“We don’t even have the right to climb the steps, let alone enter the temple and pray. Even a meeting with the administration couldn’t change that,” said 50-year-old Ekkori Das, standing in Daspara area of Gidhagram village in West Bengal’s Purba Bardhaman district.
The village, about 150 km from Kolkata, has become ground zero for a fight for their rights being waged by around 550 men, women and children from 130 Dalit families, who are barred from entering the local Shiva temple.
This, despite a plea to the district administration and police highlighting the “untouchability and discrimination”, a meeting on February 28 to discuss the issue, and even a resolution to address it.
Officials say they are trying to navigate the fragile situation while keeping in mind the law and order situation, but for the families, the administration is dragging its feet.
At the centre of the row is the Gidhagram Gidheshwar Shiv temple, believed to be around 200 years old. A plaque on the temple states that a renovated structure came up in 1997.
“For years, we have not been allowed to climb the steps and enter the temple. They call us ‘choto jaat (low caste) and ‘muchi jaat’ (cobbler caste). It’s either the temple committee or the locals who stop us,” said Ekkori, a farmer who lives with his wife and children.
“Last year, I took fruits and flowers to offer puja. But members of the temple committee forced me to leave,” said Kalyani Das, a 58-year-old homemaker from Daspara.
“When they collect money for puja at the temple every year, we all pay. But they don’t allow us in. Our fathers and mothers could not offer puja, but times have changed,” said 40-year-old Subhas Das, a farmer who owns a small plot of land.
On February 24, before Shiv Ratri, residents of Daspara finally decided to break from tradition and wrote to the block development officer (BDO), the sub-divisional officer (SDO) and police.
Yet, on Shiv Ratri, they were denied entry.
On February 28, a meeting was called by SDO with stakeholders – residents, temple committee members, the MLA, BDO and police.
A resolution passed afterwards stated: “Racial discrimination has been banned through our Constitution. Everyone has the right to worship. Therefore, Das families will be allowed to enter Gidheawar Shiv Mandir in Gidhagram.”
“We were told that from March 1, two of our community members will be allowed to enter the temple with police escort. But on the night of February 28, local police told us there will be deterioration of law and order and we cannot visit the temple,” said Lakkhi Das (35), a resident of Daspara.
“We cannot fight with them. There are over 1,800 families in the village, and we are just 130. We are waiting for the administration to do something and end this discrimination. If not, we will knock on the doors of higher officials or the court. Times have changed; we will fight for our rights,” said Sukanta Das (35) of Daspara.
The temple committee cited “age-old traditions” that “cannot be broken in a moment”.
“I don’t want to talk on the issue. One should not hurt the feelings of the majority in the village,” said Ram Prasad Chakravorty, one of the members of the temple committee.
Ahinsa Jain, SDO (Katwa), said over the phone, “We cannot allow this in the 21st century. Everyone has equal rights, including the right to worship. We met with all stakeholders, public representatives, police and residents of Daspara. A resolution was passed to allow them to enter the temple. However, keeping in mind the law and order situation, we are trying to resolve the issue peacefully and talking to all stakeholders.”
Pulak Chandra Konar, the up-pradhan of Gidhagram Gram Panchayat, said, “People say that local zamindars established this temple about 200 years ago. Later, a committee was set up to run it. People of Daspara are Scheduled Caste from the cobbler community. They are not allowed in the temple. They want to worship, others will not allow them. We are caught in between. We want to avoid a clash and a law and order problem. We are ashamed. As a public representative, we cannot allow discrimination to continue.”
TMC MLA Apurba Chowdhury, who attended the meeting, said, “Such practices cannot be allowed in this age. We are talking with all those involved. But you must understand it is a sensitive issue.”