The Dalit Swadhikar Rally

Swadhikar means  ’assertion and claiming one’s own rights’. This was the headline for the rally which started on 6th December 2003, when four teams of rallyists took off from four corners of India: Jammu, Delhi , Kolkata and Kanyakumari to cover 22 states across the country en route to Mumbai and the World Social Forum. Dalit Swadhikar Rally was initiated by The National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights, (NCDHR) to create awareness among Dalit communities about globalisation effects and engage them on the issues which were the main themes of the World Social Forum 2004; casteism, imperialism, patriarchy, militarism & communalism. 

The 200 rallyists had various experiences during the forty days of the rally. In the villages and towns visited by the rallyists, they met the reality faced by Dalits everyday in India: the widespread practice of untouchability, exploitation of dalit labour, destruction of dalit livelihoods, impunity for atrocities committed against Dalits and violent response from upper castes when Dalits assert their rights. However, they also met hopes for a better future and the emergence of a strong Dalit community, a Dalit movement and possibilities of new alliances.  Over 5000 organisations, movements and leaders participated in the rally from the planning stage in October 2003 to its conclusion on 16th January 2004 at World Social Forum 2004 Mumbai. It gained solidarity and support from different sections of people and different movements irrespective of ideological, approach and operational differences. On an average, over 500 local people accompanied the rally teams in trucks, tractors and busses from one point to another every day of the rally. Meetings were attended by a total of 1 million people and it is estimated that message of the rally was spread to up to 15 million Dalits.

Wherever they came, rallyists were warmly welcomed and supported by dalit communities. The culmination of the Dalit Swadhikar Rally was the opening day of the World Social Forum, when the four routes met and marched together for the opening ceremony in Mumbai. The Rally has significantly strengthened the Dalit movement and has generated new alliances and new awareness of the Dalit issues – among both Dalit and non-Dalit communities.

More information on www.dalits.org

Route map of the Dalit Swadhikar Rally<