“Rohith should have killed off the people who wronged him instead of taking his own life,” said Bant Singh, the Punjabi singer who has emerged as a powerful voice for the poor and the oppressed throug
“Rohith should have killed off the people who wronged him instead of taking his own life,” said Bant Singh, the Punjabi singer who has emerged as a powerful voice for the poor and the oppressed through his songs in Punjab.
Singh was referring to dalit student Rohith Vemula who recently committed suicide in Hyderabad in desperation following prejudicial suspension from the University.
A labourer, Singh himself has fought bravely to get conviction for a group of upper-caste youth who raped his oldest daughter in Jhabhar village in Punjab’s Mansa district, though he paid the price by losing both arms and a leg because of severe beating for raising his voice.
Singh’s ordeal began in 2002. At that time, his daughter was engaged to be married. Usually, travesties like this go unpunished in Punjab, but Bant Singh is anything but usual. He refused to be a victim and, over the course of two years, fought for justice and became the first dalit to secure a conviction in a case against the dominant castes of the area.
But that victory was the beginning of a whole new struggle, and in 2006, he was brutally beaten by men with iron rods. The assault led to the loss of both arms and one leg. At the hospital, doctors refused to treat him without a fee of Rs 1,000. He was Rs 300 short. A chaiwallah stationed outside the hospital paid the difference. The Rs 300 constituted his entire earnings for the day.
But despite the undeniable trauma in his life, Singh smiled as he was wheeled onstage at the Jaipur Literature Festival. He opened the session by bursting straight into song.
