her there and she stopped moving around noon. I carried her to an isolated tree at a desolate location, and left her body below that tree. Even though she was not a pet and just a street dog, everyone in my family mourned her loss.
Sunday, 29 May 2011
Saturday, 28 May 2011
Changing A Bulb
Ours is a small, well planned town that came up as a part of the township to support the Durgapur Steel Plant during the 1950’s. We live inside the township, and have been living at the same quarters for over 35 years now. My grandfather and grandmother used to work at the Durgapur Steel Plant and the Alloy Steel Plant. From them I have heard many stories about the township and the steel plants.
I have heard stories about the dense jungle that surrounded the town during the 60’s, stories from the era of the militant trade unions and how people used to sneak into the steel plant while a strike was being organized on by the trade unions. These stories seemed so unreal, like fairy tales or tales from the ancient times. Most people would not consider these as stories but would refer to them as just anecdotes, but to me they are like fairy tales.
My grandfather once told me how the municipality used to work during the 60’s and 70’s. He had his own unique way of narrating, taking breaks to roll his cigarette from a tobacco pouch. I will not be able to narrate it in a similar manner but I shall make a humble attempt.
The nearest municipality office is a few hundred yards from our house. So, if you stand at the entrance to our street you will be able to see the municipality office. Now one street lamp in our street was not working for a few days and a complaint had been registered with the office. Since the township community is very close knit and almost everyone is employed by the Durgapur Steel Plant, news about any activity travelles very fast. That day, news spread that the municipality was sending people to replace the street lamp. There was an air of expectation in the air and someone or the other was keeping an eye on the municipality, waiting for them to send people to mend the street lamp.
At around 5 o’clock in the evening, news spread that people were coming out of the municipality to replace the lamp. Everyone in our street flocked to where they could see the municipality – and what a sight it was!
Leading the royal procession for replacing the lamp, was a man in his late 50’s with graying hair, a clean shaven face and black rimmed glasses that made him look very wise and serious. He was carrying a copy in his hand. Following him was another man, a little younger than him, who was carrying a sack of bulbs; who, in turn was followed by another man, slightly younger than him, who was carrying a bag of tools. These three were followed a distance by two men who carried a bamboo ladder. Last of all came a boy, just out of his teens, who walked with a skip in his feet.
This solemn procession of 6 people slowly made its way to our street and halted below the street lamp that was not working. The man who was leading the procession gave instruction for the ladder to be put up. The ladder was put up and one man held it steady. The man who was carrying the bulbs took out a bulb from his sack and handed over the sack to the boy. Adjusting his trousers, he began climbing the ladder. The man with the bag of tools followed him up the ladder to assist. The bulb was now being changed. The man with the copy now adjusted his glasses, opened his copy and began scribbling in details of the activity – when the bulb was changed, who changed it, who all were there, the number of the bulb, and other details like that.
The bulb having been changed, the two men climbed down and the whole process began in reverse. The men got into line and the man with the copy led them back into the municipality office. The great task of changing a street lamp had been successfully accomplished and there was peace once more.
I have heard stories about the dense jungle that surrounded the town during the 60’s, stories from the era of the militant trade unions and how people used to sneak into the steel plant while a strike was being organized on by the trade unions. These stories seemed so unreal, like fairy tales or tales from the ancient times. Most people would not consider these as stories but would refer to them as just anecdotes, but to me they are like fairy tales.
My grandfather once told me how the municipality used to work during the 60’s and 70’s. He had his own unique way of narrating, taking breaks to roll his cigarette from a tobacco pouch. I will not be able to narrate it in a similar manner but I shall make a humble attempt.
The nearest municipality office is a few hundred yards from our house. So, if you stand at the entrance to our street you will be able to see the municipality office. Now one street lamp in our street was not working for a few days and a complaint had been registered with the office. Since the township community is very close knit and almost everyone is employed by the Durgapur Steel Plant, news about any activity travelles very fast. That day, news spread that the municipality was sending people to replace the street lamp. There was an air of expectation in the air and someone or the other was keeping an eye on the municipality, waiting for them to send people to mend the street lamp.
At around 5 o’clock in the evening, news spread that people were coming out of the municipality to replace the lamp. Everyone in our street flocked to where they could see the municipality – and what a sight it was!
Leading the royal procession for replacing the lamp, was a man in his late 50’s with graying hair, a clean shaven face and black rimmed glasses that made him look very wise and serious. He was carrying a copy in his hand. Following him was another man, a little younger than him, who was carrying a sack of bulbs; who, in turn was followed by another man, slightly younger than him, who was carrying a bag of tools. These three were followed a distance by two men who carried a bamboo ladder. Last of all came a boy, just out of his teens, who walked with a skip in his feet.
This solemn procession of 6 people slowly made its way to our street and halted below the street lamp that was not working. The man who was leading the procession gave instruction for the ladder to be put up. The ladder was put up and one man held it steady. The man who was carrying the bulbs took out a bulb from his sack and handed over the sack to the boy. Adjusting his trousers, he began climbing the ladder. The man with the bag of tools followed him up the ladder to assist. The bulb was now being changed. The man with the copy now adjusted his glasses, opened his copy and began scribbling in details of the activity – when the bulb was changed, who changed it, who all were there, the number of the bulb, and other details like that.
The bulb having been changed, the two men climbed down and the whole process began in reverse. The men got into line and the man with the copy led them back into the municipality office. The great task of changing a street lamp had been successfully accomplished and there was peace once more.
Thursday, 26 May 2011
Glimpses of The Himalayas
A few photographs taken while on a trek to Goechela in the Himalayas.
Mt Kanchenjunga ^
Mt Pandim ^
Mt Kanchenjunga ^
Mt Pandim ^
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
China and India: Politicians Compared
What is the difference between Chinese and Indian politicians? Well, it is not just that the Chinese politicians all belong to a single party. The Chinese politicians are much more mature and far more wise than the Indian lot. The Indian politicians are quite tupid when compared to their Chinese counterparts. I shall explain why I say this.
Indian politicians are corrupt. This is a well known fact. They fleece everything to line their pockets. Any development project is sure to be helping one politician or the other to siphon off more money for their bank accounts. They do not care about the future. They just want to make money fast and take full advantage of anything that comes their way. This uncouth hankering after more lucre by the Indian political class has led to the image of our country suffering in the world market. Matters have been made worse by the fact that the politicians quibble among themselves as to who would get the lion’s share of the loot. They are so busy trying to decide this that the various deals with other countries suffer. With India stumbling, China takes advantage.
The Chinese politicians are as corrupt, if not more so, as their Indian counterpart. They siphon off money from all the deals and projects and line their pockets. If the politicians of both the countries so similar, why is the development of the two countries so dissimilar. This, I accord to the wisdom and maturity of the Chinese politicians. They have a foresight that the Indian political class lacks. The Chinese have taken lesons from the story of the duck that laid golden eggs. They have realised that unless more and more investments are made in and outside China, and unless they are able to make the economy prosper, their ability to line their pockets would be limited and would diminish over time. They are willing to let go a few dimes today so that they can encash on a better deal in the future. This leads to China having a growing economy that attracts millions of dollars in investment, which in turn increases the ability of the Chinese politicians to siphon off more money without affecting the growth.
For a minimal cut in their present income, the Chinese politicians are able to assure an increasing income in the future but our stupid politicians are too busy in the present to worry about the future. They may have the largest stash of money in Swiss bank accounts but the source of that money is soon going to dry up.
My advice to them is – take the money but do some work. It is okay if you take a ridiculously humungous bribe to give the tender for military equipment to a specific company, but see to it that the products that are supplied are worth it. Take money from the allocated amount to build a bridge but increase the cost of the project so that the quality of the bridge does not suffer. Here, some will say that unless the quality of the bridge is bad, how are the politicians going to make money through repairs? I say, make the quality of the bridge good and start off a new project. The people will be happy and the politicians would not have to spend heavily on goons and publicity to win elections. People would happily elect them.
I am just a layman with no exposure to mainstream politics and I can see the advantage of development. Can the Indian politicians, who come from political dynasties with years of experience in politics and corruption, not see this economic means to get more money? I am surprised at their stupidity, or do they have something else on their minds?
Indian politicians are corrupt. This is a well known fact. They fleece everything to line their pockets. Any development project is sure to be helping one politician or the other to siphon off more money for their bank accounts. They do not care about the future. They just want to make money fast and take full advantage of anything that comes their way. This uncouth hankering after more lucre by the Indian political class has led to the image of our country suffering in the world market. Matters have been made worse by the fact that the politicians quibble among themselves as to who would get the lion’s share of the loot. They are so busy trying to decide this that the various deals with other countries suffer. With India stumbling, China takes advantage.
The Chinese politicians are as corrupt, if not more so, as their Indian counterpart. They siphon off money from all the deals and projects and line their pockets. If the politicians of both the countries so similar, why is the development of the two countries so dissimilar. This, I accord to the wisdom and maturity of the Chinese politicians. They have a foresight that the Indian political class lacks. The Chinese have taken lesons from the story of the duck that laid golden eggs. They have realised that unless more and more investments are made in and outside China, and unless they are able to make the economy prosper, their ability to line their pockets would be limited and would diminish over time. They are willing to let go a few dimes today so that they can encash on a better deal in the future. This leads to China having a growing economy that attracts millions of dollars in investment, which in turn increases the ability of the Chinese politicians to siphon off more money without affecting the growth.
For a minimal cut in their present income, the Chinese politicians are able to assure an increasing income in the future but our stupid politicians are too busy in the present to worry about the future. They may have the largest stash of money in Swiss bank accounts but the source of that money is soon going to dry up.
My advice to them is – take the money but do some work. It is okay if you take a ridiculously humungous bribe to give the tender for military equipment to a specific company, but see to it that the products that are supplied are worth it. Take money from the allocated amount to build a bridge but increase the cost of the project so that the quality of the bridge does not suffer. Here, some will say that unless the quality of the bridge is bad, how are the politicians going to make money through repairs? I say, make the quality of the bridge good and start off a new project. The people will be happy and the politicians would not have to spend heavily on goons and publicity to win elections. People would happily elect them.
I am just a layman with no exposure to mainstream politics and I can see the advantage of development. Can the Indian politicians, who come from political dynasties with years of experience in politics and corruption, not see this economic means to get more money? I am surprised at their stupidity, or do they have something else on their minds?
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
Politics and Politicians
After the rout of the Communist Party of India – Marxist in the assembly election of 13th May, 2011, the CPI-M is now on the backfoot. Let me tell you, I hate the Communists but not Communism. These so called Communist leaders of the CPM emphasize on the evils of imperialism as is symbolized by the USA. They ask the common people not to trust them and to boycott them. But they all send their children to the USA or UK to study and work. For any medical treatment they rush to the USA or UK. The supporters of the CPM, including the Student Federation of India (SFI) leaders, are hypocrites without parallel. They refuse to wear anything but Levis jeans, John Philips shirts and Addidas shoes, and drink only Coke or Pepsi, and vehemently criticize the imperialistic policies of the USA. I have never liked them and I never will.
Before and during the assembly elections, the CPM had vehemently stated that their party did not have armed cadres or harmads, and that it was the Opposition that had all the arms and was creating terror in the countryside. But with their rout in the elections, the truth has poured out. The local populace has come forward to raid CPM offices and their leaders homes and have come up with arms and ammunitions of mammoth proportions. Enough arms, rifles, pistols, revolvers, hand cannons, bombs and live ammunition has been recovered till now from CPM dens that are enough to start and continue a civil war. There is enough evidence that the CPM has been hoarding weapons and there is evidence of their use. Why then is there no legal action being taken against the party? Why can we not try the party at a court of law, because arms have been found from a large number of their offices? Why are we not banning the outfit?
I do not think anyone would be brought to justice. The politicians of all colours are joined at the top. They instigate the party workers to fight the workers of other parties but the leaders themselves have a wonderful understanding and look after each others backs. We have seen so many instances of violence after independence, when political parties have protested against unlawful policies of the central and state governments but in these violence have we seen even a single leader being injured or killed? Rarely. It is only the party workers who die. Their deaths give the politicians a platform to scream and shout and gain personal political advantage and the death of the party workers are soon forgotten.
What will Didi do? She cannot do anything. The Congress, the BJP, the CPI, the CPM, the Trinamul, the DMK, the AIDMK, are all connected at the upper echelons of power. It is only the poor party worker who is misled into believing that a party stands for a principle or ideology. Many even join these parties to gain economic advantage. I do not know whom to blame for this present state of affairs. Should I blame the common people or should I blame the politicians?
Before and during the assembly elections, the CPM had vehemently stated that their party did not have armed cadres or harmads, and that it was the Opposition that had all the arms and was creating terror in the countryside. But with their rout in the elections, the truth has poured out. The local populace has come forward to raid CPM offices and their leaders homes and have come up with arms and ammunitions of mammoth proportions. Enough arms, rifles, pistols, revolvers, hand cannons, bombs and live ammunition has been recovered till now from CPM dens that are enough to start and continue a civil war. There is enough evidence that the CPM has been hoarding weapons and there is evidence of their use. Why then is there no legal action being taken against the party? Why can we not try the party at a court of law, because arms have been found from a large number of their offices? Why are we not banning the outfit?
I do not think anyone would be brought to justice. The politicians of all colours are joined at the top. They instigate the party workers to fight the workers of other parties but the leaders themselves have a wonderful understanding and look after each others backs. We have seen so many instances of violence after independence, when political parties have protested against unlawful policies of the central and state governments but in these violence have we seen even a single leader being injured or killed? Rarely. It is only the party workers who die. Their deaths give the politicians a platform to scream and shout and gain personal political advantage and the death of the party workers are soon forgotten.
What will Didi do? She cannot do anything. The Congress, the BJP, the CPI, the CPM, the Trinamul, the DMK, the AIDMK, are all connected at the upper echelons of power. It is only the poor party worker who is misled into believing that a party stands for a principle or ideology. Many even join these parties to gain economic advantage. I do not know whom to blame for this present state of affairs. Should I blame the common people or should I blame the politicians?
Monday, 23 May 2011
Osama: The Power Struggle Begins
Osama Bin Laden is dead. The most feared terrorist in the world was killed by US troops in Abbottabad. This elimination of the head of the Al-Qaida has sparked many concerns and many theories have been forwarded by experts on how the world scenario would be like without Osama. Some have foretold that there would be an increase in terrorist attacks in response to the killing of Laden and that the countries of the world should be prepared for that. I see the whole scenario in a different way.
Osama Bin Laden occupied a position of moral, economic, political and ideological authority over terrorist organizations of all shapes and forms. Everyone in that circle aspires for that post but everyone accepted Osama in that position because of his iconic image. Now that he is gone, there is a power vacuum that needs to be filled and there are a number of contenders.
The position gives the person who holds it, enormous power, both economic and political. Thus, there are a number of strong contenders who are ready to go to any length to occupy that position. This post has now been offered to an ex-Egyptian special forces officer. It had been previously stated that Al Zawahiri, an Egyptian doctor, was the most competent for that post. So we see that a rift has already been made in the ranks of the terrorists.
History of Islam and the Caliphate tells us that the Egyptians are very different from the Arabs and are not very comfortable to be under the rule of the Wahabis. The Arabs, by nature believe that the sphere of Islam is their domain and no Muslim of any other ethnicity has the equal right to interpret and govern Islam. It is to be noted here that Egypt was the first region to proclaim a parallel Caliphate and move away from Arab dominated Islam. So, history has created a rift between Egyptians and Arabs.
The coming of an Egyptian to the head of Al Qaida has not gone down well with the rank and file of the terrorist organization. There are many dissidents. The present incumbent at the helm of affairs is trying his best to unite the organization by focusing on the revenge of Osama’s death, but that call for revenge is not being as successful as he had hoped. There seems to be a lack of a concerted effort and most of the leaders are only looking for opportunities to usurp power.
In this state of internecine conflict, the best strategy for the West would be to stay put and not get involved. Troops should be withdrawn from Iraq and Afghanistan as scheduled, and there should be minimal response to terrorist attacks. The least we need now is an external enemy for Al Qaida, which would give them a reason to unite. Now as the organization is on the verge of a power struggle we should help in the struggle by staying out of it. They will destroy themselves from inside.
Osama is dead but he has left a legacy that people are ready to do anything to inherit. The only obstacle in their path is each other and not an external enemy. We should just sit back and watch as the drama unfolds and respond, and not give them a reason to respond.
Osama Bin Laden occupied a position of moral, economic, political and ideological authority over terrorist organizations of all shapes and forms. Everyone in that circle aspires for that post but everyone accepted Osama in that position because of his iconic image. Now that he is gone, there is a power vacuum that needs to be filled and there are a number of contenders.
The position gives the person who holds it, enormous power, both economic and political. Thus, there are a number of strong contenders who are ready to go to any length to occupy that position. This post has now been offered to an ex-Egyptian special forces officer. It had been previously stated that Al Zawahiri, an Egyptian doctor, was the most competent for that post. So we see that a rift has already been made in the ranks of the terrorists.
History of Islam and the Caliphate tells us that the Egyptians are very different from the Arabs and are not very comfortable to be under the rule of the Wahabis. The Arabs, by nature believe that the sphere of Islam is their domain and no Muslim of any other ethnicity has the equal right to interpret and govern Islam. It is to be noted here that Egypt was the first region to proclaim a parallel Caliphate and move away from Arab dominated Islam. So, history has created a rift between Egyptians and Arabs.
The coming of an Egyptian to the head of Al Qaida has not gone down well with the rank and file of the terrorist organization. There are many dissidents. The present incumbent at the helm of affairs is trying his best to unite the organization by focusing on the revenge of Osama’s death, but that call for revenge is not being as successful as he had hoped. There seems to be a lack of a concerted effort and most of the leaders are only looking for opportunities to usurp power.
In this state of internecine conflict, the best strategy for the West would be to stay put and not get involved. Troops should be withdrawn from Iraq and Afghanistan as scheduled, and there should be minimal response to terrorist attacks. The least we need now is an external enemy for Al Qaida, which would give them a reason to unite. Now as the organization is on the verge of a power struggle we should help in the struggle by staying out of it. They will destroy themselves from inside.
Osama is dead but he has left a legacy that people are ready to do anything to inherit. The only obstacle in their path is each other and not an external enemy. We should just sit back and watch as the drama unfolds and respond, and not give them a reason to respond.
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
1943
Not many people of today are familiar with the Bengal Famine of 1943. We do not study it in the standard history text books in school. But this famine, during the Second World War, was a devastating one that took its toll on the people of Bengal. My grandmother was then just a little girl living in Calcutta, but the images from 1943 are still vivid in her memory.
Our house in Calcutta was built in the year 1897 by my ancestors in Ballygunj. It is a double storied and a stout house that almost juts onto the road, or rather I should say that the road was built close to our house. With this layout, the balcony on the first floor has a very strategic location – you can pour water on the heads of people on the road (that is exactly what we do during Holi).
1943 was an important year in the history of Calcutta. Most of the well-to-do Bengalis living in Calcutta had left the city for fear of Japanese bombing but some had stayed behind, including my grandmother’s family. It was also the year of the famine. Thousands of starving people swamped the streets of Calcutta in search for food.
The first memory of 1943 that my grandmother has is of enemy-plane-warning sirens going off at all hours of the day. All the windows had to be covered with paint or cloth or paper so that no light escaped from the houses at night. Vehicles were not allowed to ply with their headlights on and could only use a headlight-shade with the permission of the authorities. She still remembers standing at the balcony and watching the two black plumes of smoke spiraling up from the Calcutta docks after it was bombed by the Japanese.
And then she talks about the famine. She remembers the announcement made by the authorities one early morning requesting people not to throw away the starch after boiling rice as it would be given to the people as food was short. She still remembers the people flocking through the road in front of our house – people wearing nothing but loincloth and with their ribs showing and children with bloated bellies trailing behind. They carried earthen utensils and stood in front of the houses with their utensils outstretched. People poured starch into them and the people fought over it. These starved and half naked people used to stand below our balcony and my great grandmother and my great grandaunt used to pour starch into their bowls from the balcony.
These are the memories that my grandmother has of 1943. These are the memories that still haunt her.
Our house in Calcutta was built in the year 1897 by my ancestors in Ballygunj. It is a double storied and a stout house that almost juts onto the road, or rather I should say that the road was built close to our house. With this layout, the balcony on the first floor has a very strategic location – you can pour water on the heads of people on the road (that is exactly what we do during Holi).
1943 was an important year in the history of Calcutta. Most of the well-to-do Bengalis living in Calcutta had left the city for fear of Japanese bombing but some had stayed behind, including my grandmother’s family. It was also the year of the famine. Thousands of starving people swamped the streets of Calcutta in search for food.
The first memory of 1943 that my grandmother has is of enemy-plane-warning sirens going off at all hours of the day. All the windows had to be covered with paint or cloth or paper so that no light escaped from the houses at night. Vehicles were not allowed to ply with their headlights on and could only use a headlight-shade with the permission of the authorities. She still remembers standing at the balcony and watching the two black plumes of smoke spiraling up from the Calcutta docks after it was bombed by the Japanese.
And then she talks about the famine. She remembers the announcement made by the authorities one early morning requesting people not to throw away the starch after boiling rice as it would be given to the people as food was short. She still remembers the people flocking through the road in front of our house – people wearing nothing but loincloth and with their ribs showing and children with bloated bellies trailing behind. They carried earthen utensils and stood in front of the houses with their utensils outstretched. People poured starch into them and the people fought over it. These starved and half naked people used to stand below our balcony and my great grandmother and my great grandaunt used to pour starch into their bowls from the balcony.
These are the memories that my grandmother has of 1943. These are the memories that still haunt her.
Monday, 16 May 2011
Untouchable: A Scientific But Misused Concept
Everyone today thinks that the whole concept of ‘untouchability’ in the Indian society is an inhuman practice – a practice that arose due to the degeneration of the Vedic system of social hierarchy. The whole issue of ‘untouchability’ has been seen from various angles, like political, historical, economic and social, and has been politicized a lot. But I believe that the whole concept of untouchability had a scientific origin.
During the ancient times in India there was a social stratification based on occupation. This stratification was not very strict and there is no evidence of people being labelled as ‘untouchable’ based on their occupation. That period in time was an era when the reasons for a disease was generally taken to be a result of the wrath of God or a result of impure acts in this or the previous life of the person affected. The concept of bacterial infection was unknown and the remedies of diseases were mostly rituals. Only the remedies and causes of a few disease was known.
The social stratification, based on occupation, during that time led to certain people given the task of maintaining sanitation and disposal of the dead – both animals and humans. These people came in very close contact with disease carrying bacteria. Initially a large number of them may have died, but as time went by, they acquired an immunity to these diseases. The people engaged in other activities never had any major exposure to these disease carrying bacteria due to their occupation and remained vulnerable to these diseases. Over time, it was noticed by all that when other people came in close contact with the people who were in charge of maintaining sanitation and disposing off the dead, generally fell ill. It was also noticed that when there was an epidemic, these people suffered less casualties. The people of that time could not explain this phenomena in any other way apart from seeing it as a divine plan. These people were seen as the cursed people who brought only misery to the others. To stave off disease they cut off all physical contact with these people.
This was a scientific move, one we call today as quarantine. The access to the water sources were also closed to them – also scientific. They refused to even tread the shadow of these people – this was going too far but the people can still be pardoned for this as they had no means of explaining what was going on or what caused it. The children of the ‘untouchable’s also began to be shunned as they lived in the same environment as their parents and other children who came in contact with them fell ill. This concept of untouchability became institutionalised over the ages and has been used and misused and proliferated for political gain.
In today’s world, when we are aware of the causes of diseases caused by close association with maintaining sanitation and disposing off the dead, and we have medicines to cure illnesses that occur from these – it is time we moved ahead. The scientific causes for the creation of an ‘untouchable’ class are no longer as significant as it used to be. It is time we grew up and break out of this misused tradition. But the present political scenario in India will not allow the stigma of ‘untouchability’ attached to so many people to be removed since the proliferation of this concept will lead to a better vote bank than if ‘untouchability’ is removed.
During the ancient times in India there was a social stratification based on occupation. This stratification was not very strict and there is no evidence of people being labelled as ‘untouchable’ based on their occupation. That period in time was an era when the reasons for a disease was generally taken to be a result of the wrath of God or a result of impure acts in this or the previous life of the person affected. The concept of bacterial infection was unknown and the remedies of diseases were mostly rituals. Only the remedies and causes of a few disease was known.
The social stratification, based on occupation, during that time led to certain people given the task of maintaining sanitation and disposal of the dead – both animals and humans. These people came in very close contact with disease carrying bacteria. Initially a large number of them may have died, but as time went by, they acquired an immunity to these diseases. The people engaged in other activities never had any major exposure to these disease carrying bacteria due to their occupation and remained vulnerable to these diseases. Over time, it was noticed by all that when other people came in close contact with the people who were in charge of maintaining sanitation and disposing off the dead, generally fell ill. It was also noticed that when there was an epidemic, these people suffered less casualties. The people of that time could not explain this phenomena in any other way apart from seeing it as a divine plan. These people were seen as the cursed people who brought only misery to the others. To stave off disease they cut off all physical contact with these people.
This was a scientific move, one we call today as quarantine. The access to the water sources were also closed to them – also scientific. They refused to even tread the shadow of these people – this was going too far but the people can still be pardoned for this as they had no means of explaining what was going on or what caused it. The children of the ‘untouchable’s also began to be shunned as they lived in the same environment as their parents and other children who came in contact with them fell ill. This concept of untouchability became institutionalised over the ages and has been used and misused and proliferated for political gain.
In today’s world, when we are aware of the causes of diseases caused by close association with maintaining sanitation and disposing off the dead, and we have medicines to cure illnesses that occur from these – it is time we moved ahead. The scientific causes for the creation of an ‘untouchable’ class are no longer as significant as it used to be. It is time we grew up and break out of this misused tradition. But the present political scenario in India will not allow the stigma of ‘untouchability’ attached to so many people to be removed since the proliferation of this concept will lead to a better vote bank than if ‘untouchability’ is removed.
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