Dalit Shakti chief : Madigas are rulers

Visharadan Maharaj, founder of Dalit Shakti is a man on  a mission; armed with a copy of the Indian Constitution, he wants  to enlighten the Madiga community that they had ruled  this country  over 3,500 years ago under the leadership of the Adi Jambawanth.

This country was first known as 'Jamboo Dweepam.' His pada yatra entered into Jammikunta  of Karimnagar.

Visharadan is doing the pada yatra by holding a copy of Indian constitution. The Pada yatra has been entered into Jammikunta in Karimnagar district.

During his walkathon, Maharaj  offers a turban  to Madiga men and women to make them realise that once  upon a time , they were Maharajas and Maharanis and ruled the country.

Visharadan Maharaj  also explains to the Madiga community people how the constitution  gaves  them rights. 

As part of the padayatra, he  has been changing the names of SC colonies, Harijan wadas,  Dalit wadas into Rajulawada (rulers' colony).

Maharaj also exhorts them to replace caste name Madiga with Maharaj or Maharani so that it reflects their past glory and  also as a  mark of self-respect.

The padayatra will culminate into a meeting in Warangal on  Ambedkar Jayanti on April 14. This yatra was launched in Vanaparthy in Mahaboobnagar district on October 14 last year.

 The organisers of the padayatra  claimed that  they have changed the names if the 250 SC colonies into 'Rajulawadas' 

Speaking to this newspaper, Visharadan Maharaj said he has completed 4, 280 km do far out of total 5.000 yatra and added that Madigas forgot their past glory and that they were once rulers of this country. 

He said  Madigas are Maharajas ( rulers) and sub castes such as Dakkali and Chindu call the Madigas as Maharaja even today and this best example to prove tgst Madigas were once upon a time were rulers of this country.

Visharadan said Madigas were actually Maha- Adigas and reviving their rich culture by enlightening tgdm during Gana Deepa meetings in the night times in the Rajulawadas and explaitong them about their leaders since from Adi  Jambawa, Lord Buddha,  king Ashoka, want Ravidas, want  want Kabir Das, Chatrapati Sahu Maharaj, Shivaji, Jyitirao Phule and BR Ambedkar.

He said so far they have covered 8.40 lakh Madigas out of total 70 lakh directly and indirectly and the present yatra is the first phase and they will cover other sib groups and BC communities in the coming years and his mission of 20 years period was aimed to revive the rich culture of Madigas and taking them out of the cultural poverty.

Ropeway likely at Kuntala waterfall

Forest department is planning to set up ropeway at the Kuntala waterfall for the benefit of the visits especially aged elderly persons as one has to climb down above 400 steps to reach the bottom of the waterfall.

Minister for forest and environment Jogu Ramanna recently held a review meeting with the forest official and discussed on the development of Kuntala waterfall.

He instructed the officials to start development works at Kuntrala and security and safety measures for visitors and prevent the incidents of visitors drowning. 

However, Minister instructed the forest officials take u development works and safety measures without affecting natural beauty of the waterfall. The officials decided to take restrooms and toilets for visitors.

Speaking to this newspaper, minister Jogu Ramana said as many as 136 visitors drowned accidentally in the whirlpool so far at the Kuntala waterfall and the have prepared plan to take development and safety and security measures at the waterfall to encourage eco-tourism without affecting the natural beauty of the waterfall and firest there.

He said they were also planning to set up ropeway the convenience of the elderly visitors and added that they will also intensify the steps to control the illegal teak wood smuggling and fell in trees by some professional wood smugglers in the district.

On Sunday, Adivasis of ten villages surrounding Kuntaka waterfall have gathered at Kuntala (B) village and took a decision to oppose any effort to fill the deep ditches and whirlpool with boulders and cement and concrete in the middle of the waterfall. adivasis said they were against any efforts which deface the natural beauty of the waterfall and also sacredness of the place.

The villagers made it clear to the forest officials that they will welcome the steps like erecting fencing and constructing a cement wall to prevent the visitors from going close the waterfall by the forest officials.

Adivasi leader Daulath Rao said a second meeting will be held with the top forest officials on the issue and even they were planning to meet the Minister to put forth their objections on the issue.