This episode tells the story of Shantuben from Hajipar village. Shantuben’s family is the only Dalit family in entire village. Shantuben’s struggle and fight against the system expose the caste based discrimination in Indian administration system.
Tag Archives: Dalit Women Fight
What do India’s Women, the Working class & History students need today?
What do India’s Women, the Working class & History students need today? A small girl holding a crucial message board for all of us.
Filed under Caste Discrimination, Casteism, Dr B R Ambedkar, Latest
What Brahmin Merit? In Punjab, with 98.92% marks, a Dalit girl secured 2nd position in class 10th!
Few weeks back, I wrote on What Merit? In Punjab, Class 12th, Dalit Girl got 7th position and a Muslim Girl became topper. Now, here is another on the same lines, Punjab School Education Board announced results for class 10th few days back. This time also, a Dalit girl named Nancy Bhadiyar, a student of Government Senior Secondary School, Ghagwal, Hoshiarpur, secured second position with 98.92 per cent marks. It is a remarkable achievement and I congratulate her on her success.
When toppers are from Dalit-Bahujan communities, what merit so called Brahmins and upper castes talk about all the time? Few years back, V. T. Rajshekar had said,
“all ruling classes built” a theory by suited to their needs and try to give a ‘scientific’ backing to it. Merit and efficiency is a pure Aryan invention, aimed at maintaining their monopoly”.
Check also – How Brahmins are enjoying reservation since ages – The History of Reservation in India.
Photo credit – Lokleader
Filed under Dalit History, Dalit Woman, Dalit-Bahujans, Dr B R Ambedkar, Good News
26th May (1935) in Dalit History – Death anniversary of Mata Ramabai Ambedkar
26th May (1935) in Dalit History – Death anniversary of Mata Ramabai Ambedkar
Ramabai Ambedkar’s parents died when Ramabai was in her childhood, leaving behind two small brothers to take care of. Their uncle and maternal uncle proceeded with all the three to Mumbai. At Mumbai she married Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar. During her domestic struggle she lost her father-in-law Ramji. Ramabai Ambedkar did help Dr. Ambedkar during ups and downs in life. Then another tragedy followed with the demise of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar’s elder brother Anandrao.
Check also – Movie on Ramabai Ambedkar – Ramai
Mata Ramabai Ambedkar
Afterwards, for higher education Babasaheb got the Sayajirao Gaikwad scholarship at Baroda. For higher education when Dr. Ambedkar had to leave for England, all the responsibilities to take care of home came to Ramabai, which she handled very well.
Ramabai used to encourage Babasaheb for higher studies and used to do household work and remit money to Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar. Ramabai went through difficult life but her sheer determination helped her win over her difficulties. Heap of troubles, difficulties were showered on Ramabai but she didn’t surrender, she was adamant in upbringing the poor and downtrodden of her society, she took over the struggle carried by Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar and stood like a rock along with Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar to carry out the grand work initiated by Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar.
On 26th May, 1935, Mother Ramabai Ambedkar left this world. More than 10000 people attended the final procession.
Salute to Mother Ramabai Ambedkar on death anniversary.
Related articles:
What Merit? In Punjab, Class 12th, Dalit Girl got 7th position and a Muslim Girl became topper
In the latest declared result of class 12th by Punjab School Education Board, in which more than 3 Lakh students appeared, a Dalit girl, named Namrata, from Jalandhar has 443 marks out of 450 in the medical stream and overall got 7th position in the merit list. Also, she is topper in Jalandhar. (Merit list is made combined of different streams such as Commerce, Non-Medical, Medical etc) Namrata achieved this position despite having poor family background and without any coaching. Read more about her from Lokleader [in Punjabi] and here.
Namrata on left (Photo Credit Lokleader)
Further, overall topper in class 12th is Saima Rashid, (as name suggests she is Muslim girl), she got perfect 100% score! Read more about her here.
Congratulations to both!
When toppers are from Dalit-Bahujan communities, what merit so called Brahmins and upper castes talk about all the time? Few years back, V. T. Rajshekar had said,
“all ruling classes built” a theory by suited to their needs and try to give a ‘scientific’ backing to it. Merit and efficiency is a pure Aryan invention, aimed at maintaining their monopoly”.
Check also – How Brahmins are enjoying reservation since ages – The History of Reservation in India.
Filed under Dr B R Ambedkar, Good News, Today in Dalit History
Dalit History Month – Remembering Jogendra Nath Mandal
Today in Dalit History we focus on the powerful legacy of freedom fighter Jogendra Nath Mandal. His crucial role in the founding of India and Pakistan came from his strategic position as the significant Namashudra leader of United Bengal.
As the Indian subcontinent was moving towards independence, Dr. B.R Ambedkar and the Congress Party of India clashed bitterly over the rights and representation of scheduled castes. Ambedkar was an unyielding critic of the Congress party’s positions on many issues, which he believed were not in the interest of the scheduled castes. Thus when members were being elected to the Indian Constituent Assembly, the Congress party in Bombay saw to it that Dr. Ambedkar was not elected. However, Jogendra Nath Mandal, who had been nominated from Jaisur and Kulna (undivided Bengal), sacrificed his seat to Dr. Ambedkar so that he could become part of the 296 member constituent Assembly. In doing so, Mandal ensured there was at least one Dalit present in the drafting committee of the Indian constitution.
Jogendra Nath Mandal
As a leader of the Namashudras, Mandal found common cause with the Muslim League, in their demand for Pakistan. His reasons were, “First the economic interests of Muslims in Bengal were generally identical with those of the Scheduled Castes…and secondly that the Scheduled Castes and the Muslims were both educationally backward.” He hoped that in Pakistan, Dalits would be equal, as freedom from the oppression of Caste Hindu landlords and moneylenders would cease. For M.A. Jinnah, the 1st leader of ‘Pakistan’ had assured them freedom to practice any religion; In his speech of August 11, 1947 he said, “You are free; you are free to go to your temples. You are free to go to your mosques or to any other places of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion, caste or creed—that has nothing to do with the business of the State.” Thus on August 15,1947 Mandal became a member and a temporary chairman of Pakistan’s Constituent Assembly, and agreed to serve as the Minister for Law and Labour. He also served as the second minister of commonwealth and Kashmir affairs.
Sadly, his time in Pakistan was not peaceful as he could not stop the increasing violence against Dalits in the country. First, his demand to have two more Dalit members as ministers was also ignored by Liaquat Ali Khan, then Prime minister of Pakistan. Second, he countered the proposed Objectives Resolution that defined Pakistan, an Islamic state, which disregarded the rights of ethnic and religious minorities. Later in October 1950, he resigned and went to Calcutta (now Kolkata) in independent India.
Mandal later tried to enter the Indian political sphere in 1967 but failed in his attempt as he was one of the founding members of Pakistan. He contested in the Barasat constituency in the year 1967 and was defeated. Jogendra Nath Mandal died on 5 October 1968 at the age of 64 years in Bangaon in the state of West Bengal, India.
Check also –
Filed under Dalit History, Dalit History Month, Dalit-Bahujans, Dr B R Ambedkar
Al Jazeera Show on Dalit History Month – India’s ‘untouchables’ reclaim the past
In case you missed last night Al Jazeera Show on India’s untouchables reclaiming the past with Dalit History Month, here is the recording of the same. Please watch and share it with your friends.
Comments from the Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s Caravan was also shown in the show. Here is the snapshot of the comment.
Comment on Al Jazeera Show
Filed under Dalit History, Dalit History Month, Dalit Woman, Documentary, Dr B R Ambedkar
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar's Caravan 