Black life- How much does it matter?

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Today, while I was cleaning my terrace, my neighbor came out to ask about the current situation on protests prevailing in the USA. The conversation went this like this:


She: Vasudha! I did read about the protests taking place in the USA? Do you know what this fuss is all about?

I: Yes. An American policeman killed a 'colored' man. Due to which protests spread all over the country.


She: Oh! Are we also colored for them?

I: Yes.


She: Oh! These mean whites. They killed an innocent 'colored' man. Color has been given by God. They should not distinguish between people due to color. They are giving an upper hand to 'racism'.

I: Yes, just like we distinguish between our own people "created by God" based on caste and religion.


She: But, this all has started in the term of USA President Donald Trump.

I: This all is centuries old(1). Donald Trump has 'indirectly' pushed the agenda(2), just like our PM Narendra Modi has 'indirectly' pushed the agenda of 'Hinduism' and that is creating the polarity between 'Hindus and Muslims'. 


She: He has not created any polarity between 'Hindus' and 'Muslims', as you say. He just wants to unite Hindus(3).

I: Yes, you are correct, he wants to unite Hindus. Being a Modiji fan, you answer me one thing. Why don't you let 'Dalit' lady who cleans the house-toilets inside your house? She has visited you many times, as she needed employment to run her Kitchen and teach her children.


Now, the annoyance started reflected on her face and she replied angrily to me (as if I insulted her).


She: She is an 'untouchable'. You are already paying her more for this penial and dirty job. 

Now, I got irritated, and falling in this argument with her was beating my head with a broomstick.

I decided to stay on the agenda.

I: This proves the point that Hindus are not united. Initiating the 'Swacch Bharat Abhiyan' without providing any utilities and benefits for 'safai karamcharis' could prove to be a menial step. What steps have been taken to end manual scavenging? Does merely passing laws with 'fancy names' into the system subjugate the problem? The manual scavenging was abolished in 2013. But still, the 'Dalits' are doing it either in fear or for livelihood. Where is the complete implementation? (4,5) Constitution of our country gives equal rights to its every citizen to live, educate, and success. But, does the government and its 'so-called' upper-class citizens teach them the same rights to their brothers and sisters of 'lower-class'?Have you ever tried to preach your maid the benefits of education? I Believe, no.


She was visibly annoyed and irritated now.


She: This Trump is not a good man as in his term blacks get killed mercilessly. Our 'yug-purush' Modiji has done an amazing job. He works towards the upliftment of society and its people as a whole. You question Modi Government in mere 6 years of governance, Have you ever questioned that wretched Congress, what they gave done in 65 years. No. Eh?


With this strolled back to her house, leaving me dumbstruck. I knew this conversation will be presented to all my colony-mates with exaggeration. I was least bothered.


All governments are equal to me. If they think about every person who has voted them to power will be shown in their policymaking and implementation. Yes, I have asked questions to the Congress government and said more than a few bad words about them in public, and I was never confronted with so much resistance, even by a die-hard fan.


Thanks for reading!




(1).  https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2020/06/01/trump-vicious-dogs-protesters-civil-rights-slavery/


(2).  https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/trump-stephen-miller-capitalize-white-america-s-fear-its-racial-ncna1102081


(3). https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/why-pm-narendra-modi-wears-hinduism-on-his-sleeves/articleshow/69535945.cms


(4).  https://www.hrw.org/news/2014/08/25/india-caste-forced-clean-human-waste


(5).  https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/indias-manual-scavenging-problem/article30834545.ece

Comments

  1. UnknownJune 7, 2020 at 11:56 AM

    Good article, explained in conversation was very interesting.

    ReplyDelete
  2. saumenduJune 15, 2020 at 6:52 AM

    Good article..

    ReplyDelete
  3. LuckyJuly 26, 2020 at 7:54 PM

    Vasudha u comprehend n articulate so well... keep it up n share with me your new work

    ReplyDelete

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