Marginalised still wait for 'true freedom'

Bengaluru: As India celebrates 79 years of independence, we remember the long and hard struggle that ended colonial rule in 1947. Yet, alongside the celebrations, a pressing question remains: have we truly secured freedom for all? For millions from the Dalit community and other marginalised groups, including Muslims, Christians, and other minorities, independence is still incomplete.

The chains of colonialism may have been broken, but the deeply entrenched grip of caste-based and communal discrimination continues to shape lives across the country.

A poet’s searing question

Dalit poet and activist Siddalingaiah once posed a piercing question in one of his verses: “For whom, and where, did the freedom of 1947 come?” His biting lines suggest that freedom, for many Dalits, meant little more than a change in the hand that wielded power.

In his words, independence gave the police “the liberty to beat Dalits,” gave boots “the freedom to kick,” and allowed politicians to speak endlessly about Dalit “upliftment” without delivering meaningful change. “This poem forces us to ask who truly received freedom,” said Prof. Muralidhara B.L., a Dalit scholar, pointing out that the community has yet to gain full liberation from caste-based oppression.

Caste’s long shadow over cities

Prof. Muralidhara acknowledged that independence brought some changes—such as a sharp decline in the number of bonded labourers—but stressed that core issues persist.

“If you look at the atrocities against Dalits, whether it is the rape of Dalit women or violent attacks on Dalit men, these are the real problems that must be confronted and ended,” he said. Even in cities, where social dynamics are assumed to be more progressive, caste continues to shape lives.

“Many Dalits conceal their caste identity to navigate daily life,” he explained. “Yet, when they try to rent a house, they are often denied because of their caste. Even holding a high-ranking job or having wealth makes little difference; society, whether rural or urban, still views you through the lens of caste. This mindset is long overdue for change.”

Muslims and Christians face barriers too

Muslims and Christians, too, face their own challenges in the promise of equal citizenship. Community leaders point to rising incidents of hate speech, social boycotts, and discrimination in employment and housing.

In some areas, Muslim youth find themselves under heightened surveillance or suspicion, while Christians have faced harassment over prayer gatherings and alleged “conversions.” These experiences, they say, chip away at the sense of belonging and safety that independence was meant to guarantee.

‘No freedom for Dalits in this country’

Echoing these sentiments, Akshay Kumar Ajamani, president of the Dalit Vidyarthi Parishat, voiced his frustration. “Baba Saheb fought to ensure that Dalits and other minorities had the same rights as any citizen, rights to education, employment, and land. But decades later, those rights are still out of reach for many.

In rural areas, even the land allotted to Dalit women is often taken away by upper-caste communities.” “There is no freedom for Dalits in this country,” he said plainly. For Ajamani, real independence will only arrive when Dalit men and women are educated, hold secure jobs, are treated with respect, and live without fear.

“Our community will have truly gained freedom only when we can sleep peacefully, content in our dignity,” he said.

Strong laws, weak will

Beena Pallical, General Secretary of the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights, said India has strong laws to abolish untouchability, eliminate manual scavenging, and create targeted budgets for Dalit welfare, yet “they remain on paper because those tasked with implementing them don’t care.”

She explained that keeping the caste system intact benefits those in power, which is why discrimination, exclusion, and violence continue. “Manual scavenging strips people of their dignity, yet it survives because dismantling it would mean dismantling caste itself,” she said.