Is being an SC/ST a curse?

 As part of my internship program, I went through the website of Ministry of tribal affairs and was going through “Prevention of Atrocities”  Act, 1989.

I was so startled to read how laws are made for certain acts done by non SC/ST to SC/ST. I mean SC/STs are really treated like this? And I can’t figure out for what reason? Because they are tribals? Lower community? And who designated them lower? 

We are diversed and that makes us different. But these differences do not define who is lower who is upper, who is superior, who is inferior. We would never need this act if we always treated them as equal. 

We as humans who should be entitled to raise an inclusive space for all, what are we doing? Fighting for existence, for respect, for equality ? Why because we are SCs or STs? 

We all talk about mental health but even if we don’t cause any physical harm to SC/ST, everyday derogatory comments causes social micro aggression. 

I’ll narrate you a story,

Few days ago, I was on a shoot with some newly met people. There one girl said something irrelevant and one boy said “tu ____ (a Schedule caste community’s name)  hai kya?”

They spoiled there very first impression in front of me. I MEAN HOW CAN YOU ASSOCIATE ANY IRRELEVANT THING AS SC? You mean to say SCs say irrelevant things?? Why did you call a girl with an SC community’s name when she said something irrelevant?? 

I really don’t support conversations and people like these. I stayed away and didn’t try to mingle with them. 

They realised that I’m not talking to them may be because I’m an SC and I’ve felt bad. Then they asked me “have you felt bad about something we said, why are you not talking? Apko hmari kisi baat ka bura lga kya?”

Then what startled and shook me was when they said - “ vese ap to brahman ho na, fr to apko bura ni laga hoga! “

Just because I’m from a different community I’ll not listen something derogatory for another community as well. How can they even imagine that if I’m a brahman I won’t mind if something derogatory has been said for other communities and that too for no reason. 

We need to change our mindsets. Come on, SC, STs they earn more than so called “upper caste k thekedar”. Because at the end what matters more is not from which community you belong but how successful you are!