Dalits in a small Karnataka town have raised a self-defence army. They are confident that it will soon go places, reports
B.S. Narayanaswamy
Raibhaga is a nondescript little town in Karnataka’s Belgaum district. If there is anything worth a mention about this place, it is that it is equidistant from Bengaluru and Mumbai – around 600 km either way. But Raibhaga could well lose its anonymity if some Dalit leaders of the town have their way.
On January 26 last, Raibhaga saw the formation of Neeli Sene (Blue Army), an outfit manned by young Dalits and run on the lines of the RSS. It is the self-defence wing of the Dalit Sangharsh Samiti (Bheemavada), one of the factions that represent the community.
Members of the Blue Army, men aged anything between 18 and 40, are up well before sunrise every morning. They head to Shahu Maharaj Ground in the heart of town to participate in a drill-and-parade exercise. Their blue uniform glistens in the first rays of the sun as the men march with intent, chest out, chin up and eyes fixed straight ahead. Left, right, left…. the Dalits of Raibhaga are bent on changing the direction of their lives.
Raju Talawar, a 33-year-old man who heads the marching squads, is thrilled at the way things are panning out. Talking to TSI, he says: “We’ve been coming here everyday since January 26. Every Sunday, after the march-past and drill, we host special lectures by specially invited resource persons who enlighten us on various themes, including social inequities, and narrate stories about the exploits of great men like BR Ambedkar, Jyotiba Phule, Periyar and Kanaka Dasa. The younger lot of Dalits are already beginning to feel a new energy and excitement course through their veins.”
The man in charge of the training is Dhanapal Gasti, a retired jawan of the Mahar Regiment. “As of now, we are imparting only basic army training. But in the long run we will go in for full-fledged weapon training, including lathi varase (cane fighting),” says Talawar.
Mohan Raj, state convener of the Blue Army, emphasises that the wing is not against any person, community or organisation. It has been launched purely to create awareness among the suppressed and backward communities about there constitutional rights. The idea, he says, is also to build a disciplined young generation among the community.
B.S. Narayanaswamy
Raibhaga is a nondescript little town in Karnataka’s Belgaum district. If there is anything worth a mention about this place, it is that it is equidistant from Bengaluru and Mumbai – around 600 km either way. But Raibhaga could well lose its anonymity if some Dalit leaders of the town have their way.
On January 26 last, Raibhaga saw the formation of Neeli Sene (Blue Army), an outfit manned by young Dalits and run on the lines of the RSS. It is the self-defence wing of the Dalit Sangharsh Samiti (Bheemavada), one of the factions that represent the community.
Members of the Blue Army, men aged anything between 18 and 40, are up well before sunrise every morning. They head to Shahu Maharaj Ground in the heart of town to participate in a drill-and-parade exercise. Their blue uniform glistens in the first rays of the sun as the men march with intent, chest out, chin up and eyes fixed straight ahead. Left, right, left…. the Dalits of Raibhaga are bent on changing the direction of their lives.
Raju Talawar, a 33-year-old man who heads the marching squads, is thrilled at the way things are panning out. Talking to TSI, he says: “We’ve been coming here everyday since January 26. Every Sunday, after the march-past and drill, we host special lectures by specially invited resource persons who enlighten us on various themes, including social inequities, and narrate stories about the exploits of great men like BR Ambedkar, Jyotiba Phule, Periyar and Kanaka Dasa. The younger lot of Dalits are already beginning to feel a new energy and excitement course through their veins.”
The man in charge of the training is Dhanapal Gasti, a retired jawan of the Mahar Regiment. “As of now, we are imparting only basic army training. But in the long run we will go in for full-fledged weapon training, including lathi varase (cane fighting),” says Talawar.
Mohan Raj, state convener of the Blue Army, emphasises that the wing is not against any person, community or organisation. It has been launched purely to create awareness among the suppressed and backward communities about there constitutional rights. The idea, he says, is also to build a disciplined young generation among the community.
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