A Dalit of Meerut was recognized as Shyam Singh a month ago. But now he declares himself “Azad” (liberated).
Shyam, a member of the Dalit Valmiki community in Moga village, converted to Islam two weeks ago.
Shyam alleged that he didn’t embrace Islam only because his community was denied access to the temple to perform the traditional puja but also because of the “continuous threats of harassment” from the local law and order officials after he persisted with his demand to have the right to perform puja, The Hindu reported.
When their efforts to get equal rights not succeed, they declared that they would embrace Islam.
“What is the point in being a Hindu and having this sacred thread around my wrist if I can’t even enter a temple and perform puja,” he argued.
Shyam, a landless laborer has petitioned the District Magistrates of Baghpat and Meerut, and the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes against this kind of injustice. He also petitioned the Prime Minister’s Office.
While Shyam has converted to Islam, his fellow Valmikis, numbering over 100, are scared and are thinking of migrating to some other part of the State to escape official harassment. Shyam himself plans to migrate to Nepal.
Interestingly, the announcement of the conversion plan by Shyam and his fellow Dalits needled abrupt attention from Hindutva outfits, which requested them not to convert.
“All of them wanted us not to convert to Islam, but none of them want us to get equal status among Hindus. This is how we have historically and traditionally been cheated,” said Shyam.
Shyam and his family were booked by the Meerut administration the last week for “disturbing peace and communal harmony” by persisting with their demand to perform puja at the temple and the announcement about converting to Islam.