e n

Atrocities against the Meghwals in Rajasthan: A sociohistorical perspective

On 15 October 1962, Kaluram Meghwal went to the well of the Thakurs of his village, drank the water himself and watered his camel, too. He left one of his shoes at the well to challenge the Thakurs, who responded by murdering Kaluram, but his struggle continues to inspire the Dalit community, writes Neeraj Bunkar

What has changed in these 75 years since independence? Different people will have different answers. Savarnas have changed their methods of oppressing Dalits, and Dalits have changed their strategies of dissent. But discrimination, untouchability, harassment, exploitation, and violence against Dalits are very much a ground reality even today. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, there were 25 crimes/atrocities – registered under the Scheduled Castes-Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act – against Scheduled Castes (SC) for every 100,000 of their population in the year 2020. According to the Home Ministry, 53,886 cases were registered under the SC-ST (PoA) Act in 2020, up from 49,608 in the previous year. The rate of crimes against Dalits is in all probability much higher, as the SC-ST (PoA) Act is often not invoked while registering an FIR due to caste prejudices of the police administration.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE: Atrocities against the Meghwals in Rajasthan: A sociohistorical perspective

About The Author

Neeraj Bunkar

Dr Neeraj Bunkar is a UK-based researcher specializing in caste and cinema.

Related Articles

Kant, Phule and Ambedkar, and the need for a collective struggle for the right to reason
In societies that are unequal not incidentally but structurally, the issue is not simply 'immaturity', as Kant poses, but being deprived of a social...
Social composition of the 18th Bihar Assembly
The Rajput have the highest representation among all the castes, while Kushwahas top Backward Classes, followed closely by Yadavs. Dhanuk and Ravidas have most...
Sohrai: An Adivasi festival that celebrates oneness with nature and coexistence with cattle
‘Sohrai’ means ‘appreciating and caressing’. The festival is about caressing cattle, pampering them and expressing gratitude towards them; it is about the relationship between...
25 years of Jharkhand – who gained, who lost?
Jharkhand is not what it was supposed to be. The beautiful civilization of Chhotanagpur and Santhal Parganas is threatened with destruction as powerful companies...
Bihar Assembly Elections 2025: BJP would only touch Pasmanda with JDU-LJP(R) barge pole
BJP Bihar state president Dilip Jaiswal stated that his party would guarantee Pasmanda Muslim involvement in state politics. However, when it came to giving...