A few years ago in the national newspaper of Bihar, the poorest state in Northeast India, a story appeared revealing the plight of these desperate, suffering people. A young & destitute mother sold her newborn child for 10 pounds of rice! A picture was included of this fragile yet truly beautiful girl, maybe in her mid-20s, with tears running down her face. She was sobbing as she told a reporter, I want my child back. When she was asked, Why would you sell your baby for 10 pounds of rice? her reply was even more disturbing. She responds, What do we do? People like us are starving to death...at least my baby will live. I will die anyway, like many others here. Even the 10 pounds of rice will not save me. Poverty, grief and hopelessness were etched on her face and the faces of those who flocked around her. She would be considered a Dalit, literally meaning oppressed or broken. The Dalits are the Untouchables, those that if one comes in contact with would be considered ritually unclean because they are considered so low in this evil caste system. The caste is determined at birth. The lowest of the ranks grow up learning to fear and respect those who are higher and despise those who are lower. There is no hope for advancement and no hope for somebody to be worth more. Although this cast system is now outlawed in India, its still a major source of social identity and ostracism.
Posted on: Fri, 29 Nov 2013 16:04:15 +0000
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