Siwan, Bihar- ‘She is a Chamar, and she is a woman as well. What will come of it? Women are weaker than men. She should be given some other work. Since she is a Chamar, she can neither enter our homes nor eat with us..."

Tears well up in Sheila Devi's eyes as she says, villagers allow her to work in the fields cutting crops. Sheila has two children, aged three and five. Her husband has passed away, and she lives with her children in Barhulia village, which falls under the Narendrapur Panchayat and Jeeradei block in Siwan district. Narendrapur Panchayat comprises thirteen wards, and this village has five wards. Sheila is a member of Ward 5 in the village.

Sheila mentioned that they own a bit of land and property, but without a job, she has to worry about earning a daily livelihood. As a ward member, she does receive 500 rupees from the government each month, but it often comes all at once after six months or a year. There are often significant funds allocated for village improvements, but she is unaware of their utilization. The higher-ups seem to divide it amongst themselves. Whenever a general meeting occurs, this issue is discussed. Regarding the local environment, Sheila Devi points out that the people here also practice caste discrimination. She shares with a fellow woman, ‘In the village temple, we are not even allowed inside. We have to get our worship done from outside. This is the case for our entire caste, while those of higher castes enter the temple.’

Further into the village is a wide lane. A local resident mentioned that this lane marks the beginning of the upper-caste neighborhood. A bit farther, the homes of the Dalits are found, with fields on one side and houses on the other. Though the village has a mixed population, it appears that people from different communities do not closely interact with each other.

An incomplete brick house with two women standing at its entrance belongs to the Musahar caste. One of them, a girl currently in her twelfth grade, feels that caste has not caused her significant difficulties. However, she notes that marriages here are only within the same caste. She blames the society for this, explaining that their culture dictates that everyone marries within their own caste.”

A Dom family also resides nearby. A woman was seen peeling bamboo, while an elderly man sat on a cot. The woman, who appeared to be between 60 and 65 years old, mentioned that she cannot even recall how long she has been performing this work in the same manner.

The Dom community is widespread across large parts of Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Traditionally, they peel bamboo to make baskets, hand fans, and various everyday items. These items are used in numerous religious rituals, although it is customary to purify them with Ganga water or other water before use.

The woman peeling bamboo is named Panbati. She explains that this is the work that has been done in her family for generations. It was the same at her parents' house, and it continues in her marital home as well. Panbati's husband has two brothers, and together they have four sons. Including all their children, Panbati's extended family consists of 26 members.

When discussing education, Panbati shared that she and her family are not educated, but her granddaughter Sonali is studying. Sonali, who was listening to our conversation from a short distance away, mentioned that at her school, everyone stays together and eats together.

Seventeen-year-old Sonali is currently in the twelfth grade. Before the lockdown, she attended regular school, but since then, she has had to switch to distance learning. Sonali notes that the pandemic has significantly impacted their education, and she has lost touch with some friends during this period, making it difficult to meet them.

She mentions, “My friends don’t come to my house because we keep pigs. They don’t like it.”

Sonali says that even in the neighborhood, people only talk from a distance, and coming close is perhaps not acceptable due to the presence of these pigs. With her brown eyes, clear complexion, and slender frame, Sonali had many dreams in her eyes.

This is a snapshot of Siwan. Its other side is that Siwan is one of the most economically prosperous districts. The reason is that people from here have sought employment abroad, especially in Gulf countries. This migration has brought prosperity to the area compared to other districts in Bihar. According to a 2017 report by The Telegraph, the number of migrants from Bihar increased from 36,493 in 2006 to 84,000 in 2012, and has now risen to approximately 150,000.

In 2018, a total of 47,773 people from Siwan applied for passports, followed by 38,182 applications from Gopalganj. Patna had the third-largest number of passport applications in Bihar. Regional Passport Officer in Patna, P.M. Sahay, stated, “In 2018, the fewest passport applications (854) came from Shivhar.”

A 2019 report by Hindustan Times notes that the official Bihar government website states, “Small industries based on micro-enterprises and artisans play a significant role in the industrial sector in Bihar. However, in recent years, there has been a gradual decline in the industrial landscape.”

The website further states, “Currently, Siwan has four industrial units, including two cement plants.” It adds that the district has potential in the dairy industry and plans to establish a processing unit. Additionally, the construction sector is being boosted as expatriates return to Siwan and invest in building homes.

People from Siwan have worked in Gulf countries and several other nations. The good earnings have not only improved their family status but have also made the district one of the prosperous ones. However, these statistics do not indicate which social groups migrated the most.

But does an increase in wealth and prosperity reduce social and caste-based disparities? For insights, discussions were held with Dalits from two villages in Ziraidei, Miya Ka Bhitkan, and Barhulia village. Most of them believe that while employment and money have come, the sting of caste discrimination persists. However, some have disputed this.

The discussions with Sheela Devi, Panbati, and others were also with residents of Barhulia village.

We spoke with another family from the same area. They had two sons. One of them, Pradeep, went to Dubai in 2018 for a job. He got a technician position there, worked for a few years, and returned home in 2021. He has now moved to Delhi and works at a Hero showroom.

Pradeep says, “The money there is good, but it’s not always on time. That’s why I had to come back.” Pradeep is from the Chamar caste but prefers to be called Harijan. He notes that one positive aspect of Dubai was that no one cared about caste.

He explains, “There’s a lot of caste discrimination in the village. For example, many upper-caste people from our own village don’t even step onto our doorstep, don’t eat at our place, and don’t come to our weddings. But when I was in Dubai, everyone only knew that I was Hindu or Muslim. Yes, a few Hindus did pay attention to caste there.”

Pradeep adds, “We have money and education, but caste always comes first. Even if you are wealthy and successful, caste discrimination remains.”

Located about three kilometers from Barhulia, Miyan Ka Bhatkan is a village in the Jeeradei block, with the same name for the Panchayat. At around 11 AM, the sun was directly overhead and the heat of the day was intense, but the village was eerily quiet. As we walked further, we encountered a partially clad man carrying something towards a thatched house. Upon hearing that we wanted to speak with the villagers, he directed us towards a brick-built structure. It turned out to be the Panchayat office, where one wall displayed information about the sub-health center and another wall listed the village address. Some people were gathered there for us to discuss the matter in detail.

Sandeep Kumar Ram, 32 years old, works as a driver in Oman. He is currently on a short visit home and is scheduled to return next month. He has been working in Oman for the past ten years. According to him, people there are primarily concerned with work.

Sandeep says, “There are people from different countries there, and they are focused on work. They value people for who they are. Although some people do ask about caste, I openly tell them I am a Chamar. But it doesn’t affect them.”

He further explains, “Once, there was a discussion about work, and someone told my friend that these people have brains in their knees, no matter how much you explain, they won’t understand. My friend is a Yadav, so this was said in that context. There is no caste discrimination among the locals there. However, the people who go from here sometimes still practice caste discrimination. Even with money and good earnings, it’s hard to deny that caste issues persist.”

When asked if having a good house, job, and money has changed people’s attitudes towards him in his village or country, Sandeep quickly replied, “No… no, nothing has changed. No matter how prosperous or successful you become, you will still face caste-based oppression here. People from higher castes will always find out about your lower caste and will try to suppress you, making you feel inferior. They will do everything to prevent you from advancing.”

Sandeep has two brothers. His other brother is a headmaster at a school. Sandeep prefers to be called Chamar and has objections to the term Harijan.

He says, “We prefer to be called Chamar. The term Harijan feels like an insult to us! It doesn’t sit well with us because Harijan means something like the son or servant of God. We are Chamar, and that’s what we are. We experience caste-based discrimination, and it’s often perpetrated by Hindus. Hindus don’t consider us Hindus.”

Sandeep’s father and some other people were also present. Sandeep’s father remarked that if former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and President Ram Nath Kovind are not spared from caste-based discrimination, then what about us? No matter how high a post you reach, your caste will always precede you.

Nandalal, who was also listening carefully, is about 55 years old. He shared his experiences of how he was kept separate in school because of his caste. Even today, similar discrimination can be seen in many places, although he mentions that his grandchildren don’t face such issues.

Such experiences are common among many people here. Pradeep’s brother, Premchand Ram, is a headmaster, aged 55. To speak with him, we headed towards the school, guided by his son.

At the school, some children were engaged in a sports period, possibly balancing lemons on spoons and moving forward, while others cheered them on. Some children were outside the classrooms, involved in noise and play.

Right in front of the school gate was the headmaster’s room, where several teachers were seated. A picture of Baba Saheb was visible on the wall along with other important items. As soon as we arrived, the headmaster recognized us and suggested a quiet room for discussion. However, finding peace was like searching for a needle in a haystack. The room had two doors, and children crowded to see who was visiting their principal. Despite several attempts to quiet them, the children’s curiosity persisted.

Amidst the commotion, the conversation began. Premchand shared that he tries his best to avoid the discrimination that has been prevalent in society for centuries based on caste. Reports of caste-based discrimination in schools are common, but he insists that such issues don’t occur here.

When asked if his position as a headmaster has changed people’s perceptions of him, Premchand says, “Some people here do have issues with my caste, but they don’t show it openly because they know I am educated and aware of my rights. Everyone is nice in front of me. The position I hold didn’t come easily. I faced many challenges and was often treated differently due to my caste, subjected to mental torture. But we continued our education, struggled, and advanced. Every step involved challenges related to caste, but we fought through them and gradually succeeded.”

Money is often seen as a direct solution to many problems, including social prestige. However, caste issues persist alongside economic prosperity. Siwan, a district in Bihar, is one of the areas experiencing growth due to remittances from Gulf countries, leading to economic prosperity. Yet, this prosperity has not translated into social equality.

In January this year, a report by Hindustan Times highlighted that the number of passport applications for employment abroad has increased in Siwan. Regional Passport Officer Taveshi Bahl Pandey noted that Siwan, along with Gopalganj and Saran, has not only seen a rise in job seekers but also serves as a hub for connecting skilled and semi-skilled workers. This could explain why the number of passport applications remained steady even during the pandemic.

However, there are no current statistics revealing which social groups have migrated the most for employment.

Disclaimer: This story is a segment from a series of seven in-depth reports published in the book titled ‘841446: Muqam Post Narendrapur’ in December 2022.