Maanya Anand- Week 5
Joothan- Omprakash Valmiki (Contd.)
As Omprakash Valmiki goes on journaling his life in this autobiography, another incident in the book particularly stuck with me. this incident was when he and his 'chura' friend had gone to an upper caste man's house. Throughout their visit to his house, they were treated well by the upper caste man and his family and were even asked to eat in their house, using the same utensils. However, as soon as the upper caste man found out that they were 'churas' or 'chambers', he started beating them up. The author did not want to tell him that they were 'churas' or belonged to a lower caste but his friend went ahead and did so. This was because, for once in the author's life, he wanted to live without the burden of his caste and this incident just made him realise that he will never be able to escape that part of his identity. No matter how successful or educated e becomes, he will always be a 'chamaar' or a 'chura'.
Further, the book also explored the lack of access that the lower castes had and still have to basic amenities. When the author's brother falls sick, he dies within a few days because they do not have access to proper medication and use the mantras and chants of gurus and babas. This is seen happening with various family members because they are made to believe that their cure comes through chants and not actual medication. Moreover, they do not even have resources to access this medication. Further, after the author's brother passed away, his widow got married to the author's other brother. Re-marriage was acceptable as a concept within the lower caste and their community which set them apart from the rest of the people, especially Hindus who did not believe in the concept of re-marriage.
As Omprakash Valmiki goes on journaling his life in this autobiography, another incident in the book particularly stuck with me. this incident was when he and his 'chura' friend had gone to an upper caste man's house. Throughout their visit to his house, they were treated well by the upper caste man and his family and were even asked to eat in their house, using the same utensils. However, as soon as the upper caste man found out that they were 'churas' or 'chambers', he started beating them up. The author did not want to tell him that they were 'churas' or belonged to a lower caste but his friend went ahead and did so. This was because, for once in the author's life, he wanted to live without the burden of his caste and this incident just made him realise that he will never be able to escape that part of his identity. No matter how successful or educated e becomes, he will always be a 'chamaar' or a 'chura'.
Further, the book also explored the lack of access that the lower castes had and still have to basic amenities. When the author's brother falls sick, he dies within a few days because they do not have access to proper medication and use the mantras and chants of gurus and babas. This is seen happening with various family members because they are made to believe that their cure comes through chants and not actual medication. Moreover, they do not even have resources to access this medication. Further, after the author's brother passed away, his widow got married to the author's other brother. Re-marriage was acceptable as a concept within the lower caste and their community which set them apart from the rest of the people, especially Hindus who did not believe in the concept of re-marriage.
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