A major element of the World Race is, without a doubt, exposure. Through out the trip, your eye's are open to new places, sites, and experiences. At times this is exciting and new, while other times, what you see is shocking and heartbreaking. Whether it be the human trafficking in Thailand, the after effects of genocide in Cambodia and Rwanda, the racial bias and discrimination in Malaysia, or the poverty in Kenya and Uganda; in almost every country we have been to, I walk away having been educated and exposed to issues, problems, and struggles that leave me deeply impacted.
Though we are only halfway through our time here in India, once again I am exposed to an injustice that is hard to believe still exists in the world today: the caste system. I don't know when and where I heard that the caste system was no longer prevalent in Indian society, but since being here, I have learned that I have been regrettably wrong in my thinking.
The state of Bihar, where we are located, is known to be exceptionally backwards in thinking out of all the states in India. Whereas the larger cities and states located in southern India are moving ahead and the caste system is not nearly as widespread, Bihar is said to be behind almost 20 years in their thinking and the caste system still greatly impacts society as a whole. While the caste system is legally forbidden, this form of modern day slavery is simply overlooked by the Indian government and is deeply connected to the Hindu culture.
As G.E.M.S. has established schools, practical skills training programs, and other means for those in lower classes to access resources to help improve their situation, they have met harsh opposition from those in the high classes. The higher classes do not want the lower classes to be educated, because once they receive an education, they will be able to find jobs and the higher class will no longer be able to maintain their system of modern day slavery. Hearing the different stories of how G.E.M.S. has dealt with destruction of property, poisoning of fish ponds, and other major oppression, it is clear that not only are they angering many people by fighting the system, but even more so, the work they are doing is important and essential for the state of Bihar.
We were taken to one of G.E.M.S. "Our People Projects," located in Amiri Tola, where they are working with the Natwar, a dancing and prostitution community. This town, covered in white dust from the neighboring stone crushing plant, is a dreary and dismal place. As a part of the Hindu culture, the women from Amiri Tola travel all over the country to festivals, parties, weddings and other events where they dance and typically after the festivities, they are bought by men for that night. Every girl in the town is made to dance from around the age of 6 or 7; we were told that most become pregnant around the ages of 12 and 13. Due to their class, it is impossible for the women to find any other life outside of dancing and prostitution; furthermore drugs and alcoholism are also rampant, making their situation even more bleak.
G.E.M.S. has gone into the village and has established a day center for the children, many rescued from the life of a dancer or child labor at the stone crushing plant. At the day center they are fed and receive an education. They have also tried to find jobs for the women by creating a tailoring unit in order for them to learn a trade. We spent an afternoon with the kids, teaching them songs, playing with them, and sharing a Bible story. As I interacted with these kids, I would have never known from their behavior the reality of the situation they were forced to live in. It is hard to grasp how the government would overlook what was being done to the women, and even worse, that the concept of such a community is completely, culturally acceptable. Despite the injustice, it is good to see God working in such a rough area through organizations such as G.E.M.S. and that kids are being taken care of and the women are finding hope.
