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| Stepping the right foot forward with models in Delhi |
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New Delhi: Way back in 1930s the Father of the Nation - Mahatma Gandhi
campaigned for complete eradication of Untouchability and to ensure respect
for people involved in manual scavanging. The Father is no more, but his
dream is going to witness a glamorous yet glorious moment through the
efforts of Bindeshwari Pathak and Prince Willam Alexander of Netherlands.
Come July 2, 2008 and 20 women, who were once involved in scavenging at
Alwar in Rajasthan will catwalk on ramp alongwith leading models of India at
the United Nations General Assembly Hall in New York.
The fashion show - Mission Sanitation - is being organised as a part of
celebrations of the UN's International Year of Sanitation - 2008. Twenty
Indian 'Dalit' women out of the thirty-seven chosen to go to the function
will walk on the ramp. The women, who carried human excreta on their heads
till recently and faced humiliation in the society, will take the world by
glamorous surprise by catwalking in a first of its kind of fashion show at
the UN.
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| Scavengers bid adieu to traditional work |
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Aged between 28 and 35, the women, whose literacy level is absolutely nil,
have the burning desire to redefine the despised social history. And see
where their desire has led them to... New York, a place nothing less than
the dream of the world. After receiving a short term training on language,
they are now able to communicate in English, no matter even if it is broken.
It is an achievement to be proud of.
Speaking to Headlines India Usha Chomar, one of the women going for the ramp
show, said, "Since childhood I have been in scavenging. I started working
with my mother on manual scavenging and later on with my mother-in-law. But
today I feel proud of myself to even thinking of walking on the ramp in New
York."
And guess, whom did they inform first about their going off to the US? "I
first broke the news to my mother-in-law, then I informed my husband", says
a proud Usha. Also, no one should worry if Usha and other women of the group
do not know where this New York or the US is located. On being asked, Usha
smiles and says, America is out of India. Saat samundar paar (Across Seven
Seas). The response hardly matters if humanity is being served a better
food for thought.
Meanwhile, another participant, Neetu Goel eagerly mentioned during her
conversation with Headlines India that her son was more than happy to think
of her walking on the ramp. Neetu said, My son told me that he had seen
other models on television walking on the ramp but it will be a privilege to
watch you walk, mother! Adding further, she said that her son had asked her
to bring 'Pizza' for him from New York.
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| William Alexander, the Prince of Orange of Netherlands felicitates Scavengers in Delhi |
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Gandhiji's soul must have felt satsified at hearing Guddi Atwal says, "We
have left our past far behind. We have marched forward. Our message to all
is that we are no longer untouchables." And, renowned fashion designer Abdul
Haldar (designer of Micheal Jackson) is preparing the apparel of the models,
who will catwalk on July 2. But, the real credit for this transformation
goes to Bindeshwar Pathak, the founder of Sulabh International Social
Service Organisation. He has spent decades in making the world understand
the importance of the "most detested segment of our humanity".
Objective of the Mission Sanitation is to provide sanitatin for all by 2015
as per the target defined under United Nations' Millennium Development Goal.
The idea of UN's ramp-walk came from William Alexander, the Prince of Orange
of Netherlands, when he visited India last year and saw women scavengers
walking on the ramp in New Delhi. Prince William is the Chairman of the UN
Secretary General's Advisory Board on Water & Sanitation (UNSGAB).
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