#dalit

[lilithism1848]

[enigma-the-mysterious]

"INDIA IS NOT CASTEIST ANYMORE BECAUSE OUR PRIME MINISTER AND PRESIDENT ARE NOT UPPER CASTE!"

So sick of constantly seeing this take. The USA had a black president for 8 years. Did that make racism magically vanish from the country? Just shut the fuck up

[bfpnola]

please reblog and share across as many platforms as you’d like! this person is one of our former youth volunteers and one of the many children i mentioned in my final note about BFP. she means the world to me, so i would appreciate the support!

— reaux (she/they)

[queerism1969]

[topcat77]

Big Fat Bao

“Phoolan Birthday” (2022)

DALIT ART

[masaladhosa]

Mumbai: Student Arrested After Asking Admin to Curb Ram Temple Celebrations on Campus

[comparatist]

24.09.23

~ cute skyline. metro journeys. finished the book by yashica dutt - coming out as dalit today.

[meluhha]

Brahmin supremacy

Social hierarchy: The Brahmins established a social hierarchy in which they occupied the topmost position, giving them immense power and control over other communities and perpetuating systems of oppression.

Caste system: Brahmins created and maintained the caste system, which divided society into rigid hierarchies based on birth. This system reinforced Brahmin dominance and enabled them to control the resources and opportunities available to different groups.

Caste-based violence: The Brahmins perpetuated violence against lower caste communities, particularly Dalits, through the caste system, which allowed for institutionalized discrimination and violence.

Marriage practices: The Brahmins established strict rules around marriage and family structures, which helped to perpetuate their social and economic power.

Religious monopoly: Brahmins claimed a monopoly over religious knowledge and practice, which allowed them to control and manipulate the spiritual lives of others. This further reinforced their social and political power.

Religious hegemony: The Brahmins established themselves as the custodians of religious knowledge and texts, giving them significant influence over religious practices and beliefs across South Asia.

Cultural appropriation: The Brahmins appropriated and assimilated elements of indigenous cultures and traditions, erasing the contributions of other communities and further consolidating their power.

Intellectual property: The Brahmins often appropriated the knowledge and intellectual property of other communities, erasing their contributions and further consolidating their own power and influence.

Education: The Brahmins monopolized education, particularly in the pre-colonial period, creating a system that privileged their knowledge and excluded other communities from accessing educational opportunities.

Education: Brahmins controlled access to education and knowledge, which further reinforced their social and economic dominance. They monopolized education and ensured that only members of their own caste could become scholars, priests, and teachers.

Land ownership: Brahmins acquired vast amounts of land through various means, such as gifts from kings or temples, and used their wealth and power to further consolidate their control over society.

Land ownership: The Brahmins, particularly in colonial times, acquired large tracts of land, often through exploitative means, consolidating their economic and political power.

Language and literature: The Brahmins established Sanskrit as the language of knowledge and literature, excluding other languages and literary traditions from the mainstream.

Language dominance: Brahmins promoted the use of Sanskrit, which was the language of the elite and the language of many Hindu religious texts. This gave them further linguistic dominance and helped to consolidate their cultural and political power.

Political influence: The Brahmins have played a significant role in shaping political structures and institutions across South Asia, often to their own advantage.

Systematic exclusion of lower castes from religious and social institutions

Appropriation of land and resources from indigenous communities

Imposition of Sanskrit as the language of power and knowledge, leading to the neglect and suppression of other regional languages and cultures

Establishment of a rigid caste system, with Brahmins at the top and other castes relegated to lower social status and economic opportunities

Monopolization of education and intellectual discourse, leading to the suppression of dissenting voices and alternative knowledge systems

Co-optation of indigenous spiritual practices and beliefs, leading to the marginalization and erasure of non-Brahmin religious traditions

Control over political power and governance through the Brahminization of the state

Promulgation of patriarchal norms and practices, leading to the subjugation and exploitation of women and other gender minorities

Promotion of vegetarianism as a moral and ethical ideal, leading to the marginalization and stigmatization of non-vegetarian communities

Use of violence and coercion to maintain Brahmin hegemony and suppress dissenting voices and movements

Creation of a cultural hegemony that has influenced and shaped the social, political, and economic structures of South Asia for centuries

Control over the production and dissemination of knowledge, leading to the suppression of alternative epistemologies and worldviews

Consolidation of economic power through the control of trade networks and commercial enterprises

Implementation of discriminatory and oppressive laws and practices against lower castes and non-Brahmin communities

Maintenance of a system of inherited privilege and power that has perpetuated Brahmin domination across generations

Control over religious and cultural practices, leading to the erasure and marginalization of non-Brahmin traditions and beliefs

Construction of a narrative of Brahmin superiority and moral authority, leading to the internalization of caste-based discrimination and oppression by non-Brahmin communities

Establishment of a culture of fear and intimidation, leading to the suppression of dissenting voices and the perpetuation of Brahmin hegemony

Appropriation and commercialization of cultural artifacts and practices, leading to the exploitation and erasure of indigenous communities and traditions

Creation of a caste-based system of labor and economic exploitation, leading to the marginalization and impoverishment of lower castes and non-Brahmin communities.

[anarchistin]

The numbers are truly shocking—in India, 37 percent of Dalits live below the poverty level, 54 percent of Dalit children are malnourished, and 38 percent of Dalit children eat separately from the rest of their classmates in government-run schools. More than 67 percent of Dalit women have experienced sexual violence, and Dalits make up 53 percent of India’s prison population.

Soundararajan also cites these horrific numbers from the Indian National Human Rights Commission Report on the Prevention of Atrocities against Scheduled Castes: “every hour two Dalits are assaulted; every day three Dalit women are raped, two Dalits are murdered, and two Dalit homes are torched. A crime against a Dalit happens every 18 minutes.” And current political efforts, including the Citizenship Amendment Act, are working to revoke citizenships of “caste, gender, and religious minorities.”

Listen to Thenmozhi Soundararajan speak about her book in this podcast:

[lilithism1848]

[enigma-the-mysterious]

Genuine question for the upper caste people in desiblr. Why do you think "caste is in the past"? Everytime I have seen someone confidently proclaiming that caste is a problem of a bygone era it is always a UC. You guys don't live our reality. You guys don't know the first thing about what it is like from our side. So why do you feel comfortable speaking for us? Would you like it if a British person were to proclaim that colonialism wasn't actually so bad? No? Then why is it different for us?

[newsrapido]

Made in Heaven Season 2: BR Ambedkar's grandson applauds Radhika Apte's portrayal of Dalit bride

Dalit Activist Prakash Ambedkar Commends Radhika Apte’s Performance in Made in Heaven Season 2: The fifth episode of Made in Heaven season 2, directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, has gained significant attention for its powerful message and impactful portrayal. Among those who were deeply moved by the episode is Dalit activist Prakash Ambedkar, the grandson of BR Ambedkar, a prominent figure in India’s…

[bfpnola]

about the ongoing hunger strike to ensure that the historic anti-casteism bill passes in california ^^ wanna support?

if you’re on mobile, go to: https://tinyurl.com/Signsb403

other devices, like laptops: https://www.gov.ca.gov/contact/

—

sample email below from the mobile link, not my own writing:

Subject: Please Sign SB403 (Wahab) to End Caste Discrimination

I am writing to request the governor to sign the historic bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab, which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal by adding caste to ancestry and defining caste in the Civil Rights Act, Fair Employment and Housing Act, and Education Code.

Caste systems are social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. Caste discrimination manifests as workplace discrimination, housing discrimination, gender-based violence, and other physical and psychological forms of violence.

Caste discrimination occurs across industries, including technology, construction, restaurants, and domestic work. In these sectors, caste discrimination has included harassment, bias, wage theft, and even trafficking. Caste is today inextricably intertwined with existing legal protections in state and federal civil rights laws such that discrimination based on one’s caste is effectively discrimination based on the intersection of other protected identities. However, because of the grave discrimination caste-oppressed Californians face, these existing protections must be made explicit.

Caste is a workers rights issues, a women's rights issues, and racial justice issue. It is also a bill that has bipartisan support. That is why we are joined by Asian Law Caucus, Stop AAPI Hate, AAPI Equity Alliance, Tech Equity, Equality Labs, Alphabet Workers Union, Ambedkar Association of North America, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO, Californians for Caste Equity, Hindus for Caste Equity, Jakara Movement, South Asian Network, Sikh Coalition, and Sikh American Legal Defense Fund. Every major legal association is in support of caste equity and the lawfulness to make caste equity explicit. This includes the American Bar Association, South Asian Bar Association, National Asian American Pacific Bar Association, and Asian Law Caucus.

That is why we urge you to make history and sign his bill without hesitation. Justice delayed is justice denied. Let's ensure California opportunity for all by ensuring that ancestry and caste discrimination is explicitly prohibited and make history across the country.

Thank You,

[Name]

—

and if you don’t know what caste is? send in an ask @bfpnola or join our Discord server, link in bio, so we can answer you in real-time!

[rhaissamachado]

A Permanent underclass is not a new concept, and slavery has never been abolished.

[akhzi]

THE SUBALTERN VOICES OF INDIA

Many of us ,truly are convinced that we have completely secured a hold on the ferocious atrocities and centuries longing discrimination against the Dalit community, but the truth is ,the Dalit community were ostracized and are being ostracized till date. Most of us aren’t even made aware of the atrocities which took place years back. During the phase of pre independent India , though there were formidable and meticulous pieces of literature , most of them were written by non Dalit authors. It was only during the nationalist movement that we’ve witnessed some authentic Dalit works. When India was getting close of being liberated after its prolonged period under colonial rule, some of the greatest ever Dalit works were produced in India, for our Telugu speaking states , the infamous “Gurram Joshua” with his outstanding work ”Gabillam” , and throughout the whole Dravidian territories we had the much more celebrated author and leader “EV Ramaswamy Periyar”. People don’t realize Ramaswamy’s influence and power in upholding the rights of Dalits .A man who passed away almost 40 years back , yet his ideas are evidently subsisting among the Tamil population who refuse to vote for Hindutva positioned parties , all because the Periyar movement is still instilled in their living. Most of the dalit literature focuses on the way we think even right now, which is problematic but also extremely normalized. In the book “KARUKKU”, bamma talks opposing the present belief of how one shouldn’t look down on the physical labour, she also talks about this physical labour slowly turning into incessant labour for the Dalit communities as their access to other lots of work gets occluded. Babytai, in her book “ the prisons we broke” recollects an unnerving tale of how Mahar women were forced to carry the feces of newly wed Brahmin women as Hindu custom required the Brahmin women not to leave the house even for the purposes of defecation during this period to ward off evils and because of the Hindu custom being averse to the idea of building toilets inside homes for the purposes of sanctity and purity of the household. It is deplorable and despicable for India , for sheltering this practise this long. Though the Sc and St atrocities act was enacted in 1989, the viciously planned Tsundur massacre which took place in 1991 is an utter disgrace to the state and also exposes the lack of concern for efficiently shielding the vulnerable communities. We do see and think India is well progressed to have a Dalit woman as its president but the constant fear of Dalit communities in competing with the upper caste groups at the grass root levels still remain unheeded.

[that-odd-puzzle-piece]