Baldev’s uncompromised struggle for rights of marginalized communities

Baldev with felicitation letter.

Baldev Ram of Madhupatti area of Siraha district may not be a known name for many but the name is very well known and respected to the so called untouchable people of eastern Siraha district. Baldev liberated thousands of people from the inhuman Sino Pratha, a system where people of marginalized Dalit community have to throw the corpse of dead animals without any remuneration.

People of Chamar community were forced to accept the job as they were considered the so called lower caste people. Although the tradition was deep rooted and no one dared to challenge it even though they are not happy with it, Baldev took the lead risking his life as the people of so called higher caste imposed blockade to their settlement and also threatened to kill him for raising the issue. He however did not stop his campaign, instead started organizing people and raising voices against the inhuman system.

The campaign was started in 2055 BS and succeeded in a couple of years as people of his community and other sections of society supported his campaign. He started the campaign from his own village and the campaign soon spread to other districts as many people were against the inhuman system but were afraid to raise their issue.

He is now 60 years old but still energetic and leading a social movement to end all forms of discrimination against Dalit people. He says that they were able to stand on their feet and continue the liberation movement with the support of journalists, human rights activists and Dalit rights activists even though the situation was very challenging. Although the constitution of Nepal provided equal rights to all people, the people of so called higher caste were not ready to accept the fact and were continuing their atrocities as they refused to accept the political changes in the country within their hearts.

Although his mission was completed with the successful elimination of Sino Pratha, he could not stop his social work as there were still many ill practices deep rooted in the society and poor people were the most affected from these ill traditions. Although the constitution provides right to equality and other rights to all citizens, the state had failed to take effective actions in this regard, so people like Baldev had to risk their lives for liberating their generation from life of hell.

Currently he is raising awareness in the society by forming an organization named Jana Chetana Dalit Samaj. It looks quiet unbelievable to many that a Chamar man, who was forced to accept Sino Pratha, is currently leading the rights movement in the society. Although his organization is not big enough to organize programs in the capital for pleasing donors and produce nice reports, the work his organization has been doing is far better than the work many big NGOs have been doing. “I have been fighting for the rights of the minority Dalit people as I was brought up in a discriminatory society. I do not expect anything from anyone,” he shares. He said that he became very happy when he received the Tikaram Parki Human Dignity Award as he felt that his work was recognized. He also became the chairperson of District Land Rights Forum and the Land Commission formed by the government of Nepal. He has faced 22 charges, all false, for raising voice against the ill traditions of the society. However, he is happy to bring positive changes in the lives of people of his community.

It looks like a tale to many people that children of Dalit community were denied from attending school and people of Dalit community used to face verbal and physical abuses for touching public taps and they had to clean the dishes if they eat something in the restaurant even after paying full price.

With the initiation of social leaders like Baldev, such traditions have been decreasing but more needs to be done to empower the deprived communities like the Dalits to ensure their meaningful participation in all sections of the society.
(By: Advocate Balaram Bhattarai after field visit to Siraha)