Name: Geeta Renuse

Subject: English

Date: 7/12/15

Topic: Refugees as untouchables and can see Europe through the eyes of the Indian woman and how refugees are treated into the western society

Rationale

 This written task relates to the  book of "Seasons of Migrations to the North" and  focuses on  a study of mass media and  emphasis on language and migration.

       In addition, my task is informed by my reading of “Refugees as Untouchables” about the current refugee crisis.  Four million Syrian people fled this year due to danger in their country. They came to Europe and most of them went to Germany, Italy or UK. I am going to draw a comparison between "Untouchables" their representation and treatment, and the representation of treatments of refugees in Europe

       I decided to write about this topic because it seemed definitely interesting to me and this was right after the refugee crisis. I have been in Europe during the refugee crisis and I saw, read and heard stories how the European people treated the refugees.Through this, I certainly was able to relate to the refugees and motivated me. Refugee crisis was heart-breaking and I decided to compare the concept of untouchability within the caste system in India which still exists today.

        I have studied that “Language plays an important role”, and that language itself can’t be distinct from other aspects of social, cultural and economic.

        Hence, for my written task, I have written a blog about the "refugees as untouchables" to see Europe through the eyes of an Indian woman's perspective  where I can  express  and pretty much  relate to Caste System. The use of pictures  may give an unbelievable image of how the Europeans are treating the  refugees. The purpose is to inform how the Europeans have treated  refugees and try to make a change.

      My blog conveys the thoughts. I have written about a story of a family and have made several connections based on the refugees as untouchables.

              Refugee as Untouchables

This was taken from google.

Let me begin with a small anecdote about a family that I met and their journey to Europe. They were a well-settled family in Turkey, who, due to the serious, dangerous and complex conditions, was forced or compelled to move out of the country. The journey was really difficult, frustrating and a most unforgettable one.  When they reached the shore, they rejoiced with happiness and were proud that they made it through this dreadful journey.  But the actual treatment given to them became known to the world due to the media.  The family was treated really badly and the picture placed above shows how they were treated as untouchables. The family "other" was constructed through the process of the "othering" as the Europeans.  There are several ways through which the media  connects the plight of the refugees with that of untouchables not just on the basis of the above-mentioned my family but also by talking to other refugee families.

   At times, the media portrays refugees as untouchables, those who fled their country and deserved to be looked down upon. Europe being an advanced and developed continent was a natural choice for many of the refugees leading to huge groups of people migrating to Germany and UK.  Many are of the opinion that the Germans and the British nationals consider themselves superior and the refugees as inferior because of the economic superiority and improved social conditions of these two countries. They also, at times, feel that they have got power to rule over the refugees because the refugees are helpless and will not retaliate.  In the case of the Untouchables in India, they too were considered inferior while the Brahmins were considered as superior. Due to this, the Brahmins gave the orders and the Dalits followed them because they had no option. The Dalits too were looked down upon by the Brahmins and this shows the similarities in the treatment meted out to both these social groups.

    

       The concepts of purity and impurity play a role in this  situation. Here, the Germans, British nationals and other European countries are considered “Pure” and the refugees, “Impure”. For a refugee, it is extremely difficult to start a new life in a new country and try and merge into a new society. There are numerous restrictions that are imposed on the refugees. This is similar to the condition of the untouchables in India who were made to live in social isolation with restrictions on every aspect of their daily functioning. Due to this belief of purity and impurity, untouchables were not allowed to live within village boundaries.  The untouchables (Dalits) weren’t allowed to participate in the society. Such practices reveal the similarities in the conditions of the Untouchables and refugees.

This is picture was taken from Google

  Media helps us understand the level of discrimination being practiced in society. This is evident in the quality of financial support, medical facilities, food, education and jobs given to refugees. Most governments tend to provide help or look after their own citizens even if they live in comparatively stable conditions rather than providing the refugees with the assistance that they are in need of. For example, when it comes to quality job opportunities, it is more likely for a citizen to get appointed than for a refugee, even if he/she is better qualified and better suited for the post. In the case of untouchables, caste-based discrimination is one of the most complicated human rights issues to exist in a society.Discrimination denied access to quality education, health care facilities and good jobs to the Dalits.  

       Another interesting similarity between the untouchables and refugees is in the area of their religious practices. When in a new country, refugees find it very difficult to continue practicing their faith as many a times they do not have the means to do so. When it comes to untouchables (Dalits), they were not allowed to enter the temples premises because the Brahmin Pujaris (priests), who were in charge of the temples, thought that the untouchables would pollute the holy areas because of which they often ordered the untouchables to undergo humiliating cleansing rituals.

       To summarize this article, there is evidence to show that refugees are largely ill—treated and made to feel like untouchables.  After an arduous journey from their war-torn nation, they deserve to be welcomed by all and to be given basic assistance to help integrate them into their new societies. Every individual must do his/her bit in this and it is important to work collectively in order to change the common perception that refugees are inferior and not deserving of respect. Every individual must do the divided bits and should be given basic assistance to help integrate them into their new societies. Every individual must do.

     

      But I leave that up to you and urge you to ask yourself  to think how you would feel if you were treated in this manner. Let me end with a phrase.

"When people make wars, they make refugees.”

                                                                                           By Author: Michael Morpurgo

 

Word Count: 830