Skip to main content

A Dalit female activist in a male dominated field with close to no support system

By Aashika Premkumar, Arunika A, Saranya Sarkar, Vaibhavi, Vikas* 

We interviewed human rights activist Manjula Pradeep to understand intersection of gender and caste-based discrimination. Hailing from an orthodox Dalit family, Majula went on to become the Executive Director of Navsarjan Trust, a Dalit rights organization and has worked on multiple cases, especially those found at the intersection of caste and gender based discrimination and violence. One of the key reasons for her to enter this field were her personal experiences of being discriminated on the basis of her caste and being sexually abused at a young age. She chose to oppose her family by opting for the field of social work, something she believed would help her make a difference. She was well aware of the fact that the ground realities were often much severe and became interested in working closely with affected families and women.

Navsarjan Trust

Manjula joined Navsarjan at the age of 22, post graduation. As a part of her work, she was often required to stay for days in villages. According to her, her own experience of surviving with minimal amenities, helped her survive in these areas as well. Navsarjan gave her the platform to speak out. She quickly learned how important it was to be a silent observer by keeping your eyes and ears open at all times and also, to not rely on one’s personal theories and beliefs to interpret what was being perceived by being very objective about it. Gradually she realized how her mission to work on caste and gender based issues deviated from the core objectives of Navsarjan, which was primarily a Dalit rights organization. This was when she realized that she must pursue her own independent cases. She started off her fieldwork near Baroda and would often take off on her scooter to explore and learn more about the people she was to work with. Manjula found her work to be unique but the irregular working hours made her family unhappy. The living conditions at the villages where she had to spend several nights were often abysmal.

Prominent Cases

One of her major cases involved helping a minor Dalit girl, who has been gangraped. She had to protect the young girl from her own family and in the process received death threats from them. 40 policemen were deployed to protect Manjula and the girl, since she was scared that the family members would try harming the girl. Manjula also worked on a case from 2012, when 3 Dalit males were shot dead by the police forces. She protested for the accused to be penalized, however, since the main accused was a former Home minister’s nephew, the investigation was closed without a trial.
10 years later, Manjula found herself protesting in a similar case of violence wherein four Dalits were flocked by cow vigilantes (Una, 2016). They were tied behind a vehicle and made to walk, and then they were stripped and beaten up. When the video of the incident went viral, Manjula saw this as an opportunity to talk about the case from 2012. In 2016, she decided to sit on protests right in the state capital at Satyagraha Chavani with the families of the three victims, demanding a CBI inquiry into the murders. During this time they were called by various authority figures who tried to stall the protests.
Manjula was also one of the youngest members of the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR) delegation sent to the United Nations (UN) to represent Dalit rights. There she came across people with the misconception pertaining to one’s complexion and being educated, wherein a lady could not believe that Manjula could speak English so well, since she was a Dalit woman. Hence, Majula had to raise awareness to dispel such forms of stereotyping.

Challenges faced as a female activist

In her professional life, Manjula faced gender discrimination and had to traverse many obstacles in her path, owing to the fact that she was the only woman in her team. The men who worked with her, felt threatened to have a qualified woman in a position of power. Manjula faced several challenges in her career, both from within and outside Navsarjan. She was accused for abetting a suicide, was never supported by the men in her organization and even her family, had to work with a team who was not ready to accept her, was constantly disrespected and never received any recognition, despite being more qualified than most. The group was labeled “Anti-national” for the work they did and the Union Home Ministry canceled Navsarjan's FCRA certificate. Following this, a board meeting was held and Manjula was asked to step down.

Current work

Manjula has also set up National Council of women leaders and has trained multiple grassroots female activists over the years .This year they are going to focus on the issue of sexual violence against tribal women. Currently she is serving as the Director of Campaigns in Dalit Human Rights Defenders Network Project, a global platform connecting communities from different parts of the world who are also discriminated like the Dalits. Manjula takes pride in her decision of choosing the path of social work and maintains that it is extremely important to be humble and cautious, irrespective of what you choose to do with your life.

Key takeaways

Manjula’s experiences depict the importance of coming out of one’s comfort zone and speaking out against injustice. Her decision to protest for a case from 2012 by leveraging the awareness created about a similar case in 2016, demonstrated the importance of being proactive and mindful at all times. Remaining undeterred and persistent, in the face of opposition and challenges by staying focused on a higher order mission. As a female activist in a male dominated field with close to no support system, Manjula focused on persevering and never stopped looking for new opportunities to further her cause. She also stressed the importance of viewing each case as objectively as possible, by being a good observer.
---
*Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad | PGP | 2021-23

Comments

TRENDING

Abrogation of Art 370: Increasing alienation, relentless repression, simmering conflict

One year after the abrogation by the Central Government of Art. 370 in Kashmir, what is the situation in the Valley. Have the promises of peace, normalcy and development been realised? What is the current status in the Valley? Here is a detailed note by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties , “Jammu & Kashmir: One Year after Abrogation of Art. 370: Increasing Alienation, Relentless Repression, Simmering Conflict”:

Repeated failure to appoint Chief, other commissioners undermining RTI Act

By Anjali Bhardwaj, Amrita Johri* The post of the Chief Information Commissioner of the Central Information Commission (CIC) has fallen vacant with the retirement of Bimal Julka with effect from August 27, 2020. This is the fifth time in the last six years that the Commission has been rendered headless. Four posts of information commissioners are also vacant in the CIC. Currently more than 35,000 appeals and complaints are pending in the commission resulting in citizens having to wait for months, even years for their cases to be disposed, thereby frustrating peoples’ right to know. Since May 2014, not a single commissioner of the CIC has been appointed without citizens having to approach courts. The failure of the government to make timely appointments of commissioners is a flagrant violation of the directions of the Supreme Court. In its February 2019 judgment, the apex court had categorically stated that if the CIC does not have a Chief Information Commissioner or required strength

Sunil Gavaskar, G Viswanath rated Andy Roberts best fast bowler they ever faced

By Harsh Thakor  The West Indies pace quartet or battery of the 1970’s and 1980’s truck terror to deliver a knockout punch, like never in cricket history. One was reminded of bomber raiding an airbase or a combing operation. Andy Roberts was the pioneer in orchestrating or propelling the most fiery and lethal pace bowling attack ever in the history of the game. Simply the godfather of Modern West Indies fast bowlers. He spearheaded the pack from the mid 1970’s .Without Andy the talent of Michael Holding, Joel Garner and Colin Croft would never have blossomed.Michael Holding credits Andy for shaping his great bowling career, by infusing vital elements.

Adivasi land rights question in Telugu states: Digitization process without transparency?

By Dr Palla Trinadha Rao  This paper examines whether the Land Records Modernization Program initiated by the successive governments in Telugu States is beneficial to tribals in the Scheduled Areas in the light of special protective Land laws that are in force there. Digitization process or regularization of land records or land surveys without transparency will result in disempowerment of Adivasis. This can be tested in the case of Adivasis in the Scheduled Areas of Telugu States. British colonialism, through its land revenue policy and elaborate exploitative bureaucratic structure, made land alienable on a large scale especially in tribal areas. 1 Land and the forest produce remain the main source of tribals’ livelihood; but availability of land is restricted by forest reservation on the one hand, and non-tribal encroachment on the other. 2 In the Andhra Area, there were certain laws including the Agency Tracts Interest and Land Transfer Act, 1917 that existed before the inaugurati

Ultimate champion in crisis, arguably best ever skipper: Created history in Aussie cricket

By Harsh Thakor  In the history of cricket few cricketers knit and propelled a cricket team or had such profound influence on the game as Ian Chappell. Ian Chappell was responsible for converting a bunch of talented individuals into a world beating side, giving a dramatic turn to Australian cricket. Few cricketers ever led such a renaissance.

Largest democracy in world has become weakest at hands of fascist Hindutva forces

Note on “The Nazification of India”, a report released By Justice For All: *** This report, the Nazification of India, compares how Hindutva ideology not only is inspired by Nazis and Fascists of Europe, but their treatment of the Muslim minority closely follows developments that resulted in pushing Jews to the gas chambers. Situation is indeed quite alarming. The report says that the largest democracy in the world has become the weakest at the hands of the fascist Hindutva ideology. India today is ruled not just by a political party the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), but its mother organization the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Because the BJP’s government policies are linked to extra-legal enforcement by RSS paramilitary street power, this report has coined the term “The BJP-RSS regime” to reflect their intrinsic links and collaborative relationship. The Nazification of India report marks the anniversary of the Gujarat pogroms of 2002 against Muslims which propelled the BJP-RSS

Varanasi social worker who has devoted her life for the ultra-poor and the marginalized

Passion Vista and its partners profile Founder and Managing Trustee Shruti Nagvanshi as  someone whom women leaders look up to: *** Shruti Nagvanshi, a social worker and human rights activist based in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, has devoted her life to reaching out to the ultra-poor and marginalized communities in India. Born in Dashashwmedh, Varanasi on 2 January 1974, she married Dr Lenin Raghuvanshi on 22 February 1992 and has a son, Kabeer Karunik, a Business management Graduate who is also a national level snooker player.

BSF's unconstitutional, whimsical order violates life, livelihood of Dalits, minorities

Kirity Roy, Secretary, Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), writes to the Chairman, National Human Rights Commission: *** I want to attract your attention towards the illegitimate restrictions on the life and livelihood of the villagers of Paschim Sahebganj village under Dinhata - II Block and Sahebganj police station in Cooch Behar district of West Bengal by the Border Security Force personnel attached with Dharala Border Out Post under 138 Battalion BSF. The population of Paschim Sahebganj village is around 1480, where almost 75 percent of the villagers belong from Hindu Scheduled Caste (Dalit) and 25 percent from minority Muslim backgrounds.The main occupation of the villagers is agriculture. About 260 acres of cultivable land in the village that belongs to the villagers is located outside the border fencing, which is heavily guarded by the Border Security Force (BSF). The BSF regulates the ingress and egress of the villagers to their fields through the fencing gates that a

An approach to lake/pond restoration by Ramveer Tanvar, Pond Man of India

By Monami Bhattacharya*, Mansee Bal Bhargava**  Lakes/ ponds are often referred to as an elixir of life, a living ecosystem that adds incremental value to the larger biota. Across the tropical landscape of the country lakes/ ponds are a common sight. Lakes/ponds have always shaped the life and livelihood of those dwelling in and around it. The dependence of the local population on these natural resources of water is noticeable since time immemorial. However, they are fading fast in both rural and urbanscapes from the popular parlance with the advance of humanity. It has been a popular notion to value land more than the waterscape and hence these nurturers of life are under stress in several areas. In many instances, these once beautiful waterscapes referred as the ‘Eye of the Earth’ are mostly now only dilapidated garbage dump yards emitting foul smell with no sign of a healthy ecosystem.

Urban crisis: Impact of erosion of democratic framework on Indian cities

By IMPRI Team  On 13th February, 2023, IMPRI Impact and Policy Research Institute, New Delhi in collaboration with ActionAid Association India arranged a book launch followed by lecture series under the title “India’s G20 Presidency & the Urban Agenda for the Developing Countries”. The event was held in Indian International Centre (IIC) Annex, New Delhi. The event began with the book inauguration session, under the honorary presence of Mr Sitaram Yechury, former Rajya Sabha member and General Secretary, CPI (M), accompanied by Mr Sandeep Chachra, executive director, ActionAid Association India. Session 1 | Book Launch: ‘Cities in Transition’ by Mr Tikender Singh Panwar The book launched was “Cities in Transition”, written by Mr Tikender Singh Panwar, former Deputy Mayor, Shimla and a Senior Fellow at IMPRI. Beginning with brief remarks on his book, Mr Panwar outlined the basic subject matter and the purpose behind writing the book, which he considers as a by-product of his experien