http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/navratra-heats-up-caste-cauldron/370290/
Navratra heats up caste cauldron DP Bhattacharya Posted: Oct 07, 2008 at 0139 hrs IST Ahmedabad, October 06 Village garbas still out of bounds for downtrodden Even as the state government has gone out of its way to welcome the rest of the world into the folds of garba, Dalit women in many villages across rural Gujarat are not allowed to join in the festive dance. "Like everyone, we too feel like doing the garba, but then we are never allowed," said Savita Rohit, a Dalit woman from Sunalpura village under Khambhat taluka of Anand district. "They simply throw us out if we try to get in there," she added. Not only that, during the nine days of Navratri, the Dalits in the village are also denied milk, as the Bharwad community, that is largely in the milk business, avoids coming in contact with the Dalits during this 'auspicious' period. "We know it is wrong, but then nobody has ever complained about this ever. Why should we put our neck on the line?" Savita said. Pushpa Solanki from Khorsam village at Chanasma block of Patan district, said: "On Thursday, a middle-aged lady asked about my caste when I went for garba. On learning that I am a Dalit, she asked me to leave the place saying that I have no right to participate in garba. Later, she physically dragged me out of the ring." Nimisha Parmar from the adjoining Chanasma village has a slightly better story to tell. "They do allow us to dance in the village garba, but on the eighth night of Navratri, garba is held at the village Ramji Temple, where Dalits are denied entry," she said. Pushpa Vahnia from Memka village under Wadhwan taluka of Surendranagar said they have their own separate garba at Dalitvaas, as they are barred at the village garba. "Our women are thrown out and have to stand at a distance and watch the garba," said Pravin Vahnia from the same village. Amrut Sendhav, a Patan-based Dalit rights activist said that such incidents are quite common in rural Gujarat, but people are too scared to voice their protests. "Things perpetuate to this extent because most of the Dalits are landless labourers and work in the farms of upper caste people, who also help them financially during need. To say anything against the moneyed upper castes means jeopardising the minimal livelihood options for these people," Sendhav added. Harji Bala, a Dalit Panchayat member from Targara village said that the situation is the same across Saurashtra. Eminent sociologist Gaurang Jani called it an extension of religious discrimination. Unlike the cities, Navratri in villages is more religious in nature. As in most villages Dalits are denied entry in the temples, they are similarly denied entry in the village garba as well. "Not only garba, comparatively new festivals too are showing such discriminatory tendencies. In the Ganapati festival, which is rather new in rural Gujarat, a Dalit child will not be allowed to sit in the truck taking Ganapati for Visarjan," Jani said. He added: "Those who sponsor garba in the villages are usually from the higher castes and naturally, they want to have the event all for their own people. Further, while the youth are allowed to mix freely during garba, intermingling with Dalit children may lead to possible inter-caste marriages, which too is not acceptable to people. They therefore, prefer to have Dalits at bay." Babu Koli, sarpanch of Targara village under Botad Block of Bhavnagar district denied the charge. He said there is no such discrimination during Navratri. "Dalits have been organising their own garba separately and the practice has been going on for years," Koli added. Convener of the SC/ST Cell of the BJP Atmaram Parmar also denied that there is any caste-based discrimination at Navratri.
