Gujarat Dalits to begin anti-untouchability brass coin yatra to Parliament on Aug 1

By A Representative
Gujarat’s top Dalit rights leader, Martin Macwan, is all set to carry a unique 2047 mm diametre brass coin, with the question: “Will the 1947 dream of untouchability-free India be a reality in 2047?” engraved on it, to Parliament in the first week of August, along with hundreds of his supporters.
Said Macwan, “A special letter will be sent to the President of India, the speaker of the Lok Sabha and the chairperson of the Rajya Sabha to collectively accept the brass coin and to place it in the new house of Parliament as a reminder to abolish untouchability.”
Minted from donations received mainly from Dalits from various states of India, consisting of brass and copper utensils, the coin has the image of Dr BR Ambedkar, on one side, and Lord Buddha in his bhumisparsh mundra, on the other.
In a media communique, Macwan said, the purpose of the coin is to raise an uncomfortable and painful question before the Indian Parliament: “Why as a nation we have failed to abolish untouchability de facto?” He added, “The programme raises the question before Parliament, since it is the collective failure to abolish untouchability of all Indian political parties.”
Apart from brass utensils, said Macwan, “People have also contributed Re 1 per member per family as a donation to the Indian Parliament. This donation is not towards the construction of the new house but to strengthen its resolve to abolish untouchability. Thus far, about 25,00,000 such coins have been collected, and more keep on pouring in from different parts of India.”
Navsarjan Trust, the NGO founded by Macwan, is navigating the initiative, said Macwan, adding, “The entire campaign has been funded by the community.”
According to Macwan, “The coin brings together the 12th century story of Veer Megh Mahya, the Dalit who sacrificed his life to remove untouchability, and the 1947 promise of independent India to itself to become a nation free of untouchability.”

The seven-day long March with the coin and the donations from the citizens of India, he said, will begin on August 1, 2022 at 8 am from the Dalit Shakti Kendra, an ITI-type institute founded by Macwan in Ahmedabad district’s Nani Devti village with the aim of empowering Dalits, and will reach Delhi on the evening of August 7, 2022.
At the same time, said Macwan, “A copper replica of the coin, weighing 72 grams and a diametre of 60 mm will be sent to all the members of Parliament, along with the letter asking them to support the demand for untouchability-free India.”
He added, “We will also personally take a brass coin replica to all the chief ministers of India in the next few weeks before the march.”
Giving details of the programme, Macwan said, “There will be 312 people joining the march in six buses. We are having six night halts on the route holding several meetings in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi. The food and the night stay is taken care of by the rural communities, and in Delhi by a Gurudwara.”
“All the people joining the march are contributing Rs 1,100 and some who can afford to pay the full cost of their travel (Rs 3,250 per person)", he said, adding, “We will be in Delhi for 24 hours. If the coin and the donations from the community in the nature of Re 1 coins (about 25 lakh) is not accepted, we will return to Gujarat.”

Comments

Hyderabad protest demands end to Operation Kagar as senior Maoist leaders killed in encounter

By Harsh Thakor* A protest was held on June 17 at Indira Park in Hyderabad by the Shanti Charchala Committee, calling for an end to Operation Kagar and the start of peace talks with Maoist groups. The event brought together representatives from several political parties and civil society organizations. Among those who addressed the gathering were CPI (ML) New Democracy Central Committee member Vemulapalli Venkatramayya, along with leaders from the Congress, BRS, CPI, CPM, Telangana Janasamithi, MCPI, SUCI, CPI ML, RSP, and VCK. The programme also featured performances by cultural groups such as CLC, HRF, TVV, Arunodaya, Praja Kala Mandali, and Praja Natya Mandali. Public figures including actors Narayana Murthy and Tudundebba Upendar and academics like Professor Anver Khan and Professor Vinayaka Reddy participated as speakers.

Food security crisis persists in Gujarat despite NFSA: Survey reveals grim ground reality

By A Representative A new field-based survey conducted in January 2025 across Dahod, Panchmahals, Morbi, and Bhavnagar districts has revealed alarming levels of food insecurity among vulnerable communities in Gujarat, ten years after the implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA). Conducted by Anandi – Area Networking and Development Initiatives (ASAA) and community organisations working with mahila sangathans, the Gujarat Food Security Survey covered 1,261 households, purposively chosen to reflect the experiences of marginalised populations including Adivasis, OBCs, single women, the disabled, and the elderly. The findings suggest that despite the promises of NFSA and wide coverage under the Public Distribution System (PDS), food deprivation remains widespread and systemic failures continue to exclude the most vulnerable.

Land under siege: A silent crisis, desertification is threatening India’s future

By Raj Kumar Sinha* Desertification is emerging as one of the gravest environmental challenges of our time. Marked annually on June 17, the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought reminds us that the fate of our planet’s land—and the billions who depend on it—is hanging in the balance.

Victim to cricketing politics, Alvin Kalicharan was a most organized left handed batsman

By Harsh Thakor* On March 21st Alvin Kalicharan celebrates his 75th birthday. Sadly, his exploits have been forgotten or overlooked. Arguably no left handed batsman was technically sounder or more organized than this little man. Kalicharan was classed as a left-handed version of Rohan Kanhai. Possibly no left-handed batsmen to such a degree blend technical perfection with artistry and power.

Central London discussion to spotlight LGBTQ+ ex-Muslim rights and persecution

By A Representative On June 13, 2025, the Dissident Club in Central London will host a public discussion to mark the 18th anniversary of the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain (CEMB) and to commemorate World Refugee Day. The event, scheduled from 7:00 to 9:00 pm, will feature speakers Ali Malik, Maryam Namazie, and Taha Siddiqui, who are expected to address the intersecting challenges faced by LGBTQ+ ex-Muslims globally.

Better halves lead the way as organic farmers, entrepreneurs and social reformers

By Bharat Dogra Two major challenges continue to limit the full participation of rural women in development. First, their crucial roles, potential, and capabilities often remain underrecognized. Second, even when women are encouraged to take on broader responsibilities, the overarching development models may not align with their needs or perspectives and may even appear counterproductive. Under such conditions, it is unrealistic to expect women to engage as enthusiastic and creative participants.

Lepa Radić: A symbol of defiance and resistance, of fight against oppression

By Harsh Thakor* December 29th marks the centenary of the birth of Lepa Radić, a Yugoslav Partisan whose courage during World War II continues to resonate through history. Born on December 19, 1925, in the village of Gašnica in what is now Bosnia-Herzegovina, Lepa Radić was only 15 when the Axis powers invaded Yugoslavia in April 1941. In response to the occupation, she joined the Partisan resistance, eventually becoming one of its most revered figures. At the age of 17, she was executed by the Nazis for her involvement, refusing until her death to betray her comrades.

Hope from the Amazon: Land rights, indigenous voices, and the winds of change in Latin America

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* After several days of travel and digital silence, I returned from a rare and deeply moving journey into the Amazon region of Colombia. It was not just another field trip, but an opportunity to witness the pulse of Latin America’s land rights movement, firsthand.

Violent evictions in Nagarahole: Forest department razes adivasi huts despite FRA protections

By A Representative In a disturbing escalation of tensions between state authorities and Adivasi communities in the Nagarahole forests, over 250 personnel from the Forest Department, Special Tiger Protection Force, and local police violently demolished six huts belonging to Jenu Kuruba Adivasi families in Karadikallu Atturu Koli Haadi on June 18. The demolition took place in the midst of heavy monsoon rains, leaving families exposed to the elements and stripped of their temporary homes.

Search This Blog