NRC fears don't cross the divide: among poor Hindus, a confidence, assured sense of place -Vandita Mishra

Gaya, Kolkata, Lucknow: In the Scheduled Caste basti in Gewalbigha, Gaya, about 2 km from the day-and-night dharna against the CAA-NRC-NPR in Shantibagh, a group of men, all safai karamcharis with the Nagar Nigam, cheeks smeared with the bright pink abeer (coloured powder) of Saraswati puja, talk of the citizenship issue without evident apprehension or anxiety.

“Jo bahar se aaya hai, those who have come from outside, Pakistan se, Bangladesh se, they are scared. Hindus need not fear”, says Raju Ram. “Hamaare baap-dada yahan ke hain (our forefathers belonged here)”, says Ajay Ram. “We, Dalits, don’t own any land” says Raju Ram, “but generations have lived here. Bahut sa kaagaz patra nahin hai, toh bhi. (We have very few papers, but even so.)”.

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