Chapter 1 ON EQUALITY

Equal Right To Vote

In India, a democratic country, all adults, regardless of their religion, education, caste, or economic status, have the right to vote. This principle, known as universal adult franchise, is a cornerstone of democracy. It signifies that every adult citizen has one vote, underscoring the idea of equality. Kanta, a domestic worker, experiences this equality when she stands in line with her employer, Ashok Jain, to cast her vote, feeling equal to everyone else due to this shared right.

Other Kinds Of Equality

While Kanta enjoys the equal right to vote, her daily life reveals stark inequalities in living and working conditions. She lives in a slum with a drain behind her house, and her sick daughter cannot receive immediate medical attention due to her demanding work schedule and need to borrow money from her employers. The line at the government hospital, unlike the voting line, is mostly composed of poor people, making Kanta question the true meaning of equality.

Caste System

One of the most prevalent forms of inequality in India is the caste system. Even in urban areas, caste identity remains significant, as reflected in matrimonial advertisements that emphasize caste background. The story of Omprakash Valmiki, a Dalit child, highlights how caste discrimination manifests in educational institutions. He was made to sweep the school and playground separately from other students, denied basic facilities like drinking water, and subjected to physical punishment, all due to his caste.

Omprakash Valmiki’s Experience

Omprakash Valmiki's experience illustrates the violation of dignity caused by caste-based discrimination. His teacher and classmates treated him unequally by making him sweep the school due to his caste, causing him immense humiliation and making him feel inferior. It was only when his father intervened that this unequal treatment stopped. Omprakash's father's assertive response aimed to ensure his son and future Dalit children would receive equal treatment and respect in school.

The Ansaris’ Story

The Ansaris, a couple seeking to rent an apartment in a city, faced discrimination based on their religion. Despite having the financial means, they were repeatedly denied housing because of their names, which suggested they were Muslim. Landladies made excuses about their inability to rent to non-vegetarians, even when the smell of fish cooking from a neighbor's house indicated otherwise. The property dealer suggested they change their names to "Kumar" to find accommodation. The Ansaris' refusal to change their names demonstrated their commitment to maintaining their dignity and self-respect, highlighting that they deserved the same respect and opportunities as anyone else.

Recognising Dignity

Inequality arises from factors such as caste, religion, class, gender, and disability. When individuals are treated unequally due to these differences, their dignity—their sense of self-worth and respect—is violated. Omprakash Valmiki's dignity was hurt by the humiliating treatment he received at school because of his caste. Similarly, the Ansaris' dignity was compromised when they were denied housing based on their religious identity. Their refusal to change their names, despite the difficulty in finding a place to live, underscores their desire to uphold their self-respect and be treated with equal dignity.

Equality In Indian Democracy

The Indian Constitution recognizes all individuals as equal, irrespective of their religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth, or economic and educational backgrounds. While inequality persists in practice, the principle of equality is a fundamental tenet of Indian democracy. This recognition is implemented through two primary means: laws and government programs.

Constitutional Provisions

The Constitution guarantees several rights to ensure equality:

• Equality before the Law: All persons are subject to the same laws, from the President to a domestic worker like Kanta.
• Prohibition of Discrimination: No citizen can be discriminated against based on religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth.
• Access to Public Places: Everyone has access to public places such as playgrounds, hotels, shops, markets, and publicly maintained wells, roads, and bathing ghats.
• Abolition of Untouchability: The practice of untouchability has been abolished by law.

Government Programmes

The government implements schemes to address historical inequalities and provide greater opportunities for disadvantaged communities. A notable example is the midday meal scheme, introduced in all government elementary schools to provide cooked lunch. Tamil Nadu pioneered this scheme, and the Supreme Court mandated its implementation nationwide. The scheme has improved children's attendance and reduced hunger among poor students. It also helps reduce caste prejudices as children from all backgrounds eat together, and in many places, Dalit women are employed to cook the meals. Despite these efforts, significant disparities remain, with many schools still discriminating against Dalit children, underscoring that legal provisions alone are insufficient to change deeply ingrained attitudes.

Issues Of Equality In Other Democracies

The Civil Rights Movement In The USA

Inequalities and struggles for equality are not unique to India. In the United States, African-Americans, whose ancestors were enslaved, continue to face significant inequality. Despite the Civil Rights Movement in the late 1950s, which fought for equal rights and led to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibiting racial discrimination, most African-Americans remain among the poorest. They often attend government schools with fewer resources compared to white students, highlighting the persistent gap between legal equality and lived reality.

Rosa Parks' act of defiance in refusing to give up her bus seat to a white man in 1955 ignited the Civil Rights Movement, a pivotal moment in the struggle against racial discrimination.

Challenge Of Democracy

No democracy is entirely free from inequality. In all democratic societies, individuals and communities continuously strive to expand the concept of democracy and seek greater recognition of equality. This ongoing struggle for equal treatment and the maintenance of dignity is central to democratic functioning. As the book progresses, it emphasizes the importance of critically examining how the principle of equality and the maintenance of dignity are upheld in various aspects of life in democratic India.