80 Dalit Families in Gujarat’s Surat Defy Two-Year Delays, Embrace Buddhism
SSD members describe the administration’s approach as a deliberate “Delay and Destroy” tactic, designed to discourage applicants from conversion. Surat- After enduring two years of bureaucratic roadblocks, 80 Dalit families in Surat, Gujarat, have embraced Buddhism in a poignant ceremony held on May 14, at Anand Buddha Vihar, Bombay Colony, Amroli. The families, driven by the vision of equality espoused by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and the serene teachings of Lord Buddha, overcame persistent administrative delays to secure their right to convert. The Swayam Sainik Dal (SSD), a grassroots organization championing Dalit rights, played a pivotal role in navigating the systemic hurdles, making this a landmark victory for social justice and self-determination. A Protracted Battle Against Bureaucracy The journey began in 2023 when these people submitted applications to formally adopt Buddhism, seeking liberation from the caste-based discrimination embedded in traditional Hindu practices. Under Gujarat’s regulations, conversion applications (Form A) must be verified and approved by the District Collector within one month. However, the process was mired in delays, stretching over two years. SSD members describe the administration’s approach as a deliberate “Delay and Destroy” tactic, designed to discourage applicants. “For six months, we were tangled in paperwork. Then, the issuance of approval letters was stalled,” said an SSD representative. Across Gujarat, an estimated 40-50 thousand similar applications, filed by SSD and other Bahujan organizations, remain pending. Common excuses include staff shortages, officer transfers, or incomplete documentation, forcing applicants to make repeated visits to government offices. Many, exhausted by the ordeal, fail to complete the final step (Form C), resulting in their applications being quietly archived. “The system is rigged to frustrate those seeking to embrace Buddhism,” the SSD member added. “It’s not just inefficiency—it’s a strategy to maintain the status quo.” Despite these challenges, the families remained steadfast, supported by SSD’s unwavering advocacy. The Surat unit of SSD emerged as the backbone of this struggle. Through persistent phone calls, visits, and meticulous follow-ups, they kept the pressure on. As the delays dragged on, SSD escalated their efforts. Last week, they issued a stern ultimatum to the authorities: “Approve the applications, or we protests on the streets.” This bold stance compelled the administration to act, granting approvals to the pending applications. On May 14, the families gathered at Anand Buddha Vihar for an emotional ceremony. As they chanted the Buddha Vandana and reiterated the 22 vows given by Baba Sahab, the air resonated with a sense of liberation and hope. The event was not just a religious milestone but a powerful rejection of caste oppression, echoing Dr. Ambedkar’s call for social equality. SSD says the government delays conversions formalities on purpose to stop people from leaving Hinduism. How Buddhism changed their life Among those celebrating was Mayurraj Nag, a machine operator in a Surat diamond factory and an SSD member. Mayurraj, who embraced Buddhism in 2019, shared that of the 2023 applications, 110 have now been cleared, including the latest 80. His own journey reflects the transformative power of this path. “Eight years ago, I was lost—smoking, chewing gutkha, ignoring my family,” he said. “Meeting SSD in 2017 and learning about Babasaheb changed me. I quit my habits, started caring for my parents, and found purpose.” Mayurraj’s wife, Ashmita, whom he married four years ago in a love marriage blessed by their families, also embraced Buddhism. “I explained Buddhist teachings to her during our courtship. She understood, and now our family lives simply and happily,” he said. Mayurraj feels a newfound respect in his community. “People call me ‘bhai’ now, but it’s with respect. They listen when I speak, and that’s because of Buddhism.” Chandrika Shakya, a 30-year-old schoolteacher and member of SSD’s Jhalkari Brigade, has followed Buddhism for a decade. Despite her newborn keeping her from active outreach, she remains committed to empowering women. “I used to visit Dalit colonies, telling women about Babasaheb’s fight for equality,” she said. “We don’t push Buddhism first—we share his story, and people see it’s the way out of discrimination.” Chandrika’s family has also benefited financially. “We stopped spending on festivals like Holi or Diwali—no sweets, no puja items. That money now goes to our family’s future.” The administrative delays reflect a broader resistance to religious conversion, particularly to Buddhism, which challenges the caste hierarchy of Hinduism. SSD members allege that the system deliberately obstructs conversions to preserve traditional structures. “Buddhism has no rituals or caste divisions, which threatens the old ways,” an SSD member explained. “The delays are meant to tire people out, but we won’t let that happen.” SSD’s Broader Mission Founded in 2006 in Rajkot by 50 Dalit activists, SSD is dedicated to eradicating social inequalities and fostering a humane society. Rejecting hierarchies, every member is a “swayam sainik” (self-soldier). SSD conducts “chintan shivirs” (reflection camps) in rural areas to educate marginalized communities about their rights. Their ambitious goal is to facilitate the return of 20 million indigenous people to Buddhism by 2028, with planned mass conversion events on Ambedkar Jayanti from 2024 to 2028 in cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, Bhopal, and Mumbai. “SSD empowers communities by raising awareness about constitutional rights and exposing the divisive rituals of Hinduism,” a senior member said anonymously. “We encourage people to shape their own futures.” Buddhism, with its rejection of caste and rituals, is seen as a pathway to dismantle discriminatory practices, aligning with SSD’s vision of equality. Courtesy : Geetha Sunil Pillai, The Mooknayak Note: This news is originally published on https://themooknayak.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
‘They Would Have Abused Vyomika Singh Too if They Knew She was a Dalit’: Senior SP Leader’s Dig at BJP
Ram Gopal Yadav took a dig at the BJP after its minister Kunwar Vijay Shah referred to Colonel Sofiya Qureshi as “sister of terrorists.” New Delhi: On the backfoot after one of its ministers in Madhya Pradesh made communally-laced derogatory remarks about Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on May 15 tried to shift the optics by rallying against senior Opposition leader Ram Gopal Yadav of the Samajwadi Party after he targeted the saffron party by referring to the caste backgrounds of the officers involved in the Operation Sindoor. Addressing a public meeting in Moradabad on Thursday, Yadav – a Rajya Sabha Member as well as the national general secretary of the SP – took a dig at the BJP after its minister Kunwar Vijay Shah referred to Qureshi as “sister of terrorists.” For his controversial remarks, Shah earned the censure of the MP High Court, which ordered police to register an FIR against him for further action. Yadav first criticised the BJP for launching nationwide Shaurya Tiranga Yatras to celebrate Operation Sindoor even as infiltration incidents continued in Jammu and Kashmir. “Terrorists are getting killed daily. They are coming from Pakistan. And they (BJP) are taking out a Tiranga Yatra. They are doing this only for elections,” said Yadav. ‘Had they knew the caste of other officers, they would have hurled abuses at them as well’ The senior SP leader then referred to the MP High Court ordering an FIR against Shah. He alleged that had the BJP known about the background of wing commander Vyomika Singh and air marshal A. K Bharti, its leaders could have insulted them too like they did with Colonel Qureshi, a Muslim. “They didn’t know what Vyomika Singh’s caste was nor did they know about air marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti. Otherwise, they would have hurled abuses at them too,” said Yadav. The SP leader then went on to talk about the caste background of Vyomika Singh and A.K Bharti. “Let me tell you – Vyomika Singh is a ‘Jatav Chamar’ from Haryana, and Air Marshal Bharti is a Yadav from Purnia. All three were from the PDA (Pichda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak),” said Yadav. The PDA refers to the electoral strategy of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav – Ram Gopal Yadav is his uncle – of mobilising backward castes, Dalits and minorities, especially Muslims, against the BJP’s Hindutva agenda. Jatav is a Dalit community while Yadav is an Other Backward Classes (OBC) community. Yadav further said that while one (Qureshi) was abused because the BJP knew she was a Muslim, they did not say anything about Vyomika Singh assuming her to be an ‘upper caste’ Rajput. About A.K Bharti, they had no information whatsoever, added Yadav. The BJP, left red-faced by Shah’s remarks against Colonel Qureshi, launched an attack against Yadav accusing him of insulting the armed forces by viewing it through the lens of caste. “The uniform of the army is not seen through a ‘casteist lens’. Every soldier of the Indian army performs ‘national duty’ and is not a representative of any caste or religion,” said UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. BJP attacks SP over Yadav’s statement Targeting Yadav, Adityanath said that the SP leader’s “act of binding a brave daughter within the ambit of caste” was “not only a display of his party’s narrow-mindedness” but was also “a grave insult to the valour of the army and the country’s identity.” “This is the same mentality which dares to divide even patriotism in the name of appeasement and vote bank politics,” said Adityanath. BJP’s Uttar Pradesh president Bhupendra Chaudhary said Yadav’s “casteist statement” on wing commander Vyomika Singh, “the daughter of the country who broke the morale of terrorists and Pakistan, is not only reprehensible but is also a gross insult to the amazing courage, bravery of the army and the identity of Mother India.” “Ram Gopal Yadav has probably forgotten that by successfully completing Operation Sindoor, the daughter of the country has done the unique work of making Mother India’s pride and glory known to the entire world, which is amazing and admirable in itself,” said Chaudhary. Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati, herself a Jatav Dalit, criticised both Yadav and the BJP for their “shameful and condemnable” remarks. “The entire country is united and proud of the valour of Operation Sindoor of the Indian Army against the terrorists in Pakistan. In such a situation, it is extremely unfair to judge and divide the army on the basis of religion and caste,” she said. Courtesy : Omar Rashid, The Wire Note: This news is originally published on https://thewire.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Bihar Assembly Elections 2025: Chirag Paswan’s LJP To Aggressively Court Dalit Votes With ‘Bahujan-Bheem Sankalp Samagam’; Plans To Contest Independently Within NDA
Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan is gearing up to reach out to all Dalit communities to bolster his party`s prospects in Bihar assembly election, due in October-November. Patna: Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan is gearing up to reach out to all Dalit communities to bolster his party`s prospects in Bihar assembly election, due in October-November. Dalits constitute 16.04 percent of the population of the state and play a dominant role in deciding the outcome of any poll in the state. On the other hand, Paswan is the second largest caste in Bihar after Yadav, as they constitute 5.311 percent of the state`s population. LJP (RV)`s state executive held a meeting in Patna on Friday and unanimously passed a resolution for Chirag playing a role of a prominent leader of Bahujan-Bheem Samaj. The party has also planned to organise ‘Bahujan-Bheem Sankalp Samagam’ to reach out to Dalits more aggressively. In another important issue, Chirag`s party through the resolution made it clear that it would contest the assembly election by keeping its independent identity intact. It is seen as LJP`s ploy to extract maximum number of seats from BJP in the assembly election. Chirag has asserted on several occasions that he would contest an election as an NDA ally. Former professor of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Pushpendra Kumar Singh said, “Chirag understands very well that his party’s growth in NDA will be limited if he depends only on Paswan votes and so he will definitely like to reach out to other Dalit castes.” Although Chirag apparently commands a significant support of his caste members (Paswans), the dynamics would change if his uncle and former union minister Pashupati Kumar Paras joins the I.N.D.I.A bloc and makes inroads into Paswan votes with the help of its allies like RJD, Congress and left parties, he noted. LJP leader is also facing challenge from Congress as the latter after appointing a Dalit (Mallikarjun Kharge) as its national president has now made a Dalit (Rajesh Kumar) its state president, he asserted. Another challenge is that after BSP supremo Mayawati losing much of her clout in Bihar, her party`s votes in the election are more likely to go to INDIA bloc, he claimed. “Chirag will prefer to field his party candidates on seats in the state polls, mainly falling under the Lok Sabha constituencies of his five MPs,” he remarked. Courtesy : Dheeraj Kumar, TFPJ Note: This news is originally published on https://thefreepressjournal.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Dalit says he was assaulted during village fair in Belagavi
Ramdurg Police have registered case against unidentified people based on a complaint by a Dalit youth that he was assaulted during a village fair in Kunnal in Belagavi district. In his complaint, Laxman Madar has said that he was beaten up by a group of five-six people when he questioned why they were trying to forcibly throw coloured water on women from his family. “The victim received some injuries and was admitted to hospital. He is recovering. Investigation is on to identify and apprehend the accused,” Additional Superintendent of Police Ramagonda Basaragi said. Courtesy : The Hindu Bureau, The Hindu Note: This news is originally published on https://thehindu.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Bihar Politics: Rahul Gandhi blew the Congress trumpet in Bihar, how important are Dalit voters in the state, know in 5 points
Bihar Politics: Assembly elections are to be held in Bihar in October-November. Before this, Rahul Gandhi has started the exercise of giving a new lease of life to the Congress by playing the Dalit card in Bihar politics. This has alerted all the parties. Know how important the Dalit card is in Bihar. Bihar Politics: Whether as the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha or as a Congress MP on the road, a new form of Rahul Gandhi is visible. Rahul will be seen talking about the Constitution, the rights of Dalits given in it and Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar everywhere. This is part of Rahul Gandhi’s exercise, in which he is trying to connect Dalit voters with the Congress again. Due to this, he has also been talking about caste census everywhere. Along with this, there have been claims of pressure from Congress behind the caste survey conducted by Nitish Kumar’s government in Bihar, which was a partner in the government with Nitish Kumar’s JDU at the time of the survey. The first test of this exercise of Rahul Gandhi is Bihar, where assembly elections (Bihar Assembly Election 2025) are going to be held in October-November. Dalit voters have special importance in Bihar politics. This is the reason why Rahul Gandhi reached Darbhanga on Thursday (May 15) to meet Dalit students despite all the obstacles and after reaching Patna, he watched the film ‘Phule’ based on Dalit social reformers Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule. The importance of this tour for Rahul can be gauged in such a way that he met Dalit students in Ambedkar hostel despite all the opposition from the administration in Darbhanga. Two FIRs have also been registered against him for this. Let us tell you in 5 points how important Dalit voters are in Bihar and why the elections here are going to prove to be a test for Rahul Gandhi- Dalit voters constitute 19 percent of Bihar’s population Bihar’s politics has always revolved around Dalit and Mahadalit vote banks. There are about 19 percent Dalit voters in Bihar. The state’s Dalit vote bank has so far been influenced by LJP (Ram Vilas Paswan), Jitan Ram Manjhi’s HAM, CPI (ML). Apart from this, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JDU and Lalu Prasad Yadav’s RJD have also been a part of it. Nitish Kumar has also found new equations by playing the Mahadalit card among this Dalit vote bank. Before the rise of Lalu Prasad Yadav and Nitish Kumar, Dalit voters used to be in the Congress’s share. Rahul Gandhi’s exercise is to return this love of Dalit voters to the Congress, the hope of which has increased after the results of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. 2. 40 assembly seats are reserved in the state Out of 243 seats in Bihar assembly, 40 seats are reserved. Out of these, Dalit Scheduled Caste candidates contest on 38 seats and Scheduled Tribe candidates contest on 2 seats. Congress has been getting the support of Muslim voters in Bihar, which it is expecting this time too. If Congress gets the support of Dalit voters due to Rahul Gandhi’s efforts, then due to Dalit-Muslim equation, Congress can do the miracle which has been keeping away from it for the last several decades. How is Rahul Gandhi trying in Bihar? Rahul Gandhi has visited Bihar 4 times in the last 5 months. On these visits, he has been continuously accusing BJP of trying to snatch the rights of Dalits and calling Nitish Kumar a partner of BJP in this. Along with this, he has also been talking about giving rights to Dalits through caste census. Earlier in ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ also, Rahul Gandhi has been continuously raising the issue of Dalits. To woo Dalits in the state, on Rahul Gandhi’s behest, Congress has removed a strong leader like Akhilesh Prasad Singh and made Dalit leader Rajesh Kumar the state president, while Sushil Pasi has been appointed as the co-in-charge of Bihar. Dalit focus Rahul Gandhi is raising three demands Rahul Gandhi has been raising three demands to woo Dalit voters to his camp, the first of which is to conduct caste census in the country. After the Modi government announced caste census, Rahul has tried to take credit for it by loudly calling it the result of Congress’ pressure. The second demand is to ensure funding under the government’s SC/ST sub-plan scheme and the third demand is to implement reservation in private institutions as well. Let us tell you that SC/ST sub-plan fund is a fixed part of the budget for the socio-economic development of Dalits in every state’s plan. Rahul Gandhi says that Dalits are not getting this fund. If Congress rises, Nitish will suffer a direct loss The separation between Congress and Dalit voters in Bihar started after the rise of Nitish Kumar’s JDU. In such a situation, it is believed that if Dalit voters join Congress again, Nitish Kumar will suffer a direct loss. In the NDA alliance, JDU’s status in Bihar is higher than BJP. This means that if Nitish Kumar’s party goes down, then it will be BJP’s loss. This math can be understood from the following figures- In Bihar elections 1990, Congress got 24.78% votes. In Bihar elections 1995, Congress got 16.30% votes. In Bihar elections 2000, Congress got only 11.06% votes. In Bihar elections 2005, Congress’s fort collapsed with 6.09% votes. In Bihar elections 2010, Congress tried to rise with 8.37% votes. In Bihar elections 2015, Congress got only 6.7% votes. In Bihar elections 2020, Congress again got 9.48% by joining RJD. Courtesy : Kuldeep Panwar, Hindi News
Dalit young man stopped from entering temple in Karnataka
When the man protested, reminding the upper caste man of being a hindrance in exercising his constitutional rights, others joined in, abused him with casteist slurs, and forced him to leave. Tension broke out in Karnataka’s Kavanadala village of Madhugiri taluk on Saturday, May 10, after a Dalit young man was allegedly stopped from entering a local temple by members of the temple committee. Swaminatha, who was visiting relatives, went to the Ramanjaneya temple to perform a pooja but was denied entry by Shivananda, who curtly told him that Dalits were not allowed inside. When Swaminatha protested, reminding the upper caste man of being a hindrance in exercising his constitutional rights, others joined in, abused him with casteist slurs, and forced him to leave. The Dalit young man filed a police complaint with the Badavanahalli police station. On information, officials from the Police, Revenue, and Social Welfare departments visited the village and a peace meeting was held where they said practising caste discrimination is against the rule of law. After the intervention, Swaminatha was allowed to enter the temple. Authorities assured that Dalits in the village would no longer face such discrimination. Superintendent of Police Ashok KV said the issue was resolved peacefully, but an investigation is ongoing and legal action will follow based on the findings. Posted by Veena Nair Courtesy : TSD Note: This news is originally published on https://thesiasatdaily.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Justice B R Gavai, second Dalit to be sworn in as Chief Justice of India
Justice Gavai has been a part of several Constitution benches in the apex court, which delivered path-breaking verdicts. New Delhi: Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, who has been part of several benches that delivered landmark rulings, including the one upholding the Centre’s decision to abrogate provisions of Article 370 bestowing special status to Jammu and Kashmir, was on Wednesday, May 14, sworn in as the 52nd Chief Justice of India. The 64-year-old was administered oath by President Droupadi Murmu at a brief ceremony at the Ganatantra Mandap in the Rashtrapati Bhavan. He succeeds Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who demitted office on Tuesday on attaining the age of 65. MS Creative School CJI Gavai, who was elevated as a judge of the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019, will have a tenure of over six months and will demit office on November 23. He took the oath of affirmation in Hindi. Soon after he took oath, CJI Gavai sought blessings of his mother Kamal Tai Gavai by touching her feet. He was greeted by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers and former judges. He is the second Dalit person and the first Buddhist to hold the esteemed position of Chief Justice of India. The first Dalit CJI was KG Balakrishnan, who served from 2007 to 2010. About CJI Gavai Born on November 24, 1960, in Amravati, Justice Gavai was elevated as an additional judge of the Bombay High Court on November 14, 2003. He became a permanent judge of the High Court on November 12, 2005. He had joined the bar on March 16, 1985, and was the standing counsel for the Municipal Corporation of Nagpur, Amravati Municipal Corporation and Amravati University. Justice Gavai was appointed an assistant government pleader and additional public prosecutor in the Bombay High Court’s Nagpur bench from August 1992 to July 1993. He was appointed a government pleader and public prosecutor for the Nagpur bench on January 17, 2000. Important verdicts by CJI Gavai Justice Gavai has been a part of several Constitution benches in the apex court, which delivered path-breaking verdicts. He was part of a five-judge Constitution bench which in December 2023 unanimously upheld the Centre’s decision to abrogate provisions of Article 370, bestowing special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Another five-judge Constitution bench, of which Justice Gavai was a part, declared the electoral bonds scheme unconstitutional and cancelled for political funding. He was part of a five-judge Constitution bench which, by a 4:1 majority verdict, gave its stamp of approval to the Centre’s 2016 decision to demonetise Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 denomination currency notes. Justice Gavai was also part of a seven-judge Constitution bench, which by a 6:1 majority held that states are constitutionally empowered to make sub-classifications within the Scheduled Castes, which form a socially heterogeneous class, for granting reservation for the uplift of castes that are socially and educationally more backwards among them. A seven-judge Constitution bench, also having Justice Gavai ruled that the arbitration clause in an unstamped or insufficiently stamped agreement between parties was enforceable as such a defect was curable and did not render the contract invalid. In an important verdict, a bench headed by Justice Gavai laid down pan-India guidelines and said no property should be demolished without a prior show-cause notice, and the affected must be given 15 days to respond. He is also heading the bench which is hearing matters related to forests, wildlife and protection of trees. Posted by Veena Nair Courtesy : TSD Note: This news is originally published on https://thesiasatdaily.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
The Caste on Your Plate: How Food Became India’s Silent Divide
Explore how India’s food culture is intertwined with caste, highlighting Dalit chefs like Asha Kowtal and Shahu Patole as they challenge norms through festivals and books. The sizzle of Tadka/Chhunka in a pan. The aroma of freshly cooked rice. The comfort of a home-cooked meal. In India, food is love, tradition, and identity. But scratch just beneath the surface, and you’ll find an uncomfortable truth – our plates are caste-certified. What we eat, who cooks it, and who we share it with isn’t just about taste. It’s about centuries of hierarchy served fresh every day. Kitchen apartheid runs deeper Let’s talk numbers first. A 2021 CSDS survey drops a bombshell – 64% of Brahmins are vegetarian versus just 8% of Dalits. That’s not a coincidence. That’s caste at work. For generations, vegetarianism has been marketed as “pure”, while meat became code for “dirty”. Remember the 2017 Gujarat school meal controversy? The government banned non-veg food, hitting Dalit and tribal kids hardest – their main protein sources suddenly taboo. Jignesh Mevani called it out for what it was – casteism on a platter. The kitchen apartheid runs deeper. In 2018, Kausalya, a Dalit cook in Tamil Nadu, lost her job because upper-caste parents refused to let their children eat her food. Her crime? Her caste. Fast forward to 2024, and a National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights study shows 30% of midday meal workers still face this discrimination. Some things haven’t changed since Manusmriti times – the idea that food becomes “impure” if certain hands touch it. But here’s where the story gets interesting. Dalit chefs and foodies are flipping the script. Take Asha Kowtal’s Dalit Food Fest – where dried fish curry and stuffed vegetables became symbols of pride, not shame. Or Shahu Patole, whose book “Dalit Kitchens of Marathwada” sold 10,000 copies, bringing recipes like kala mutton into mainstream consciousness. His YouTube channel? Packed with 50,000 viewers learning what school never taught them – that Dalit cuisine is rich, diverse, and damn delicious. Small wins, but seismic shifts Social media has become the new battleground. #DalitFoodPride trends with over a million views. WhatsApp groups like “Dalit Culinary Network” connect cooks across states. Facebook’s “Food Without Caste” hosts virtual cook-alongs where Brahmins and Dalits share recipes – and stories. One post that went viral? A Brahmin woman’s confession: “I never knew your food could taste so good.” Small wins, but seismic shifts. Of course, pushback comes with the territory. Vidya Biradar’s Pune eatery got vandalized in 2023 – her crime? Serving authentic Dalit cuisine. Online, trolls swarm Dalit food posts with “disgusting” comments. A Digital Empowerment Foundation study found 15% of Indian food content has casteist undertones. The irony? The same “unclean” dishes – paya, bamboo shoot curry, wild boar – are now gourmet trends when served in five-star hotels. Here’s the real pickle. While urban Dalits use Instagram to reclaim their food heritage, rural Dalits still face violence for breaking dining rules. A 2019 case from Uttarakhand says it all – a Dalit man beaten for daring to eat at an upper-caste wedding. The National Family Health Survey shows that only 20% of rural Dalits have internet access to join this food revolution. The divide isn’t just about caste anymore – it’s about who gets a seat at the digital table. It’s all coded with caste Yet, hope simmers on slow fire. When Osmania University students hosted a mutton curry festival despite threats, they weren’t just serving food – they were serving notice. When home cooks like Priya Thakur get Brahmins to taste their food and ask for seconds, centuries of taboo crack a little. And when millets – long dismissed as “poor man’s food” – become urban health fads, it proves everything is about who’s selling the story. The bottom line? Food in India is political. Always has been. The rotis you eat, the hands that make them, the people you share them with – it’s all coded with caste. But the kitchen, that most traditional of spaces, is becoming an unlikely site of revolution. Every time someone tries Vidya’s masala fish fry, every time a Brahmin follows @DalitFoodStories, every time a college kid chooses mutton over judgment – the old order trembles. So next time you sit down to eat, ask yourself: Is my plate free? Or is it still carrying the weight of centuries? Because in a country where food is god, the real test of progress isn’t just what’s on your thali – but who cooked it, who’s eating with you, and whether anyone still cares about caste when the first bite hits. The revolution won’t be televised. It’ll be served hot, with a side of stories, and shared across tables that are finally learning to become equal. One meal at a time. Parambrahma Tripathy is an author and Communication for Development professional with over 18 years of experience. He has worked with organizations like BBC Media Action, Landesa, The Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago, IPE Global, and Coceptual Media. He has been recognized with several awards, including the prestigious Laadli Media and Gender Sensitivity Award in 2022 and 2023, Best Lyricist of the Year in 2022, Dr. Radhanath Rath Fellowship for Journalism, Kalinga Literary Youth Award, Timepass Bestseller Award, Srujan India Youth Award, Utkal Sahitya Samaj Felicitation and Odia Yuva Stambha Samman(2023) (DISCLAIMER: This is an opinion piece. The views expressed are the author’s own and have nothing to do with OTV’s charter or views. OTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.) Courtesy : Parambrahma Tripathy, Odishatv Bureau, Odisha TV
Today is a mega-show of Dalit politics in Bihar, Rahul Gandhi will roar with his entire army, the program will range from dialogue to cinema
Congress is putting in all its efforts to win the Bihar assembly elections in its favour. Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi is entering the battlefield of Bihar on Thursday with his entire army of leaders. Actually, Rahul Gandhi is trying to get 17 percent Dalit votes with him, for which he is continuously visiting Bihar. This is Rahul Gandhi’s fourth visit to Bihar in five months. As the Bihar assembly elections are getting closer, the political heat is increasing. The issues of migration and employment have become the center of the campaigns of political parties. All the parties of the ruling and opposition are making these issues the main basis of their strategy. Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi is entering the battlefield of Bihar on Thursday with his entire army of leaders, where the Dalit community is going to be at the center of his political agenda. Rahul Gandhi has made a strategy from communicating with Dalit students to watching movies. Congress’s youth leader Kanhaiya Kumar has led the ‘Palan Roko, Naukri Do’ Yatra and has already brought the issues of migration and unemployment to the political centre stage in Bihar. Now Rahul Gandhi is coming together with senior Congress leaders to give it a political edge and set the political equations. In all the districts of Bihar, Congress leaders will discuss the issues of employment and education with Dalit and backward class students through the ‘Shiksha Nyay Samvad’ program. Rahul will start ‘Shiksha Nyay Samvad’ Rahul Gandhi will start the ‘Shiksha Nyay Samvad’ program from Darbhanga, Bihar. This program of Rahul was to be held in Ambedkar Hostel, but permission was not given. In such a situation, Rahul Gandhi will communicate with Dalit students in Darbhanga’s Nagar Bhawan. During this time, more than 60 national level leaders of Congress will participate in the dialogue program at about 75 places in different districts of Bihar. They will visit colleges, universities and hostels and communicate with the students. The purpose of this program is to spread awareness among students and youth about the right to education and social justice. Congress national secretary and co-in-charge of Bihar Sushil Pasi says that the biggest problem in Bihar is of better education and employment. Students of Bihar are constantly migrating for better education and jobs, in which the biggest problem is being faced by the people of Dalit society. Economically and socially, the people of Dalit society are very weak, due to which they are neither able to provide better education to their children nor are they able to get employment. Due to this they have to migrate, Rahul Gandhi and Congress leaders will also do Shiksha Nyay Samvad to know and understand the problems of Dalit society. The purpose of Congress’s ‘Shiksha Nyay Samvad’? Sushil Pasi told that the Congress’s ‘Shiksha Nyay Samvad’ program means to provide social justice in education and jobs to Dalit, backward and extremely backward class people. Through ‘Shiksha Nyay Samvad’, Congress will loudly raise issues like delay in academic session, question paper leak, crumbling education system. Congress’s Shiksha Nyay Samvad can be understood in five points… The aim is to remove the 50 percent limit of reservation. The limit of reservation is 50%, and the Supreme Court is stopping any further increase. Congress is demanding to abolish this limit and increase it. Congress wants that reservation should be given to people as per their participation in the society. Implement sub-plan on Dalits and tribals. To achieve the goals set by the Constitution for the development of SCs and STs as per Articles 46 and 47. To promote socio-economic development of SCs and STs and provide social justice. To ensure participation of SCs and STs in development plans and provide equal opportunities. Such as education, health, employment and social security. Demand to improve education infrastructure- Congress is demanding to strengthen and improve the education system in Bihar. Congress leaders will raise this demand through Shiksha Nyay Samvad. Give jobs, not loans- Congress leaders will raise the demand through Shiksha Nyay Samvad that give jobs, not loans. Through this, the strategy of Congress leaders and Rahul Gandhi is to target the BJP’s Modi government. Give 3-year degree in 3 years only- Congress leaders will raise the demand in Bihar that the exams should be conducted on time and there should be no delay in the results. In recent times, it has been seen that exams are being delayed in many universities of Bihar. It is taking four to five years to complete a three-year degree. Students of Bihar have been continuously raising demands regarding this. Rahul Gandhi will watch Phule film in Patna Rahul Gandhi will reach Patna directly after inaugurating the Shiksha Nyay Samvad program in Darbhanga, Bihar. In Patna, he will first interact with the representatives of various social organizations. Representatives of the civil society ‘Phule’ based on EBC thinker Jyotirao Phule will be seen with the people of the Dalit community at P&M Mall. This film is based on the life of social reformer Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and his wife Savitribai Phule, who have deeply hurt the caste system of the society. Jyotiba Phule has his own political importance among Dalits and backward classes. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will try to give a political message by watching the Phule film with social justice activists in Bihar. Bihar has been the land of the social justice movement. Jyotiba Phule may have belonged to Maharashtra, but he has his own political importance in Bihar, especially the Dalit and extremely backward communities consider him their messiah. Jyotiba Phule used to play an important role in the politics of BSP founder Kanshiram. He is considered the pivot of social justice. Congress will give edge to Dalit politics Congress is focused on students and youth, but its eye is on wooing Dalits. Congress is busy preparing for the Bihar assembly elections. Rahul Gandhi is busy in reviving the Congress organization in Bihar. He wants to make the organization sharper. In such
Who is Justice B.R. Gavai, the new Chief Justice of India?
Justice Gavai will become only the second Dalit Chief Justice of India, after Justice KG Balakrishnan Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai is set to become the 52nd Chief Justice of India, following the retirement of CJI Sanjiv Khanna on May 13, 2025. Elevated to the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019, Justice Gavai will become only the second Dalit Chief Justice of India, after Justice KG Balakrishnan, who held the post from 2007 to 2010. However, his tenure is expected to last six months, from May 14, 2025 to November 23, 2025. His appointment also comes at a critical juncture for the judiciary, as the Supreme Court faces mounting criticism over alleged judicial overreach, most notably in the Tamil Nadu Governor case, where it directed the President to adhere to a timeline for clearing Bills. The judiciary is also grappling with renewed concerns over judicial corruption following the alleged discovery of charred currency notes at the official residence of High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma. The incident has prompted 21 Supreme Court judges to publicly disclose their assets in an effort to restore public confidence. As Justice Gavai assumes office, all eyes will be on how he steers the court through these turbulent times, while upholding constitutional principles and reinforcing public trust in the institution. Script and Presentation: Aaratrika Bhaumik Editing: Zeeshan Akhtar Video: Aniket Chauhan Courtesy : The Hindu Note: This news is originally published on https://thehindu.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.