25th January in Dalit History | Dr. B. R. Ambedkar's Caravan

Remember Bhagya Reddy Varma (May 22, 1888 – July 2, 1950) the “Father of Dalit Movement in Andhra Pradesh” on his birth anniversary. His original name was Madari Bhagaiah and he was founder of Adi Hindu Movement in Andhra Pradesh. Bhagya Reddy Varma was born in a Dalit, Mala caste family in the princely Hyderabad State to Madari Venkaiah.

Bhagya Reddy Varma

Bhagya Reddy Varma founded around 26 schools in around Hyderabad region for Dalits. He established Dalit panchayat courts to settle disputes among dalits. He chaired All India conference of Schedules castes held at Lucknow on 27, 28 December 1930, to support send delegation to Round Table conference. Babasaheb Ambedkar was present in this meeting.

In 1906, he started Jagan Mitra Mandali to educate Dalits through popular folklore. Mandali worked on the social consciousness among untouchables. Later in 1911, he founded Manya Sangham, which tried to create awareness among untouchables through literature and lectures.

Bhagya Reddy Varma had launched a movement against devadasi system, forcing the Nizam to declare it a crime.

25 January 1999: Twenty three dalits were massacred in Jehanadad (Bihar) by Ranvir Sena.

In the Shanker Bigha massacre in Jehanabad (Bihar), 23 Dalits were killed by suspected Ranvir Senas. An FIR was lodged at Mehandia police station. There are 24 accused and 76 witnesses.The massacre took place 16 years ago when around 100 armed Ranvir Sena activists raided a dalit hamlet at Shankar Bigha village in central Bihar’s Jehanabad district on the night of January 25 — on the eve of Republic Day — and gunned down at least 23 villagers in cold blood while they were asleep in their mud-built houses and huts. The marauders had also set afire their houses before fleeing the scene. Of the dead, five were women and seven children — the youngest being six months old.

On 14th January, 2015 a district court in Bihar’s Jehanabad acquitted all 24 men accused of being involved in the massacred because of the lack of evidence, including the fact that all of the witnesses turned hostile in court. . It is shameful that in 16 years courts, police, and administration couldn’t find WHO KILLED THOSE INNOCENT DALITS! We need proper inquiry into the case and culprits to be punished as soon as possible.

Source and Photo Credit – NDTV