[WSMDiscuss] Who Threw That First Stone in Thoothukudi?

[Umakant]

Dear Friends 

Greetings! Please click on the linksgiven below to read an interesting as well as an informative write-up on thequestion of State violence against its own citizens. 

 

Do pass it on to others in yourcircle/network. 

 

Who ThrewThat First Stone in Thoothukudi?

Jeya Rani, The Wire, May 30, 2018 

https://thewire.in/caste/sterlite-protest-dalit-thoothukudi

 

Thehistory of state terrorism says the first stone is always thrown byrepresentatives of the police.

 

Inthe Indian social context, Dalit and tribal communities have always borne thebrunt of police excesses or, to call it by its proper name, state terrorism.This violence has been a part of normal life for them. They had to face it justas they face caste abuse and untouchability every other day. Whenever they haveasserted their rights – against atrocities, untouchability, sexual oppression,for their right to live, their right to livelihood and better wages – police lathishave split their heads. The guns that fire never miss their targets. Theirhumble dwellings are vandalised and razed to the ground. In independent India,one could cite any number of examples to establish this pattern.

 

Thetruth is that general society – so caste society – is not aware of the paininflicted on Dalits and Adivasis by the state. For them, it is not just anothercase of violence. It is a betrayal of trust that no human being should bemade to suffer. It robs from them the bonds they have with what they thoughtwas ‘their nation’. It removes from their soul the thought that they are itscitizens. When a society oppresses someone, when a society denies someone theirrights, the government should embrace and support them. But the Dalits, tribalcommunities and minorities in India have never had any such ‘luxury’. Instead,the government unleashes the worst kind of violence, turning victims intorefugees in their own land.

 

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With Regards and InSolidarity 

Umakant, Ph. D 

New Delhi 

 












My final words of advice to you are educate, agitate and organize; have faith in yourself. With justice on our side I do not see how we can lose our battle. The battle to me is a matter of joy. The battle is in the fullest sense spiritual. There is nothing material or social in it. For ours is a battle not for wealth or for power. It is battle for freedom. It is the battle of reclamation of human personality. 
B.R.Ambedkar
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