Study street

2Ross • 8th May 2009 • Learning • caste, dalit, india, mumbai, poverty

I first read about the plight of India’s Dalits (‘untouchables’) in an Intelligent Life photo essay. If, like me, you think racism makes no sense at all, then the persecution of Dalits – who are physically and genetically indistinguishable from the higher castes – is even more absurd. Social and economic exclusion leads Dalits to take filthy, menial jobs: in rubbish collection, sewerage collection, dealing with carcasses and leather tanning. These dirty jobs lead to more prejudice. In Mumbai, Dalits go to ‘study street’ after a hard day’s work. The streetlight there allows them the illumination they need to do the reading to get the qualifications – essential to overcome the self-perpetuating prejudice associated with their caste. I feel sad about their mistreatment but glad of their tenacity. But it does make me think: if a streetlight can achieve so much, what could be achieved with a library?