LAHAN, Aug 1: Baldev Ram, who led carcass boycott campaigns in Madhes besides other numerous social struggles at the behest of the squatters and landless people, breathed his last at the BP Koirala Health Science Academy on Thursday. He was 74.
Many remember him as a revolutionary who waged a social revolution against untouchability and for land reforms. His fight against removing carcasses, which is seen by others as the traditional job of his community, is seen in their community as a heroic act. He started his land reform movement in 1964. After the Land Act was passed in that year, Baldev demanded that the poor get ownership of the land they work on.
Speaking about Baldev’s struggle, Bijay Prasad Mishra, a local school principal, said, “Baldev started the land reform movement in 1964 which gave way to the carcass boycott.”
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He started his campaign against removing carcasses from 1999. After seeing his relatives eat meat from carcasses, he called a gathering of his community to stop the tradition. With the help of several non-governmental organizations, Baldev took a step forward by uniting the other so-called lower castes like Chamar, Musahar and Dusadh into shunning this tradition.
This decision was met with criticism from the so-called upper caste people who even banned his community from entering villages like Hariharpur and Kochabakhari in Siraha. But Baldev fought on, knowing that what he was doing was the right thing.
One of the activists from his movement, Arjun Thapaliya said “All the credit for the upliftment of the Chamar people goes to Baldev Ram.” As the land owners, who had threatened to ostracize the Chamar Community, backed off after the Baldev-led movement became successful.
Baldev was involved in ending the tradition of the so-called upper caste people abusing and impregnating the women of the so-called lower castes in the rural areas of the Madhes. He fought for the right of not only his caste but also for the other so-called lower castes who were abused by the so-called higher castes physically, mentally, financially and emotionally.
Baldev Ram is respected an icon for his long list of achievements. His struggle against malpractices like carcass removal, untouchability and discrimination by the so-called higher class people has also motivated his son to work for spreading awareness among the so-called lower caste groups. The victims of the abuse shed tears while talking about Baldev Ram and his struggle that has allowed their current generation to live a respectable life.
