What has made DHRM possible?
Posted by JoOct 17
On September 23rd, a 61 year old ordinary citizen from Varkala went for his usual morning walk and was brutally killed by a group of militants with swords. By evening, the police arrested a member of DHRM (Dalit Human Rights Movement) in connection with this murder, which was followed up by the arrest of 6 others from the same group. The victim had no proven political links and the police stated that this murder was done by DHRM “to get public attention and to prove their strength in ranks“. Police also said that they are inquiring to see if DHRM has any terrorist links.
The obvious reaction of the public to all this was the utmost anger towards such outfits which use the measures of terror to gain publicity. But then I read this article in last week’s India Today (Malayalam edition) about the Varkala incident. I was surprised, because it is not in India Today’s nature to present a view that is contrary to the public opinion and I read that weekly for their local news section in the first couple of pages and then the ‘masala’ section in the last pages. Saritha Balan, a reporter of India Today (Malayalam edition) has written in detail about the backdrop of the murder in Varkala. She says it is important to ask how such an organization like DHRM could influence a majority of the Dalit communities in Ernakulam, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram districts.
Highlights of the India Today report:
- DHRM stood for the well-being of Dalits as per some of the residents of Dalit colonies
- Hundreds of families in the Muthaana, Thoduve colonies are living without the basic facilities
- There is not even one cent of land for one house in Thoduve colony, where there are more than 600 houses
- A family has to live in a ‘house’ that we can hardly call a ‘room’ by the public measures
- Even the primary education is luxury here
- There is not even a radio set for ‘luxury’
DHRM came to the scene in such a situation. As per some of the colony residents, DHRM gave them hope and they taught them to live responsibly. Most of the Dalit men were under the influence of drugs and alcoholism but DHRM conducted study classes for them. Saritha reports that an 8 year old Sandhya told her that DHRM study classes ask the children to study well and look after their parents.
“My husband would drink all day and was a total waster,” 29-year-old Kochumol, a mother of three, says. “He turned a teetotaler after attending DHRM study circles.” Soon, she followed him to these Sunday gatherings where, over five hours, Ambedkar’s life would be recalled and advice given on daily affairs. Cultural shows at the end were a big hit. Despite their meagre earnings as wage labourers — they call themselves ‘coolies’ — everyone would gladly pay Rs 30 for the events. [via]
The India Today report also quotes the colony residents and says that Shivsena activists have been threatening them. We can understand the concern of the political parties here. Communists who have been benefiting from the Dalit communities in Kerala since a very long time would not like another outfit to take the leadership of Dalits and contest in the elections. BJP and Shivsena alike would not like such a Dalit uprising as they have been trying hard to place themselves as the alternate shelter for Dalits in Kerala.
The DHRM has a notable influence among the Dalit community and they have contested elections from Attingal constituency and won 5217 votes in the last parliamentary elections. The question to ask here in this context is, did they (DHRM) have to do such a brutal murder in order to get public attention? They were already popular among the community that they work with and would they go ahead and make such a stupid decision to kill someone and get negative publicity? If it is not the DHRM, then who did that brutal murder? The questions remain unanswered until the final verdict on the case comes out. The DHRM members say that they trust the judiciary like we do and they hope the real culprits would be sent to justice.
Also read:
What is DHRM and why do they kill?
Ambedkar’s Lost Boys?
(Image courtesy: Tehelka)
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8 comments
Comment by jana on October 18, 2009 at 8:33 am
I hate violence. But…
What I don’t understand is, all those that run politics are the reasons these people live in that state. So called Mahatma Gandhi went a step further and gave the poor people a classification, as if they didn’t have any burden to begin with. If it is so great to respect soldiers(they kill, and no need to say only in defence, the other side will say the same about theirs), freedom fighters like Bose,etc., why fear that these people are learning wrong?
The English, who were sporadically good to everyone including the so-called untouchables by giving them land that is today taken by the powerful Indians, were run out, so that Indians can be cruel to the unfortunate 100s of millions.
Comment by Karthik on October 18, 2009 at 12:57 pm
The justification that they won’t do the murder as they are already popular won’t sell much. As they gained much influence and popularity, they might be desperate to retain that and not to allow any other party or organization to dethrone them.
Reports are also there that DHRM was promoting atheism and premarital sex. How can that be justified…?
Comment by Jo on October 18, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Karthik: As per what I read from the India Today report, DHRM didn’t get popular by killing people but by conducting awareness among Dalits. Then why would they kill people to “retain that” popularity? Also I would appreciate if you could cite a credible news resource to back your claim that DHRM was promoting pre-marital sex. The India Today and Tehelka reports say that they work on the ideals of Ambedkar and they promote Buddhism, not Atheism.
PS: And what is wrong with promoting atheism?
Comment by Jo on October 18, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Jana: I hate violence too. And if DHRM had indeed killed an ordinary man who had nothing to do with the politics, they need to be brought to justice. If it is them who had committed this crime, they were only doing damage to the Dalit cause.
Comment by dalit women's network on October 22, 2009 at 9:44 am
Please listen to selvaraj speaking in youtube. he is the chairperson of the organisation and he has told the organisation has nothing to do with the murders. why would they target ordinary citizens to prove their strength when the whole of kerala is filled with castiest rich people and politicians? a murder of a national leader who has proved his/her antidalit sentiments would make political sense…perhaps! but, this looks like the police are inventing an enemy when none exists for their own good…
Pingback by Insight Young Voices Blog » Blog Archive » Chengara / Varkala : Beware of the Dalit on October 26, 2009 at 1:16 am
[...] What has made DHRM possible? (Jo, on his blog, he quotes from the India Today report, Oct 2009) [...]
Comment by Stanly on November 14, 2009 at 11:36 am
People are believing what major medias had reported about DHRM in the light of Varkala murder. They also believe that DHRM people are doing pre-marital sex. none of these believers have no direct experience or proof from anywhere. As far as known from media, DHRM is based on BUDDHA teaching, where VIOLANCE has no place. But they recuctant to agree/believe the INDIA TODAY report on only account that the reports favours DHRM. We must see that only such mass medias with backbones can deliver a report of truth on any subject. Special regards to ASIA NET who allowed to tell the torture through KANDATHUM KETTATHUM’. What is the problem of others, let FIRST NATIOn PEOPLE (Not Dalits) accept BUDDHISM, study about AMDEKHAR. They are considered untouchables, note that they are not going anywhere to touch others to make otheres unclean. Look in the role of SHIVA SENA which is a fanatic hindu cult.
It is a fact that more reservation is enjoying by EZHAVAS and MUSLIMS in GOVT. sector. Still SC/ST vaccencies are not reporting and still upper cast people are working in SC/ST post feeding their family, but sending famine to the SC/ST family.
TRUTH exists, GOD is LOVE and TRUTH.
Comment by guru on January 27, 2010 at 2:33 pm
I came to know about DHRM recently after reading an article about the sad plight of the mutthana, thoduve people. I don’t believe they are behind the murder. They don’t need such an act to get public attention. The people who stand against them are harming the resurgence of Dalits in Kerala.