The United Kingdom first celebrated the Black History Month on 1st October 1987, and it was recognised as the African Jubilee which coincided with the 150th anniversary of the Caribbean emancipation. This year’s theme, ‘Reclaiming Narratives’, is very powerful indeed as it emphasises the importance of story telling from the perspective, experience and memory of the Black People. Reclaiming narratives enables to unfold the past in truth and honesty for the benefit of the present to build a better future. Narrative plays a key role as it differs from Story telling by choosing how to tell a story.
The Windrush scandal speaks volumes as it is still grappling to get justice for those affected. Although the Windrush Compensation Scheme has been beneficial, it needs to reach those that are yet unable to claim it. The homelessness category embraced specially by this compensation scheme will hopefully target those in the margins as it says, “Changes made to the Homelessness category, including the removal of the cap, and removal of the requirement to demonstrate physical or mental health impacts due to homelessness. These changes will make sure people are compensated for the full period they were homeless.”
In this juncture, DSN UK endorses its support to reclaiming narratives as we believe that the Dalit Liberation Movement was able to move forward in history by consciously validating and empowering those engaged in Dalit Liberation through Dalit Sahitya (literature) that focuses on the lives, experiences, and the struggles of the Dalit communities to liberate themselves along with those who oppress them based on caste. The Black History Month website rightly observes, “For too long, the history of Black communities has been told through lenses that often misrepresent, oversimplify, or entirely overlook the rich and diverse experiences of those who lived it.”
DSN UK wants to reiterate that although the Black History Month ends tomorrow – 31st October for this year, our commitment and journey together for freedom continues until everyday racism and casteism is wiped out, until the last person in bondage and discrimination is liberated. Narratives reclaimed will ensure what the Black people want to be share to reclaim not just their narratives but their genuine identity of who they were in history, what are their contributions despite being enslaved and their vision as to why do they want justice. The yearning and hope for reclaiming identities and experiencing life in all its fulness will help us move forward together to realise our dream for a better tomorrow for every human being in this world.
I am very pleased to join Dalit Solidarity UK as its Director to continue to pursue my drean and vision of a world without caste discrimination.
Today, 10th October is celebrated as the World Mental Health Day since 1992. This year’s theme is ‘Mental Health at Workplace’ which becomes very relevant for Dalits who face brutal discrimination in their workplaces especially in South Asian Countries where it is practiced, and Migration of the dominant population to other parts of world where they generally continue to observe caste discrimination in discrete ways. We especially remember those who still work as manual scavengers, farmers who face the brunt of being humiliated, and exploited.
Last year’s theme too, ‘End the stigma and discrimination’ was very apt to describe the identity of Dalits who face these realities every day in their lives. Mental health issues are faced generation after generation and can be traced back to more than 2000 years in human history. This calls us to act in solidarity with Dalits who bear the brunt of discrimination and stigma, losing their mental health at workplaces. At this point we also remember all those who are unemployed and face mental health issues. We once again pledge our solidarity as DSN UK, to work for a world without caste discrimination here in UK, South Asian countries and other parts of the world.
Dr Elizabeth Joy
Director – DSN UK
10th Dec 2024
Dalit Solidarity Network UK (DSN-UK) announces appointment of its director Dr Elizabeth Joy from September 2024
9th October 2024
Bala Gnanapragasam the Chair of DSN UK said,
“I am delighted to welcome Dr Elizabeth Joy as the Director at the DSN-UK to further DSN UK’s vision of ‘a world without caste discrimination’.
She brings a wealth of experience and skills, including two decades of proven leadership, including as General Secretary of the Student Christian Movement of India and Executive Secretary for Mission Education at the Council for World Mission. As a Director/Trustee of Churches Together in England, she led initiatives against modern slavery. She also holds a PhD from King’s College London, where she previously taught social ethics and applied ethics.
She is an activist and a visionary, who has lived and worked with multi-cultural and multi-faith communities. She has worked extensively for the cause of Dalit Rights as Human Rights. She works towards building inclusive and transformed communities that overcome discriminations based on caste, age, gender, ethnicity and race. “
Decent Work NOT Descent work! 
