‘Grihapravesha’, a quiet anti-caste movement in Kolar, completes 10 years

The organisation will hold an event to mark a decade of its work on February 15. Ministers like Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa and Satish Jarkiholi, High Court retired Judge H.N. Nagamohana Das and others are expected to be part of the event.

One comes across several houses in Kolar district that display boards that state, ‘This household does not practise untouchability.’

This is a result of the work of over a decade by the ‘Grihapravesha movement’ in Kolar, aimed at eradicating caste biases by facilitating free mingling of people from ‘upper’ and ‘lower’ castes in multiple ways.

Launched by the Arivu Bharath, started by Arivu G. Shivappa in undivided Kolar district, it has spread to neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu also.

The organisation will hold an event to mark a decade of its work on February 15. Ministers like H.C. Mahadevappa and Satish Jarkiholi, former judge of the High Court H.N. Nagamohana Das, and others are expected to be part of the event.

Mr. Shivappa, an associate professor in the History Department of the Government First Grade College for Women in Kolar, launched the campaign from his home in Mulbagal taluk on July 30, 2014, by welcoming Dalits into the house during the death anniversary of his father Gattappaswamy. Since then, he and his associates have conducted several activities in houses, with students and other social groups, especially on weekends and government holidays, with their own money.

Farmers, Dalits, women, students, and various youth organisations have also stepped up with Arivu Shivappa in this movement. The district administration has also joined hands on some occasions. The group has facilitated several temple entries also, which continues to be a bane in parts of the State to this day.

With the efforts of Mr. Shivappa, the district administration of Kolar had issued instructions to temples to put signboards stating “Free Entry for all Communities.” The organisation has also organised several ‘saha bhojana’, community meal programmes, in the houses of both ‘upper’ castes and Dalits.