The centenary year of the great declaration of Sree Narayana Guru that “we have no caste” was celebrated from August 24 to 28 in approximately two thousand centres across Kerala. A variety of programmes were organised and people from all walks of life, including intellectuals, cultural activists, sportspersons and political leaders, took part in them. The programmes commenced on the birth anniversary of social reformer Chattambi Swamikal and culminated on the birth anniversary of another social reformer Mahatma Ayyankali.

On August 12, an impressive joint Atmasamman (self respect) Rally was held at the Azad Maidan in Mumbai to express solidarity with the Una struggle of dalits against the RSS-VHP-BJP-instigated so-called gau rakshaks in Gujarat. The forces that participated were the Bharatiya Republican Party (BRP), CPI(M), CPI, Lal Nishan Party, Janata Dal (S), Muslim Intellectual Forum, Republican Panther, Prajasattak Bharat, Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, Urdu Lekhak Sangh as well as mass fronts like the DYFI, SFI, AIDWA and others.

ON August 8, Brinda Karat, Polit Bureau member of the CPI(M) visited Insha, in the hospital in Delhi where the 14 year old Kashmiri girl student has been admitted since July 24. She was blinded by pellets fired straight at her by the armed security forces, deliberately aiming at her forehead, when she was looking down from the window of her two storeyed house in Sadow, Shopian. Her case is symbolic of the barbarous atrocities committed on Kashmiri youth by armed security forces. She has had to undergo two surgeries for serious injuries to her forehead and eyes.

“DALIT atrocity is Gujarat model, that is why Modi is silent”, said CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat after visiting Samadhiyala Village in Junagadh, Gujarat.  A CPI(M) delegation led by Brinda Karat with P K Biju MP, Arun Mehta, Central Committee member and many other state leaders met Sarviya Babu Bhai and Kavita Bai at their home, parents of the young men who were brutally beaten and humiliated by a vicious mob of gau rakshaks. They told the delegation that they were not at all satisfied with the investigation.

DALIT youth in Una, Gujarat were stripped, tied and publicly flogged for skinning a dead cow on July 11. The self-styled Hindu cow protection vigilantes had not only committed this heinous crime, but shot a video and posted it 'as a warning to others'. This had sparked outrage among the people of Gujarat and dalits in particular. Huge mobilisations are being witnessed, and at places dalit youth are threatening to commit suicide, unless action is taken against the perpetrators of the crime.