SALUTING SOCIAL INCLUSION IN BADAKA SINGHANPURA VILLAGE OF BUXAR BIHAR

THIS CAN HAPPEN ONLY IN VILLAGE

 LIKE BADAKA SINGHANPURA

It is not important that a piece of land is donated to Dalits  in a Brahmin dominated village Badaka Singhanpura Buxar Bihar for their rehabilitation. It has been a long tradition in this village to rehabilitate people of weaker sections who have been integral part of the society.

It is also not important that "that piece" of land is near a road.

But what is important is that the land is prime land on prime location, that it is on a road linking to the main village, that it is in the northern side of the village, that it is very near to the village. 

Tradition has been that the Dalits were allowed to settle only in the southern side of the village, and not in the northern or eastern side of the village, not on prime land on prime location, not even very near to the village. 

These Dalits  also called Dom play an important role in any function specially "Shraddha". Unless they are fully satisfied with food & gift (Daan) and declare "Jag (Yagya) Pura" no such ceremony or function is complete or successful.

Huts of Dalits on northern side of the village
 Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

The land, as reported, has been donated by Shri Rathindra Kumar Ojha, Shri Sanjay Ojha, Shri Mithilesh Ojha & Shri Raghubir Ojha.

Huts of Dalits on n prime location on prime land
Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Incidentally & rightly so, it was also pointed out that some of the leading ancestors of this village have been very generous, very pious, very kind-hearted & very humane. Pt. Siddhanath Ojha had three friends  namely Shankar Lohar, Saral Aheer & Jhabar Kurmi. Though they belonged to three different lower castes with three different professions but Pt. Siddhanath Ojha used to treat them equally. In the marriage of his youngest son in 1976 he sent Jhabar Kurmi to see the bride. He bought clothes for stitching from the same lattha or thaan for all his three friends. In "Samadhi Milan" all the three were treated at par with Pt. Siddhanath Ojha. 

His house in Badaka Singhanpura has been just like "Ashram" & people may have even the feel of an ashram & that is why it is rightly rechristened "Siddhashram". This incident itself unfolds the values ingrained  in the family tree & being  passed down to coming generation.

Not only that. Prof (Dr) Rabindra Nath Ojha  not only through his behaviour & action  but through his writings & speeches attempted to spread the message of  Unison of Soul in all Human Beings or  - "Ekatm Manavvaad". His personal essays such as "Chaturi Chamar" Suar Bada Ki Main" & his poem " Mit Jaayen Ab Jaati Dharam Sab" point only towards this philosophy or thinking - philosophy of humanitarianism, Oneness of Soul.

This is really a path breaking step, a tradition shattering attempt & a revolutionary effort and must be appreciated whole heartedly. A step which is worth inspiring, worth emulating & worth following -a great social quake - a burning example of  social inclusion and not social exclusion.

A socially inclusive society is defined as one where all people feel valued, their differences are respected, and their basic needs are met so that they can live with dignity. On the other hand social exclusion is the  process of being cut-off  from social, political, cultural & economic systems which contribute to the integration of a person into the community.