Bihar Dalit Development Organization
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| Abbreviation | BDVS |
|---|---|
| Established | 1982 |
| Headquarters | Bailey Road, Rukunpura Barh, Patna, India |
Founder | José Kananaikil, SJ |
Director | Anto Joseph, S.J. |
| Affiliations | Jesuit, Catholic |
| Website | BDVS |
Formerly called | Harijan Uthan Samiti |
Bihar Dalit Development Organization (Bihar Dalit Vikas Samiti) was founded in Bihar, India, by Dr. José Kananaikil of the Society of Jesus in 1982 for village level mobilization of Dalit men and women, solidarity building, the educational and economic empowerment of Dalits, and the elimination of caste discrimination.[1] It has grown into an association of 500 villages encompassing 100,000 families, with 14 affiliated centers and a central office at Barh. Its goal is to establish an educated, justice-seeking Dalit society.[2] Kananaikil received many awards including the national award of the Bhartiya Dalit Sahitya Academy.[3][4]
History
Fr. Jose Kananaikal, S.J., received his doctorate from Chicago University, with a dissertation on the Scheduled Caste people of India. He proceeded to work among these people in Bihar State and founded Harijan Uthan Samiti (Harijan Uplift Association), but he later changed its name to “Bihar Dalit Vikas Samiti” to focus on poor people working for the Upper Shudras. Before 1982 he organised hundreds of meetings of Dalits in the Barh, to instil in them a sense of togetherness. This inspired a dozen or so young men to visit villages and call the people to unified action. The landlords showed their displeasure by an attack on Ram Swaroop Das one of their sympathisers, blinding him. Instead of helping Das, the police kept him in custody without any first aid.[5] This energized the youth for action; they banged on the doors of the judiciary until Das was released and action taken against his torturers, who were convicted.
This intimidated the landed gentry and Samiti's popularity grew beyond Barh. In mid-1983 a case arose when a landlord was infuriated at Dalit musicians for demanding more pay to entertain his guests at an all-night wedding celebration. He hired a gang of desperadoes who descended on their village at night, beat up the men and raped the women. The police refused to register a case of rape and the news media failed to cover it, until Kananikil filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court of India against the police and the government, and won. Each victim was given a house and land. Samiti's reputation grew from this case, and as it continued to defend the Dalits before the courts.[3]
"The Samiti has devised cooperative societies, income-generating activities, self-employment oriented training programs, and legal aid cells at every regional center," BDVS spokesman Gyaneshwar Das told UCA News. "We have gone four times to the Supreme Court to fight our people´s cases," he added.[6]
When Kananaikil founded Bihar Dalit Vikas Samiti in 1982 he had 11 scheduled caste volunteers. After the rape and atrocities incident this grassroots movement grew[7] and by December 1992 it was serving 588 villages.[3] And by 2003 it had a membership of 100,000 families in 12 Districts of united Bihar with 14 independent centers.[2] Its goal is not so much to do things for the people but to help communities to demand their rights. It has, however, taken on the management of schools.[8] Its initiatives also include credit unions to protect the Dalit from money lenders in times of drought.[9] BDVS strives through its critical interventions to be partner and facilitator of Dalits in their struggles for self-realization, development, and social empowerment.[10] Kananaikil became a respected voice, advocating for the Dalits in the mainstream media.[11] BDVS also assists Human Rights Watch in reporting violations against India's üntouchables.[12][13]
Services
Through its website, BDVS carries news of activities that might interest the Dalits, including leadership training programs;[14] promoting education of Dalit girls;[15] English classes;[16] health awareness program at Manjawli;[17] World Women's Day Celebration at Barh;[18] and hosting students from Milagres College, Udupi, Karnataka on their educational tour.[19]
It sponsors conventions, at times joined to rallies as with the protest march of 35,000 persons in Patna on 22 March 1991. During this BDVS convention Gautam Sagar Rana of the ruling Janata Dal (Peoples Group) party spoke in praise of Kananaikil's efforts.[6]
See also
- A.K. Lal. Dalits in Action: An Evaluation of Bihar Dalit Vikas Samiti. (New Delhi: Concept, 1997.) ISBN 81-7022-604-X.
References
- ^ AMAN panchayat. Accessed 14 July 2016.
- ^ a b Mahanirban Calcutta Research Group. Accessed 14 July 2016.
- ^ a b c Bihar Times. Accessed 14 July 2016.
- ^ Academy. Accessed 15 July 2016.
- ^ Dalits in Action: An Evaluation of Bihar Dalit Vikas Samiti. New Delhi: Concept. 1997. p. 46.
- ^ a b Asian Catholic News. Accessed 14 July 2016.
- ^ Broken People: Caste Violence Against India's "untouchables". New York: Human Rights Watch. 1999. p. 50. ISBN 1-56432-228-9. Retrieved May 29, 2016.
- ^ Peoples Union for Civil LIberties. Accessed 14 July 2016.
- ^ SJweb. Accessed 14 July 2016.
- ^ History. Accessed 14 July 2016.
- ^ India Today. Accessed 14 July 2016.
- ^ "Human Rights Watch. Accessed 15 July 2016.
- ^ Community Warriors: State, Peasants and Caste Armies in Bihar. London: Anthem. 2008. p. 147. ISBN 9781843317098.
- ^ Leadership training. Accessed 15 July 2016.
- ^ Girls' education. Accessed 15 July 2016.
- ^ English classes. Accessed 15 July 2016.
- ^ Health education. Accessed 15 July 2016.
- ^ Women's Day. Accessed 15 July 2016.
- ^ BDVS news. Accessed 14 July 2016.