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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Dalits give 'gun salute' to Ambedkar statue in Damoh

Dalits give 'gun salute' to Ambedkar statue in Damoh

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published Published on Apr 1, 2013   modified Modified on Apr 1, 2013
-The Times of India


BHOPAL: Flexing muscles for the first time, a group of dalits fired in air on Saturday to welcome the arrival of a statue of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkarthat will replace a bust installed at the busy traffic square in Damoh, a backward district in Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh.

The statue will be installed at the traffic square at a function on April 14, Ambedkar Jayanti, in the presence of chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Surprisingly, this incident took place two days after a dalit was allegedly beaten up and denied entry to a temple in the district. Chinga Ahirwar who tried to enter a temple was allegedly beaten up in Semra Madhiya village of Nohta about 40 km away from Damoh district headquarters. Ahirwar, who was allegedly denied entry in a temple, had filed a written complaint with the local police, but no FIR was lodged. As a group of dalits welcomed the arrival of the statue, some of them fired in air and celebrated its arrival. As the sound of fire reverberated, the onlookers were taken aback- for this possibly was the first occasion when dalits were flexing muscles, a privilege that remained with upper castes and landlords in the region.

Though the tradition to fire in air is prevalent in various parts of Madhya Pradesh, dalits have hardly been seen indulging in such an act. Mostly, this is done in political processions to welcome a political leader in northern MP or during marriage processions when Thakurs fire in air to celebrate.

Sunder Bhai, a dalit activist, said, "They are just following what others are doing in the society. This can also be seen as a reaction of the community that has been oppressed for years."

However, Damoh superintendent of police A K Pandey said that no dalit was denied entry in any temple in the district. "Wo ek chota -mota jhagda tha" (that was a minor fracas).

Regarding the incident of firing in air, Pandey first said, "Firing in air doesn't mean hungama as people here are describing it. Let me find out the truth". Later he called back and told TOI, "No such incident took place".


The Times of India, 31 March, 2013 http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-03-31/bhopal/38162826_1_dalits-damoh-temple


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