I haven’t seen anything more powerful before, full video – Youtube, 17 minutes
Excerpts :
“And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, “When will you be satisfied?” We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro’s basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
“This is our hope. This is the faith with which I return to the South. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.”
Isn’t it time the Dalits of India have a Martin Luther king of their own, atleast a dream of their own ?
Caste system, a very ingenious way of keeping some people downtrodden forever. To do away with this social germ, we need to look at how it evolved, what it meant then, the historical consequences, which it presented to its perpetuators.
It was a way in which power could remain in the hands of the upper class, keeping at bay a vast multitude of common people. These echelons held most of private property, and disliked competition. They felt themselves a superior class.
All divisions in mankind are man made; made for the upliftment of a few stratas of people.
When i tried to find out the persistence of manual scavenging, povery, and many other social issues, it all boils down to these divisions in caste.
When people, view people as people, and not as any caste, then there will be no more caste system. But as long as people want growth to come to only a few, some people will always be denied opportunities.
What we need is a mass movement comprising of people.
I had wondered, why application forms asked for caste, and why admissions were based on that.
Let every man be judged by his deeds, and not his fmaily name nor his religion nor his caste.
thanks for the awesome video man. his courage and martyrdom didnt go in vain…his death won for them the last remaining civil rights he fought to achieve while he lived.
gandhi was either scared to fight the caste system or he defended it, ambedkar had his successes in the upliftment of dalits, we are up against such a huge problem we need many many saviors, not just one…a majority of hindus still vouch by their caste, reservation has become a dirty word, the fate of the dalit in his village hasnt changed…i see no hope.
maashe, ningal keralablogrollil ee bloginte link koode kodukkanam…so many wonderful thought-provoking posts here that more people should be reading.
Alex, thats a very thoughtful comment. I have the same opinions on origin of the caste system. the Indian society is still fuedal with everyone identifying with his or her caste as her primary identity. I’m not sure how this can be addressed.
Jiby, I absolutely agree with the idea that majority of Hindus vouch by their caste. This is very prevalant among highly educated people as well. I dont know whether we should lose hope here, there have been several movements against this. Sankara, the Bhakti movement, Gandhi’s freedom movement, Sreenarayana Guru, Ambedkar….but after Mandal, the divisions are more set now, we need a socio-religious movement to improve this. I would rather, it be a civil rights movement that stops the Indian machine. BAU hurts man !
Yes, the Dalits need someone like Dr. King. And Malcolm X. Sadly the ma thought to be the Dalit’s Malcolm X ran out of steam, made some questionable decisions, looked more for personal gains, and faded into oblivion where he still resides.
Gaurav, I didn’t know Mr Dashal was a major factor, yes, the Dalit panthers are in disarray everywhere. In my hometown in kerala they fight the DYFI – youth wing of CPIM and in MH i’ve heard of their leak towards shiv sena. I think more than a political movement a spiritual movement is needed to uplift dalits.
and thanks for mentioning Dashal, i wud have never guessed 🙂
In case, if you want to check the video of this speech,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEMXaTktUfA
krish, sure i will…actually i have a link to another video in the post
The Blacks in America were emanciapted from slavery. But the Civil War is not finished for them. Look at the ghettos, unemployed black youth, look at how the prisons are full of black youth, look at the racist police brutality. Look how the “war on drugs” is nothing but war on blacks.
Another Atrocity
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/
181_1879805,000600030006.htm