Thyagi, a book that narrates the life and struggles of B.V.Chandraprasad Thyagi, one of the founders of Dalit Sangharsha Samiti, was released in Hassan on Saturday. Senior DSS leaders, writers, intellectuals, politicians and hundreds of people who were associated with Thyagi’s activism were present at the event.
Thyagi, who was an employee at Visvesaraya Iron and Steel Limited in Bhadravati in the 1970s, began his struggle by fighting against untouchability being practised at the workplace. The canteen at VISL had a separate system to serve tea for Scheduled Caste employees. He criticised the practice, attracting the wrath of fellow workers from the ‘upper castes. Later he became an associate of B. Krishnappa, who was teaching at a college in Bhadravati and founded the Dalit Sangharsha Samiti.
Active involvement in the agitations for the rights of Dalits prompted Thyagi to quit his job and move to Hassan, to start his activities in his native place. Since 1980 he led many struggles and ensured the depressed sections got justice with the active support of his associates of DSS and Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha. He served as chairman of the Karnataka State Slum Clearance Board and died in March 2006 at the age of 55.
