Dalit rights leader asks Murari Bapu to campaign for saving cows from plastics

Natubhai Parmar with his letter to Murari Bapu

By A Representative
Gujarat-based Dalit rights activist Natubhai Parmar, who created flutter across Gujarat through his unique protest of dumping dead cows in front of the Surendranagar district collector’s office following the Una incident in 2016, in which seven members of a Dalit family were flogged for skinning a dead cow, has asked well-known preacher Murari Bapu to campaign against largescale death of cows because of plastic.
The seven Dalits were flogged because cow vigilantes suspected the Dalit family members had killed a cow. The cops had allegedly helped the vigilantes locate the spot where they were skinning the dead cow, a traditional occupation of Rohits, a Dalit community. Following the incident, Dalit protests broke out across Gujarat against cow vigilantism.
In a letter, Parmar asked Murari Bapu to come to his Gautam Buddha Goseva Ashram in Surendranagar, where he has displayed plastic taken out of dead cows, pointing out, in his view, it is the plastics which is the main reason behind the unnatural death of cows. “In one of the cows, we weighed 60 kg of plastic was retrieved from a dead cow”, Parmar said, adding, “We informed about this to Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani."

Plastic retrieved from dead cow's belly

Pointing out that he has been campaigning against cows eating plastics, which are thrown around everywhere, Parmar said, he sent across his first letter to the Gujarat government on this on December 12, 2014. Then, on May 10, 2017, on Gautam Buddha's birth anniversary, a huge Dalit procession was organized and a memorandum was sent to all the 182 Gujarat state assembly MLAs with bottles with plastic retrieved from dead cows' bellies.
Even as appreciating Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to ban plastics October 2 onwards, the letter to Murari Bapu said, “You are known to have been successful in your campaigns, whether it was at Kailash Mansorovar, saving a whale, or taking food in a Valmiki household, thus sending the message against untouchability. We request you to come our ashram and send a signal to the society that it is plastics which are the main reason for the untimely death of cows."

Comments

How community leaders overcome obstacles to protect forests and pastures in remote villages

By Bharat Dogra Dheera Ram Kapaya grew up in such poverty that, unable to attend school himself, he would carry another boy’s heavy school bag for five kilometers just to get a scoop of daliya (porridge). When he was finally able to attend school, he had to leave after class five to join other adolescent workers. However, as soon as opportunities arose, he involved himself in community efforts—promoting forest protection, adult literacy, and other constructive initiatives. His hidden talent for writing emerged during this time, and he became known for the songs and street play scripts he created to promote forest conservation, discourage child marriages, and support other social reforms.

Workers' groups condemn Gujarat Ordinance increasing working hours, warn of statewide agitation

By A Representative At a consultation organised today by the Asangathit Shramik Hit Rakshak Manch at Circuit House in Ahmedabad, leaders of major trade unions and labour rights organisations strongly opposed the Gujarat government’s recent ordinance amending the Factories Act and the draft rules notified under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Code, 2020. Around 50 representatives from central trade unions, independent unions, and labour welfare organisations participated in the meeting.

Deaths in Chhattisgarh are not just numbers – they mark a deeper democratic crisis

By Sunil Kumar For a while, I had withdrawn into a quieter life, seeking solace in nature. But the rising tide of state-sponsored violence and recurring conflict across India has compelled deeper reflection. The recent incidents of killings in central India—particularly in Chhattisgarh—are not isolated acts. They point to a larger and ongoing crisis that concerns the health of democracy and the treatment of marginalised communities.

'Bengali Muslim migrant workers face crackdown in Gurgaon': Academic raises alarm

By A Representative Political analyst and retired Delhi University professor Shamsul Islam has raised serious concerns over the ongoing targeting and detention of Muslim migrant workers from West Bengal in Gurgaon, Haryana. In a public statement, Islam described the situation as "brutal repression" and accused law enforcement agencies of detaining migrants arbitrarily under the pretext of verifying their citizenship.

Gender violence defies stringent laws: The need for robust social capital

By Dr. Manoj Kumar Mishra* The tragic death of Miss Soumyashree Bisi, a 20-year-old student from Fakir Mohan College, Balasore, who reportedly self-immolated due to harassment, shocked the conscience of Odisha. Even before the public could process this horrifying event, another harrowing case emerged—a 15-year-old girl from Balanga, Puri, was allegedly set ablaze by miscreants. These incidents are not isolated; they highlight a disturbing pattern of rising gender-based violence across the state and the country.

The GMO illusion: Three decades of hype, harm, and false hope

By Sridhar Radhakrishnan Three decades of hype, billions of dollars spent, and still no miracle crop. It's time to abandon the GMO biotech fairy tale and return to the soil, the seed, and the farmer. “Trust us,” they said. “GMOs will feed the world.” Picture a world where there is plenty of food, no hunger, fields grow without chemical pesticides, children are saved from malnutrition, and people live healthily.

The myth of population decline: India’s real challenge is density, not fertility

By N.S. Venkataraman* India’s population in 2025 stands at approximately 1.4 billion. In 1950, it was 359 million, rising sharply to 1.05 billion by 2000. The population continues to grow and is projected to reach around 1.7 billion by 2050.

How natural and organic farming can be a key to combating the climate crisis

By Raj Kumar Sinha* On July 9, while addressing the “Sahkar Samvad” in Ahmedabad with women and workers associated with cooperatives from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized that natural farming is essential for both our health and the health of the soil. This is a significant statement in the context of addressing the climate change crisis. Natural farming can play a crucial role in combating climate change. Also known as organic farming, it is a system of agriculture that can increase food production without harming the environment. Natural farming has the potential to reduce carbon emissions by 35% to 50%.

Indigenous Karen activist calls for global solidarity amid continued struggles in Burma

By A Representative At the International Festival for People’s Rights and Struggles (IFPRS), Naw Paw Pree, an Indigenous Karen activist from the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG), shared her experiences of oppression, resilience, and hope. Organized with the support of the International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL), the event brought together Indigenous and marginalized communities from across the globe, offering a rare safe space for shared learning, solidarity, and expression.

Search This Blog