InfoAnda - Low-caste Indians hold high cards in election

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

At least 10 dead in Azeri college shooting: report | International | | 30 April 2009
Endeavour speeds toward space station | 14 November 2008
Firstsource Adds To Healthcare Processing Team | 9 September 2010

Indonesia military says no 'direct' payments from US miner | 25 March 2009

">Forum Views () ">Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Low-caste Indians hold high cards in election

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail Yahoo! Search Search: Sign InNew User? Sign Up News Home - Help Navigation Primary Navigation Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Secondary Navigation Asia Pacific World Search Search: Low-caste Indians hold high cards in election AFP - Tuesday, April 14 NEW DELHI (AFP) - - Omprakash Ram spends his days cleaning the streets of New Delhi. Passers-by usually shun him, but this is election season and that means Ram is suddenly getting a lot of attention. ADVERTISEMENT As one of 165 million Dalits, the lowest rung in India's rigid caste hierarchy, Ram belongs to a community whose votes could swing the result of the national polls that begin on April 16. Ostracized by much of society, most Dalits -- or "untouchables" as they used to be known -- live in rural areas and lag behind upper-castes in education, employment and housing, often performing menial tasks such as cleaning sewers and collecting garbage. But come election time, they find themselves courted by politicians of all stripes with promises of job quotas, free schooling and food subsidies. Ram, 21, said he is doubtful that the election results will improve his quality of life. "I don't think much will change," he said. "Politicians are all the same." But although the first-time voter professes to have little faith in the mainstream political parties, he is adamant that his ballot will be counted. "It's the only time I will ever be important," he told AFP. In recent years, Dalit consciousness has risen to the point where they and other minorities turn out to vote in higher numbers than middle- and upper-class citizens. "They know that for centuries they have been exploited and marginalised, and electoral politics is the one place where they can actually have an influence," said Vidhu Verma, a professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi who studies caste politics. So-called "Dalit parties" such as the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have been successful on a regional scale but have had to co-opt other minorities and upper-caste voters to expand their base. Mayawati Kumari, the BSP leader who serves as chief minister of India's most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, has shown how far Dalits can come in politics, and has her sights set on becoming India's first "untouchable" prime minister. At a rally last week in the northern state of Haryana, thousands of supporters braved the heat to listen to her stump speech. Ram Kishan, a Dalit labourer with six children, said he came to see Mayawati because he believed she would make his life better. "I think she will deliver her promises. All I need is two meals a day for my family," he said. But Mayawati cannot take nationwide Dalit support for granted as there are other regional parties vying for their votes, particularly outside the Hindi-speaking heartland of north India. "They don't vote as a bloc throughout India, but they do vote together in different regions," said Verma. Politicians from all parties are often accused of wooing Dalit votes, only to abandon the community as soon as they get elected. And those Dalits who have obtained elected office with mainstream parties -- often as the result of affirmative action programmes -- often find it difficult to push pro-Dalit policy. "Once they get elected they work for the party, not for the Dalits," said Udit Raj, chairman of the Dalit International Foundation, which fights against discrimination. "That's the predicament," he said, adding that many Dalit politicians are afraid to challenge their own parties' core policies. Raj is also president of the Indian Justice Party (IJP), which he hopes will serve as a voice for Dalit concerns across the country. The IJP is fielding around 100 candidates on a platform of compulsory and equal education, a casteless society, and job creation. A bronze bust of Dalit icon and the architect of the Indian constitution, B.R. Ambedkar, sits in a glass case on Raj's desk. Raj followed in Ambedkar's footsteps and converted to Buddhism to escape the constant persecution he was subjected to as a Dalit. He has married outside his caste and risen to the top of the Indian civil service as a tax officer -- and now he wants the Hindu caste system to be "annihilated." Such views anger many upper-caste Indians, who resent quotas for Dalits in education and employment, and argue that continued benefits encourage Dalit segregation and limit their incentive to work hard. But for Raj, such attitudes reveal a political elite unwilling to address deep-rooted social problems. "Even educated people are not above the caste line," he said. "As long as caste is there, I don't think India is going to become a developed nation." Email Story IM Story Printable View Blog This Recommend this article 0 users recommend Sign in to recommend this article » Most Recommended Stories » Related Articles: Entertainment & Lifestyle Spike seals deal for show on Navy pirate huntersAP - 1 hour 18 minutes ago US-ENTERTAINMENT SummaryReuters - Tuesday, April 14 Caine says career will fade away like old soldierReuters - Tuesday, April 14 "Hannah Montana" rocks box officeReuters - Tuesday, April 14 Hannah Montana tops box office with $34 millionAP - Tuesday, April 14 Most Popular – Entertainment Viewed Mummies found in ancient Egypt burial chamber Harry Potter actor arrested over cannabis find Swedish church unveils Lego Jesus statue for Easter US govt tells GM to prepare for bankruptcy filing Soldiers get a taste of Afghanistan in US training View Complete List » Search: Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - Community - Intellectual Property Rights Policy - Help

Other News on Monday, 13 April 2009
Cuba readies for possible influx of U.S. tourists | International |
Hannah Montana rocks North American box office | Entertainment |
Thai army cracks down on anti-government protesters | International |
Sudan kidnappers threaten to kill aid workers
U.S. Navy rescues captain and kills Somali pirates | International |
Iraq's embattled Christians celebrate Easter
On jumpy Lebanon-Israel frontier, a quiet drug war
Afghan villagers say air strike kills civilians | International |
Russia's Lukoil to send team to Iraq for talks
China sets human rights agenda for sensitive year | International |
Iraqi lawmakers decry move against cartoonist
US govt tells GM to prepare for bankruptcy filing
Soldiers get a taste of Afghanistan in US training
British Telecom to slash 10,000 jobs: report
Maoists shut down mine in eastern India, 14 dead | International |
Switzerland 'to hit back' at OECD in tax row
Indonesia president's party may extend Golkar tieup | International |
Swedish church unveils Lego Jesus statue for Easter
Bolivia's Morales to keep up hunger strike protest | International |
US Al-Qaeda member urges support for jihadists
Bodies of US troops killed in Iraq arrive home
US weighing where to charge captured Somali pirate
US general Odierno: Iraq violence low
US-TECH Summary
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,272
South Africa's campaigns embrace technology
Obama twice approved force to rescue hostage
EBay buys Korean rival's stake for $413 million: report | Technology |
Commander: Pirates' deaths could escalate violence
Officer: Split-second decision to fire on pirates
British PM faces tough questions over 'smeargate'
Florence Cassez's lawyer ready to go before ICC
11 police, 4 rebels killed after Indian mine siege
Fiji's media dark under political news blackout
Dragonball Evolution a backward step | Entertainment |
Thai army cracks down on protesters
Star Wars: Musical Journey out of this world | Entertainment |
Japan whaling fleet returns to port after clashes
NBC sees some hope with Thursday premieres | Entertainment |
China sets human rights agenda for sensitive year
Bitter pill: Showtime passes on Tim Robbins drama | Entertainment |
Gunfire heard, water cannons fired in Bangkok
TNT cancels ad-agency drama Trust Me | Entertainment |
Taiwan working with China on WHA status
Grisly sights at Sydney's Museum of Human Disease
Seoul shares end up helped by autos, shupbuilders
Heavy fog delays China helicopter rescue
NBC sees some hope with Thursday premieres
S.Korean won ends up 0.3 pct on EBay news
Sri Lanka suspends offensive for 2 days
Bids are in for India's troubled Satyam
China eyes new stimulus to boost spending
China to allow banks to start insurance units
China: industrial output up 8.3 percent in March
Japan wholesale prices log fastest drop since 2002
US charities take double blow as economy slows
Taiwan dollar up on stocks amid slow trade
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
S.Korea banks' loan delinquency ratio falls in Mar
"Dragonball Evolution" a backward step
China holds up Lucite takeover: Mitsubishi Rayon
Richard Price, T.C. Boyle elected to arts academy
Amazon 'glitch' removes sales rank from gay books
British adventurer abandons Antarctic rowing bid
NBC sees some hope with Thursday premieres
Bitter pill: Showtime passes on Tim Robbins drama
TNT cancels ad-agency drama "Trust Me"
'Hannah Montana' teenybops to top of box office
Four Lebanese soldiers killed
Gaza boat explodes in apparent attack, no injuries
Iran says it's open to nuclear dialogue with powers | International |
Pakistani Taliban begin imposing rule in new area | International |
Iran says it welcomes nuclear talks with West
Police nab Norwegian pair during high-speed sex
Georgia protesters intensify push to oust president | International |
Turkey detains 18 over links to government plot case | International |
Vague Russia pledge on no S-300 to Iran: Israelis | International |
Sudan's Bashir hails Obama's overture to Islamic world | International |
India digs for votes with job plan: Will it work? | International |
Iran tells EU official ready for nuclear talks
US sergeant pleads not guilty to murder in Iraq
Microsoft, Discovery in online advertising deal | Technology |
Sri Lanka suspends offensive for 2 days
Caine says career will fade away like old soldier | Entertainment |
Sri Lanka strips Norway of peace role
Hannah Montana rocks box office | Entertainment |
Japan supports US goal to eliminate nuclear arms
Thai soldiers spray gunfire, tear gas at protest
Norway no longer Sri Lankan peace mediator
Kazakh deputy defense minister arrested
Japan deports Filipinos in immigration row, daughter stays
China's economy shows signs of recovery
No conditions on US aid
Thai turmoil to slam already reeling economy
China pledges to improve human rights
India outsourcing firm buys stake in Satyam
'Deep concern' after Fiji throws out journalists
SE Asian cities 'facing hotel room glut'
Habib, MCB eyeing RBS Pakistan unit
Asian markets up as dealers remain confident
18-month sentence sought for SKorean blogger
Kazakhs, China in talks over stake in oil producer
Final auction of scandal-hit dairy's assets fails
Japan ends import duties on Hynix memory chips
Caine says career will fade away like old soldier
"Hannah Montana" rocks box office
Hannah Montana tops box office with $34 million
Concert pays tribute to Marian Anderson
Low-caste Indians hold high cards in election
Indonesia imposes new law on airliners
Indonesia president's party eyes pact with Golkar
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph		BlogMeter 1.01