Dalit teacher assaulted in Bihar village
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Prakash Singh
NDTV
http://www.ndtv.com/template/template.asp?category=National&template=dalitatr
ocities&slug=Dalit+teacher+assaulted+in+Bihar+village&id=83877&callid=1
Thursday, January 19, 2006 (Patna):
A
teacher was brutally assaulted in a Bihar village by locals who
couldn't accept the fact that their children were being taught by a
dalit.
Satyanarayan Prasad is in a state of shock. For 12 years
his being a dalit didn't come in the way of his work as a teacher at
the Bhoodhar Tola village school near Patna.
However, the
situation took a turn in mid-December when he was beaten up by the
members of the dominant Yadav caste in the village.
"These
people say that I am a harijan, how can he teach our children. I was
even prevented from offering prayers in the temple," said Prasad.
Shocking incident
What is more shocking is that even after a month since the incident, the police haven't taken any action against the accused.
The accused allege that Prasad was not providing his students the government-provided mid-day meal.
"We
asked the teacher to provide midday meals to the children. He then said
that he is not concerned with the children," said Amarnath Yadav, an
accused.
But some villagers claimed that Prasad is innocent and did not manipulate the food rations meant for children.
"He
was brutally assaulted because he is a dalit. He received head injuries
and had to undergo stitches," said Vijay Prabhat Yadav, resident of
Bhoodhar Tola village.
'Insignificant' incident
Pasad has lodged a complaint with the police and the education department.
Terming the incident as insignificant, the police turned away a NDTV team when it approached them.
Apart from Prasad, his 70 odd students are also suffering as they don't have any other teacher.
The incident is a glaring example of how rampant untouchability still exists in the society of Bihar.
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"Ours is a battle not for wealth or for power.
It is a battle for freedom. It is a battle for the reclamation of human personality."- Dr BR Ambedkar
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