Anurag Dash, Week 7

Rasoi ka Kaam/Bathroom ka Kaam

In this reading, the author, Sonal Sharma, highlights caste and gender hierarchy that exists in the society and further discusses the concept of purity and polluted. The reading also talks about how the "dirty" work is often given to the "lower" caste community by the influential and "upper" caste. Especially, in this patriarchal society, women are mostly targeted and are forced to do menial labor work, cleaning houses, etc. The author also attempts to highlights the origin of untouchability and the symbolism in the difference between "dirty" and "clean"and the social construct of caste hierarchy. By removing the dirt, the domestic workers are represented as "dirty people" which should not be the case. The concept of ghar and bahir is also discussed in the reading. "The voices of these women workers enrich the theoretical understanding of "home" and "outside" emanating from caste and religious othering". It is highlighted that untouchability is not only practised between the upper and the lower caste, but also amongst the lower caste itself.