Jignesh Mewani: ‘Koi thokega, toh hum bhi thokenge’

“If Dalits retaliate in that manner [militantly], I don’t have any serious objection,” Mewani told Newslaundry. “Till when Dalits will keep bearing attacks?” he asked. “Koi tokega, to hum bhi tokenge (if someone hits us, we will hit back too).”

Formerly a journalist, Mewani, 35, has emerged as the face of Dalit resistance after the Dalit Asmita Yatra, which made its way from Ahmedabad to Una in Gujarat, as a protest against the Dalit atrocities in the state. Over 10 days and 350 kilometres, Mevani has been speaking about Dalit rights, encouraging Dalits to reject the demeaning, menial jobs that have been forced on them traditionally.  On August 15, there was a massive gathering at Una, which ended in violence, with the Dalits being attacked by men suspected to be of dominant castes.

Mewani’s Una Dalit Atyachar Ladat Samiti (UDALS), has very specific demands from the Gujarat government, beginning with allotting five acres of land to every Dalit family in Gujarat. If the state government fails to do so by September 15, Mewani has promised a “surprising and spontaneous rail roko (stop trains)” at different locations the state. His point is simple: the state can’t claim progress when communities like the Patidar and the Dalits are being exploited and mistreated. “What can be a bigger failure of Gujarat model than this?” he asked.