Outsiders in their own country

Nearly 80 kms from Beed in Maharashtra, is the Sayyed Khedkari Basti (colony). About 10 years ago, Abdul, was the first child from the Sayyed Madari community, who completed his tenth exams. Abdul’s success as one of the first few children from the Banjara tribe to complete schooling was unparalleled. Yet, the absence of one piece of official paper, that could have proved his identity crushed his dreams. Known for performing feats on the streets for a living, the Sayyed Madari Banjara or nomadic communities, do not yet have an identity. There is no mention or records of the Sayyed Madari community in the official records of the ‘Maharashtra State Scheduled Caste Commission’.

Estimates reveal that there are a few thousands of people from this community. But because of their nomadic way of living they do not have a permanent address, thus denying their children an opportunity to enrol into schools since generations. Now that some of the children from the community are enrolling into schools, they do not have a caste based certificate that identifies them as a part of the Banjara community. This has been resulting in many children of the community being denied their rights and entitlements.

From where do we get proof of our caste? The Sayyed Khedkari colony in Beed has more than 50 houses

beloning to this community. For the first time in 1998 a non-governmental organisation named ‘Rajarshi Sahu Grameen Vikas’ opened a Non-formal education centre for the children from the community. There were more than two dozens of children from the Sayyed Madari Community who were being prepared for their tenth exams through the centre. Activist of this Organization, Balmik Nikalje has been fighting to get a caste certificate for the community for a long time without much success. He rues, “From where can this community that has never been associated with the work of the Government bring this piece of paper that proves their identity?”. He adds, “We have made numerous appeals to Social Welfare and justice departments and while they are convinced with our demands, there has been no decision taken.” Social worker and advocate Satish Gaikwad says, “We have made various attempts to obtain a caste based certificate for the Sayyed Badari Community. A lot of officers in Beed’s Collectors office know the Sayyed madari Community by their names but say that their hands are tied and they are helpless because of the laws.”

True Bollywood heroes

Three decades since our Independence, when the unrest in the society was depicted through violence and stunts in our Hindi films, many of these scenes were enacted by the Sayyed Madari community members. Akshay Kumar, once an extra artist, is today a well-known Bollywood star. But the Sayyed Madari community members, working in the same industry are not as lucky. They have spent more than 30 years in this glamorous industry without any recognition, fame or money. Sayyed Sikander, a member of the community says, “Every child recognises a Dara Singh who drags a motor cycle with his bare hands. But nobody recognizes the Sayyed Madari community members who stop two motor cycles with one hand.” Sayyed Fathima, a young child pulls out a photo taken with activists of the Organisation and says, “This is one true photo (story) that is connected to our change.”