The lines drawn by caste and religion,

Not to allow myself to be confined within that cage.

Don’t Care how the entire world judges me for this,

I know no limitations; I am a Universal Man.

"CASTE and religion are boundaries marked by ourselves. I do not bind myself to them. The decision of the society on these is of no concern to me." With these words, the great poet Gurram Jashuva proclaimed himself as a "Universal Human”. He wielded his pen against the status quo.

Our so called beautiful, golden-jubilee India, even today, presents itself by wearing the mask of caste discrimination. The caste system, a phenomenon found in no other nation on earth, has become deeply entrenched within our country. It is a national tragedy that we are still compelled to fight for social justice. Dalits, indigenous communities (Giriputras), and the Most Backward Classes (MBCs) remain in a pitiable condition, unable to access equal opportunities with the advanced lot. Although education has ushered in development and a technological revolution, discrimination persists both within the home and in the public domain. For these communities, even finding a rental home has become an arduous task since decisions are taken on caste lines. Inter-caste marriages are met with the atrocity of "honour killings”.

The Manusmriti serves as the root of this caste system, and Manudharma remains its guiding principle in practice. Under the guise of Sanatana Dharma and claiming that this social hierarchy was ordained by God himself, some individuals continue to uphold a caste system that is both inhuman and goes against the society. The incident of a Sanatana fanatic hurling a slipper at Chief Justice of the Supreme Court stands as the peak of casteist arrogance. The stupid behavior of that fanatic was because the CJI observed that caste had become an impediment to the nation's progress.

The recent controversy in Andhra Pradesh of a religious man making remarks against Dalits, the downtrodden, and weaker sections of society has become a subject of wide debate. Referring to the midday meals served to children in government schools, the so-called religious preacher made derogatory and insulting remarks on the school going children. He questioned the serving of eggs in the midday meals scheme of the government by comparing it to special dishes served to a bridegroom on his wedding night. Rulers and political leaders openly perform rituals like pouring milk upon the statues of the Constitution’s architect, Dr Ambedkar, and yet, ironically, they take absolutely no action towards the eradication of caste, a cause he championed above all else. Instead, by encouraging caste-identity movements, they employ a strategy of "divide and rule" to control the people. They establish caste-based corporations to create the illusion that they are delivering social justice, but they grant these bodies neither funds nor authority. Such is the grim state of our society today.

Against this backdrop and in a manner helpful to work for the eradication of caste, Makinineni Basavapunnaiah Vignana Kendram and the Joshua Cultural Forum joined forces to launch a cultural movement for caste eradication. This was taken up on the eve of the birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar. Engaging in extensive consultations with the public regarding social discrimination and inequality, these forums undertook several unique initiatives. These events garnered significant public attention; people from diverse social strata participated on a large scale, thereby lending substantial strength to the caste eradication initiatives.

Under the banner of “Castlessness-Society’s Good” (Kula Rahitam – Samajahitam), they organised a total of nine distinct cultural programs or events. These included a marathon (walk), a concert featuring film songs, dance performances, short video reels, painting and cartoon competitions, a bicycle rally, a poetry symposium, an awareness programme on the works of social reformers, and a special programme of tribute to Dr Ambedkar and all these were centered on the theme of caste eradication. These events were conducted with immense success, throwing a new light upon the cultural movement for caste eradication. It’s a source of satisfaction that a total of over 2,210 people participated in these activities.

Before undertaking the main events, a preparatory meeting called Samalochana (Consultation) was organised, during which a memorandum outlining the objectives and scope of the movement was presented to the invited guests. The event featured discussions on various movements against untouchability during our freedom struggle. It also highlighted the social equality movements led by social reformers such as Pothuluri Veerabrahmam, Basavanna, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, Periyar Ramaswamy, and Dr Ambedkar. There was also discussion on the analysis of prominent historians like Deviprasad Chattopadhyaya and Romila Thapar on the subject. A total of 75 participants representing 20 different organisations attended the preparatory session; among them, 22 individuals spoke in support of the cultural movement. An organising committee comprising 64 members was elected, with Dr G Samaram, a widely respected person across all sections of society in Vijayawada, to serve as its Chairman. A noteworthy aspect regarding Chairman Samaram is that his own family has witnessed numerous inter-caste marriages.

A marathon walk, held on April 7 with participants wearing caps and carrying placards and banners calling for the eradication of caste, generated immense enthusiasm among the city's residents. About 600 people participated in this marathon, including college students, lecturers, lawyers, literature, artists, and individuals from various other walks of life. The event sparked considerable discussion throughout the city, particularly due to the spirited and festive atmosphere created by the accompanying Teenmaar and Dappu drum performances. Srikanth, the Director of the Panchayat Raj Social Audit Department, not only flagged off the marathon but also walked the entire route through to its conclusion. The event was covered and reported by all the media including The Hindu and other major newspapers.

On the evening of April 7, a musical concert featuring songs from films that protest against casteism, as well as songs with progressive themes, was held at the Hanumantharaya Grandhalayam. The event was attended by about 180 enthusiasts. Renowned physician Dr Kamineni Pattabhiramayya eloquently explained, with illustrative examples, the significance of songs advocating for caste eradication and social progress. On April 10, a poets' meet (kavi sammelanam) was organised at the Balotsav Bhavan, where 25 poets recited verses expressing their protest against caste discrimination. Two poetry anthologies were also introduced during the event, which saw the participation of 50 people.

The film Dandora, an offbeat movie, which addresses the issue of caste discrimination, was screened at the MB Vignana Kendram. A notable highlight was the attendance of students from eight high schools and two colleges. The dance performances and short films presented by the students proved to be deeply inspiring. It was particularly noteworthy that Kuchipudi Natya Gurus choreographed and presented dance sequences centered on the theme of caste eradication. The event was witnessed by about 900 people of all walks of life. Students immersed themselves enthusiastically in these cultural programs, which spanned five hours, sowing the seeds of new ideas and creativity in their young minds regarding the protest against caste discrimination.

A remarkable feature of the event was the submission of 105 paintings and 196 cartoons for the art and cartoon competitions. The participation of the newly formed Andhra Pradesh Cartoonists' Association in this movement added significant weight and importance to the initiative. Both participants and spectators expressed their pleasant astonishment at the overwhelming response received by these two exhibitions focused on the theme of caste eradication. The introduction and discussion on the books authored by pioneers of the modern era and social reformers—such as Ambedkar’s Annihilation of Caste, Jyotirao Phule’s Gulamgiri, Gurram Joshua’s poetic masterpiece Gabbilam, and works by Periyar Ramaswamy and Kusuma Dharmanna—provoked deep contemplation. Professors and intellectuals offered insightful analyses of these works.

Protesting caste discrimination and aiming to raise public awareness regarding the annihilation of caste, an organisation called the 'Amaravati Runners' organised a 20-kilometer bicycle rally involving 35 cyclists. At four different locations along the route, walkers' groups and other organisations extended a warm welcome to the cyclists.

In total, during the weeklong program, 40 prominent personalities participated in all these nine distinct events and offered encouraging comments. The initiative witnessed an excellent response, largely because various large-scale organisations recognised the significance of the platform and actively involved their members as partners. Representatives from 20 different organisations took part in the proceedings. During the marathon, various groups—including Dr Samaram’s  Vasavya Mahila Mandali, the Atheist Centre, and other organisations Senior Citizens' association, the Sarvodaya Trust, local Schools, Andhra Pradesh Cartoonists' Association, Amaravati Runners, the Bezawada Bar Association, the Lorry Owners' Association, lecturers and others from teaching communities , the Sunrise Walkers' Club, the Siddhartha Engineering Walkers' Group, the SRR College Walkers' Group, supporters of leftist ideologies, and leaders of various mass organizations—came together in a spirit of complete solidarity and without any reservations.

A commendable effort was undertaken to promote the cause of caste annihilation. Through these various events, it became evident that there are numerous individuals and groups actively striving to combat caste discrimination. However, those who work institutionally toward the eradication of caste are not well traced. Unexpected new organisations and platforms—along with individuals—have come forward to join this cause. This experience demonstrates that meaningful efforts can be undertaken through cultural festivals, particularly on the occasions of the birth and death anniversaries of pioneers like Dr Ambedkar and Jyotirao Phule. Furthermore, experience has highlighted the necessity of sustaining a continuous effort towards caste eradication, both at the national and state levels, through the medium of cultural festivals. It has also opened opportunities to expand this process across the entire state.