Time permitting, calling oneself a dalit will be prestigious

Purna Singh Baraili, Journalist/Member Dalit Community

Purna Singh Baraili, born in the district of Ramechhap is currently associated with the Jaagaran Media Center as the vice chairman. He is the secretary of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists Lalitpur district Branch.

Mr. Baraili is actively involved in the making of a tele-serial “Dalan” as the producer for the Jaagaran Media center. He has closely analyzed the dalit uprising and in the process toured a many countries.

Following is the Telegraph’s interview with Mr. Baraili-Ed.

TGQ1: In New Nepal, how can the condition of the dalit community rise? The role played by the political parties in this regard, what say you?

Baraili: The role of the State becomes significant in order to uplift the condition of any marginalized community that has been bared from Political, Educational and Economic rights since ages. When we talk of New Nepal, I believe there can’t be a dreamlike situation wherein the condition of the dalit community can be raised in a flash of a second.

Appropriate policies and plans are needed for making revolutionary changes. In our country we devise plans and strategies yet we cannot put them into practice. Thus, it is ridiculous to even think of elevating the living condition of the marginalized communities. Regarding the plight of the dalit community, the situation is open to all. More than six decades have passed since the dalits have started demanding their rights from the State, they have been aware of being exploited since then. They thus became a part of the peoples’ revolt and contributed from their side to bring the revolt at its peak. In the Janaandolan-II three dalit youths gave their life for the country.

However, if the livelihood of the dalit community that is the most laborious and enriched by musical skills and skills of other sorts, is to be raised, there must be an end to the deep rooted Feudal-Khas Brahminic State authority. Unless and until we bring an end to this age-old system it is worthless talking of liberating the dalits.

The dalits were being used as mere vote banks by the political parties in the past. And there is the prevalence of Brahminic hegemony in the political parties. Having said so, it is equally important to understand that they are only the political parties that can ensure participation of the dalits in the state structure, there is no other way for the dalits to enter into the state structure. Thus, both the members of the dalit community and the political parties must work in tandem towards uplifting this community. The political parties in addition can raise the dalit issues through their manifesto, which would mean committing themselves towards the plight of the dalit community.

TGQ2: You have worked with various organizations to address the plight of the dalit community, are you personally satisfied with their performance?

Baraili: I believe that such organizations have done something tangible, though little-not completely, as regards the rights of the dalit community. There are others non-dalit organizations as well, that too have contributed in this regard. Having said so, it is the State primarily that must evaluate the performance of such organizations. Here, the problem is that the state itself is involved in further exploiting the plight of the dalit community, not worth talking those privately owned organizations headed by the privileged section of the society that primarily know nothing of our difficulties.

We represent the lowest strata of the society- the most exploited, we know the problem in detail and we work for them. Others, I don’t think their efforts have reached that far.

TGQ3: As we know you are involved in making audio-visual programs such as cinemas, TV programs, Radio programs to make people aware of the dalit plight. What achievements you think you have made so far?

Baraili: Education and information sector in the past was totally under the control of the feudalist. There was a school built specially for the Rana clan. The family members of the King had education facilities right inside the royal place. Later, the people themselves realized the need for education and schools for the citizens were being slowly established.

As of today, the media is under the control of the privileged group of people and the information they prepare benefit strictly the community they represent. Thus we need to do things for our own more so in the media sector.

I am of the opinion that a total restructuring in the media sector more so the entertainment sector, is need moving much ahead from the notion of information/entertainment created for, by and to the people who believe in the notion of “a single caste, a religion and a county”. In the cinema sector as well the exploited class could never acquire the center stage. The short nosed janajatis and the long nosed dalits never became the center character in the entertainment sector. Thus the dalits themselves should come forward and make their own cinemas and work together in establishing media houses.

The role a cinema plays in making people aware over various issues is significant. Dalan, a tele-serial is to be broadcasted pretty soon that is made by us. We are preparing to take the serial to those areas where people do not have access to TV. We are also going to organize a mobile cinema.

TGQ4: Don’t you think the word Dalit itself is derogatory?

Baraili: I don’t think that a word itself makes difference. Most important is how it is interpreted. Time permitting calling oneself dalit will become prestigious, this is what I believe. The word dalit itself conveys lot of information, the difficulties faced by the community, the struggle behind. Thus it is no time to make discussion over the word itself.

TGQ5: The role of the dalit community in the upcoming Constituent Assembly Election. What you have to say?

Baraili: Regrettably, our demand for the total proportional voting system was not accepted by the ruling elites fearing not to totally lose their grip over the State organs. Now the time has come to see how the political parties convert their words into deeds to work for the betterment of the marginalized communities. We, the dalits need our part from the State in proportion to our population. Currently this much is ok, later we will decide how to move ahead after analyzing the performance of the political parties.

2008-02-20 07:16:29