It was during this field-trip to Udaipur during March 2014. I,
with my classmates was doing an anthropological research on a Camel Herder
Caste called Rebaris in a village called Rebariyon Ka Gurha. These Rebaris don’t
have cow/buffalo meat, because they provide them with employment and fuel (milk
is sold in the city, dung is used as a fuel etc). Each household, on the left
hand side of their entrance had a cow shed, which consisted of 3-4 buffaloes.
So, while interviewing them, I asked what all non-veg products they had, to
which they answered that they had chicken and mutton only. Just as an example, I
took a classmate’s name and told them that he eats everything, not going into
any kind of details. This talk happened in a very joyful manner. And after some
more questions, we called it a day. Everyone was happy that the day ended
eventfully, with everyone getting more insights into the lives of the Rebaris
since we ultimately had to write a 100+ page dissertation on the Rebaris to get
our Bachelor’s degree.
While waiting for our Tata Magic, this classmate wildly
appears from no-where and slaps me tightly in the middle of the crowd. I being
shell shocked couldn’t even react. Two-Three students tried to control his
anger, but he continued to threaten me. He didn’t even mention why he slapped
me in front of everyone. Then I heard a classmate telling another that I had told
the villagers that he ate beef and they shouldn’t talk to him. No one even had
the guts to ask me whether the things about which people were murmuring were
true or not. Everyone had their own theories to “justify” his slap. A classmate
finally gathered up the courage and asked me, if it was true or not. I couldn’t
answer her since I was so shell shocked.
Meanwhile, some drops of tears trickled down my cheeks.
For the whole 2-3 km journey I was silent. I didn't speak to
anyone. I went to my room and cried my hearts out, thinking about the existence
of such inhumane people. That evening, none of my classmates tried to console
me. Indirectly, except a few, everyone was accusing me of creating such a
scene.
Finally our teacher came in to the rescue, and told that a
meeting would be held after dinner. She told me, that such thing shouldn’t have
happened, and what he did was totally wrong. She consoled me while herself looking
and sounding lugubrious.
A friend (was a very good friend before the incident), who
had been my classmate since school, along with her extremely selfish best
friend also talked behind my back (which I heard and the fact’s still unknown
to them). They were accusing me of working against the spirit of anthropology
even without asking me what had actually happened. These types of small
incidents, which occur immediately after big incidents, often create a sense of
despondency and desolation.
I was hoping for some amount of justice during the night
session but in vain. From bad, the situation became worse. The time when the
whole class goes against a person cannot be described in mere words.
The extent up-to which I tried to help everyone during the
two years of being a Class Representative all went down the drain that very
night. People started accusing me of harassing them (Really?? Do I actually
look like I can harass someone?) . They wanted me to apologize for what I did. Never
did I know that people could actually stoop so low? Instead of calming a
depressed soul, one was continuously attacking him? I never understood why there
was such a ruthless behaviour against a classmate who was just slapped because
of no reason?
All boys except two (one of them was of course me) in my
room used to drink all night. Just name the liquor and they had had it. I tried
to adjust, but still, the smell of liquor used to disgust me, and I couldn’t sleep,
which hampered the way I worked in the research field.
That night, I was also accused of being not able to adjust
to such a scenario. Having non-veg every day was equated to having alcohol every
day. Such analogous examples were given to subdue my hope for justice. Everyone
started to find faults in me (everyone has faults, but that many which I was
subjected to? I could never believe.)
A caring friend who was extremely angered by what was
happening left the place by slamming the door. I couldn’t believe what actually
happened that day. I was accused now and then for things which I never did. Everyone
tried to go with the flow. Everyone was making hay while the sun was shining.
My dear teacher was trying to take my side every time, but
for each time she tried to save me, new allegations tried to crop up.
Why was I subjected to such callousness? Was it just because
I didn’t drink and smoke and hence can’t socialise with drunkards? Or was it
because the person who slapped me had filled everyone’s stomach with branded liquor?
I think both.
Thanks for calumniating me in every way possible.
I hope you wretched souls get disgraced someday heavily.
After reading ur article i felt very bad. No one has authority to do such an action without knowing your side.
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