Introduction – Tree of Atrocities against Dalits, Kolar

The Tree on Dalit Women was held at the Kuteera, the Women’s Shelter in Vemgal, Kolar

The context for the tree on dalith women was our engagement with the Aam Aadmi Party and through its dalit candidate for the Lok Sabha elections Kotiganahalli Ramaiah – a poet, friend and fellow traveler with several ngos and social movements.

The meeting began with a warm welcome by Shanthamma, Vimochana, followed by self-introductions of the people gathered around the trees and a song and dance on People’s Democracy by Adima Cultural troupe.

Kotiganahalli Ramiah, a poet, play wright and an important cultural activist, then spoke on the tree of the day. It was a powerful speech on the role of women, some extracts:

He said, “In ancient times women were endowed with a variety of knowledges. They practiced herbal medicine and household remedies. They knew the secret of seeds and agriculture. They were strong in hunting techniques. They nurtured their family and their community. They played a very central role and were multifaceted. How did women then become devalued, abused, subjected to various forms of violence which eroded their sense of individual freedom and self worth? If we are able to understand this historically, socially and culturally may be this Marmara will become a meaningful exercise.

What do we do in this historical juncture where discrimination based on class, caste and gender has become acceptable? Violence against women has numbed ours spirit. To me the new politics will emerged from two goddesses of the earth. These are not goddesses’ imprisoned in the village temples. These are the goddesses walking our earth.

Today the agrarian society is in shambles, Dalith women are forced to migrate to the urban centers seeking employment as construction workers, road builders, scavengers etc. They have lost their intimate worlds and have become the victims of the violence of this modern world”.

After the speech, it took some time for people to respond. Many women and young girls from nearby villages spoke. The discussion finally veered towards violence at home particularly induced by alcoholism and violence against dalith villages. They also condemned the politicians who use money, muscle, and alcohol to win the elections and spontaneously declared they would boycott the elections if alcohol and money were used to mobilize votes.

The tree on Dalith Women was concluded with the robust performance “Dollukunita” by Adima Cultural Group and with the Story of the Cike from Ethiopia – a story of empowerment and of saying No to violence in a non violent way.
 

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