Friday October 24
The Dahlit people are the lowest grouping in the Indian caste system. The Brahmans are at the top. I don't think I have met any of those. But I was looking forward to meeting and interacting with some Dahlits. Only because they are considered "the least". I had my opportunity today.
Akash works in the kitchen in Frank's home with a number of other boys. He is Dahlit and Frank suggested we go and visit his parent's home somewhere in a colony near the nuclear power plant.
We were driven as near as possible to the neighbourhood until the streets got so narrow one could only walk. We walked through narrow pathways between rows of houses, under clothes lines and finally came to the edge of the river where women were hand washing clothes and scrubbing them on the concrete-lined river bed. There was a recently constructed two-room house that was all ready to move into. Akash's mother and brother had built it out of brick, plastered it, and Akash had painted it. By neighbouring standards, it was beautiful. While waiting for his mother and father to arrive, we visited with the neighbouring aunt and uncle. His uncle is a contractor building a new cooling tower at the nuclear power plant. It looks almost finished to me, but there is another year before completion. It is massive.
Anyway, Uncle hopped aboard his motorcycle and went to get bottled water and Mountain Dew that we shared around in small glasses. While we waited we were introduced to Akash's cousins and some of their friends. We have the younger boys toy cars and some marbles. Everyone got Costco dark chocolates. The girls complained, there is nothing for us. Oh yes there is! One by one they sat in a chair in front of me. I donned latex gloves and applied nice body lotion to their arms from the elbow down. They liked the smell of the coconut lotion. It was improper for me to do that for the married women. I asked if there were any babies, but the cousins were teenage girls and there was a lot of laughter over that. One girl ran and found a happy 10- month old baby and I dig out a baby cap which proved to be too small. So I had one crib-size quilt that I gave instead. One cousin who recently got married, is expecting her first child so I left a couple of infant caps as a gift for the newborn.
Eventually, Akash's mother and father showed up and showed off their newly completed home. They invited us in and brought us tea from somewhere (the kitchen is still not finished) and we sat on a bed and on the floor of a 12x12 room adjacent to a kitchen less than half that size. The toilets outside are still under construction. They have been renting for twenty years and are now looking forward to living in their new home and eliminating that monthly expense. To celebrate with them, I suggested she get herself a new dress, and a new shirt for her husband. I made a contribution to that end and demonstrates a happy dance in their living/sleeping room.
Their symbol of respect for guests is to bow down and touch your feet. As I tried to reciprocate, they restrained me from bowing down and doing the same. It was very humbling. We went for a short walk through the neighbourhood to visit their rental quarters. Again, basically a one room, all purpose dwelling that cost 1000 rupees per month. Their monthly salary is less than 3000 rupees a month. Of course, we were introduced to the landlady and other neighbours and everyone seemed to want us to come into their home, stretching out rugs and gesturing us in. Well, we had a driver waiting patiently for us at the road, so we put our hands together, bowed and said "Danyawal".
As they accompanied us to the road, there were a few other wide-eyed kids who got a ball, a car or some chocolate. What a fun day! It was truly an eye-opener and a contrast to what we are familiar with. I could have spent a lot more time there.
In the evening, Carsen and I got to share some real life stories with the boys at the chapel through an interpreter. A different experience for Carsen, but it was also a fun time with the boys. Many of them don't understand English, so it was a way of letting them know a little bit about us. Afterwards, we had a late supper of rice and goat meat. It was delicious. Then contacts with family back home and wearily found our welcoming beds.
The Dahlit people are the lowest grouping in the Indian caste system. The Brahmans are at the top. I don't think I have met any of those. But I was looking forward to meeting and interacting with some Dahlits. Only because they are considered "the least". I had my opportunity today.
Akash works in the kitchen in Frank's home with a number of other boys. He is Dahlit and Frank suggested we go and visit his parent's home somewhere in a colony near the nuclear power plant.
We were driven as near as possible to the neighbourhood until the streets got so narrow one could only walk. We walked through narrow pathways between rows of houses, under clothes lines and finally came to the edge of the river where women were hand washing clothes and scrubbing them on the concrete-lined river bed. There was a recently constructed two-room house that was all ready to move into. Akash's mother and brother had built it out of brick, plastered it, and Akash had painted it. By neighbouring standards, it was beautiful. While waiting for his mother and father to arrive, we visited with the neighbouring aunt and uncle. His uncle is a contractor building a new cooling tower at the nuclear power plant. It looks almost finished to me, but there is another year before completion. It is massive.
Anyway, Uncle hopped aboard his motorcycle and went to get bottled water and Mountain Dew that we shared around in small glasses. While we waited we were introduced to Akash's cousins and some of their friends. We have the younger boys toy cars and some marbles. Everyone got Costco dark chocolates. The girls complained, there is nothing for us. Oh yes there is! One by one they sat in a chair in front of me. I donned latex gloves and applied nice body lotion to their arms from the elbow down. They liked the smell of the coconut lotion. It was improper for me to do that for the married women. I asked if there were any babies, but the cousins were teenage girls and there was a lot of laughter over that. One girl ran and found a happy 10- month old baby and I dig out a baby cap which proved to be too small. So I had one crib-size quilt that I gave instead. One cousin who recently got married, is expecting her first child so I left a couple of infant caps as a gift for the newborn.
Eventually, Akash's mother and father showed up and showed off their newly completed home. They invited us in and brought us tea from somewhere (the kitchen is still not finished) and we sat on a bed and on the floor of a 12x12 room adjacent to a kitchen less than half that size. The toilets outside are still under construction. They have been renting for twenty years and are now looking forward to living in their new home and eliminating that monthly expense. To celebrate with them, I suggested she get herself a new dress, and a new shirt for her husband. I made a contribution to that end and demonstrates a happy dance in their living/sleeping room.
Their symbol of respect for guests is to bow down and touch your feet. As I tried to reciprocate, they restrained me from bowing down and doing the same. It was very humbling. We went for a short walk through the neighbourhood to visit their rental quarters. Again, basically a one room, all purpose dwelling that cost 1000 rupees per month. Their monthly salary is less than 3000 rupees a month. Of course, we were introduced to the landlady and other neighbours and everyone seemed to want us to come into their home, stretching out rugs and gesturing us in. Well, we had a driver waiting patiently for us at the road, so we put our hands together, bowed and said "Danyawal".
As they accompanied us to the road, there were a few other wide-eyed kids who got a ball, a car or some chocolate. What a fun day! It was truly an eye-opener and a contrast to what we are familiar with. I could have spent a lot more time there.
In the evening, Carsen and I got to share some real life stories with the boys at the chapel through an interpreter. A different experience for Carsen, but it was also a fun time with the boys. Many of them don't understand English, so it was a way of letting them know a little bit about us. Afterwards, we had a late supper of rice and goat meat. It was delicious. Then contacts with family back home and wearily found our welcoming beds.
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