Author: Arpita Basu
Publication: Outlook
Date: August 22, 2011
URL: http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?277988
Introduction: Caste-based prejudice has long
been a fact of life in Himachal Pradesh. Now, new initiatives look to change
that-with the state police as catalysts.
At the Himachal Pradesh Police command headquarters
in Shimla, history is framed and mounted on the walls-photos of past police
chiefs, right from 1949, line the length of a corridor. But turn the corner,
and the present holds sway, quietly making history of its own. Freshly painted
nameplates and nametags on the uniforms of police staff catch the eye: conspicuously
absent from both are surnames.
A nameplate reading 'Dr Daljeet Singh, IPS'
(replacing the earlier 'Dr D.S. Manhas, IPS') leads to the office of the Director
General of Police-the man behind the decision to drop surnames from all official
police dealings, which took effect from June 15. "That day is observed
as Kabir Jayanti, and (the decision) perfectly suits the Sufi saint's credo
of communal harmony and a social system sans caste and class," he says.
Daljeet Singh had been mulling the idea for
some time, and got his fellow officers to participate in a "think tank"
meeting. The result was an order to HP Police, dated June 14, that read: "It
is advised not to use surnames and caste names while addressing one another
in all official and demi-official communications. The objective is to develop
team spirit and not the groups based on region, religion, language, caste
etc."
Effectively, it means surnames-instant indicators
of caste and social standing-need no longer be part of the official identity
of the hill state's police force. Just the kind of step people on the lower
rungs of the caste ladder would need for a stronger, surer footing in society,
feels Kishori Lal Koundal, president of the All India Harijan League, Himachal
unit. On the prevalence of untouchability in the state, Kishori Lal cites
the example of temples that do not allow entry to people of the lower castes.
"At weddings, it is a common practice to seat upper-caste guests away
from invitees belonging to lower castes. Again, a job-seeker is always asked
which caste he belongs to, and I know of scheduled caste candidates who've
been refused residential quarters and told to stay in Dalit bastis instead,"
he says.
What is more alarming is that such incidents
are widespread. Kishori Lal identifies Sirmaur, Mandi, Kangra, Kullu, Chamba
and the Chaupal areas of Shimla district as hotbeds of caste-based prejudice.
"Rural areas are the worst affected. In such a scenario, a police officer
who makes a statement against casteism by shedding his surname would be a
catalyst for change." Constable Inder couldn't agree more. Patrolling
a misty Mall Road along with Constable Ranjit-both flaunting shiny black nametags
that omit 'Sharma' and 'Thakur'-he says, "At my level, most of us don't
use our last names anyway, but a conscious effort to project an identity shorn
of caste and class connotations is good news. People are educated now, they
are giving earlier mindsets a shake-up. Take inter-caste marriages: in Shimla
district, the number of such alliances has gone up over the past decade."
Ranjit chimes in, "When we eat in the mess, caste equations do come into
play. These new nametags ensure that at least it isn't in your face."
It's no great surprise then that many in the
police force, like Saproon's assistant sub-inspector Dharam Sain Negi, are
eagerly looking forward to pinning on theirs. The change that has quickly
gone from paper to practice in the state capital will take another four to
five months to reach all of Himachal's 15,000-strong police staff. And if
Shimla's Sadar police station Inspector Rattan Kumar has his way, it'll reach
all other government departments too. "Why us alone? Every department
must join in," he says.
It will be a while yet before the reach of
the change extends that far. Critics are already wondering if a step like
this will truly alter mindsets or end up as just a cosmetic change in, well,
name alone. Sociology professor Satish K. Sharma feels the perpetuation of
caste is ingrained in the Indian social organisation, and Himachal Pradesh
is no less immune to it. "There are over 30 castes here, including the
so-called lower castes like Kolis, Chamars, Churas, Lohars and so on. It will
take much more than a token removal of surnames to make a real impact. Moreover,
India's police force follows a system of reservation in their recruitment
process itself," says Satish, a long-time resident of the state.
He, instead, cites the defence services as
an example of an organisation in which surnames exist, but do no more than
bestow nymic identities. "Whether it is the army, navy or the air force,
officers are referred to by surnames and it has not proved to be counter-productive.
Why should it be a problem with the police?" Some within the force are
not convinced either. Sushil Kumar, Deputy Superintendent at the Solan police
headquarters, says, "It's great if this step mitigates discrimination.
But surnames don't always specify castes. Agnihotri can be used by Rajputs
or Brahmins or Khatris. Again, for investigating officers, using only their
first name on papers to be presented in court, can create confusion over identity."
Such counter-arguments have already made their
way into DGP Daljeet Singh's office. "People have asked me questions
such as, 'What if two officers share the same name?'. Well, in that case,
their designations will set them apart," he says. He should know: his
namesake is a superintendent in Kangra. Once the new scheme sinks in, he feels,
doubts will peter out. He has reason to believe so. There is a possibility
that the no-surname policy could be implemented at a national level-it is
listed for discussion in this session of Parliament.
Another change that the DGP introduced recently-blue
uniforms to replace khaki (viewed as the colour of aggression)-stirred up
murmurs of doubt that have since been assauged.
Right now, however, Daljeet Singh is likely
preparing to ask some incisive questions of his own. Because this month, his
force is expecting its first performance assessment report done by an independent
agency, the Himachal Pradesh University. Whatever that report card may reveal,
one thing is certain: if the present changes are anything to go by, the photos
of intrepid top cops in these corridors will now be suffused in a calm blue.
And captioned with shorter names.
