Beltangady: Dalits to hold protest rally against use of prohibited word ‘Harijan'


Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (CLP)

Beltangady, Nov 11: Karnataka Dalit Sangharsh samiti will organize a protest rally at Taluk Office of Beltangady condemning recent usage of prohibited word ‘Harijan’ in the weekly magazine of Beltangady.

The leaders of the DSS announced the protest through the press meet held in the hotel woodlands.

The district convenor of DSS Rohitaksha K said, "The editor of the daily, published from Beltangady and popular in Sullia and Puttur, has been using the newspaper to publish false stories against the organization and its leaders”.

"In the protest that was organized in Beltangady, he has induced pictures of Dalit leader Dr Ambedkar and Bhagavan Budha inside his effigy, in prior to the burning of the same effigy and is spreading the message that these pictures have been purposefully burnt and is trying to tarnish the image of the leader and the organization which we condemn”.


Another leader of the organization S baby Suvarna who spoke on the occasion raised the usage of the prohibited term ‘Harijan’. He said, "Even though the editor Dr Shivananda has apologized for the usage of the word, he has been using it to separate the people of scheduled case and tribes from the mainstream. The editor has been using abusive language to defame the leaders of the organization as terrorists and is repeatedly misleading the people through various publications. The state convenor Mavalli Sahnkar too will participate in the protest”.

Chandu master secretary SC and ST development cell Kavoor, Baby Suvarna Karnataka Dalita Sangarsha Samiti Beltangady, P Keshava leader of Dalit Sangharsh samiti Mangaluru, Ramesh R convenor Dalit Sangharsh samiti Beltangady, Shobha V joint-secretary SC and ST development cell Kavoor, D K Ananda Thodikana Sulya among others were present.

  

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Comment on this article

  • yahoo, mumbai

    Wed, Nov 12 2014

    maybe they want the good old "shoodra" word back!

    DisAgree [1] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rajesh Puttur, Dubai

    Wed, Nov 12 2014

    These people misusing the law for sake of personal grudge. When they conducted protest in Belthangady , they burnt Shivananda model filled with Ambedkar and Budda pamplets.. which was live captured and video is available in If they are not done that then go to court . After making mistake of burning ambedkar pamplets still you want to waste our time. Go to court and prove that its morphed video. That weekley media have a great image and reputation in belthangady from last 25 years and we cannot tolerate this false propaganda of misusing law. We all public will support if you are right. But prove it and dont misguide people.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • JP SHETTY, KOTA

    Wed, Nov 12 2014

    yenth savu mare...afudall hopudalla....they should proud of that name hari jana....hari means krishna (kappu) jana ...so what wrong..tomorrow thery r going to protest calling daliths....

    DisAgree [1] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Flavian, Mangalore/Kuwait

    Wed, Nov 12 2014



    With all the government provided facilities, help and considerations, sometimes their demands and attitude goes beyond limit.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • vellano1, Mumbai

    Wed, Nov 12 2014

    Dalits must realise, that, if a news paper writes about few of their "leaders' it is not against the ENTIRE COMMUNITY! only against those individual.. why feel so touchy and blow up the issue as discrimination etc..? misuse of atrocity law should be stopped! and I dont think HARIJAN is discriminatory, per se,!! its coined by Mahatma Gandhi, yes the same person , who is on every currency note!

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • RSRB, Kundapura / Singapore

    Wed, Nov 12 2014

    Let them say, what is the preferred name, so that all can call them by that terminology....
    They are called "KoosaL" in Kundapura side.

    Actually these "KoosaL" themself discriminating "Giri Jana" or "ST", who are known as "Korra" in Kundapura side.

    My heart actually goes for "ST" compared to "SC" (limited to Kundapura area) becuase "SC" are taking the advantage of "ST" and discriminating "ST", who are real "Dalits"...

    These "KoosaL" or "SC" in Kundapura have to first STOP "untuchability" with "ST" generation.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sachidanand Shetty, Mundkur/Dubai

    Wed, Nov 12 2014

    May be few them are right…because of their conversion to other religion they don’t want to be called as “Hari” and “Giri” since these two names referred to Hindu God by Mahatma!!!!

    DisAgree Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sachidanand Shetty, Mundkur/Dubai

    Wed, Nov 12 2014

    This is really astonishing…. They want all the facilities and respects dictated in Indian Law as Harijan or Girijan….but don’t want to be called as Harijan or Girijan why????? There should be limit for everything…..

    DisAgree [1] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • Robin, Byndoor

    Wed, Nov 12 2014

    Jaimini. P. B.,

    I agree with you. They don't want to respect the ideas of Mahatma. These so called Dalits may tomorrow conduct one more protest to oppose them to be called as "dalits"

    Other important observations people saw:
    1. They don't put surnames. But they clearly tell their surnames with detail when govt officials approach them for implementing reservation based schemes.
    2. Some people at around Kundapura started to put RESEARCHED surnames like Kalavarkar, Kundapurkar, Byndoorkar, Koteshwarkar etc. Initially I thought it was a surname. Later I came to know that it is their RESEARCH to place them like ambedKAR.....

    3. These Dalits protested a lot against Untouchability. But they are not ready to touch Koragas (STs)... Vichitra Adaru Satya...

    So, Need of the hour is that Dalits/Harijans to change their mindset.

    They want jobs as per their caste. But they don't want to be called so. They acquired top jobs want promotion also based on caste. After occupying top jobs they want reservation for their children as well... How they justify all these ?

    Mayawati of Uttarpradesh occupied Chief Minister seat telling that she was dalit.... She just built HUGE statues of herself with Govt money....

    Gaade maatu nenapagutte: - Naayiyannu Dandigeyalli hottu kondu hodare, Holasu kandodane kelage haarutte...

    Yaavudu yelli irabeko alle irabeku... Neeru neladalli... Gaali Aakashadalli... Soorya Chandra yello Gaganadalli.... Kari bannavannu Melvargadavaru lepisalilla.... Africadalli Yellaru Kariyare....

    Anyayada viruddha Horadida Gandhi itta hesaru beda antadare ivarige innenu beku ?

    DisAgree [3] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • Valerian Dsouza, Udupi/Mumbai

    Wed, Nov 12 2014

    Creator God loves all, doesn't discriminates anyone. But our sins hurts him.
    But humans are opposite. Elect legally and morally wrong people to rule over us.
    But caste discrimination very much intact.
    We should learn from atheist China.
    There all are equal. Caste religion no one exhibits, almost died. Public prayers which divide society not allowed anywhere other than their homes and places of worship.
    Japan and Sri Lanka also known to treat all citizens fairly.
    West there is discrimination but only to outsiders(racial)
    Hyper religious Pakistan Afghanistan etc. less said is better. Whom are we following?

    DisAgree Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ajith Shetty, Mangalore/Pune

    Wed, Nov 12 2014

    Mahatma Gandhi described Harijan means Hari Jan,(people close to god).How this word make such a conflict?

    DisAgree [1] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Michael, Mangalore/USA

    Wed, Nov 12 2014

    Though intent of Mahatma Gandhi was good in creating this term Harijan, most people don't realize that over years it has become a term to isolate or create an identity with racial overtones. It is like calling a African-American as 'Black' person which many Indians freely do whereas you can go to jail in US for saying so.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • syed bashir, sharjah

    Wed, Nov 12 2014

    IF I AM NOT MISTAKEN THE NAME HARIJAN IS GIVEN TO DALITS/ UNTOUCHABLES BY MAHATMA GANDHI WHICH MY TEACHER TOLD ME DURING MY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLING.HARIJAN ACCORDING TO GANDHI WAS PEOPLE OF GOD,THE NAME GIVEN WHEN UPPER CLASS HINDUS WERE MISTREATING THE DALITS.WHY THE PROBLEM ARISES IN THE NAME AFTER NEARLY ABOUT 70 YEARS.

    DisAgree Agree [19] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ronald D, Udupi

    Wed, Nov 12 2014

    For receiving benefits and gain the clause can be used for fullest extent at tax payers expense!~! For prestige....use best possible word!! I wish...cast based and reservation based favour should end right now!! Be it a Brahmin or Harijan...merit should be served!! There should be no exception based on cast and colour! Everyone should be equal!! with this note...there will be no harijan in next 5 years!! I am personally fed up with low cast high cast and them spending money on cheap liquid diet!! diet on whose expense and for how many decades????? It gives chance for a doubt on dalits and its sanghs motive!!

    DisAgree Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • PEDDU, MANGALURU

    Tue, Nov 11 2014

    ALL HUMANS ARE EQUAL IN FRONT OF GOD !! IF SOMEONE BELIEVE IN ALLAH OR GOD !!

    THERE IS NO DISCRIMINATION AS WE ARE ALL CHILDREN OF GOD !! NO ONE IS KAAFIR HERE

    NO HINDU NO MUSLIM NO CHRISTIAN NO FARSI NO SIKH CURRENT RELIGION IN THE WORLD IS "BEING HUMAN"

    BEHAVE LIKE HUMAN BEING THEN EVERYTHING WILL BE IN ITS PLACE

    DisAgree Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jaimini P.B.., Manipal,Sharjah

    Tue, Nov 11 2014

    The word "Harijan" was introduced by Mahatma Gandhi..He was very much hurt when he saw the way upper caste hindus treating lower caste people or ignored people of the society..So,he called them Harijan..Hari means Lord Krishna..Jan means people..Harijan means people of Lord Krishna..What a wonderful meaning..and now Dalit committee doesn't want this name given by Gandhiji..!! My Primary school teacher narrated this story 35years ago..Someone should tell this story to Dalit committee at the earliest..

    DisAgree Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Radhakrishna.khandige, Mangalore

    Tue, Nov 11 2014

    the word harijan was introduced by the father of the nation, the great MAHATMA GANDHI. (If I am right!)He wanted the downtrodden to bring to the main stream of the society!But unfortunately we the citizens(upper casts) failed to bring them up! REALLY A SAD FACT !

    DisAgree Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Anthony Lobo, Mangalore

    Tue, Nov 11 2014

    can any political party get rid of all casts and reservation strictly on basis of merits and annual income of the family and pass a bill on the said issue.

    DisAgree Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • vikas, dubai

    Wed, Nov 12 2014

    We fully agree with Mr Anthony, Differentiation comes only when you differenciate people of different caste and creed. Its better to abolish all castesism and treat every one as Indian based on merit and Income. Then only we will improve ourselves. Can our PM and his associate initiate this during his tenure, no matter issues of side effect, which always there whether you do good or bad. Atleast everyone proudly call as Indian.

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Santan Mascarenhas, Kinnigoli/Mumbai

    Tue, Nov 11 2014

    A man is great by his deeds and not by birth. All human beings are equal in the eyes of God. Caste system is a man made malady. There are good and bad people in both high caste as well as low caste. What matters to God and the world is, whether one is a good person or not. The young generation needs to see right vs wrong and not right vs left.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [20] Reply Report Abuse

  • CYRIL MASCARENHAS, KIREM/MIRA ROAD/DUBAI

    Tue, Nov 11 2014

    SINCE SO MANY YEARS PASSED NOBODY HAS BOTHERED FOR THIS WORD.NOW SUDDENLY WHY PROTEST..

    DisAgree [4] Agree [37] Reply Report Abuse

  • Noor Ashfaq, Karkala/Sharjah

    Tue, Nov 11 2014

    All belong to mankind and why these groupings by terming as Harijan and others belong to different JAN group when all of us belong to one human race. What we want to see is "SAJJANARU" (Good Human-beings) all around instead of caste classification and to have unity among us for peaceful life.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [20] Reply Report Abuse

  • joe Gonsalves, Mangalore

    Tue, Nov 11 2014

    It is expedient that we all understand that every one in this world should be allowed to live in dignity. Dalits have their identity and they are also people of culture and honour. No one has any right to say anything to hurt their feelings.

    It is time that w e learn to live in a spirit of brotherhood.

    Joe Gonsalves

    DisAgree [5] Agree [22] Reply Report Abuse

  • HENRY MISQUITH, bahrain

    Tue, Nov 11 2014

    You are right sir.
    The number of atrocity cases against Dalits and the practice of untouchability continue to occur at alarming rates in Karnataka & Gujarat state, especially when compared to other Indian states.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Beltangady: Dalits to hold protest rally against use of prohibited word ‘Harijan'



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