Tiliya has managed to bring dignity to the people of an entire community, rallying them to fight for their rights against traditionally superior forces.
As far as Dalit communities go, there are few that are more ‘Dalit’ than the Mushar community in Madhubani, Bihar. The lives of most Mushars begins and ends on farmlands - as bonded laborers trying to repay generations-old unending debts, which, in fact, multiply with each passing day.
Tiliya Devi was born into one such family in 1963. Going to school and getting an education was out of the question, and she started to work with her parents at a local landowner’s farm from the time she was a toddler. As is usually the case in such communities, Tiliya was married off at 14: she is today mother of two daughters and three sons. And again, as is usually the case, Tiliya continued to be a bonded laborer - at her husband’s house.
Tiliya then joined the Lok Shakti Sangathan (LSS) - not an easy thing, since her husband had put his foot down. But a lot of other Mushar women were doing the same, which fact helped convince her husband.
After joining the LSS, Tiliya quickly learnt to read and write, and received what passes for the best possible substitute for a formal education, under the circumstances. She was also given training as a “social animator”, a training designed by the organization for the express purpose of cadre-building. The LSS has developed more than 1000 volunteers through this training.
Tiliya then joined the Lok Shakti Sangathan (LSS) - not an easy thing, since her husband had put his foot down. But a lot of other Mushar women were doing the same, which fact helped convince her husband.
After joining the LSS, Tiliya quickly learnt to read and write, and received what passes for the best possible substitute for a formal education, under the circumstances. She was also given training as a “social animator”, a training designed by the organization for the express purpose of cadre-building. The LSS has developed more than 1000 volunteers through this training.
Tiliya was a born leader, something no one was aware of, least of all she herself. And when the LSS wanted to add more numbers to its campaigns, Tiliya volunteered to rally women around from the villages in the vicinity. In every village she went to, she helped set up a Gramkosh, a common fund where every villager deposits money for an hour of need, or crisis. Her leadership and organizational capabilities were outstanding, and she soon established herself.
The Mushars were all farmers, but because of the lack of land in their settlements, they were forced to be “bonded” with big landlords. Tiliya discovered a 156–acre plot of land in her village belonging to the Dalits which upper caste Yadav landlords had encroached on.
Tiliya called a meeting of the villagers to democratically check whether they wanted the land reclaimed or allowed to remain with the upper-castes. The men refused outright to protest. There was such outrage that Tiliya’s husband threw her out of the house, refusing to have anything to do with her or her “schemes”. The reason: the men so feared a backlash from the traditionally more powerful sections of society that they would rather stay away even if the possibilities were lucrative.
But the Mushar women sided with Tiliya: they wanted the land back. Gradually, the Mushar men came round. The women had already started the struggle, and with the men by their side, their strength grew. The Yadavs attacked Tiliya’s community with weapons and beat up the men, the women, even the children. They looted all the Mushars’ cattle and torched their homes.
Tiliya wasn’t about to give up, and neither were the rest of the Mushars. She filed a case against the attackers, and, supported by the LSS, started a dharna at a local government administrative office. The Yadavs retaliated by bringing false reverse charges of assault and looting against Tiliya and another member of her group. But the protest continued unabated.
It finally paid off. Since 1994, Tiliya and her villagers had moved into the land and established their settlements - but extralegally. In 2004, official papers were handed to Tiliya, naming her people as the rightful owners of the land.
In 2001, Tiliya contested the Panchayat elections and was appointed a member to the Panchayat Samity. Her victory came almost undisputed. She has been working as a Panchayat Samity member ever since.
Tiliya brought a measure of dignity to the people of an entire community: 70 households in Madhubani have benefited from her singleminded devotion to her work and her conviction. Not so indirectly, she has influenced a community of more than 50,000 Dalits.
The Mushars were all farmers, but because of the lack of land in their settlements, they were forced to be “bonded” with big landlords. Tiliya discovered a 156–acre plot of land in her village belonging to the Dalits which upper caste Yadav landlords had encroached on.
Tiliya called a meeting of the villagers to democratically check whether they wanted the land reclaimed or allowed to remain with the upper-castes. The men refused outright to protest. There was such outrage that Tiliya’s husband threw her out of the house, refusing to have anything to do with her or her “schemes”. The reason: the men so feared a backlash from the traditionally more powerful sections of society that they would rather stay away even if the possibilities were lucrative.
But the Mushar women sided with Tiliya: they wanted the land back. Gradually, the Mushar men came round. The women had already started the struggle, and with the men by their side, their strength grew. The Yadavs attacked Tiliya’s community with weapons and beat up the men, the women, even the children. They looted all the Mushars’ cattle and torched their homes.
Tiliya wasn’t about to give up, and neither were the rest of the Mushars. She filed a case against the attackers, and, supported by the LSS, started a dharna at a local government administrative office. The Yadavs retaliated by bringing false reverse charges of assault and looting against Tiliya and another member of her group. But the protest continued unabated.
It finally paid off. Since 1994, Tiliya and her villagers had moved into the land and established their settlements - but extralegally. In 2004, official papers were handed to Tiliya, naming her people as the rightful owners of the land.
In 2001, Tiliya contested the Panchayat elections and was appointed a member to the Panchayat Samity. Her victory came almost undisputed. She has been working as a Panchayat Samity member ever since.
Tiliya brought a measure of dignity to the people of an entire community: 70 households in Madhubani have benefited from her singleminded devotion to her work and her conviction. Not so indirectly, she has influenced a community of more than 50,000 Dalits.
Tiliya Devi (born 1963), from the Mushar community in the Dalit heartland in Bihar, grew up as most Mushar girls do: slaving as a bonded laborer. She was married off at 14, and continued being a bonded laborer-at her husband's house. The lives of the Mushar women took a turn for the better when the Lok Shakti Sangathan (LSS) came to their villages, promising them training in developmental work, and improved living conditions. Tiliya joined the campaign despite opposition from her husband. The Mushars were all farmers, but because of the lack of land in their settlements, they were forced to be "bonded" with big landlords. Tiliya discovered a 156–acre plot of land in her village belonging to the Dalits which upper-caste Yadav landlords had encroached on. Initiating a series of protest rallies, Tiliya spread the word for the imperative to reclaim the land that was rightfully theirs. The men refused outright, although the women stood beside Tiliya. There was such outrage that Tiliya's husband evicted her from the house. The reason: fear of a backlash from the upper-castes. And the upper-castes, obviously, vented their fury, attacking the Mushar men, women, even children. They looted the Mushars' cattle, and torched their houses.
But Tiliya was not about to give up, and neither were the rest of the Mushars. Supported by the LSS, Tiliya led a protest and charted out their demands. The agitation finally bore fruit in 2004, when the land was legally handed over to the Mushars. In 2001, Tiliya contested the Panchayat elections and was appointed member to the Panchayat Samity. Her victory came almost undisputed. No justice could have been sweeter.
Bihar's Mushars are among the most neglected of Dalit communities: the upper-castes rob them of their meager possessions, and mire them in inheritable debt, forcing the Mushars to spend their lives as bonded laborers.
(Source : http://www.1000peacewomen.org/eng/friedensfrauen_biographien_gefunden.php?WomenID=2317)
Samajik Shaikshnik Vikas Kendra (SSVK)
No comments:
Post a Comment