19.01.2025...Untouchablity News.....अछूत समाचार.தீண்டாமை செய்திகள்.by Team சிவாஜி. शिवाजी .Shivaji.asivaji1962@gmail.com.9444917060.
Headmaster, Teacher Suspended After Villagers Expose Obscene Behavior in Chittorgarh Govt School
Explicit videos featuring the school’s headmaster and a female teacher engaging in indecent acts within the school premises were leaked, prompting the education department to take swift action. Both individuals have been suspended with immediate effect, and an investigation has been launched.
The headmaster, Arvind Vyas, is married and resides in Gangrar. The accused female teacher, also married, is a resident of a nearby area. Her husband works in a local factory.
Multiple CCTV recordings revealed Vyas, and the female teacher in compromising positions. In the footage, both were seen engaging in inappropriate activities in various corners of the office, donning different outfits yet displaying similar behavior.
On occasions, their acts were interrupted by the presence of another female teacher, but they resumed once she left the office.
The incident, which first came to light through these videos, has deeply angered local villagers, who are now demanding strict punitive action.
The School Management Committee had previously warned the headmaster about his behavior, but he allegedly threatened to file complaints against them for obstructing his duties.
Villagers Install Hidden Camera to Expose Misconduct
According to sources, students had informed their parents about the headmaster and teacher’s indecent behavior. Frustrated by inaction despite repeated complaints, the villagers collectively funded and installed a hidden camera in the school office to gather irrefutable evidence.
Villagers further alleged that the headmaster, who also holds a senior position in the teachers' union and has previously served as a state president for a prominent teachers’ association, had been using his influence to silence dissent. He reportedly threatened villagers and staff members with false legal cases if they opposed his actions.
District Education Officer, Elementary (DEO) Rajendra Kumar Sharma confirmed that the department received the explicit videos via email. "This is a serious matter that has tarnished the image of the education department," Sharma said. The DEO added that a three-member committee of gazetted officers has been constituted to investigate the matter.
The DEO assured that the committee would begin its investigation within two days and submit its findings within five days.
Following initial inquiries, both the headmaster and the teacher were suspended. Vyas’s headquarters has been shifted to Rashmi, while the teacher’s has been moved to Begu. Disciplinary action under Rule 16(1)(C) of the Rajasthan Civil Services (Classification, Control, and Appeal) Rules, 1958, has been initiated against both individuals.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage among local residents and parents, who expressed deep concern over the impact of such behavior on students. On Saturday, a large group of villagers gathered at the Gangrar police station and submitted a memorandum to both the Station House Officer and the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, demanding the immediate dismissal of the accused.
This is not just a violation of professional ethics but a grave threat to the moral fabric of our schools, the villagers said in their complaint. Durga Prasad Dadhich, the Gangrar Station In-Charge, assured the villagers that a thorough investigation would be conducted and submitted to the education department.
Villagers also highlighted other allegations, including the headmaster forcing students to clean and mop the school premises. They accused him of exploiting his authority and demanded exemplary punishment to set a precedent.
Massive all-party march in Parbhani demands justice for Dalit youth’s custodial death
A massive all-party march in Parbhani saw political leaders and Ambedkarite followers protest the Maharashtra government’s handling of Dalit youth Somnath Suryavanshi’s death in police custody and Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh’s brutal murder. Demands for justice, accountability, and caste reform echoed amidst growing tensions and violence in Marathwada
On January 17, 2025, a massive long march began in Parbhani as thousands of women, youth, prominent political leaders, and Ambedkar movement followers gathered in protest. The march was organized to voice strong discontent with the Maharashtra government’s handling of two major incidents in the region: the death of Dalit youth Somnath Suryavanshi in police custody and the brutal murder of Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh in Beed. The Ambedkarite organizations have been at the forefront of demanding justice for both cases, calling for accountability from the authorities and urging for significant reforms.
The protesters voiced demands for rehabilitation of the families affected by these incidents, especially Somnath Suryavanshi’s family, and called for the dismissal of high-ranking officials allegedly involved in covering up the cases. This protest, which started in Parbhani on the evening of January 17, follows weeks of growing tension in Marathwada over caste-related issues, with the protests intensifying in recent weeks due to the escalating violence and the perceived injustice in both incidents.
Scheduled long March in Jalna district and Parbhani to Mumbai
From January 21 to 25, 2025, a significant long march will take place in Jalna District, aiming to raise awareness about the brutal murders of Somnath Suryavanshi and Santosh Deshmukh. The march will begin at Watur Phata, Watur, and will conclude at Badnapur.
Notably, the protesters from Parbhani have organized a long march from Parbhani to Mumbai in response to the recent incident and the ongoing atrocities against Dalits and killing of Santosh and Somnath.
Violence and tensions after Dalit youth dies in custody, following Constitution replica vandalism
The tension in Parbhani boiled over after an incident involving the vandalism of a constitution replica on December 10, 2024. As per eyewitnesses, the incident was allegedly carried out by Sopan Pawar, a 45-year-old Maratha man. This act triggered protests from Dalit groups and Ambedkarite organizations, with the Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi (VBA) party playing a pivotal role in mobilizing the crowds.
The following day, a “Parbhani Bandh” (strike) was declared, which, while initially peaceful, later descended into chaos. Protesters clashed with the police, leading to multiple vehicles being torched and property being damaged. According to the police, they arrested 50 people involved in the unrest, among them Somnath Suryavanshi, a 35-year-old Dalit youth. Suryavanshi, who had been detained during the protests, later died in judicial custody on December 15 due to what was reported as “shock following multiple injuries” reported Frontline.
His death has sparked outrage, with many accusing the police of brutality. According to local sources, Suryavanshi’s mother, Vijaya, claimed that her son had been beaten by the police, leading to his death. Her claims were substantiated by a postmortem report, which confirmed external injuries. However, the police have denied allegations of abuse, stating that Suryavanshi’s death was due to natural causes.
Dalit groups have condemned the police’s treatment of protesters, especially the manner in which Dalit youth were targeted. Prakash Ambedkar, leader of the VBA, demanded an investigation into the police’s role, highlighting the ongoing issues of caste discrimination. He was quoted as saying, “The real battle for equality is still being fought, and we must ensure justice for every oppressed community.”
Dalit and political outrage over Police brutality and murder in Parbhani and Beed
Several political parties and social organizations are raising their voices in protest over the death of Somnath Suryavanshi in judicial custody and the kidnapping and subsequent murder of Santosh Deshmukh, the Maratha Sarpanch in Beed. According to Dalit groups, the police’s crackdown on protesters in Parbhani was disproportionately harsh, with claims of excessive use of force against Dalit youth and women.
In response to the incidents, the Matang Ekta Andolan and Republican Party of India (RPI) staged protests in Pune, demanding an independent inquiry into the events. As per sources, the police have been accused of carrying out violent search operations, targeting individuals without any solid evidence of involvement in unlawful activities.
Further compounding the unrest was the murder of Deshmukh, which escalated tensions between the Maratha and OBC communities. According to reports, Vishnu Chate, the alleged kidnapper and murderer, belongs to the Vanjari OBC community, and the growing friction over reservation issues has deepened the divide between caste groups.
The tragic events in Parbhani and Beed have led to an outpouring of support for both families involved, with political leaders from across Maharashtra rallying behind the victims. Prakash Ambedkar, addressing the media, drew parallels between these incidents and the historical struggles against discrimination, notably the Koregaon Bhima battle, marking over 200 years of ongoing battles for equality.
Struggle for equality in Beed and Parbhani echoes historical caste struggles
Prakash Ambedkar, while commemorating the 207th anniversary of the Koregaon Bhima battle, linked the present-day struggles in Parbhani and Beed to the ongoing battle for equality in India. As per Ambedkar’s statement, despite the long history of caste discrimination, the incidents in Parbhani and Beed reveal that the struggle for social justice and equality is far from over.
Ambedkar cautioned the Maharashtra government about the sensitive handling of the Beed murder case, which has been cast in a Maratha versus Vanjari OBC context. He stressed the importance of avoiding further division and ensuring that justice prevails for all communities involved. Meanwhile, Chandrashekhar Azad of Bhim Army visited Parbhani to meet Suryavanshi’s family and vowed to continue the protests to expose the government’s failures in addressing the plight of Dalits and marginalized communities.
These events have thrown the spotlight on the persistent caste fault lines in Maharashtra, exacerbated by the government’s handling of these incidents. The continuing unrest calls for a deeper introspection into the state’s caste politics and its impact on the marginalized sections of society, reported Times of India.
Massive all-party march in Parbhani over Beed sarpanch’s murder
According to reports, a massive all-party march was organized in Parbhani, Maharashtra, demanding a thorough and unbiased investigation into the murder of Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed district. The protest also targeted the state’s food and civil supplies minister, Dhananjay Munde, who stands accused of shielding Walmik Karad, the alleged mastermind of the murder. Karad surrendered to the police just days prior, adding fuel to the fire of political and caste tensions.
The march, which saw a turnout of thousands, included elected representatives, political leaders, and Maratha community organizations. It marks the second major protest following Deshmukh’s murder. The previous protest on December 28, 2024, in Beed had also garnered massive support, with around 50,000 participants. The Parbhani march was attended by influential figures from both ruling and opposition parties, underlining the political ramifications of the crime.
As per the march organizers, the demands were clear: an impartial investigation, punishment for the politically powerful individuals behind the crime, and the immediate resignation of Dhananjay Munde. BJP MLA Suresh Dhas, speaking at the rally, argued that Munde was deeply involved in a multi-crore crop insurance scam in the region, which he claimed had far-reaching implications.
The murder of Santosh Deshmukh, a Maratha leader, has been exacerbated by the caste dynamics at play. Karad, the primary accused, hails from the Vanjari community, an OBC group, and this has sparked a war of words between Maratha and OBC factions in the region. As per the leaders present at the protest, the case is symptomatic of a larger political crisis within Maharashtra’s power structure.
Panel formed for Judicial probe into Beed Sarpanch’s murder and Parbhani protester’s custodial death
In response to mounting public outrage, the Maharashtra Government has appointed two judicial committees to probe significant incidents in Beed and Parbhani. A single-member panel, led by retired High Court Judge M.L. Tahaliyani, has been established to investigate the murder of Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh in Beed district. The violence that led to Deshmukh’s murder sparked intense political and social unrest, prompting the state to initiate the judicial inquiry.
Additionally, the government has appointed retired Judge V.L. Achliya to investigate the custodial death of Dalit protester Somnath Suryavanshi in Parbhani. The investigation will assess the role of law enforcement, examine the handling of the protests, and determine if there were any lapses in maintaining public order.
As per report, both inquiries aim to hold accountable those responsible for the incidents and evaluate the preparedness of local authorities.
Courtesy: Sabrang India
Dalit woman’s plaint against doctor: NCSC seeks explanation from Virudhunagar SP
Despite informing a female doctor of the hospital about the incident, no action was taken, she claimed.
VIRUDHUNAGAR: The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has issued a notice to the Virudhunagar superintendent of police seeking an explanation within 15 days, regarding an alleged false case filed against a 23-year-old Dalit woman and her parents.
On September 6, 2023, a female Dalit nurse, working at a private hospital in Sattur, lodged a complaint against B Raghuveer, a doctor of the same hospital, with the Sattur Town Police. In the complaint, she alleged that the doctor attempted to sexually assault her and attacked her. Despite informing a female doctor of the hospital about the incident, no action was taken, she claimed.
Subsequently, a case was registered against the doctor under various sections, including the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. He was arrested and remanded under judicial custody.
In 2024, Raghuveer lodged a counter complaint against the nurse alleging medical negligence. Following court directions based on the complaint, a case was registered against the nurse and her parents with the Sattur Town Police. Raghuveer claimed that he had instructed the nurse to check the sucking capacity of pre-term babies at the neonatal intensive care unit on September 6, 2023. The nurse handled the babies in an unhygienic manner and had been previously warned against such behaviour, he alleged.
“I asked the nurse to get out of the hospital and quit her job. However, a few hours later, she and her parents attacked me, and damaged hospital properties,” Raghuveer said.
However, denying the allegations levelled by the doctor, the nurse lodged a complaint with the National Commission for Scheduled Castes claiming that the case booked against her and her parents was completely false. She added the doctor’s complaint was aimed at making her withdraw the case against him, and requested the commission to take necessary steps to dismiss the case against her and her parents.
Courtesy: New Indian Express.
Dalit teen identifies ‘rapist’ from ID card
MEERUT: A 16-year-old Dalit girl, abducted and raped in a moving car in UP’s Moradabad Tuesday night, identified the accused, Mohd Rashid, 30, through an ID card he had left on the car’s dashboard, police said on Saturday. The accused was arrested on Friday evening after the survivor narrated the incident to her family, who filed a complaint at the local police station.
Moradabad (rural) SP Kunwar Akash Singh told TOI, “Rashid is a taxi driver and the car used in the crime was borrowed and is in police custody. The survivor spotted an identification card in the vehicle, which bore Rashid’s name & address. She shared this detail with her family, leading to his arrest.”
In the complaint, the girl’s father, a labourer, said that the incident occurred while he was at work and his wife was harvesting sugarcane in the fields. The teenager had stepped out to dispose of garbage when an SUV stopped near her, and Rashid allegedly dragged her inside and assaulted her. The survivor told the police that the accused also made a video during the assault before abandoning her near a crematorium outside her village two hours later.
An FIR has been registered under BNS section 64 (rape), 137-2 (kidnapping), and 352 (intentional insult to prove breach of peace), along with relevant provisions of the SC/ST Act and the Pocso Act.
SP Singh said, “Once the girl informed her family about the incident, they acted immediately and approached us. We are also investigating whether others were involved. The car has been seized and Rashid’s mobile phone is being examined for more evidence.”
Courtesy: Times Of India
Rahul bats for caste census, slams govt over paper leaks
Patna: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Saturday promised to ensure the implementation of a nationwide caste-based census, saying it was essential to understand the country’s socio-economic fabric and address systemic inequities. Addressing members of civil society at the ‘Samvidhan Suraksha Sammelan’ at Bapu Sabhagar here, Gandhi also questioned the legitimacy of the recently concluded caste-based survey in Bihar, labelling it a “fake exercise” designed to mislead the public.
“Backward classes, dalits, adivasis and minorities make up nearly 90% of the population, yet their representation in decision-making bodies is a mere 6-7%. This disparity can only be addressed through a proper caste census, which will act as an x-ray and MRI to diagnose and fix the system,” he said. Gandhi assured the audience that he would push for this initiative “by hook or by crook”, even challenging the existing 50% reservation cap in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
In a separate gathering of Congress workers at Sadaquat Ashram, Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the NDA govt in Bihar, accusing it of turning the state into a “labour factory” and making it infamous for paper leaks. “Bihar has the potential to lead revolutionary change in India. However, under the NDA, it has been reduced to exploitation of its workforce while the BJP transfers wealth to its millionaire allies,” he said. Gandhi urged Congress workers, whom he called “Babar Sher”, to gear up for the political battle ahead and fight for the rights of farmers, youth, the poor and minorities in Bihar.
In his civil society address, Gandhi said caste-based representation would correct entrenched disparities across sectors such as bureaucracy, private industry, media and politics. He alleged that real power still resides with the RSS and a few corporate giants, despite the apparent representation of backward classes and minorities. “Even BJP MPs from EBC or Dalit communities tell me they feel caged,” he said. Holding up a copy of the Constitution, he declared his mission to ensure its values reach every corner of the country.
Criticising RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Gandhi said his remarks on India’s independence and the Ram temple consecration revealed the RSS’s intent to undermine the Constitution. “Bhagwat’s statement implies India did not truly gain independence when the Constitution was framed. The BJP and RSS are working to dismantle the very foundation of our democracy,” Gandhi alleged.
He also raised concerns about discrepancies in voter rolls, pointing to Maharashtra as an example where voter numbers suspiciously surged by a crore between elections. “Despite repeated requests, the Election Commission has refused to provide transparency. Bihar, a state known for sparking revolutionary movements, must prepare to lead the next wave of change,” he said.
Throughout his speeches, Gandhi underscored the ideological divide between the Congress and the BJP-RSS. “This is a battle between love and hate, unity and disunity. We stand firmly against their agenda of hatred and violence,” he said.
Wrapping up his visit, Gandhi inaugurated the newly constructed Indira Bhawan, a dedicated facility for Congress workers in Bihar, where he was welcomed with a garland of fox nuts, a symbol of the state. Reaffirming his commitment to Bihar and its people, Gandhi said, “This is just the beginning. Together, we will bring transformative change to the nation.”
Courtesy : TOI
Tantrik gets life for raping Dalit woman during ‘exorcism’
Pilibhit: A self-styled occultist was sentenced to life imprisonment for abducting and raping a Dalit woman on the pretext of “freeing her from evil spirits that possessed her” in 2018. The additional district and sessions judge for the SC/ST Act also imposed a fine of Rs 1.5 lakh on Ramveer, now 58, on Friday evening, directing that 90% of the amount be awarded to the survivor, who was 19 when the crime occurred.
The survivor’s father had filed a complaint on April 26, 2018, saying he had sought help from Ramveer, an occultist, who had said his daughter was under the influence of evil spirits. Ramveer, along with two assistants, performed some rituals at their home for three days starting April 15.
According to the FIR, Ramveer abducted the girl on April 19, when she was alone and stole jewellery and cash arranged for her marriage. The police initially registered a case under IPC sections 366 (kidnapping), 379 (theft), 504 (intentional insult), 506 (criminal intimidation), and sections of the SC/ST Act. After the survivor was rescued and narrated her ordeal, the police added section 376 (rape) to the charges.
Pronouncing the sentence, the court said Ramveer lured the girl out of her house at 8apm on April 19 under the pretext of performing additional rituals. Despite her insistence on waiting for her parents, he took her to a nearby temple, where he gave her water laced with a substance that rendered her unconscious.
The woman later woke up locked in a room in Noida, where she was held for 10-12 days. During her captivity, Ramveer forced her into a sham marriage and raped her multiple times. “One day, she noticed the window was open and managed to escape. She reached home by bus,” the court mentioned in its findings.
Although the medical report did not find evidence of rape due to the time-lapse, the court relied on the survivor’s testimony and the evidence collected by the police. The court observed, “As the medical examination was conducted after a significant delay, no physical evidence was expected.” The court acquitted Ramveer of charges of theft, intentional insult, and criminal intimidation but convicted him under sections 366 (kidnapping), 376 (rape), and provisions of the SC/ST Act.
Courtesy: Times Of India
Review: Dalit Kitchens of Marathwada by Shahu Patole
Apart from presenting unique recipes, this book also offers a critique of food and through it, an accurate analysis of Indian society
The ideal Indian plate is dal, vegetable curry, chapati or rice, curd, chutney, and a dessert. At least, that is what we are told or shown. Then, there’s the classic debate of north Indian roti versus south Indian rice. However, in regions such as Marathwada, the majority of the working class of Mahars and Mangs eat dry rotis of jowar/bajra with meat, vegetables, and pulses with onion, garlic and crushed peanut. The belief there is that rice fattens you while chapati, with its glutenous fibre, caused stomach ache and bloating.
Shahu Patole’s excellent and very engaging book for gourmands, The Dalit Kitchen of Marathwada presents the dietary history and culture of the dishes it lists. Indeed, social records and community memory is part of the gift that the author offers to readers as he communicates how this cuisine is both spicier and more experimental than others from the subcontinent. Indeed, once this food is tasted, it demands repetitions of the experience. It’s unsurprising then that I could not write this review without trying some of the recipes mentioned!
Food habits are not solely about eating; they are about creating, nourishing, balancing, and celebrating the gifts of nature. A proud man from Marathwada, Patole speaks knowledgeably about the region and his heritage, which is also my own. Originally written in Marathi as Anna He Apoorna Brahma, the book was widely appreciated by Maharashtrian readers. Bhushan Korgaonkar, who translated the work into English, has succeeded in presenting its ideas in accessible prose and in conveying the essence of some local dialects. He has even given names to some of the vegetables native to the region. Fresh research and new recipes infuse the translation with a wonderful cosmopolitanism making this a welcome addition to the world cookbook list.
Further ambitious projects of the cultural arts will grow out of this one. It is a must-read for those interested in the culinary history of India beyond the practices of Brahminical communities that regulate food and dietary habits with an entrenched fascism. Simply put, this book takes on violent vegetarians who uphold their tastes as supreme and consider those who eat meat as impure. Meat and vegetables are complementary and they should go together to provide individuals with nourishment. However, India’s history of Brahmanism and Jainism has meant that meat is condemned and those who partake of it are deemed lesser than those who do not.
In 2023, during an overnight train journey from Delhi to Bodh Gaya, I was seated next to a couple, who looked older than their stated age. The woman boasted about her non-meat oriented, fatty diet and was visibly disgusted when I said I ate meat. It was clear that she believed that those who consumed it – the overwhelming majority of the Indian population: Dalits, Muslims, Adivasis and Shudras – were inferior.
How can a person justify what they eat when that is what they have historically been forced to eat or have voluntarily eaten? Patole highlights how many little parts of a dead cow or buffalo were relished by Dalits. It is, after all, what was their share, and they made use of every portion. Rural working-class Dalit food is spicy, intense, heavy and carb-intensive. The author explains that this is so because their hardworking lifestyle requires them to use physical and mental strength to plough fields and execute other demanding tasks. It is true that food-oriented diseases have a peculiar geography and demography. Indians who avoid meat but consume heavy food and sugary products as a source of alternative energy have made the country the international capital of cancer, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Meanwhile, communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, diarrhoea, malaria, typhoid and environment-related conditions are rampant among poorer groups.
Food is a public health issue. In India, diet is about cultural warfare, about people being condemned by the whims of the practices of powerful groups. In Western countries where physical strength is directly correlated to eating patterns, more people frequent gyms, do yoga, or run on the streets. In India, this has yet to take off. Sadly, with yoga-based millionaires parading as sadhus and babas, healthy eating is not being adopted as quickly as it should. And then there are the middle-class urbanites entering agro-industries to establish modern techno-enterprises. They present their lives as “reelable” products on social media. The dignity of labour, landless workers, and the peasant economy do not seem to feature in this world view that’s actually inspired by foreign models while being presented as organically Indian. In contrast, Patole’s book looks at everyday Dalit life into which sustainability has been historically woven. It’s not about a UN Sustainability Development Goal fashioned in the glass towers of New York or Geneva.
I am an avid chef and have been religiously posting recipes on my Instagram stories for the past few years. I also keenly present exotic dishes that I try in my sojourns. It is an education for my followers but also a shared space for food enthusiasts. Given that background, I was particularly struck by this book. An enjoyable read, it acted as a guide to my food memories. For readers, who, like me, are far from India, the thought that those at home are regularly feasting on this cuisine also inspires genuine envy. Rather quirkily, Patole does not tell us the quantity of ingredients to use in each recipe. It is up to the reader. Instead, he mentions ingredients followed by methods. Do it liberally or conservatively; it is to the taste of the maker. But whatever you do, be mindful that in the twenty-first century, with social change, some beloved food habits have to evolve and adjust to new sedentary lifestyles. Simply put, healthy dietary practices should complement one’s working environment and psychological development
The author has done many things in this single volume. Apart from the food critique and analysis of society through cuisine, and recipes, he points out the importance of various food items in the lives of Dalits. The book also takes to task the sanctimonious saintly traditions of Maharashtra and shows how the founders of each sect looked (often down) at food, especially that consumed by lower castes, advocated vegetarianism, and upheld the virtues of Brahmin superiority. According to Ramdas, meat eaters are reborn as Dalits. “They are stupid. They love to kill insects, ants and animals. They like to kill women and children, and for money, they don’t mind killing Brahmins and cows as well,” he is quoted as saying (p 308). The opposite of this was the vegetarian; the ideal to emulate. Despite all this, so many centuries later, Dalit life is still around and thriving.
Courtesy: Hindustan Times
SC/ST leaders’ meet: Dalit Sangharsh Samiti slams Congress top brass
During the meeting, the Dalit group lashed out at the Congress top brass for asking Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara to postpone a meeting he had convened on January 8 to discuss SC/ST issues.
Bharath Joshi
Bengaluru: The Dalit Sangharsh Samiti (DSS), which had backed Congress in the 2023 Assembly polls, went public with its frustration towards the party’s high command for blocking SC/ST leaders from holding a separate meeting to discuss the community’s issues.
On Friday, a DSS team led by its leader Mavalli Shankar met Social Welfare Minister Dr H C Mahadevappa. During the meeting, the Dalit group lashed out at the Congress top brass for asking Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara to postpone a meeting he had convened on January 8 to discuss SC/ST issues.
“In a democracy, it’s not wrong to convene a meeting to discuss issues pertaining to oppressed communities. The upper castes, be it Vokkaligas or Lingayats, keep holding meetings. We’ve also seen pontiffs threatening to protest if a certain someone isn’t made the chief minister. When the high command keeps quiet about that, is it right to intervene when we want to speak up about our problems?” Shankar told reporters. “Imagine the amount of hate they must have in their heart,” he added.
We are hurt with the way the Congress high command has acted,” Shankar said, adding that SC/STs, OBCs and minorities contributed to the Congress’ victory. “Despite injustices, we wanted this government in power. It hurts when they do this to us,” he said.
Shankar recalled the stature that Dalit leaders B Basavalingappa and N Rachaiah had. “The entire Cabinet used to listen to their words,” he said. “Such (Dalit) voice shouldn’t get lost.”
Earlier in the day, Mahadevappa met Parameshwara at the latter’s Sadashivanagar residence. Later, Parameshwara said Mahadevappa met him for “personal” reasons.
Courtesy : DH
Review: Dalit Kitchens of Marathwada by Shahu Patole
Apart from presenting unique recipes, this book also offers a critique of food and through it, an accurate analysis of Indian society
The ideal Indian plate is dal, vegetable curry, chapati or rice, curd, chutney, and a dessert. At least, that is what we are told or shown. Then, there’s the classic debate of north Indian roti versus south Indian rice. However, in regions such as Marathwada, the majority of the working class of Mahars and Mangs eat dry rotis of jowar/bajra with meat, vegetables, and pulses with onion, garlic and crushed peanut. The belief there is that rice fattens you while chapati, with its glutenous fibre, caused stomach ache and bloating.
Shahu Patole’s excellent and very engaging book for gourmands, The Dalit Kitchen of Marathwada presents the dietary history and culture of the dishes it lists. Indeed, social records and community memory is part of the gift that the author offers to readers as he communicates how this cuisine is both spicier and more experimental than others from the subcontinent. Indeed, once this food is tasted, it demands repetitions of the experience. It’s unsurprising then that I could not write this review without trying some of the recipes mentioned!
Food habits are not solely about eating; they are about creating, nourishing, balancing, and celebrating the gifts of nature. A proud man from Marathwada, Patole speaks knowledgeably about the region and his heritage, which is also my own. Originally written in Marathi as Anna He Apoorna Brahma, the book was widely appreciated by Maharashtrian readers. Bhushan Korgaonkar, who translated the work into English, has succeeded in presenting its ideas in accessible prose and in conveying the essence of some local dialects. He has even given names to some of the vegetables native to the region. Fresh research and new recipes infuse the translation with a wonderful cosmopolitanism making this a welcome addition to the world cookbook list.
Further ambitious projects of the cultural arts will grow out of this one. It is a must-read for those interested in the culinary history of India beyond the practices of Brahminical communities that regulate food and dietary habits with an entrenched fascism. Simply put, this book takes on violent vegetarians who uphold their tastes as supreme and consider those who eat meat as impure. Meat and vegetables are complementary and they should go together to provide individuals with nourishment. However, India’s history of Brahmanism and Jainism has meant that meat is condemned and those who partake of it are deemed lesser than those who do not.
In 2023, during an overnight train journey from Delhi to Bodh Gaya, I was seated next to a couple, who looked older than their stated age. The woman boasted about her non-meat oriented, fatty diet and was visibly disgusted when I said I ate meat. It was clear that she believed that those who consumed it – the overwhelming majority of the Indian population: Dalits, Muslims, Adivasis and Shudras – were inferior.
How can a person justify what they eat when that is what they have historically been forced to eat or have voluntarily eaten? Patole highlights how many little parts of a dead cow or buffalo were relished by Dalits. It is, after all, what was their share, and they made use of every portion. Rural working-class Dalit food is spicy, intense, heavy and carb-intensive. The author explains that this is so because their hardworking lifestyle requires them to use physical and mental strength to plough fields and execute other demanding tasks. It is true that food-oriented diseases have a peculiar geography and demography. Indians who avoid meat but consume heavy food and sugary products as a source of alternative energy have made the country the international capital of cancer, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Meanwhile, communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, diarrhoea, malaria, typhoid and environment-related conditions are rampant among poorer groups.
Food is a public health issue. In India, diet is about cultural warfare, about people being condemned by the whims of the practices of powerful groups. In Western countries where physical strength is directly correlated to eating patterns, more people frequent gyms, do yoga, or run on the streets. In India, this has yet to take off. Sadly, with yoga-based millionaires parading as sadhus and babas, healthy eating is not being adopted as quickly as it should. And then there are the middle-class urbanites entering agro-industries to establish modern techno-enterprises. They present their lives as “reelable” products on social media. The dignity of labour, landless workers, and the peasant economy do not seem to feature in this world view that’s actually inspired by foreign models while being presented as organically Indian. In contrast, Patole’s book looks at everyday Dalit life into which sustainability has been historically woven. It’s not about a UN Sustainability Development Goal fashioned in the glass towers of New York or Geneva.
I am an avid chef and have been religiously posting recipes on my Instagram stories for the past few years. I also keenly present exotic dishes that I try in my sojourns. It is an education for my followers but also a shared space for food enthusiasts. Given that background, I was particularly struck by this book. An enjoyable read, it acted as a guide to my food memories. For readers, who, like me, are far from India, the thought that those at home are regularly feasting on this cuisine also inspires genuine envy. Rather quirkily, Patole does not tell us the quantity of ingredients to use in each recipe. It is up to the reader. Instead, he mentions ingredients followed by methods. Do it liberally or conservatively; it is to the taste of the maker. But whatever you do, be mindful that in the twenty-first century, with social change, some beloved food habits have to evolve and adjust to new sedentary lifestyles. Simply put, healthy dietary practices should complement one’s working environment and psychological development
The author has done many things in this single volume. Apart from the food critique and analysis of society through cuisine, and recipes, he points out the importance of various food items in the lives of Dalits. The book also takes to task the sanctimonious saintly traditions of Maharashtra and shows how the founders of each sect looked (often down) at food, especially that consumed by lower castes, advocated vegetarianism, and upheld the virtues of Brahmin superiority. According to Ramdas, meat eaters are reborn as Dalits. “They are stupid. They love to kill insects, ants and animals. They like to kill women and children, and for money, they don’t mind killing Brahmins and cows as well,” he is quoted as saying (p 308). The opposite of this was the vegetarian; the ideal to emulate. Despite all this, so many centuries later, Dalit life is still around and thriving.
Courtesy: Hindustan Times
Dalit and students groups seek enactment of ‘Rohith Act’, to curb discrimination at educational institutions
Published - January 19, 2025 09:28 pm IST - Bengaluru
Several Dalit and students organisations on Sunday reiterated their demand that the Union government should enact a ‘Rohith Act’, to tackle caste discrimination in educational institutions of the country.
People’s Campaign for Rohith Act held a convention in the city on Sunday, in memory of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula who ended his life over discrimination on January 17, 2016.
Rohith’s mother and anti-caste activist Radhika Vemula remembered her son as a “brilliant student”, but as someone who always faced discrimination. “Dalit students are institutionally discriminated against for receiving education. They have to overcome these hurdles to achieve dignity and upward mobility in their lives. It is because of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that I am still being denied justice. I do not want any other mother to go through the pain I went through and for that the enactment of the Rohith Act is critical,” she said.
She also expressed solidarity with Gopal Das of Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, “fighting caste discrimination in his institute”.
Based on a complaint by Prof. Das and a probe by the Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement, Karnataka, the city police had registered a FIR against the IIMB Director and seven other faculty members for alleged caste-based discrimination. The High Court of Karnataka has stayed the investigation into the FIR.
Rohith’s friend Dontha Prashanth shared insights into the discrimination students face in universities. “Campuses are not designed for inclusivity,” he said. “We are called anti-merit and face derogatory remarks in classrooms and hostels. Even in prestigious institutions like IITs and IIMs, reservations are poorly implemented,” he said, advocating for the ‘Rohith Act’.
Lekha Adavi of All-India Students’ Association said that the existing legal framework was insufficient to address the covert caste practices and discrimination that occurs in universities. “A legislation must provide a support structure for Dalit and adivasi students and also address caste discrimination,” she said.
Mavalli Shankar, leader of the Karnataka Dalit Sangharsh Samiti (Ambedkarwada), said: “Government schoolchildren are being denied nutritious food cooked by Dalit midday meal workers. If casteism is so rampant in educational spaces, it requires special legislation like the Rohith Act to address these concerns”.
Published - January 19, 2025 09:28 pm IST
Delhi.
Udit Raj snubs Kejriwal, calls him ‘anti-Dalit, anti-poor’
Dalit Teen Kidnapped, Raped In Car In Uttar Pradesh: Police
The accused, nabbed through an identity card placed on the car's dashboard, also recorded the act on his phone, police added.
A 16-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly abducted and raped in a car by a man here, police said on Sunday.
The accused, nabbed through an identity card placed on the car's dashboard, also recorded the act on his phone, they said.
The man, Rashid, abducted the girl in his car from outside her house and raped her.
The incident took place around 10 am when the girl was out to throw garbage.
Rashid also allegedly hurled casteist abuses at her while he committed the crime, police said.
After raping the girl, he threw her on a road outside her village near a cremation ground, they said.
At the time of the incident, the girl's father, a labourer, was away from home, while her mother was working in a field.
The girl saw the name of the assailant on an identity card in his car.
He was identified as a native of a village under Thakurdwara Police Station.
Rashid was arrested on Friday and booked under sections of rape, SC/ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act and POCSO Act, police said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi, Jan 19 (PTI) Congress leader Udit Raj on Sunday dubbed AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal as “anti-Dalit”, saying that while his party announced a scheme to provide a monthly honorarium to temple priests and gurdwara granthis, it left out priests of Valmiki and Ravidas temples.
On Monday, ‘bhikshus’ and priests of Valmiki and Ravidas temples will protest against the AAP to demand that they be covered under the party’s proposed scheme, the former MP said.
On December 30, Kejriwal announced that the AAP would give Rs 18,000 a month to temple priests and gurdwara granthis under the ‘Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana’ if it returns to power in Delhi after the upcoming assembly polls.
Kerjiwal is “anti-Dalit”. He recently announced a scheme to give Rs 18,000 a month to temple priests and gurdwara granthis but it does not cover priests of Valmiki and Ravidas temples, Raj said.
When the AAP formed the government in Punjab, it promised that a Dalit would be made the deputy chief minister. However, it did not keep its promise, the Congress leader said.
Of the party’s 11 Rajya Sabha MPs, not one is from the SC or OBC community, he said.
On Monday, ‘bhikshus’ and priests of Valmiki and Ravidas temples will hold a protest at Jantar Mantar against the AAP and demand that they be given the same honorarium, Raj said.
The 70-member Delhi Assembly goes to polls on February 5 and the results will be announced on February 8. PTI NIT DIV DIV
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service.
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