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The Police had arrested Vivek Kumar of Manpur in north Bastar, Chhattisgarh in 2015 over a Facebook post. He had to seek bail from the High Court and his business was badly hit. The arrest of his comrades has weakened the movement but Vivek is not ready to give up. Prema Negi reports :

The portrayal of Mahishasur’s slaying by Goddess Durga and burning of Ravan’s effigy on Dussehra is perceived by young tribals as an insult to their identity. They assert that they do not have any problems with Hindus worshiping Durga and Ram. However, they will not tolerate the portrayal of the killing of Asur Raj Mahishasur and burning of the effigies of King Ravan. Young tribals are once again readying to protest against the humiliation of Mahishasur. Forward Press reports:   

In the wake of growing disenchantment among the Tribals and alarmed by the Patthalgadi movement for securing tribal rights, especially those granted by PESA, the Chhattisgarh government has asked for Gram Sabhas to be held in keeping with the provisions of PESA. Has the government bowed to the Tribals’ demand or has it just handed a lollipop to them with an eye on the approaching elections?

In this Adivasi-majority state, the battles over control of water, jungle and land between the government machinery favouring the mining companies and the Adivasis continue. Recently, there has been an increase in the number of false cases being filed against the Adivasis

In Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district, the police have filed a case against those insulting Adivasis in the name of Durga Puja. This is a historic moment and we will see its effect in the days to come. The masses that have been enduring cultural slavery so far will now have the courage to break free of those shackles

Asurs, Gonds and many other tribal communities describe themselves as descendants of Mahishasur. For them, Mahishasur is a hero who helps them tide over difficult times

Guru Ghasidas was born in an era when evils like casteism, untouchability, religious fanaticism and conservatism thrived in Hindu society. Humans were treated worse than animals. Brahmanism was the order of the day. Through his Satnam Panth, Guru Ghasidas hit out at caste-based atrocities, untouchability and the varna system

In Chhattisgarh, the police have been reduced to a security force that is at the upper-caste outfits’ beck and call. With their cultural dominance under threat, the likes of Sarva Hindu Samaj, Sarvadaliya Manch and Dharmasena – all the various local avatars of the Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad – decide who should be arrested and sent to jail

The Mahishasur cultural movement has provided a fillip to the battle for water, forests and land in Chhattisgarh

Satish Verma finds out how an increasing number of Bahujans throughout the country are reclaiming their culture