Untouchables from Tehelka: 25.07.2005

Daddy’s article on Untouchables from Tehelka: 25.07.2005

TO AKHIL,
AFTER READING THE TAHELKA ARTICLE I TRIED TO REMEMBER. THERE IS NOTHING IN MY READING AND OR EXPERIENCE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE TOPIC IN TEHELKA. IN MY VILLAGE DAYS THERE USED TO COME A VANNAN(WASHERMAN) EVERY FORTNIGHT. THEY WERE UNTOUCHABLES BUT STILL THEY CAME TO OUR HOUSE TO COLLECT THE LAUNDRY. THEY WILL STAND OUTSIDE AND MOVE 10 TO 15 FEET FROM US. CLOTHS ARE COUNTED AND BUNDLED BY THEM AND TAKEN TO WASH. THE CLOTHS ARE WASHED IN HEATED LIME BHATTIES, STARCHED AND IRONED AND BROUGHT BACK IN 2 WEEKS. AGAIN THE CLOTHS ARE COUNTED AND KEPT IN A NICHE IN HOUSE. ONE HAS TO DO A WET WASH AND TAKE BATH BEFORE USING THE CLOTH FOR DAILY WEAR. THIS WAS TRUE IN KIZHAKHANCHERI AND NEMMARE. A CHANGE CAME IN BOMBAY. THE SERVICE OF A WASHERMAN WAS AVAILABLE FOR MANY YEARS AT CHEMBUR ALSO. I DON’T REMEMBER AS TO WHEN THE SERVICE WAS DISCONTINUED. MAY BE WE STARTED WEARING POLYSTER.
I AM NOT SURPRISED TO READ THE TAHELKA ARTICLE. THE MEDIA DID MENTION ABOUT SUCH PRACTICES ON TAMIL NADU AFTER THE TSUNAMI DISASTER. VIDEO CLIPS WERE IN THE CHANNELS. THE REPORT WAS SOMETHING SIMILAR. CERTAIN CASTES THOUGH VERY LOW IN THE LADDER DID OBJECT TO BE PUTUP IN THE SAME PLACE OF REFUGE WITH FAMILIES OF LOWER STATUS. THEY PUSHED THE LATTER FORCIBLY TO OPEN ROADS. THERE WERE ALSO REPORTS OF THE LOWESTS RATIONS CONFISCATED BY THE CASTE CONCIOUSE AND FORMER WERE ALLOWED TO SCAVENGE FROM THE WASTE.
I HAVE A BOOK TITLED “SANGATI” MEANING NEWS, INFORMATION OR OCCURANCES. THE NARRATIVE IS ABOUT THE MODES AND MOVES OF THE LOWEST CASTE PARAYAR IN TAMIL NADU. NEWS FROM LONDON IS NOT VERY ASSURING. PLEASE KEEP CONTACT WITH JAI AND RAVI ABOUT THEIR WELBEINGS. MORE IN NEXT.

Daddy