Let's talk about caste ! WE THE PEOPLE .

Let's talk about caste ,
The launch of Suraj Yengde's book saw some much-needed social insights and discussions.

BY :

Smitha Verma

New Delhi

Qamar Sibtain

Dalit scholar Suraj Yengde at the launch of his book 'Caste Matters'.

It was a book launch where people walked out feeling stirred. It's no surprise that the event in question was first-generation Dalit scholar Suraj Yengde's book launch. The thought that most went back home with was about how voices against caste had to be raised not just loud but clear as well.

His book Caste Matters, published by Penguin, was launched at the India Habitat Centre this week. And on the podium were stalwarts like Bezwada Wilson, activist and head of Safai Karamchari Andolan, activist JV Pawar and academic Pratap Bhanu Mehta.

"Caste is a reality we don't want to confront," said Yengde as started talking about his book.

"How cruel can a society be which harms the most vulnerable," questioned the 30-year-old to a packed auditorium, which was paying rapt attention to every single word uttered this scholar with the Department of African and African-American studies at Harvard University. He argued how casteism has affected Dalits so much that it has almost become invisible to outsiders.

"Dalits are not asking for something more or less. They just want to be at par with other Indians," he adds.

On his part, Wilson commented about the unpardonable way Safai Karamcharis are treated by society. "Caste seems like an illusion to everyone. But the basis of all problems is the way we are practising caste. It's a barbaric practice, it destroys human beings," he commented.

Discussing how some of the provisions of the Constitution had been tampered with, Wilson said, "I have nothing to dream besides my Constitution. When that Constitution is being taken away, it feels like you are taking my life away from my body."

Pawar, while lauding Yengde for his achievements, narrated incidents of Dalit activism and the way the ideology has shaped up. He stressed on how casteism exists in religions as diverse as Islam, Buddhism and Christianity, and how every caste has a sub-caste leading to further alienation. "Caste matters and only education will survive to eliminate this caste system," he said with a note of optimism.

It's a book that reflects the coming of age of the Dalit movement. And Yengde highlights how half a million crimes have been committed against Dalits between 2006 and 2016.

For Mehta, the book holds promise and showcases the author as a romantic. "Yengde is a rising star. The most profound insight is that you have to be a romantic to see injustice." Mehta talked in detail about how the book provides a compelling reflection of caste in India.

On a critical note, Mehta added, "Suraj has an intense desire to give this world a sense of wholeness. This desire is so deep that sometimes it makes him impatient of ordinary social movements. You are a little harsh on these kinds of movements you criticise. Even for your project that group is important."

The high-brow book launch was also attended by activist author Arundhati Roy, theatre guru MK Raina and filmmaker author Natasha Badhwar, to name just a few.