One more festival in govt list,this for Namasudras

“All human rights movement is derived from the fight for dignity and equality before the law. The Namasudras did not demand money. They demanded dignity and equality before the law. The Namasudra community’s struggle in 1873 is perhaps the first movement for dignity and equality of the modern world. We would observe the movement,” said Backward Class Welfare Minister Upendranath Biswas.

The state government will spend Rs 40 lakh to organise the festival,which will kick off in November from North 24-Parganas’ Bongaon and Coopers Camp in Nadia — home to a large population of the community. During the festival, Kabigan puppetry and seminars on their struggle will be held to showcase their history and also their culture and lifestyle.

“The history of the struggle of Namasudras,who were known as chandals during the British rule,has never been mentioned in any book. It was Backward Class Welfare Minister Upendranath Biswas who conducted a research and documented the community’s fight that had shaken the zamindars,” a senior official of the BCW Department said.

“There are at least 40 lakh Namasudra people in the state. They are a neglected group and deprived of various schemes,” the official added.

The department has also released a booklet on the community and their struggle against the zamindars and upper caste people. According to it,the Namasudras,who used to live mainly in the Sundarbans,were the most “ostracized people” of Bengal. “They were insulted,immorally used,neglected and exploited by the upper caste Varnahindus. Hardworking and peace loving Namasudras were subjected to discrimination everywhere in the society,” the document said.

“They launched a movement for equal status in the society and equality before law in 1873 that paralyzed the normal life. The agitators declared an economic blockade resulting in total suspension of supply of food to landlords. The landlords faced starvation threat. The leaders of the movement proclaimed by beating drums in the local haats (markets) that no one from their community would provide services to the landlords,” read the document.

“In jails,the Namasudras were subject to utter discrimination. They were made to work as mehtars (who clean latrine,toilets and other dirty places) against their wishes. The prison inmates from other communities were however exempted from doing this job which the Namasudras felt denigratory. Because of this movement,the then Lieutenant – Governor of Bengal issued an order on 7 June,1873,abolishing the discriminatory treatment in prison,” the document added.