A dialogue on casteism at Lamakaan

A dialogue on 'Casteism - Institutionalised Murders' will be conducting at Lamakaan, Road No 1, Banjara Hills on June 9.

The suicide of Dr Payal Tadvi from Maharashtra has sparked the discussion of 'caste discrimination' all over the nation. This incident particularly shows how a bold, brave girl can be broken through casteism. The three senior female doctors who harassed her don't even acknowledge their mistake or recognise their caste privilege.

More recently a guy named Bakki Srinivas was beaten to death for eating a fallen mango from the mango plantation of a savarna landlord. In Alwar, Rajasthan a heterosexual Bahujan couple were stripped naked and girls were gang raped by a mob of savarna men.

Many such incidents of caste-based harassment have been surfacing from time to time. All these incidents are proof that even after 70 years of criminalising caste discrimination the urban and rural India suffers from everyday casteism which leads to institutionalised murders of people like Payal, Rohith Vemula etc.,

Rohit Vemula, a student of UOH who committed suicide wrote, "The value of a man was reduced to his immediate identity and nearest possibility. To a vote, to a number to a thing. Never was a man treated as a mind" in his letter. His death marked the uprising of a movement that asked for 'Rohit Act' which would strain the present SC, ST atrocities act / POA (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Instead, the present savarna dominant Hindutva government has been trying to dilute the POA Act.

At this juncture, it's important that all of us understand the effects and forms of casteism in these contemporary times and find ways to end casteism. Ambedkar said, "Educate- Agitate- Organise". Therefore, let us all discuss and educate ourselves casteism, it's effects and the way ahead to end casteism.

Where: Lamakaan

When: June 9

Time: 4.30 pm