By Rao Rampilla

Sometimes, people are curious as to who invented the “divide and rule” strategy. I feel that Indians created it centuries ago through its caste system.  In that system, the so-called lowest of the low, are untouchables who are also called Dalits and who do menial jobs from generation to generation. It is sad to see that one of the three ancient civilizations in the world continues that system.  

Every country gets a day in New York City to celebrate and parade on Fifth Avenue. For smaller parades, they assign Madison Avenue. India gets to parade on 5th Avenue.  This year, Sunday, August 18th happens to be that day. India I know when I grew up there was the most secular country and India Day Parade should reflect that. Some of us, including me fought against caste discrimination back home. The Constitution of India in its article 14 guarantees equality before the law and equal protection of laws. Then it goes further in Article 17 to abolish untouchability. Dr. Babasaheb Ambdekar was the Chairman of the Constitution Assembly that drafted the Constitution of India. He was also the author of a manifesto titled “Annihilation of Caste.” However, the caste system endures and caste atrocities continue. 

At the India Day Parade this year, there was a lot of pomp about the Hindu religion with several of the floats. Of course, there was a float organized by the Begumpura Cultural Society (Guru Ravidas Sabha) based in Queens. Naturally, there were placards like STOP CASTE DISCRIMINATION and so on. Since I am a social activist and a friend, they gave me that placard to display. There was no problem as I displayed and waved it to the onlookers to educate them on the sidelines of the parade. It’s a First Amendment Freedom guaranteed both under the U.S. and Indian Constitutions. 

 I never faced a situation like this ever in this country even when I was living in Deep South in Georgia.

But once I got on the float with the placard one of the organizers of the parade didn’t like it. You see, a sizable number of the organizers are from the New Jersey area and most of them are from the so-called upper castes. I guess that’s how immigration works. How could one afford to come or even afford to pay for a flight to the U.S. if you are a Dalit stuck in poverty? 

This story was originally published in americankahani.com. Read the full story here.