As Indians, we often gloat about our glorious ancient wisdom. We harp on the modernity of our ancient forefathers.
And then, we skim through news snippets about some woman being paraded naked, or some people being killed -- because they are Dalits, the lowest strata of the caste hierarchy.
The Khairlanji incident near Nagpur, in which a Dalit family was raped and butchered, is not an isolated one. It has caught our attention because of the resultant outrage. An outrage born of a series of such crimes against a group of people clubbed together by an outdated system.
Why does it still cause so much hatred? How can we boast of global aspirations when civilisation is still in the dark ages in our backyards?
What made you angry in 2006? Tell us!
Image: The Deccan Queen set ablaze in a Dalit protest. Inset: Bhayyalal Bhotmange whose family was killed.
Photograph: Arun Patil and Central News Agency
Also read: 'The Dalit movement is much more intense and dangerous now'
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