Dalits oppose burning of Ravana effigy on Dasara

Siddipet: A section of dalits in Mirdoddi, Dubbak, Chinnakodur and Siddipet are demanding that Ravana’s effigy be not burnt on Dasara festive day, as it represents an act of violence.

Members of Mission Ambedkar Society, Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi, Dalit Bahujan Front and All Mala Students, which claim to be representing Dalits and other minorities, have made representations to heads of Dubbak, Chinnakodur, Gajwel rural and Mirdoddi police stations regarding the same and are planning to observe Dasara as Ravana Brahma Vardhanti on October 11.

They are going to organise meetings and bike rallies in Dubbak and Mirdodddi mandals on the eve of Dasara.
This is not the first time that Dalits have questioned the age-old practice of setting Ravana’s effigy on fire.

For the past few years, discussion about Ravana’s portrayal in Hindu mythology has been going on. In fact, on last Dasara’s eve, the villagers of Lingupally village in Mirdoddi mandal had burnt Rama’s effigy instead. They were arrested and sent to jail.

According to Shankar Peddalingannagari, national president of Dalit Bahujan Front, there was a section of people in States like Tamil Nadu and Kerala, where people have been worshipping Ravana for ages and that their opinion needed to be respected.

Taking examples from mythology like Narakasura, Tataki, Ravana and Shanbuka, he held that all these individuals belonged to weaker sections and were therefore eliminated by Aryans who came to this land from foreign lands.

He claimed that Ravana ‘dahana’ promotes violence and therefore such activities should not be permitted.
“Prime Minister should set an example by not taking part in such celebrations this Dasara in New Delhi,” he said.