According to the Gujarat CID, a lion killed Najabhai Ahir’s cow in Bediya village. Najabhai informed Balu Sarvaiya of Mota village on the morning of July 11, 2016 to come and dispose the dead cow. Whereupon, the sons of Balu Sarvaiya, a SC by caste who traditionally skin and dispose off dead cows, brought the dead cow to their village and started skinning it. Suddenly, from nowhere, members of a Gau Raksha Dal appeared on the scene and accusing the Dalits of having slaughtered the cow, started mercilessly flogging them with sticks. The next morning the Dalits of Gujarat were out on the streets in protest.They halted the traffic, organised Bandhs and some even refused to carry on their traditional occupation of disposing dead cows. Dead cows were deposited before Govt offices and the houses of prominent politicians. When the Gujarat Chief Minister met Balu Sarvaiya, he said, they want justice not compensation. Dalit girls and women held a Dhikkar Rally at Vadnagar in Gujarat.
Without a visible leader like Spartacus, the revolt of the Dalits of Gujarat had begun. It was historic. The Dalits were asserting their fundamental rights to personal liberty, freedom of expression and right to occupation. This was like the Second Temple Entry movement. The annihilation of caste, which Dr. Ambedkar dreamt of, had begun. The Dalit Resistance to the onging Fascism was absolutely clear and palpable.
But the Lion of Gujarat remains silent. Not even a whisper.
Dr Aurobindo Ghose, General Secretary, Peoples’ Rights Organisation, A Human Rights Body
E-mail : g_aurobindo@yahoo.com
…. hitherto, the lion lived in a den. The den was protected by him from inside and outside and harped by the stooges of the lion as ‘ Gujarat model’ and should be followed by the whole country. After the lion left the den and became the king of forest, the wounded ‘ animals’ began to trickle out. Patidar Patel first busted the Gujarat myth. Now, dalits are showing their strength. Farmers suicides have been a feature over the years but did not come out in the open. In short, the state lagged behind in human development index. It had its share of atrocities and brutalities all the years when ‘ lion’ was ruling the ‘ den’.
Now, as everything is coming out, the lion is shocked with silence…!!!
Thank you for a very succinct analysis of the lion”s cunning career. But how do we get rid of this lion ? It’s not the lion alone – he has created a den of fellow animals in the forest of Indian politics and society, which commands obedience from other animals (who are less carnivorous) within India, as well as attracts respect from the other lions who dominate forests in the USA, UK…