Hours after being accosted, threatened and assaulted by a group of at least eight men in Davangere, 23-year-old Uchchangi Prasad, a journalism student in Davangere University, spoke to The Hindu on his trysts with Dalit activism as well as the threats from right-wing groups that have come along with his works.
How did you get into writing? And particularly, writing strongly about Dalit issues?
I come from a small village (Santebennur in Davangere district) where my parents still work as daily-wage labour. I was not sent to school, and was made to go into bonded labour at an early age. I have seen and faced caste discrimination and the violence around it. It was only when I was rescued and put into Chinnara Angala (school for rescued children) that I received proper education. My writings reflect this pain of the caste system.
Why do you think you were particularly targeted on Wednesday night?
After the release of my book Odala Kichchu in April 2014 which talks about the caste system, its origin from Hinduism and its ill-effects, I received threats for nearly a month. They filed a complaint for provocation and incendiary writings. Since then, my writings and even social media posts have ruffled feathers.
Did the attackers identify themselves as being from a right-wing group?
They did not, but it was obvious by their behaviour. They put kumkum all over my face, and asked me how I dared to write about Hinduism when I do not have belief in it. They said I had sinned in my previous birth and that’s why I am born a Dalit. They seemed to know me, and the WhatsApp messages I had sent about recent Dalit killings. When they brandished their knives and threatened to chop off my fingers to stop me from writing, I knew I had to somehow escape.
Following the attack, do you fear for your life?
Yes. I’m still recovering, and I have asked the police to provide me protection.
Will the attack deter you from writing? Or even, induce hesitation to take up topics that may irk right-wing groups?
On the contrary, I am enthused, determined and seem to have somehow gathered courage and will to continue writing. I do not want them to know that the attack has had any effect on my will to write.
