Albert writes:- i do not know why from time immemorial the mahars were treated
as outcast. Every village had marvaddo. Except for our needs like cooking, or
making or repairing of baskets, mats we never had any rapport with these
people. Many times we openly called them Mahars and though they did not mind
all that yet deep down their self they must have felt that they are unwanted
and low caste people. I remember once we were preparing a christmas concert
when I came to live in Mapuca and our ward and the Maharwada were jointly to
put up a programme but many of them refused to take part. " Ami tumche bari
kosse acting kortele baba, tumi khuim ani ami khuim ? " inspite of forcing them
to be with us they just could'nt join us. It was really hurting to see them
remain apart and who is to be blamed ? We ourselves who are not mahars. The
church used them to cook for the clergy, clean the premises and dig graves. The
church never thought of putting and end to this. Many times those peddes who
worked in the church were insulted publicly by the parish priest if they forgot
to ring the bell or not dig the grave properly. But there is a saying in
Konkani. "Xenantlio kaindol or kiddo xhenantuch uronam." Many of them found way
to the gulf and made lot of money and moved out from the marod and built a
bunglow for themselves and got their children educated. Some of them became
caterers and took contract of weddings and others who got education became bank
employees and other catogories. Then we looked at them and saw that they became
stylish and said to ourselves" Polle Maharamchem bopke vodle. Kitem nestat avoi
ghe mhoje maim. The case of Hindu mahars is even worse. The other caste many
times will not touch food cooked by these Mahars. The crematorium for the
Mahars is separate. Many of the non mahars get annoyed because the hindu mahars
are schedule caste and have got better benefits . The non mahars will burn
their hearts to see Mahars getting better position. What one should not forget
is that the Mahars whether Christian or hindus have always remained as humble
people and have always respected the people of other caste with due respect but
do we have the authority to put these mahars as outcaste ?
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