Dalit Sujag Tehreek

The Dalit Sujag Tehreek (DST) is a movement and organisation representing the scheduled caste Hindu communities in Pakistan. Its core committee consists of 21 people from different scheduled caste Hindu communities such as Kolhi, Bheel, Meghwar, Oad, Bhagri.^[1][2]

Dalit Sujag Tehreek

Dalit Sujag Tehreek flag
Abbreviation	DST
Formation	2016 (8 years ago) (2016)
Type	Religio-political organization
Legal status	Foundation
Purpose	Social Reforms, Political rights
Area served	Pakistan
Chairman	Radha Bheel [1]
Convener	Dr Sono Khangarani
Vice-chairperson	Manga Ram Oad and Vesaki Mal Bhagri
Main organ	21 member Core Committee

History

The movement was launched in 2016 during the 125th anniversary of the birth of Baba Saheb Ambedkar at Mirpurkhas. It was formed by the combination of different Scheduled Caste organisations in Pakistan like Bheel Intellectual Forum (BIF), Oad Samaji Tanzeem, Pakistan Meghwar Council, Baghri Welfare Association, All Sindh Kolhi Association, Sindh Kolhi Itehad (Nemdas group), Sindh Kolhi Itehad (Ranshal Group), Qaumi Awami Tehreek and the Scheduled Caste Federation of Pakistan (SCFP). It was launched as a campaign against social discrimination faced by scheduled caste Hindus in Pakistan from both Muslims and upper caste Hindus.^[3]

Although Scheduled caste Hindus form majority of the Hindu population in Pakistan, they are underrepresented in the political sphere. According to the Radha Bheel the Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC) has about 2,000 Hindu members, among them only 7 are from Scheduled Castes.^[2]

Activities

Dalit Sujag Tehreek protesting against forced Conversion of Scheduled Caste Hindu girls

• The DST has formed protests against forced Conversion of scheduled caste Hindu girls to Islam. ^[4]
• The DST has made campaigns to make the Scheduled Caste Hindu community to put their religion as Scheduled Caste Hindus rather than just Hindus in the Census. ^[5]
• DST members has contesting elections under the DST banner.^[6]

Politics

During the formation of the DST, Chander Kolhi, the leader of Progressive Human Front said that the DST will take shape of a Dalit political party in Pakistan. ^[3] In the 2018 Pakistan General Election, five members of DST including 3 women contested in the General election under the DST banner.^[7][6]

See also

• Hinduism in Pakistan

References

1. "Dalit sujag tehreek: Scheduled caste Hindus elect officers". ExpressTribune. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
2. "Always other". Retrieved 26 July 2021.
3. Yudhvir Rana. "Ambedakar's ideology inspires Pakistan's Dalit Insaaf Tehreek in Pakistan". Retrieved 26 July 2021.
4. "Dalits seek protection against 'forced' conversion". Dawn. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
5. Zia Ur Rehman. "Scheduled castes have a separate box for them, but only if anybody knew". Retrieved 26 July 2021.
6. "Hindu dalit women in Pakistan contesting General elections 2018". Quint. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
7. "After Sunita Parmer, five more Dalit women enter race for general seats". Retrieved 26 July 2021.