For the first time in nearly 300 years, Dalit families in a village in West Bengal have been allowed to worship at the Gidheshwar Shiv Temple. This historic moment broke a long-standing caste barrier and brought hope for equality.

A historic step for Dalit families

On Wednesday, representatives of 130 Dalit families entered the temple in Purba Bardhaman district’s Katwa subdivision. This was a moment of victory for their long fight for religious rights.

The breakthrough came after weeks of tension and efforts from local authorities. Around 10 am, five members from the Das community—four women and one man—climbed the temple steps in Gidhgram’s Daspara area. With police protection, they poured milk and water on the Shivling and offered prayers without facing any resistance.

For centuries, Dalit families, mainly cobblers and weavers, were denied entry to the temple. When they tried to enter on Maha Shivratri (February 26), they faced strong opposition and were forced out. The families also faced economic boycotts, with local milk collection centres refusing to buy milk from their cattle.

Determined to end this discrimination, the families sought help from the administration. After failed talks with village elders and temple authorities, a key meeting on Tuesday finally led to a resolution. Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Ahimsa Jain, along with local MLAs, police officials, and temple committee members, ensured the families could worship freely.

The Dalit families expressed happiness and relief but remained cautious. “We are ecstatic to have been granted the right to perform puja at the temple. I prayed to God for everyone’s well-being,” said Santosh Das, a villager who was previously barred from the temple.

“We received tremendous support from the local police and administration, on whom we had reposed our faith,” added Ekkori Das. However, she admitted they were unsure whether the temple doors would stay open once the police left. The economic boycott against the Das families continued until Wednesday morning, with milk centres refusing to collect their milk. “Police have directed the centres to resume collection. If it doesn’t happen by evening, we will have to report it to the authorities,” she said.

Mixed reactions from the community

While the administration praised the decision as a step towards equality, not everyone agreed. Some temple authorities expressed discomfort. “We used to take care of everything at the temple during the Gajan fair. It is now a big question whether we will be able to maintain the purity and sanctity of the ancient tradition of puja at the temple,” said Sanat Mandal, a temple servant.

Local political leaders welcomed the development. “It wasn’t easy to break the deadlock arising out of a long-standing tradition. Standing in the 21st century, such ideas cannot be entertained. God is with everyone. Together, we managed to convince everyone of this. That is what has resolved the dispute,” said Trinamool Congress MLA Apurba Chatterjee.

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