Abstract
Despite the prohibition of Article-17 of the Indian Constitution , the face of untouchability in Odisha nuanced in some respects, but blatant in others, remains a major challenge in the path of democratic citizenship . Majority of dalits in Odisha are unable to access these democratic laws, or get implement in their favour. Dalits, who were excluded from their rights earlier, are now demanding and asserting their rights. Recently (2005–2008), the Keradagada temple entry movement has highlighted in the media as the dalits in Kendrapara district of Odisha have asserted their religious and democratic rights with a large popular movement. The dalit movement in Keradagada happens due to the rise of education, consciousness and mobilisation among the dalits against the mindscape of caste system, untouchability and exclusion where ‘religion nexus with caste system determines the rule of law’. The movement is unique as the first largest dalit temple entry movement (started in 2005) in Odisha after 58 years of India’s independence and should be studied in its letter and spirit as far as the nature, mobilisation, consequences and impact are concerned.
The article is original research work and the product of my M.Phil. Dissertation in Centre for Political Studies (CPS), Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi in 2011. Some of the findings of the M.Phil. fieldwork have been re-produced here. This paper was presented at the National Seminar on “Sociology of Marginality” organised by Department of Sociology, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, 721102 on 18–19 March, 2014.
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Notes
- 1.
Dalit: the oppressed, the word is used to refer socially and economically deprived masses (Ambedkar Memorial lectures, delivered by justice Krishna Iyer, V.R. in 16, 17 and 18 December, 1976, the Ambedkar Institute of Social Research and training New Delhi). Here, I use the term ‘dalit’ in a limited sense in the context of Odisha which refers only to the ‘scheduled castes’ population, differentiating myself from the Panther’s definition of ‘dalit’ which includes all the downtrodden, i.e. SCs, STs, OBCs, women and minorities. For details, see dalit Panther’s movement in Maharashtra and their Manifesto.
- 2.
Odisha is a State among the twenty-eight states in India. Its earlier name was ‘Orissa’ and it has changed as ‘Odisha’ and the state language as odia as per the Odisha Government’s request to parliament and by an act of law, parliament passed the bill on April 2011 by 113th constitutional amendment. For details, see 113th constitutional amendment, 2011.
- 3.
The local name of ‘lord shiva’ and the temple is situated in the Bhadrak district of Odisha.
- 4.
Caste system is a different type of social exclusion where the ascriptive status (i.e. being Brahmin by birth as a social status in Indian society) is dominant over the achieved status (income or wealth by hard work and labour).
- 5.
This temple is a local Jagannath temple at Keradagada in Kendrapara district of Odisha and pilgrims are rare to this temple. The local village people know each other by their castes, and when the dalit girls of the village enter the temple, the reaction from the upper caste came into force. Earlier, in this village, dalits were not allowed to enter the temple.
- 6.
An interview with the chief priest of the Jagannath temple at Keradagada, during the fieldwork in the village Keradagada, in Rajnagar blocks in the Kendrapara district of Odisha in 12 January 2011.
- 7.
An interview with Sudarsan Gochhayat, during the fieldwork on village Keradagada, in Rajnagar blocks in the Kendrapara district of Odisha on 10 January 2011.
- 8.
The king was by tradition remained an important person to the temple trust, as his forefather founded the temple. He has an influential role in mitigating the temple entry issue by putting pressure over dalits. Data collected on my fieldwork on village Keradagada, in Rajnagar block in the Kendrapara district of Odisha in 10 January 2011.
- 9.
An apex body on deciding religious matters of Hinduism, Puri Jagannath temple.
- 10.
An interview with the members of the temple board, during the fieldwork in Keradagada on 20 January 2011.
- 11.
The Keradagada temple trust is funding and maintaining by the Kanika king and controlled by him and a private board of members chosen by him from the upper castes.
- 12.
The term refers to the upper castes in Odisha which includes Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishas (with an interview with an upper-caste people, when he was using the term. Data collected on my fieldwork on village Keradagada, in Rajnagar block in the Kendrapara district of Odisha in 10 January 2011).
- 13.
In Odisha, people now using this derogatory term even now after the term was banned by an act of law as derogatory, during the interview with an upper-caste people, when he was using the term. Data collected through fieldwork on village Keradagada, in Rajnagar block in the Kendrapara district of Odisha in 10 January 2011.
- 14.
Ambedkar-Lohia Vichar Manch, Keradagada, Kendrapara, Odisha. Raj Kishore Muduli is the youth leader of the organisation of Kendrapara branch.
- 15.
To see and worship the God.
- 16.
An interview with Sudarshan Mahalik. Data collected during the fieldwork on village Keradagada, in Rajnagar block in the Kendrapara district of Odisha in 13 January 2011.
- 17.
Seeing the god at the temple in different festive occasions.
- 18.
The place, the iron gate is fixed in the outer wall of the temple where both the communities agreed to see the lord, without entering inside the temple premises.
- 19.
Worshiping of the lord.
- 20.
In an interview with Laxmidhar Malik (dalit) in the village Keradagada in Kendrapara district of Odisha, during the fieldwork in 16 January 2011.
- 21.
In an interview with Dhaneswar prusti (upper caste) in the village Keradagada in Kendrapara district of Odisha, during the fieldwork in 17 January 2011.
- 22.
Dhanda means the leaf of bel tree and tulsi plant placed in front of the god.
- 23.
Paduka means the water on which the wooden idol of the god bathed and placed for the devotees to drink and is the religious practice and belief of Hindus in Odisha.
- 24.
Odisha Mukti Morcha, a dalit political organisation in Odisha.
- 25.
An interview with the dalit leader. Data collected during the fieldwork on village keradagada, in Rajnagar block in the Kendrapara district of Odisha in 15 January 2011.
- 26.
An interview with Mr. Khirod Patra, the Secretary of Republican Youth and Students Front (RPYSF) at Jawaharlal Nehru University, on 25 December 2010, before going to the fieldwork. (Mr. Patra is now a Ph.D. scholar in the school of SIS, JNU, New Delhi.)
- 27.
An interview with Ashok Mallik, the president of Republican Youth and Students Front (RPYSF) during the fieldwork on 21 January 2011.
- 28.
An interview with Gayadhar Majhi on 24 January 2011, during the fieldwork, on the question ‘why the dalits just threatened to convert and actually not converted to Buddhism?
- 29.
The International Hindu reform organisation, which trying to unite the Hindus providing the untouchables a leap for their entry to Hindu temples, considering the later as a part of Hindu religion. If some shastras tolerated or encouraged caste-based social injustices, it rejects them and declares it is time to formulate a system of values consistent with the age in which we live (yugadharma). It proposes a New Year Resolution for Hinduism: Opening Temple Doors to all. Navya Shastra (or a comprehensive reinterpretation of existing Dharmashastras), proposing a more egalitarian configuration of Hindu society, be a beneficial template for affecting change. It believes shastric and social reform is important for several reasons. Chairman—Dr. Jaishree Gopal, Board of Advisors—Dr. Bala N. Aiyer, Vidyasagar V. V. Raman, Shri Rajarathina Bhattar (Priest Emeritus), Prof. Anantanand Rambachan, Prof. Sita Krishna Nambiar, Raviji (Trinidadand Tobago), Bhagwati Charan Bhatpare (India). http://shastras.org/.
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Malik, S.K. (2018). Social Exclusion and the Mindscapes of Caste: A Study of Kendrapara District of Odisha. In: Bhattacharyya, A., Basu, S. (eds) Marginalities in India. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-5215-6_4
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