Day #4 - As Martin speaks to villagers, we bring Swara Bhaskar in conversation with Martin

The Bhim Rudan yatra is making its way through Rajasthan, with several stops planned. As we can see from the latest images, the marchers are being welcomed by the true faces of rural India – Dalits and the poor.

People are showing up in large numbers to greet the giant brass coin destined for the Parliament building as well as to felicitate its creator, Martin Macwan of the Navsarjan Trust and a member of HfHR's Advisory Board.

https://tinyurl.com/5n7ahddu (photos and videos of Day #4)

At this mid-way point of the yatra, we would like to share a wonderful conversation between Martin Macwan and Swara Bhaskar, Actor and Activist. Swara is one of the few courageous Bollywood artistes who has been uncompromising in her stand against Hindutva, Islamophobia, and casteism, despite considerable threats to her safety and her career.

The conversation took place prior to the start of the yatra before Swara released this short video of the making of the coin. https://youtu.be/99kseA8UH2c

We are grateful for Swara’s work at the frontlines of the fight for equality and justice in India and are pleased that she has joined HfHR as a member of our Advisory Board.

Swara raises three important questions with Martin in this 45-minute free-flowing conversation. (Full conversation here: https://youtu.be/jT0moEqILeI)

What is the significance behind the melting of used old brass utensils from mostly Dalit homes to create this giant 2000 kg coin? And what is the reason for lakhs of One Rupee coins donated by people in the villages for the new Parliament?

Hear the legend of Megh Maya, a Dalit man chosen by the king as the “perfect human being” to be sacrificed to the Gods to bring rain to his parched kingdom. Hear about the tradition of burying coins in the foundation of new buildings. You will find Martin’s response in this short clip: https://youtu.be/hG3ioNSC-S0.

What are one or two simple things that privileged (“upper caste”) people can do to end untouchability? 

Martin talks about the system of Ram Patra (i.e., the "two- tumbler" system of separate utensils for Dalits in villages and for all “servants” in middle class homes.) "Can’t they replace Ram Patra with Bhim Patra (shared utensils by all) to make a minimal effort to end untouchability in their own homes?" https://youtu.be/pB7RQ5-ltgA

Swara asks Martin about the phenomenon of urban middle class people often pointing fingers at “Other Backward Castes (OBCs)” in rural areas for perpetuating untouchability practices. Are they trying to absolve themselves of any responsibility for perpetuating untouchability?

Hear Martin’s response here: https://youtu.be/nkuLCi8buHQ

See you tomorrow with a brief report on Day #5 of the Bhim Rudan yatra.

Please share this petition far and wide for more signatures before August 6th.

Thank you all for listening.

Raju Rajagopal, Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR)