THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK
Bal Ram Sampla
Geopolitics
Yesterday, the British media covered the horrific rape case and outrage that has caused.
When a woman is raped in India, we often see headlines, protests, and angry voices demanding justice. But when a Dalit girl suffers the same brutal crime, the response is very different. Her cries often go unheard. The media stays silent. The police don’t act. Society looks away.
Why does this happen? What is wrong with our society?
The answer lies in the caste system that still controls how Indian society works. This ancient hierarchy divides people into groups, with Dalits placed at the bottom. For centuries, Hindu society has taught that Dalits are “untouchable” and less than human. Even though the law says everyone is equal, these old beliefs remain deeply rooted in people’s minds.
When a Dalit woman is raped, society does not see it the same way as when an upper-caste woman is attacked. Her body is not valued. Her dignity is not respected. Her suffering does not matter as much. This is the ugly truth that many people refuse to admit.
Rape as a Weapon of Caste Power
Sexual violence against Dalit women is not just about gender. It is also about caste. Upper-caste men have used rape as a tool to “keep Dalits in their place” for generations. When a Dalit family tries to claim their rights, when they dare to speak up or demand equality, the punishment often falls on their women and girls.
This violence sends a clear message: “You are beneath us. We can do what we want to you.” And the silence that follows sends another message: “No one will help you. No one cares.”
Where Is the Outrage?
When rape cases make national news, we see candle marches, social media campaigns, and political leaders making speeches. But these responses are selective. They depend on who the victim is.
For a Dalit girl:
(I) Police often refuse to register her complaint
(II) Doctors may not examine her properly
(III) Media ignores her story
(IV) Society blames her or her family
(V) Justice rarely comes
The outrage is missing because, deep down, Hindu society still does not see Dalit women as fully human. Their pain is normalized. Their rape is expected. It is treated as “just how things are” rather than a horrific crime that demands immediate action.
The Role of Media and Middle-Class Society
The media plays a huge role in deciding which victims deserve attention. Middle-class, upper-caste journalists and editors choose which stories to cover. They relate to victims who look like them, who come from families like theirs. A Dalit woman’s suffering feels distant, less important, maybe even uncomfortable to acknowledge.
Middle-class society also stays silent because speaking up would mean admitting their own privilege. It would mean recognizing that they benefit from a system built on the oppression of others. This is difficult and painful, so it is easier to look away.
What This Says About Hindu Society
The selective outrage reveals something deeply wrong with Hindu society. Despite all the talk of progress and development, casteism remains alive and powerful. It decides whose life matters and whose does not. It determines who gets justice and who is left to suffer in silence.
Hindu society preaches values of dharma, compassion, and treating all beings with respect. But these values do not extend to Dalits, especially Dalit women. They are excluded from society’s circle of care and concern.
This is not just about individual prejudice. It is about how society is organized. The caste system is built into how people think, how institutions work, and how justice is delivered.
The Need for Change
Until Hindu society confronts its casteism honestly, this pattern will continue. Dalit women will keep being raped. Their cries will keep being ignored. And society will keep pretending that everything is fine.
Real change requires:
(i) Admitting that caste discrimination exists and causes real harm
(II) Holding police and officials accountable when they ignore Dalit victims
(III) Giving equal media attention to all rape cases, regardless of caste
(IV) Educating people to see Dalits as fully human and deserving of dignity
(V) Dismantling the caste system in all its forms
The silence around Dalit women’s suffering is not an accident. It is a choice. Society chooses who to care about and who to ignore. Until that changes, justice will remain only for some, while others are left in the darkness, their voices unheard, their pain invisible.
Every woman’s body deserves protection. Every girl’s cry deserves to be heard. Every victim deserves justice. Until this is true for all women, including Dalit women, Hindu society has failed in its most basic duty: protecting its most vulnerable members.
References
1.https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15424553/Outrage-India-mother-three-abducted-gang-raped-moving-van-two-hours.html?ito=whatsapp_share_article-top
2.https://www.themirror.com/news/world-news/mom-3-gang-raped-2-1591421
