SUMMARY
The Chuhras, Valmiki’s own caste, lived across the pond, which acted as a natural barrier between the upper caste quarters and the untouchables. It demarcates not just the physical space occupied by the upper and the lower castes, but the two different worlds of existence. The Chuhras exist among filth and deprivation. The description of the basti gives us a sense of the utter deprivation faced by the untouchable community.In short the Chuhras lived in a physical and social space devoid of human dignity, obviously as a consequence of the caste system the social and psychological deprivation is compounded by economic deprivation as well. Though every member of the Valmiki household worked it was difficult for them to arrange for two decent meals in a day.The Chuhras did all kinds of works for the Tagas (upper caste people) and often without pay because they dare not refuse the Tagas.. Due to their lowly social position they were often abused by the upper castes and made to work for free. They were considered polluted and less than human. Ironically, one could touch animals but not Chuhras .It is within this sub-human context that Valmiki’s struggle for an education begins. The government schools, though officially open for the untouchables, refused admission to them. It was a generous Sevak Ram Masihi, a Christian, who took Valmiki into his open air school. But after a tiff with Sevak Ram, Valmiki’s father took him to the Basic Primary school. After a prolonged period of begging and cajoling, Master Har Phool Singh allowed Valmiki into the school. It is important to remember that all this was happening eight years after India became independent ., there were two more of them in Valmimi’s class, were made to sit away from the others. What is heartening though is that the three untouchable children, though from different castes, had a bond of solidarity. Despite the humiliation by fellow students as well as the teachers the three of them persisted and continued in the school.The experience at the school, described in these passages, highlight the cruelty and heartlessness of the teachers and fellow students.They were openly abused in the classroom by the teacher and often beaten up as well.The experience at the school leaves a lasting impression on the young Valmiki. For instance the image of the guru (teacher) that Valmiki would remember throughout his life is that of a man who would swear about his mother and sister and who would sexually abuse young boys. However the turning point for him as well as his father was an especially humiliating experience forced upon the young Valmiki by the Headmaster Kaliram who seems to be a rabid casteist.Valmiki suffered this indignity for three days. On the fourth day his father discovered him with a broom in his hand sweeping the school compound. The courage and fortitude shown by his father is indeed remarkable. Expectedly Valmiki was thrown out of the school. But his father was not going to give up easily. He promised the Headmaster that Valmiki would indeed study in the same school and that he will ensure that more untouchables would follow Valmiki to the school. With dogged determination Valmiki`s father, with the help of the village Pradhan ‘Chaudhri Saheb’, managed to send him back to school The courage and fortitude shown by his father is indeed remarkable. Expectedly Valmiki was thrown out of the school. But his father was not going to give up easily. He promised the Headmaster that Valmiki would indeed study in the same school and that he will ensure that more untouchables would follow Valmiki to the school. With dogged determination Valmiki`s father, with the help of the village Pradhan ‘Chaudhri Saheb’, managed to send him back to school.
CONCLUSION OF THE STORY -: The ‘true to life’ format of the autobiography helps him to lay bare the brutality inherent in the caste system, which consequently becomes a powerful argument in favour of dismantling this undesirable form of social organization. At the same time, Valmiki’s own struggles and success, acts as motivation for others to struggle and achieve their goals. Joothan symbolizes the struggle for dignity and human rights and demonstrates that a revolutionary transformation of society is not just desirable but possible as well.
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