Introduction

The death of an African American man, George Floyd, on May 25, 2020, has soared protests throughout the world with the hashtag ‘BlackLivesMatter’ trending over social media. Even amidst the Covid-19 crisis and the extended lockdowns all over the world, thousands of people are protesting on the streets against the death of George Floyd and the police brutality faced by African Americans. People from India are also participating in these protests and supporting the cause. However, there is veiled hypocrisy of Indians while supporting the Black Lives Matter while still practicing casteism in India. Many of us overlook the injustices caused to the Dalits in our own country. 

Casteism in India

The caste system has prevailed in India for more than 3,000 years. The Manusmriti tries to justify the Hindu caste system by calling it a basis of order and regularity. The caste system divides Hindus into four categories (in order of hierarchy) with Brahmins (priests and other intellectuals) at the top, followed by Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (traders) and Shudras (those involved in menial labor) at the bottom. The caste was determined at birth and continued throughout the generations.

Casteism means prejudice or discrimination on the grounds of caste. Although Article 15 of India’s Constitution forbids the State to discriminate based on caste, casteism is still prevalent in India. Article 17 of the Constitution of India abolished untouchability. However, it still has its claws attached in some parts of the country.

It is a myth that casteism no longer exists in India. They are still grossly misrepresented in high ranking jobs. Crimes against Dalits have had a six to an eight-fold upsurge in the past seven years as per the data reported by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).[i] They are the victims of police brutality and violent crimes, including rapes, assaults, and harassment.

Various kinds of discrimination are still faced by Dalits in India. An inter-caste marriage with a person belonging to a lower caste is still considered a taboo in many Indian families. According to a survey conducted by the Lok Foundation-Oxford University, 50 percent of people said they would not be willing to accept inter-caste marriage for their children.[ii] Even after decades of the ban on casteism in India, minorities still have limited economic prospects due to being discriminated against based on caste.[iii] Dalits even face religious discrimination, wherein they are not allowed to enter certain religious places. Derogatory slurs are used against Dalits, for example, ‘chamar’ and ‘achoot,’ meaning untouchable. They are even discriminated against based on their color daily.

During the lockdown imposed by the government as a result of Covid-19, Dalits were amongst the worst-hit communities as they had to wait longer for basic supplies, to receive food and were even denied necessities by certain shopkeepers just because they are Dalits.

Black Lives Matter Protests

Police brutality against African Americans is a major issue in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom. African Americans have been the subject of oppression and the slave trade. They are the victims of systemic oppression and exploitation. 

The Black Lives Matter protests started in 2013. They were in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer, George Zimmerman. Black Lives Matter is an organization that has taken the lead in the movement against police brutality experienced by the African-American community.

The BLM regained vigor in the United States as well as other first world countries after the death of an African American man, George Floyd, who died as a result of choking to death after he was knelt on by a white police officer. This incident was recorded on video, which went viral over the internet, sparking protests throughout various countries. The people were enraged so much so that these protests were held even though lockdowns had been imposed by various countries to curb the pandemic of Covid-19.

Why Black Lives Matter Protests are a wake-up call for India?

The discrimination against African American people in first-world countries has many similarities with the discrimination against the minority and the lower caste communities in India. Even though many attempts have been made to remove casteism in India, it still follows many people belonging to the lower castes as a shadow, bringing down their scope of opportunities and subjecting them to discrimination daily. Like African Americans, the minority communities in India face oppression and discrimination, including police brutality.

Both Dalits and African Americans are subject to the five faces of oppression, as laid down by Iris Marion Young.[iv] They are both super-exploited, experience powerlessness and cultural imperialism, are marginalized, and are subject to violence for centuries. 

Omprakash Mahato, president of the Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students Association, a Dalit organization at Jawaharlal Nehru University, stated, “In India, people need to admit their role in everyday discrimination faced by Dalits and only then can dialogue for change be initiated. We hope what they are seeing unfolding globally will lead to soul searching.” [v]

Conclusion

There is still a long way to go before Dalits, and other minority communities get an equal footing in society. Although constitutional safeguards and reservation quotas have been provided for the upliftment of the lower castes, casteism has not left the Indian society. There is a need for systemic change to reduce the oppression against minority communities. Even though some people misuse the provisions meant for the safeguard of the minorities, there is still a need to uplift others who are facing oppression as a result of being a member of the lower caste. It is important to fight for the rights of minorities in India as well. 

Vanya Agarwal 

University of Petroleum and Energy Studies

Via Law Mentor  

 

References

[i] What Lies Beneath the Alarming Rise in Violence Against Dalits? (n.d.). Retrieved June 21, 2020, from https://thewire.in/caste/rise-in-violence-against-dalits

[ii] S., R. (2018, October 04). Urban Indians still get married the way their grandparents did. Retrieved June 21, 2020, from https://www.livemint.com/Politics/mnVzCfIEbqvzEu01LTxqLM/Urban-Indians-still-get-married-the-way-their-grandparents-d.html

[iii] Chaudhary, A. (2019, October 07). India’s Caste System. Retrieved June 21, 2020, from https://www.bloomberg.com/quicktake/india-s-caste-system

[iv] Young, Iris Marion. Justice and the Politics of Difference. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2011, 64.

[v] Reuters. (2020, June 11). U.S. Black Lives Matter protests spur calls for India to wake up to Dalit discrimination. Retrieved June 21, 2020, from https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/us-black-lives-matter-protests-spur-calls-for-india-to-wake-up-to-dalit-discrimination/article31798246.ece