Jharkhand Statehood Fighters Continue Battle for Dignity
Even after twenty-five years of Jharkhand's formation, numerous activists who spearheaded the statehood movement continue their struggle for proper recognition and honor. Pushkar Mahato, founder of Jharkhand Andolankari Sangharsh Morcha, reveals the ongoing fight for justice that persists decades after the state's creation.
Brutal Police Crackdowns and Arrests
The journey toward statehood was marked by severe police brutality and repeated arrests. In 1989, during a 72-hour Jharkhand bandh call, Mahato was arrested near Sujata Chowk in Ranchi on the very first day. The police response was brutal, with officers severely beating him with rifle butts.
The struggle intensified in 1992 when former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav made his famous declaration that "Jharkhand will be made over my dead body." In protest, Mahato led an effigy burning program again near Sujata Chowk, which resulted in police lathicharge and his subsequent arrest.
"At midnight, somehow, I managed to break the lockup, and escaped," Mahato recounted, highlighting the extreme measures activists had to take during the statehood movement.
Unfinished Battle for State Honor
Despite Jharkhand achieving statehood, the fight remains far from over for many activists. The organization formed by Mahato continues to demand justice for all state agitators who sacrificed for Jharkhand's creation.
Their current mission focuses on securing state honor status and ensuring the right to live with dignity for those who dedicated their lives to the statehood cause. Many veterans of the movement feel their contributions haven't received proper acknowledgment from successive governments.
The movement now represents a broader struggle for recognizing the sacrifices made during Jharkhand's formation, ensuring that the activists' legacy receives the respect and honor it deserves in the state's history.
