CAA/NRC: ‘How Can We Show Papers’, Ask Nomadic Communities in Maharashtra

Bhairav is from the Mang community, which falls under the Scheduled Castes (SC) category. He dons a skirt-like garment and lashes his back with the whip in his hand—as a part of performance on the street. He carries a basket with an image of a goddess—known as Kadak Lakshmi—and dedicates his performance to the deity. He asks for money in the name of the goddess and earns livelihood through this traditional nomadic job.

There are many like Bhairav in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Telangana—in thousands. “I don’t have any papers to prove where my parents are from. Where would I get the papers? Both my parents died a few years back,” he said, as he attended the agitation at Dadar, Mumbai against the newly amended Citizenship Act.

Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi Chief Prakash Ambedkar organised a dharna at Khodadad Circle in Dadar, Mumbai on December 26 against the controversial Act and the pan-India National Register of Citizens. As the nationwide exercise expects the citizens to furnish documents to prove that they or their ancestors were living in the country prior to the cut-off date of March 26, 1971. 

Many from Bhairav’s community participated in the protest on Thursday. “Many of us don’t even have homes. Where would we keep the documents and what do we do with that?” asked Sudhakar, another member of community.

As the new citizenship law makes sure that the Muslims are excluded from the NRC if they are unable to furnish the documents—which is a difficult task in the first place, especially for marginalised communities—some Islamophobic sections of the society have extended their support to it. What they don’t realise, however, is that this subtle bigotry is harming lakhs of others within the Hindu religion itself.

By bringing them to protest, Ambedkar exposed the hypociry of Bharatiya Janata Party and also shown mirror to CAA as well as NRC. A section in society might be supporting CAA just because it comes as anti Muslim act. But this subtle bigotry is harming lakhs and lakhs of people within Hindu religion itself as well.

“We call it the anti-people act. Aren'Wt these people Indians? They are! They have been here for generations. They were kept backward by the ardent ancient laws. Now, another attempt is being made to snatch their identity. We will oppose and expose this act and the Modi government,” said Ambedkar, while addressing the protesters.

Sunanda, who is from Latur, belongs to the Dombari community. She has two sons and one daughter. Owing to their nomadic profession, they keep moving across Western Maharashtra and Vidarbha too. Her two sons held placards against CAA as well as a picture of  late B R Ambedkar in their hands. Sunanda is semi-literate. “I came here to support Ambedkar saaheb,” she said.

“I don't have any document. We keep moving to a new town every other day. Who will give us the papers?” questioned Sunanda.

Maharashtra has been witnessing marches, rallies and protests across against CAA and NRC. It is building pressure on state government to reject the National Population Register as well.

Also read: Why Hindus Must Also Worry About NPR-NRIC