DALIT GOODS COMPANY
Introduction - Who Are The Dalit Community - Meet The Artisans - Why Help Them
We think we know about class, living in the UK. But the Indian caste system, in place for over 3000 years, is rigid and leaves many behind. Most in need are the Dalit people, formerly referred to as ‘untouchables’, who are not even considered to have a caste by the more traditional parts of Indian society.
The idea for Dalit Goods came about as a result of a trip to India by Life Association director Simon Hawthorne. Whilst there he began to notice a large number of smashed clay pots around the slum areas of Mumbai. These clay pots turned out to be drinking pots which for thousands of years the Dalit people have often been forced to drink from and then smash on the ground as a sign of their supposed untouchability. It is this powerful symbol of oppression that inspired Simon to launch our range of Dalit branded products.
It is their goal to design and supply ethically sourced and environmentally sensitive products and provide employment to Dalits in India.
For over 3000 years the Dalits – or Untouchables – have been positioned at the bottom of India's society and are subject to the most aggressive and dehumanising abuse. They are born into a culture that devalues them from birth with society considering them lower than animals. The term ‘Dalit’ literally translates to downtrodden or oppressed and there are 250 million Dalits who are exposed to this injustice.
We believe that the injustice of the Dalits is the biggest human rights issue in the world today.
In the hands of the Potter
Around 150 years ago, when Mumbai was largely swamp land, migrant potters from Gujarat arrived and have been there ever since. Some 300 families now live in the Dharavi slum, one of Asia’s largest and believed to be the most densely populated place on earth with 1 million people living within a square mile.
The process...
They are Dalits, formerly known as untouchables and considered outside India’s caste system. Only Dalits do this kind of work as it is considered unclean because they handle dirt from the earth. But we see things differently: As if by magic, from a lump of mud, in the hands of a skilled potter a small work of art appears that will go onto grace perhaps the table or window sill of elegant homes in England and abroad.
They are then hand poured by Dalit ladies in our own, small production unit – Before being packed and shipped to England. It’s a great story but one that doesn’t end there. The work of Dalit Candles helped provide a loving home for children like Rahul who we have named one of our candles after. He was only 4 when his father was killed in a railway accident. With his mother unable to support him he was adopted into our boys home in Mumbai and has lived there ever since. Now 16 Rahul is achieving good results in his studies and at weekends enjoys helping with the candle business.
Who are the Dalit people?
For over 3000 years the Dalits – or Untouchables – have been positioned at the bottom of India’s society and are subject to the most aggressive and dehumanising abuse. They are born into a culture that devalues them from birth with society considering them lower than animals. The term ‘Dalit’ literally translates to downtrodden or oppressed and there are 250 million Dalits who are exposed to this injustice.
Despite the fact that discrimination based on caste was outlawed by India’s constitution in 1950, the practice of ‘untouchability’ still dictates the order of modern life for millions.
As members of the lowest rank of Indian society, Dalits face discrimination at almost every level, from access to education and medical facilities to restrictions on where they can live and what jobs they can have. Recent research has also shown that the mortality rate of Dalit children is 76% higher than the rest of the population.
Currently, schools in Bihar are legally obliged to include children from all castes, but because of the prevailing prejudice, most of these schools are either abandoned, barely functioning or allowing Dalit children to attend, but treating them with cruelty and neglect. Dalit children are frequently discriminated against, being made to sit at the back of the class and restricted from touching or interacting with children from other castes. As a result, those who do make it into school often drop out at an early age.
The money raised from the sale of Dalit’s goods helps to fund the charity’s work. They offer homes and education to some of India’s poorest children and are currently doing what they can to help communities shattered by the country’s coronavirus crisis.
To find out more about the work of Life Association visit www.lifeassociation.org.uk
If you want to support them, then there’s also something in it for you. Their products are all handmade, in line with sustainability goals and fair working structures. The candles smell incredible and the smallest in the range are beautiful for use as prayer candles or in blessing spells or meditation.
So, it might just be a candle to you, but it’s a ray of light to someone else.
Why they are different:
Their top-notch clay is sourced in Calcutta, sent across the country to a community of potters in Dahravi, Mumbai, where the clay is shaped and fired into pots. They use natural wax for every candle too.
Why they are kind:
Since 1993, Life Association has educated 100s of children, none of whom would have received formal education otherwise. The charity have also distributed over 10,000 food aid packages during the coronavirus crisis.
You can read more about the Dalit People in the below websites including with life association.
Some make difficult reading, but through sharing their story we can help not only connect deeper to their products but support their difficult journey.
https://www.childrenontheedge.org/lateststories/the-edge-for-dalit-communities-in-india
https://www.lifeassociation.org.uk/
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