It is said that caste discrimination in India only happens in the rural towns and villages, not in the cities. This is a myth which has been blown out of the water. Read the article below reported in the Times of India on the 9th May 2010.
Senthalir S | TNN
Bangalore: The IT capital boasts of a cosmopolitan culture, but what can it say of caste contours a doorstep away?
Rural Bangalore is carrying the vestiges of timeless caste—this time in the gram panchayat poll campaign that has inequality ingrained in it.
This stark reality hits you at Anekal taluk, 40 km from IT ethos—
Dalits are not allowed in the houses of non-Dalits for many reasons but also for the gram panchayat election campaign.
The experience is literal: Dalits stand at a fair distance from the homes of non-Dalits to talk to them about elections.
Take the case of T M Gopal, a Dalit candidate contesting from Praja Rajakiya Vedike for Tyavakanahalli in the Handenahalli gram panchayat of Anekal taluk. He has been campaigning for the last one week in Tyavanahalli, S Medahalli and Sultanpalya villages coming under Handenahalli gram panchayat.
‘‘It is easy to enter Dalit houses and discuss my agenda. But we are not allowed to enter the houses of non-Dalits. We stand outside and ask for their vote,’’ said Gopal.
All the Dalit candidates have similar experience during campaigns.
Source: Times of India dated 9th May 2010 pp-13
