Kirori Singh Bhainsla

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Kirori Singh Bhainsla is retired colonel of Indian Army and is currently leading the 2008 caste violence in Rajasthan. For past 8 years he has been working to get Scheduled Tribe status for Gujjar community in Rajasthan,India. In May 2008 he has led agitation in full force and Till now 43 people have died in these agitations[1]. He is leader of Gujjar Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti which has been recently involved in violent protest across Rajasthan[2] and blockading Delhi for one day[3]. He has been held guilty by Rajasthan High Court for not complying with peaceful protest and disrupting normal life of citizens by blocking roads and rail routes in Rajasthan[4]. Currently there is a stand-off between Bainsla and Government of Rajasthan over venue of talks[5].

[edit] Personal life

Kirori Singh Bainsla joined the Army as a sepoy. Bainsla began his career as a teacher in a government school but, like many Gurjars, joined the army at the lowest rank of sepoy. He fought in the Sino-Indian war of 1962 and Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 and was taken a prisoner of war in the latter. His seniors in the Army named him the Rock of Gibraltar, and he soon rose to the rank of Colonel. It has been speculated that his military background might have enabled him to organize the Gujjar protest with such precision and large scale. Bainsla has a daughter who works with the Income Tax department in Goa, two sons in the Army and one son in a private mobile firm. But despite his children being well-settled in cities, he says he lives in Hindoli, a tehsil in Bundi district of Rajasthan[6].
One of his famous quote is

Only a bullet or a letter(granting the demands) can remove me from here[6].

He wears the trademark red turban, white clothes and has a lathi in hand[7].

[edit] Demand for scheduled tribe status

Kirori Singh in an interview with the Washington Post explained why he demaned secheduled tribe status.[1] He said,

"Most of our people are illiterate and living in abject poverty. We want better opportunities. For 12 years, I moved from pillar to post crying hoarse with the demands, but the government never listened. So we had to resort to direct action. As a backward class, we have to compete with 123 caste groups for 27 percent of government jobs. Our turn never comes. But as a tribe, we would fight only 15 other groups for about 7 percent of jobs. So it is more beneficial to be called a tribe, even if it is lower in status.[1]"

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Lakhmi, Rama (2008-05-31). Indian Protesters Let Dead Decay (English). www.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved on 2008-06-09.
  2. ^ Raje govt, Gujjar leaders agree to hold talks (English). timesofindia.indiatimes.com (8 Jun 2008). Retrieved on 2008-06-09.
  3. ^ Gujjar protesters blockade Delhi (English). www.deccanherald.com (20080529). Retrieved on 2008-06-09.
  4. ^ Raj HC issues contempt notice to Gujjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla (English). www.theindiapost.com (May 27th, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-06-09.
  5. ^ "Bainsla asks Raje Government to come to Bayana for talks", in.news.yahoo.com, Jun 7 2008. Retrieved on 2008-06-09. (English) 
  6. ^ a b SUBALTERN GENERAL (English). www.tehelka.com (Jun 16 , 2007). Retrieved on 2008-06-09.
  7. ^ "Won't budge an inch: Bainsla", timesofindia.indiatimes.com, 25 May 2008. Retrieved on 2008-06-09. (English)