DESERT TALES: Caste-specific cremation grounds are creating an apartheid of the dead



Casteism is the name of the game. Not only are you identified by your caste in life, but also after death. Unsurprisingly, the trend is perpetuated by government bodies, as also political parties, for electoral gains.

The Urban Improvement Trust (UIT) of Jaisalmer, in a meeting recently, decided to please the various communities - from smaller ones like Darzi (tailor) and Kumhar (potter) to Brahmin sub-groups - by resolving to construct separate cremation grounds for 47 caste and communities.



Accordingly, the UIT issued tender notices in local newspapers for the project that is estimated to cost about Rs 5 crore.

Caste-specific cremation grounds in Jaisalmer (here and below). No community allows others to use their cremation ground







R.D. Bharat, secretary of the Jaisalmer UIT, told us how they found out after the tender was published that three to four communities had been left out.

"It has now been decided to include their cremation grounds in the list too," Bharat added.



Interestingly, none of the communities with their own cremation grounds allows the dead of other groups to be cremated on their 'territory'. This is a world of post-death apartheid.



Caste-based cremation grounds have existed since the time of princely rule during the colonial era, Bharat pointed out.



"Yes, I agree these traditions are of little relevance in modern times but they refuse to die," he said, when questioned about the rationale of the idea.



About the UIT's initiative to break up the construction and repair work on caste lines, Bharat added: "The members of the trust thought that they were serving a noble cause."

He conceded there was no directive from the government for such an endeavour, but added that similar measures had been taken up by local bodies from time to time across the state.



This though, he added, is the biggest such initiative in Jaisalmer.



Caste-based post-mortem discrimination is not just restricted to Jaisalmer. Jaipur, too, is no exception to this division of the dead.



The Pink City's Chandpole cremation ground, the biggest and oldest in Jaipur, has separate areas earmarked for different castes. Construction and repair work, on similar lines, was recently taken up by municipal agencies in Barmer and Dholpur, sources say.



Significantly, the ruling Congress has prepared a form to be filled up by aspiring candidates for the upcoming assembly elections. This requires every candidate to reveal not only his or her caste and religious identity, but also give the caste and religious composition of the constituency he or she aspires to contest from.

It is an open secret that caste and religious affiliations are the prime consideration while selecting a candidate by political parties. No party is an exception to this practice.

Known for her unsparing stance, Governor Margaret Alva used an official function to mark Teachers' Day, earlier this week, to take a dig at official apathy as well as teachers for their absenteeism.



"Seventy thousand schools of the state are facing paucity of teachers, 8,000 don't have drinking water facility and 15,000 schools have no toilets," Alva, once a school teacher, pointed out.



She then pulled up teachers for reaching late. "For the better part of the year teachers camp in Jaipur for a transfer as they are not interested in working in rural areas," she said.

Court vindicates man's 'right' crusade

The Rajasthan High Court found in favour of Gurvinder Singh, who was turned down for a job because his heart is on the wrong side of his chest

Here's some good news for people with hearts in the "right" place.



The Rajasthan High Court has reprimanded the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) for rejecting a man's application for the post of lab assistant last year because, owing to a rare medical condition called dextrocardia, his heart is located on the right side of the chest.



The court also directed the SSB to appoint Gurvinder Singh.



His application was rejected despite the fact that he had cleared the written examination and physical tests conducted by the SSB and the CRPF.



Before applying for a review of the decision, Gurvinder got himself examined at the Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, following which his heart was found to be in "good functional capacity".



In response to his petition, Justice Gopal Krishna Vyas of the Rajasthan High Court opined that once a candidate was tested by the competent committee and his physical efficiency examined by the selection committee, they could not be denied employment solely because they suffer from dextrocardia.



The judge underlined that the "respondents (government of India and SSB) failed to point out either any rule to substantiate their plea that the petitioner is physically unfit or suggest that dextrocardia condition hinders efficient physical performance".

Woman police officer takes on political bigwigs



Police inspector Ratna Gupta

At a time when politicians hardly command the people's respect for reasons not difficult to ascertain, the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly gave their image another blow by unanimously sentencing a police inspector, Ratna Gupta, to 30-day rigorous imprisonment for "breaching privilege of the House".



Gupta was accused of misbehaving with members of the Assembly's Women and Child Development Committee, headed by BJP legislator Suryakanta Vyas.



The members were on a surprise visit to the Gandhi Nagar women's police station on July 19, 2010 when Gupta, who was in charge at the time, refused to show them the police records.



The committee complained about her to the Speaker, who forwarded the matter to the privileges committee, headed by Congress member Surendra Singh Jadawat.



After that, Gupta repeatedly ignored summons and warrants issued by the Assembly. She argued that she was well within her legal rights in refusing to show the records and moved the Rajasthan High Court against the decision to summon her.



However, the court, on October 25, 2012, asked Gupta to appear before the house committee to face privilege proceedings. She appealed against the court's order instead, which prompted the police administration to suspend her.

