Akkori Das, a resident of Daspara within the Gidhagam Panchayat area of South West Bengal, lives through “caste cancer” experiences.
He was one of the about 550 people from 130 families of the Scheduled Messi (Mochi) caste, who was not allowed to enter the local Gidheshwar Shiva temple until this week.
“Only Muslims and slave surname families were banned from entering the temple premises. We are also not allowed to attend the Charak fair to be held on the land adjacent to the temple, ”Das said.
This practice was going on for generations. The existing temple is several decades old, and the original structure is considered to be more than two centuries old.
The administration, however, was unable to help.
Another meeting with all communities was held on 28 February, where the administration informed all the participants that caste-based discrimination is illegal.
Nevertheless, members of the DAS community were unable to enter the temple on 1 March. Villagers clashed on 7 and 8 March.
Finally, after a long discussion with the middle and upper-caste families, the administration facilitated its entry into the temple on 12 March.
Senior Administrative Officers including Deputy Protecting Officer, Block Development Officer and Inspector-in-charge of Katwa Police Station were present in the campus.
Members of the DAS community now want the end of prohibition on their entry into the Chark Fair, which occurs in mid -April. “The administration has asked us to be patient and trust them. We will see, “Das said.
