Sexually abused and seen as the lowest of the low: life as an 'untouchable' Dalit woman

[Devil Soul]

Sexually abused and seen as the lowest of the low: life as an 'untouchable' Dalit woman
Story by CNN Staff
Photographs by Omar Khan, CNN

Updated 0725 GMT (1525 HKT) July 25, 2016


Haryana, India (CNN)In India's caste system, the Dalits are traditionally regarded as the lowest of the low. Seen as "unclean," they are considered untouchable by the higher castes.

The country's 2011 census, the latest available, states that just over 16 percent of India's population are Dalits -- making up roughly 200 million people. According to India's National Crime Records Bureau, more than four Dalit women are raped every day in India. The NRCB's 2014 statistics say crime against Dalits rose 19%. In many of the cases, these crimes are committed by upper caste perpetrators.

Last week, a young Dalit woman in the state of Haryana reported being gang raped by a group of men, including some of the same individuals accused of raping her three years ago. Police say those suspects were out on bail awaiting trial for the previous allegations. CNN went to a village close to where the alleged incident occurred and spoke to Dalit women and asked them what life was like for them.

Rajbala, 28

"I wish I wasn't born as a Dalit woman. We are the easiest targets for any sexual or physical abuse in our society."
Rekha Devi, 33

"We are not allowed to enter the houses of upper caste people. We are untouchables. When they give us water to drink, they pour it on our palms to avoid any direct contact."

Meera Devi, 26

"Upper caste men give us names which are both abusive and derogatory. I wish I could change this practice. We do not want to work under the upper caste people and compromise our dignity. But we are poor. What other options do we have?"

Jyoti, 24

"Have you heard upper caste girls getting raped in our community? We are poor and powerless. That's why upper caste men rape our girls. They can get away with anything because they have money and power."

Seema, 25

"Upper caste men make fun of us. They think our lives don't matter because we are daughters of poor families. They always look at us with lustful eyes."

Kavita, 25

"I am a TB (Tuberculosis) patient and because I am Dalit, the doctor will not even come close to me. But when an upper caste patient comes to the clinic, the doctor goes close to the patient and sees them properly without any hesitation."

 

[Devil Soul]

Khajani Devi, 60

"Our blood and body are the same, but it is the society that divides and discriminates us. Upper caste men do anything they want because they know we can't fight back."

Bimla Devi, 40

"We cannot send our daughters unaccompanied to the fields, to fetch water or even to school. Men from the upper caste stare at our daughters with lustful eyes."
http://edition.cnn.com/2016/07/25/asia/india-dalit-caste-women/index.html

 

[Delnavaz B]

Indian caste system is inhuman...Only Abrahamic religions denounce any such classification specially Islam.

 

[T90TankGuy]

Trying to figure out if this is an anti India , anti Hindu or anti social thread.

 

[footmarks]

Indian caste system is inhuman...Only Abrahamic religions denounce any such classification specially Islam.

They classify all women into one category, equivalant to what the women mentioned above are.

 

[slapshot]

Just curious, Why would some one want to stay untouchable? Is it not easy to just switch the religion or leave it altogether and have a place in society?

 

[baajey]

i wonder how the perpetrators "rape" without touching the dalit women. Considering that touching any dalit would f*ck their "sanskar".

Just curious, Why would some one want to stay untouchable? Is it not easy to just switch the religion or leave it altogether and have a place in society?

its not that easy.
for starters, if you change religion, goons from hindu extremists will start screaming ghar wapsi.
also, if an untouchable abandons hindu fold, he or she wont be eligible for the "quota system".
and, what good will a religion change will do if you cant change ur society. that society will continue to degrade u even if you change ur chromosomes.

 

[Gibbs]

Indian caste system is inhuman...Only Abrahamic religions denounce any such classification specially Islam.

I was about to post something constructive about the despicable caste system and violence accompanied with it, Until i read this mind numbingly stupid attempt at trolling. What ever credibility this thread has just being made null and void

Is it not easy to just switch the religion or leave it altogether and have a place in society?

Most Dalits convert to Buddhism to escape discrimination

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._R._Ambedkar

 

[Sunan]

Cast system is in Hindu religion.Holy books of Hinduism speaks about it and justified it.So thats why they r following it.May God Help poor Dalits!!

 

[Sam.]

Untouchable yet raped. This is some jedi type intercourse.

Kamasutra was invented in India so it can be possible in modern world too. Please keep enlightened the ignorant kafirs about our ills so should choose the "Religion of peace" and will go to the promise land.

 

[Delnavaz B]

I was about to post something constructive about the despicable caste system and violence accompanied with it, Until i read this mind numbingly stupid attempt at trolling. What ever credibility this thread has just being made null and void

Why you find my post stupid and troll attempt? I am entitled to have my own views same as you have. I know why you post this but i don't want to start a troll war Buddhism vs Islam. So you also refrain to post such stupid attempt to prove that Buddhism is the great religion.

 

[Star Wars]

I was about to post something constructive about the despicable caste system and violence accompanied with it, Until i read this mind numbingly stupid attempt at trolling. What ever credibility this thread has just being made null and void

90% of these threads are made to troll. You will see these same Pakistanis make fun of "dark skin" Indians

 

[John Reese]

Trying to figure out if this is an anti India , anti Hindu or anti social thread.

Typical BS Now Even Classification of rape Comes Under Caste Politics
BSP Practices it They are Racist Against upper caste "Remember there Old Slogan Tilak ,taraju or talwar Inko Maaro joote chaar"
Instigating Violence hatred Among other People

I come from SC/ST caste in rajasthan Myself Im proud of My Heritage
Most of My friends are Upper caste They are not even bothered to care Most of them are Educated .We never even discussed caste

Few examples in rural areas where literacy poor Cannot comprehend whole society of india


My teacher was upper caste Rajput Who sacrificed Alot for me.I Never Able to pay Him

This 2016 india we are talking about when india is global.Some Political parties Living in there old 60 era mindset

 

[T90TankGuy]

Typical BS Now Even Classification of rape Comes Under Caste Politics
BSP Practices it They are Racist Against upper caste "Remember there Old Slogan Tilak ,taraju or talwar Inko Maaro joote chaar"
Instigating Violence hatred Among other People

I come from SC/ST caste in rajasthan Myself Im proud of My Heritage
Most of My friends are Upper caste They are not even bothered to care Most of them are Educated .We never even discussed caste

Few examples in rural areas where literacy poor Cannot comprehend whole society of india


My teacher was upper caste Rajput Who sacrificed Alot for me.I Never Able to pay Him

This 2016 india we are talking about when india is global.Some Political parties Living in there old 60 era mindset

Whats your obsession with bold text? Just use a normal font buddy .

 

[danger007]

Typiwill BS Now Even Classification of rape Comes Under Caste Politics
BSP Practices it They are Racist Against upper caste "Remember there Old Slogan Tilak ,taraju or talwar Inko Maaro joote chaar"
Instigating Violence hatred Among other People

I come from SC/ST caste in rajasthan Myself Im proud of My Heritage
Most of My friends are Upper caste They are not even bothered to care Most of them are Educated .We never even discussed caste

Few examples in rural areas where literacy poor Cannot comprehend whole society of india


My teacher was upper caste Rajput Who sacrificed Alot for me.I Never Able to pay Him

This 2016 india we are talking about when india is global.Some Political parties Living in there old 60 era mindset

Go to Coastal district colleges in Andhra... you will understand what is discrimination is...although pdf not right platform.. and pakistani members just wanted to troll.. I'm not much discussing it..