TWU students host concert for Dalit

Posted by admin on Apr 14, 2010 in News | 0 comments

The Dalit people of India have been the most widely oppressed caste for more than three thousand years. Indian Dalits comprise nearly a quarter of the total population of 250 million people. Dalit are considered the “outcasts” of Indian society or “the untouchables;” they are those that the Hindu scriptures call the “unborn.” By providing them with education, it will provide the opportunity to change the future.
“After a recent trip to India to visit those people, I came back changed, knowing that I could not sit around and…ignore their circumstances,” said Dallas Froese, Trinity Western University alumni and Dalit awareness coordinator.

To help raise awareness about the Dalit people in India, a Worship for Dalit Freedom awareness concert was held at TWU on April 8th.
“The Dalit people won’t even share their water with anybody; instead, they have to smash the cup they drink not to pollute anybody else from their status of worthlessness,” said Froese.

On a recent trip from India, students Rachelle Rovner and Sharlene Petigara had a life changing experience and were affected by the severity of the people’s circumstances. “They live in pipes,” said Petigara. “A mother was building another pipe for her children to study in because the smoke from cooking food was too strong. She was building them a pipe house, not a normal house but a house in a pipe, and that was a sacrifice for her living under what they live on per day.”

“Their circumstances will break you,” said Froese. “People need to become aware of what is happening in the world and that is the entire purpose of the worship concert.”

The concert had a great turnout. “The main purpose of the night is to bring awareness,” said Brtiney Broadhead, a TWU student and co-leader of the concert. “We might be the only voice for these people.”

The Worship for Dalit Freedom awareness concert included music, Henna tattoos, t-shirt and products made for sale to help the Dalit people. In India, henna tattoos are a popular tradition. With students having henna on their arms for two weeks, it allows them to spread awareness as others notice it on their body.

“You can’t be ignorant towards this once you know,” said Matthew Froese, a business student at TWU and Dalit Freedom awareness member. “Once you are educated about something like this, it’s hard going back to everyday life when you know people are living in extreme circumstances.”

For more information on how to get involved, visit www.dalitfreedom.net.