News and Events

Untouchables enter Rajasthan temple
Date:22-DEC-2008

Alwar, Dec. 21: Alwar, a small town in Rajasthan, today witnessed a social revolution of a different kind as scores of erstwhile scavengers were allowed to enter a temple here, thereby realising the dream of Mahatma Gandhi.
In addition to that, they also dined with families of “upper social strata”, a pipe dream till recent times.
“It is dream come true for me, I have entered a mandir (temple) for first time in my 45 years of life. It is a revolution in true sense,” said Ms Anguri Devi, a former scavenger.
The moment is equally “unforgettable” and “historical” for Ms Rajni Nanda, Ms Bimla Chumar and Ms Usha Devi, who were in the trade of scavenging.
“Till recent times we were not allowed to enter the premises of temples in the locality, but from today we can enter and perform Puja freely,” Ms Nanda said. 
The socially significant development has taken place on the initiative of Sulabh movement, founded by Ms Bindeshwar Pathak in 1970. “People who used to run away even from the shadow of a scavenger befalling on them have now dined with such people and it is no less than achieving the impossible,” said Ms Pathak.  PTI

Source: http://thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?date=2008-12-22&usrsess=1&clid=2&id=263530