The CasteWatchUK Conference
I spent yesterday afternoon swanning around the corridors of power. I’m talking about The Houses of Parliament. - It wasn’t just for fun though, I was attending the CasteWatchUK conference. Quite a few people attended including various MPs, including Virendra Sharma, Labour MP for Ealing Southall, and Labour Councillor Elias Mattu from Wolverhampton. Elias Mattu was very encouraging about The Fifth Cup and he’s booked the date in his diary.
Now conferences aren’t really my thing (hence the reason I’m involved in the drama side of things) and I got a tiny bit lost with some of the legal terms being discussed, but what was most shocking to me were the testimonials. One of them was anonymous and one of them was by the very talented rapper and poet Shiv Gharu. He talked about how he was discriminated against by people that he thought were his friends, and his girlfriend’s dad who didn’t let him in the house because he was apparently an “untouchable”. He put his experiences into a piece of spoken word which was amazing - he rocked the Houses of Parliament!
As a writer I am always on the lookout for stories and inspiration and those testimonials definitely provided me with that.
For more details about the conference go to: http://www.castewatchuk.org/westminsterconference.htm
November 7th, 2007 at 7:30 pm
Well done and thanks for going to the conference, rather you then me but hey on a serious note that story of Shiv Gharu and the way he was treated disgusts me and no human being should ever be treated like that. I have been two many conferences and when you hear stories like that it only inspires people like me and Rena do something about it.
November 7th, 2007 at 7:53 pm
Its good that Caste Watch are making more public awareness and MP’s are giving you a chance to make a political change as well as social.
November 19th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
What you guys are doing is fantastic, I cant wait to see the show, it really will be an eye opener to those who take castism so lightly..I hope that the MP’s take this seriously and do your work justice..xxx
November 24th, 2007 at 9:05 pm
Thanks blood x I know that this project will open up people’s minds
March 21st, 2008 at 1:12 am
shiv gharu is a lying piece of sxxx he was never treated badly and was divorced for being a druggie wife beater who stole money and credit cards and never working and being a hobo.
November 7th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
shiv gharu has taken a very serious concern and used it for his own publicity. he was a heroin user who constantly smoked marujuana and stole his wifes money and cards, on top of which he was handy with his fists. by all means publicise a very good cause but at least make sure the person that is representing this cause is worthy. finally his wife was a brahim and no one in her entire family cared about what caste he was as there are white ,sikh and all races withion her family. stop lying shiv
November 28th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
Firstly my responce to the very upset sender, I have in know way shape or form lied in any of my testimonial and furthermore aknowledge such acts. Yes i was married but never have even been involved in such drugs the fact that this individual has mentioned specifly that my wife was brahmin is ironic enough, I feel its a shame that human beings can inflinct such hatrid towards one another here within your own eyes is a classic example without shame to destroy the truthfull right and justice of mankind and human nature, feel free to say what you please about me as my testimonial was not even directed at my wifes family but another party before you give yourself so much importance please get all facts correct before hand.
The fight continues
November 28th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Why wasnt such acts reported to police if i was handy with my fists the partied involved are happy to conduct any background check with police forces, this is a simple act to stop the fight against caste discrimination, these individuals clearly no nothing about me and the fact I was married for 3 months is a joke at the age of 18 being minpulated into the marriage in the first place. T hat part of my life has nothing to do with any forms of discrimination what so ever, so how can these comments be made, you are clearly telling porky pies and its quite funny but i hope you have fun being another statistic of ingnorant people.
November 28th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
Just for the record i was talking about my girlfriend of 5 years family. lol