There’s a siege underway in a town in India. In a neighbourhood there is a ring of bored police in khaki uniforms in the shade. The streets are empty. They are there to keep the peace. But what they mainly do is keep people in. What’s this all in aid of?
Category Archive: Caste
Nov 10 2012
Age of Kali – Moral Police
The Indian rule of mob is well known. When my bus ran over a drunken pedestrian who slipped and fell into traffic the result was the entire population of the bus doing a collective hit and run and fleeing the scene. I didn’t. Me and a few other medical students tried (well succeeded) in saving …
Feb 20 2011
The Untouchables
Unlike Eliot Ness’s squad of prohibition cops, the untouchables of India are a far far more fearsome proposition. The dalits or harijans are people who were part of the castes who were associated with the traditionally unclean work. Leather work (hindus still wear leather despite not consuming cows), slaughter house work (the crime is in …
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