Binita Kumari Sarki
Binita Kumari Sarki, who lives in Rajghat of Ward 7 in Bagmati Municipality of Sarlahi, is studying for her Bachelor’s degree. She does tailoring to run her household. She lives with her mother-in-law, father-in-law, husband, and daughter. She has the experience of a hill Dalit family living in the Terai.
In Binita’s experience, although there are many educated people in her neighbourhood, the practice of discriminating on the basis of higher and lower castes is still prevalent. When Dalits go to the shops of non-Dalits to buy supplies, the good are given from a distance. Recalling an instance when she threw away food on a leaf offered to her by non-Dalits, she says that in that moment she realized that one shouldn’t tolerate caste-based discrimination, and that one should speak up against it.
When Binita was studying in grade 9 and 10, although she had some understanding of the caste
She has begun thinking about the different aspects of the caste system and patriarchy in society. She is studying various materials to obtain knowledge about sexuality and gender, which are inextricably connected with patriarchy. She used to think of gender as merely the markers of being men and women, but now understands that it is also a tool for patriarchy to assert control. Women are forbidden from participating in meetings and ceremonies, and even in their own homes they are discouraged from listening to or participating in conversations where men are talking. It is considered wrong for women to speak in front of men. All of this is a result of patriarchal thinking.
Binita Kumari Sarki, who lives in Rajghat of Ward 7 in Bagmati Municipality of Sarlahi, is studying for her Bachelor’s degree. She does tailoring to run her household. She lives with her mother-in-law, father-in-law, husband, and daughter. She has the experience of a hill Dalit family living in the Terai.
In Binita’s experience, although there are many educated people in her neighbourhood, the practice of discriminating on the basis of higher and lower castes is still prevalent. When Dalits go to the shops of non-Dalits to buy supplies, the good are given from a distance. Recalling an instance when she threw away food on a leaf offered to her by non-Dalits, she says that in that moment she realized that one shouldn’t tolerate caste-based discrimination, and that one should speak up against it.
When Binita was studying in grade 9 and 10, although she had some understanding of the caste system, she lacked the courage to speak about it because of the discrimination by non-Dalits. She began learning about society and the caste system when she worked as a Youth Ambassador. She says that the Apan Katha fellowship has helped her to clearly understand the caste system and to raise critical questions against caste-based discrimination. She says that the various forms of caste-based discriminations are traditional social ills. All humans are equal, and nobody should be treated as inferior or superior based on caste. If someone discriminates based on caste, they must be opposed.
She has begun thinking about the different aspects of the caste system and patriarchy in society. She is studying various materials to obtain knowledge about sexuality and gender, which are inextricably connected with patriarchy. She used to think of gender as merely the markers of being men and women, but now understands that it is also a tool for patriarchy to assert control. Women are forbidden from participating in meetings and ceremonies, and even in their own homes they are discouraged from listening to or participating in conversations where men are talking. It is considered wrong for women to speak in front of men. All of this is a result of patriarchal thinking.
Because of these insights, she wants to bring out not only the stories of the suffering and pain of Dalit women, for also their myriad dreams. She is practising the skills of writing her own stories, making photo stories, mapping the community, analysing myths about caste, and understanding the interrelationship between caste and land. Her experience is that she has grown in confidence since she began understanding herself, and that she has gained courage to speak up on issues of caste and gender- based discrimination. She says that the same people who once called her docile and agreeable have now begun calling her an unpleasant shrew because she has started openly speaking against bad traditions. She wants to get justice for those who have been subjected to injustice.
