A CASTE OF MIND

When the team at the Manuski Project heard about the Khairlanji massacre they knew they had to inform India and the world. Manuski means humanity, compassion and respect, and the project is inspired by the teachings of Dr Ambedkar and supported by Karuna. Working with discriminated people, helping them initiate and develop their own transformation, it is run by people from Scheduled Caste backgrounds.

Haresh Dalvi, Project Officer at Manuski says, 'In atrocity cases there may be a focus on it for three or four days. A week later a new case is discovered and attention is diverted. And in the third week, another case. So follow-up is important. We highlight the incident in the media, organise campaigns so it doesn't disappear from collective memory. With Khairlanji we circulated a report to thousands of e-mail addresses and informed the national and international media. By encouraging a debate in the media, people are drawn to the issue and help becomes available to those working at grass roots level. We encourage local organisations and provide resources, so they will be able to support the victims, give psychological help, money, and assist rehabilitation.'

Manuski has set up a weblog, which distributes information about Khairlanji. 'We set up www.atrocitynews.wordpress.com because there has never been an information channel for the atrocities against Dalits', say Haresh. 'We also highlight success stories, how it is possible to fight humiliation and discrimination. But, we do not think that because the public are aware we have been successful. Success means there should be justice. And there should be no further atrocities, that is true success.'

The name and image of Dr Ambedkar permeates this industrious and intelligent organization.

'It is Dr. Ambedkar that keeps me going' says Priyadarshi Telang, secretary at Manuski. 'Ambedkar moved a huge number of people; he expected that educated Dalit people should take the initiative to improve conditions for themselves and all society.'

On 6 December every year hundreds of thousands of Dr Ambedkar's followers make their way to the place in Mumbai where he was cremated in 1956. It is a deeply moving display of devotion, with people queuing for 10 hours or more to pay their respects at the shrine. 'You see a different level of energy and inspiration. People come here from different parts of India to pay homage to their leader' says Priyadarshi. ‘It is a very emotional experience to see hundreds of thousands of people and be with them. The feeling of dedication of the people to Dr Ambedkar gives me inspiration, gives me strength to be part of that family.'

He also explains the nature of caste and future hopes 'Caste is not a physical structure that can be broken, it is a motion of mind, and we need tools to work with it. Dr Ambedkar said, “The world cannot be reformed except by the reformation of the mind of man, and the mind of the world.” I believe in Dr. Ambedkar - what he taught will work! Young people from all over the country are coming forward, they are not disregarding their identity, they believe they can do well. I can see that confidence and enthusiasm in young people, and that is because of Dr Ambedkar'.

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