A Sarpanch With Grit

Brut India

Kankuben works tirelessly as the sarpanch of Kukma panchayat, Gujarat. The hurdles she faced as a Dalit and as a woman have only made her more determined to make her panchayat a better place for all.

Transcript

00:00But when you call a person or when you see a person from outside,

00:07you feel that he is a stranger.

00:11But when you call a person or when you see a person from outside,

00:16you feel that he is a stranger.

00:21But when they call a member or a politician from outside, but not us, then we feel that this is not right.

00:37When a new member comes, they tell a story of Satyanarayan.

01:06I went to the panchayat and sat next to the head of the panchayat.

01:13The pooja was about to begin.

01:16The priest there told me immediately that he would not let me perform the pooja with this sister.

01:26This is a Dalit community.

01:28If I perform the pooja with her, then my other followers will be angry with me.

01:36So, we were asked to leave the pooja.

01:39At that time, I also opposed it a lot.

01:42I was sad that God has sent me to this world.

01:51I have what you have.

01:54Nature does not discriminate against us.

01:59So, how can these people discriminate against us?

02:01Music

02:29There are very few students in our community.

02:32Especially girls.

02:35I was very adamant and cried a lot to study.

02:38But I couldn't do it.

02:40Music

02:45I had a thought that I would only make him the head of the panchayat, but I would do the work.

02:53Sometimes, we create an atmosphere that the head of the panchayat is very bad.

02:57He doesn't listen to anyone.

02:59He does what he wants.

03:01I did the work that I hadn't done in 15-20 years.

03:05I used to do a good job.

03:07I was also afraid that if this sister does such a good job, then I won't have any value.

03:14Music

03:19When you go to fill water, don't touch each other's utensils.

03:26Don't touch the tap that fills the water.

03:30Don't touch it.

03:32There were many such problems of many castes.

03:35We don't go to each other's houses.

03:40Even if someone touches us by mistake, they go to their house and clean themselves with a drop of water.

03:49Music

04:00I am not afraid.

04:03I don't feel afraid.

04:05When do I feel afraid?

04:06When we do wrong things.

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