Aniket Alam had reviewed two books (Dalits in Dravidian Land: Frontline Reports on Anti-Dalit Violence in Tamil Nadu (1995-2004) by S. Viswanathan and India Stinking: Manual Scavengers in Andhra Pradesh and their Work by Gita Ramaswamy) for HardNews magazine last year. He has now posted this review on his blog and it is definitely worth a read!

So why do dry latrines persist in 21 Century India?

The answer, the author argues quite convincingly, is caste and the systems of discrimination and prejudice it sustains. How else can one explain the adoption of sewage technologies in the emerging urban areas in 19^th century India which entrenched manual labour in disposal of shit. Just recall the rusting iron staircases hidden behind most Indian urban homes for shit cleaners to enter the toilet, do their work and leave without despoiling the rest of the house. Shit cleaner or mehtars have formed an integral part of the modern urban landscape and transcended region and religion.