By A Mirsab, TwoCircles.net,
Washim (Maharashtra): In an exemplary display of courage and commitment, a dalit man from a drought-hit village in Washim district of Maharashtra dug up a well all by himself in 40 days.
The wife of Bapurao Tajne, a labourer from Kolambeshwar village in Malegaon taluka was denied permission to fetch water from a well by the upper caste people and this made Tajne so determined that he himself dug a well without anybody’s assistance.
He would devote six hours daily for digging and would carry his labour work for eight hours. He continued this schedule for 40 days until he struck water. He did not take any assistance in digging this well.
Instead he was mocked by the villagers and never did anybody imagine he could even find water because it was a rocky terrain where three wells and a borewell near the spot had gone dry.
“I don’t want to name the well owner for I don’t want bad blood in the village. However, I feel that he insulted us because we are poor and Dalits. I came home that day in March and almost cried. I resolved never to beg for water from anybody. I went to Malegaon (the closest town) and bought tools and within an hour I started digging,” Tajne told TOI.
Now, the entire Dalit locality of the village is drawing water from his well and do not have to depend on people from other castes for water.
Tajne told PTI that he felt fortunate to have discovered abundantly available ground water after his hard work. “I was ridiculed by my family among others, but I was determined,” Tajne said.
Tajne’s work is getting recognition and sarpanch visited his house and was full of praise for him. District tehsildar also visited his house and felicitated him for the extraordinary achievement. There are reports that film actor Nana Patekar spoke to him over phone and promised to meet him soon.
Even if he is felicitated and praised but the question remains if any action would be taken against villagers who did not let the Tajne’s wife draw water for being Dalit.