[Reader-list] Fifth Posting - Caste Violence in Urban Maharashtra: A Study of Worli Riots of Mumbai 1974 - A Breaking Point in Dalit Panthers Movement

[Arvind Kumar]

Fifth Posting - Caste Violence in Urban Maharashtra: A Study of Worli
Riots of Mumbai 1974 - A Breaking Point in Dalit Panthers Movement

Not Just One Amongst Many - Avinash Mahatekar, the Dalit Panther

During my background research on the Worli riots of 1974 I had come
across the name of Avinash Mahatekar. The name though figured quite
prominently in the Dalit Panther literature but the experience which I
got in the personal interactions with this man made me aware of the
very details of the then scenario with a lot of clarity. He was a
person who elaborated upon the details in a very distinguished manner
and with impeccable profundity. His reminiscences not just made my
work gain authenticity but also made an indelible impression in my
mind about the way the events must have unfolded. I must say it was
truly a case of; from the horse's mouth.

Avinash Mahatekar was one of the founder member of the Dalit Panthers.
He has been a noted journalist and has edited a Marathi daily
'Samrat'. Currently he is with the Republican Party of India. I
present below some of the excerpts from the interview with Avinash
Mahatekar.


Q. Can you tell us something about the chain of events leading to Worli riots?

There was a Parliamentary by election in 1974 for Central Bombay Lok
Sabha constituency. Since it was a Dalit dominated constituency the
Republican Party of India considering its strong hold over the
electorate, under the leadership of R.S. Gawai supported Congress
candidate B.C. Kamble. Surprisingly, not all voters were happy with
Republican Party supporting a Congress candidate. Republican masses
were attracted to a militant group which was very active then and was
aggressively fighting against the caste oppression by the caste
Hindus. The Dalit Panthers had declared the boycott of the election
which naturally would have hampered the winability of  Congress
candidate.

Actual incident began with a public meeting which was held at Dr.
Ambedkar Maidan at Worli.  Here the Dalit Panther leaders and
activists were to announce the boycott of the upcoming by election.
Leaders like Namdeo Dhasal, J.V. Powar, Raja Dhale, addressed the
meeting. Shiv Sena activists got infuriated at Dhasal's fiery speech
and started pelting stones on the dais. This led to retaliation from
the Dalit activists assembled in the meeting.



Q. Whom would you blame for the riots then, the Panthers or the Sainiks?

The blame goes straight on Shiv Sena and police. Half of the Worli
chawls were inhabited by the policemen whose young age male family
members were activists of Shiv Sena. The fighting went on for ten
days. During night times these young Sainik brigade used to dress up
themselves and disguise as policemen and attack the chawls in which
Dalits used to reside. Many of the Dalit families initially remained
under the false impression or illusion that these are policemen who
have come to provide saftey to Dalit hamlets, but they were faced with
the reality soon that actually these were the Sainiks who had
meticulously planned this form of disguised attack.



Q. How do you see the role of other political parties during these riots?

The elderly and senior leaders of Republican Party of India failed to
protect Dalit youth. Congress party was vindictive. Shiv Sena was in
opposition. Some Left activists came to help the Panthers. Leftists
and Socialists supported our cause and they boosted the Panthers to
fight against the police brutality.

While protesting the police brutality, Raja Dhale got injured. He
announced a protest march from Naigaon to Worli. The policemen
disrupted the march in which Bhagwat Jadav was killed when a stone
pelted on him hit his forehead.

Q. What relief measures were extended by the administration; were they biased?

The administration and police considered the Panthers to be hand in
gloves with the Leftists. Hence there was no question of relief
measures. Rather they harassed the Panthers as many of us were booked
under various charges.

Q. There is no denying the fact the Dalit Panthers was a militant
movement. Do you see it as a break from Ambedkarism?

No. In the given situation Republican Party of India was completely
unsuccessful in safeguarding the interests of the Dalits. In fact a
faction also joined hands with Congress. This was the unfortunate time
when social tension was at its peak in the entire country in general
and Maharashtra in particular. In Parwani Sonargaon two women were
stripped naked and in Dhakli, Gawai brothers had their eyes gouged out
by caste Hindus. Yet, the Republican Party of India leaders were
silent. It was these handful of youngsters who finally revolted
against the atrocities.

Q. What do you think were the initial and prominent influences on the
early Panthers?

A. Our educated youth were influenced by Black literature and Black
panthers. Cuban revolution also had an influence on our young men. The
Left ideology definitely influenced us but we did not borrow this
ideology directly due to its ambiguity on the issues of class and
caste dynamics in India.