SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT

Devdasis and Yelamma Worship

Around 100 half-naked women today attempted to worship Yellamma Devi at Itaga village in Jewargi taluk. Women were covered with one neem leaves.

However, the police persuaded some of the women and provided clothing, Superintendent of Police Raghavendra Auradkar said.

State Women Commission President Prabhavathi, Secretary Muktamba and member Bhagirathi Nayak spot expressed displeasure over this age-old practice.

Dalit Sangharsha Samithi leaders also visited the spot and tried to persuade the worshippers. Voluntary organisations, engaged in the eradication of the devadasi system, also confirmed that no girl was dedicated to the goddess yesterday, the Muttaide Hunnime Day, considered to be the auspicious day for such dedication.Over four lakh devotees, according to eye-witness accounts, from different parts of Karnataka and Maharashtra participated in the fair.

Dr. I.S. Giladas, Secretary-general of the Indian Health Organisation (IHO) has criticised Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda for visiting the Yellamma temple on January 12. He said that the Prime Minister's visit had created confusion, as he had so far not made clear his and his party's stand on the devadasi system.                                

 (Source: The Indian Skeptic, August, 1997)

Unholy Acts in Holy Chitrakoot

Chitrakoot where Lord Rama is said to have spent a major portion of his exile is no longer holy. It does not symbolise religious sanctity anymore. Today it is better known for its high incidence of rape, exploitation of women and the dominance of Dadoos, the (local) landlords. According to statistics received by the National Commission for Women (NCW) at least women are raped every day in Chitrakoot.

The Dadoos are believed to be primarily responsible for the frequent incidence of rape in the village of Chitrakoot. They allegedly abandon the woman after they have borne their illegitimate children.

The practice of keeping more than one woman is very common among the Dadoos. The women, devoid of any marital status or social respectability, are forced to live with the Dadoo at his will and mercy. There is no permanent bond between the two even after she bears his children. As age descends, she is thrown out of the house along with the children to fend for themselves. This leaves no option for her but to work as bonded labour on a land which has perhaps been bought from a loan taken on her name. She works all day in the land for "five-pav of grain" to feed her children and, if possible, herself.

Generally women from the Patha Kol and Sapera (snake charmers) community are exploited by the Dadoos.

Village Silent on Rape of Muslim Minor

Naina (not her real name) is just seven years old. The youngest child of a Muslim family, teetering on the verge of starvation in Jandhera village, Rampur. In April 1997 carefree world in sugarcane and in the harvesting season found employment as a daily wager worker, asked her to run home and get her some roti and water ..A 20-year-year truck driver, Raja, a Dalit from the same village, caught her and raped her. When she regained consciousness, she hurried home. She was taken to a doctor Naina's mother, accompanied by two policemen, took the traumatised girl to a hospital in Meerut. Her tiny uterus had been so badly ruptured that to save her life, the doctors removed it. Little Naina has to undergo another surgery of her private parts. She suffered from high blood pressure and puss in her urinary tract. She was hospitalised in Saharanpur till May 12.

Naina was able to name the rapist and he was arrested. But he is out on bail and has been boasting that in a state where the Dalits reign supreme no one can touch him. He has been taunting Naina's mother. The village has neither beat up the rapist nor throw him out.

A relative of Naina, Ali Sher, brought the case to the notice of a women's organisation - Disha. The National Commission for Women, which intervened in the case, had said that no bail should be given to Raja. The district magistrate had assured that a home would be given to Naina's homeless family. But the assurance remained on paper. But the women's groups have rallied around the little girl.

(Source: Usha Rai in The Hindustan Times, 19 September, 1997).

Scientific Temper in Rashtrapati Bhawan

In the 50 years we had heard of Brahmins, priests, astrologers, soothsayers, and mullahs having had access to Rashtrapati Bhavan and engage in rituals and ceremonies. One Vice-President once sought alteration in his official residence seeking construction of a shed for housing his cow to which a window from his bedroom would open because his Brahminic faith called for the tail of the cow being the first thing to be seen on waking up, and no saviours of secularism called it making the House a bastion of Hinduism.   

- P.N. Duda's Letter, Indian Express, 30 June, 1997

Daughter-in-Law Burnt

Afsari, 25, was reportedly set on fire by her mother- in-law and sister-in-laws on 18 September, 1997 in Seelampur. She was removed to GTB hospital and later referred te Safdarjung hospital. She succumbed to her injuries, while the SDM concerned was recording her statement. She had been married for five years and is survived by three children. The police have registered a case of murder.