B. Shyam Sunder Saheb, founder of Bheem Sena, came to Bangalore in 1957 as a legislator in the Karnataka Assembly. Linguistic states were formed in 1956. Bidar, Gulbarga and Raichur districts — parts of Hyderabad — came to Karnataka, then called Mysore.
My first meeting was on the day he made his first speech in the Assembly. I was sitting in the press gallery as a reporter. Muslims called him Rae Saheb. He used to wear sherwani and a Muslim cap. He started his speech saying:
“When I was in Hyderabad, people in Bidar were overjoyed about joining Mysore, the Kannada land. Four months are over since we came here. I am surprised to see that this is not a state of Kannadigas. But a rule of Lingayats occupying every important seat.”
UPROAR IN ASSEMBLY
His statement led to a commotion as over half the MLAs happened to be Lingayats. More than that, the Speaker of the Assembly- himself was a Lingayat. He was too irritated. Shyam Sundar sat quietly in his seat for a few minutes till the uproar ended. The Speaker asked Shyam Sunder to resume advising him not to make “sweeping remarks” but substantiate his statements with facts.
Shyam Sunder said:
‘l am sorry. I obey your instructions. Lingayats are occupying every important place. No.1 place is held by S.R. Kanti, the Speaker of this Assembly.”
Before he mentioned the second name there was a bigger uproar. The whole Assembly was in pell-mell. The Speaker was not able to control and so he adjourned the House.
WANTED HOMELAND
The next day all the papers splashed Shyam Sunder’s speech. He proved to be an able speaker. His next speech was on the budget. He represented a reserved constituency – Bhalki in Bidar district. In his speech, he said reservation in politics was meant for the Scheduled Castes.
“I am not interested in any kind of reservation to my people. My demand is for a separate nation. India cannot be called a nation until the Mool Bharatis become a separate people. They should have a homeland of their own”.
This was the greatness of§ Shyam Sunder, 55 years ago.
in Bangalore, he stayed in a govt. guest house on the Infantry Road where the Visweshwaraiah Tower stands now.
DALIT-MUSLIM UNITY
He had a spacious accommodation varandha, big with hall, bedroom, attached bath, dressing room etc. which could accommodate a hundred people. In addition, he had a permanent place- near the City Market in a Muslim locality called Basith Sarai.
Meeting people, religious heads, scholars was a pleasure for him at all times at both these places.
People came from different parts of the state and stayed in his lodges which were always full.
Hepresidedoveran Urdu Poets Conference, a mushaira, being a poet himself. He was a voracious reader, always with some rare books in his hand. He was also an artist, drawing in pencil. His Urdu was chaste. Urdu-knowing people used to listen to him with rapt attention.
He was a great leader of Dalits, but his dress was Muslim and P‘spoke in Urdu. He remained a symbol of Dalit-Muslim unity like the Editor of Dalit Voice. The example set by Shyam Sunder and V.T. Rajshekar should become a guide for all of us today.
Because only Dalit-Muslim unity can defeat the existing brahminical imperialism.
My relationship with Shyam Sunder became very intimate within a short period of three months. He invited me to attend a big conference of)10,000 Dalits at Gulbarga. I left for Gulbarga by train. At the conference it was a procession of dhoti-turban, a black-blanket on shoulder and a six-feet long lathi in hand.
BANDE NAWAZ URS
After a long march, people gathered at the public meeting. Shyam Sunder wanted me to speak first. I spoke for a few minutes. Then he made a two-hour long oration. Every word was cheered: self-help and seif-respect, guidance to ¥ people.
I later translated his Urdu speech into Kannada with the help of some friends and published it.
Bande Nawaz Urs at Gulbarga had been a very big fair. As the date was nearing, I was asked to stay on to see the fair. I agreed and spent my days with the MSK Mill workers, all our people, labour leaders and students.
Shyam Sunder Saheb went to Hyderabad and came back on time for the Urs. I used to be his constant companion. His love for me was noticed by all people and hence they all respected me also. I was just a 20-year-old youth then following 50-year-old leader and a champion of Dalits and Muslims.
He wanted me to go to Hyderabad after the Urs. I was ready and happy.
BREAKFAST WITH NAWAB
On the day I was to leave for Hyderabad, I faced a tragedy. Shyam Sunder’s suitcase was put on the wrong bus, but we remained back. I was very much disturbed that the suitcase was lost but Shyam Sunder was unperturbed. We went by the next bus. It was 11 in the night when we reached Hyderabad. Hundreds of people had gathered to receive him. He Spoke to everyone.
Finally, he engaged a tanga — a horse carriage. The tangawala also wished the Saheb. I followed and found the suitcase in the tanga. Who brought it and kept it? Nobody knew. That proved the devotion of the people to their Saheb. Before the Saheb could give the instructions, the tangawala said he knew the place of the Saheb and took us there. We stayed there for the night. I got up at 7.a.m. to see a car with a driver and an attendant requesting Saheb for breakfast at a nawab’s palace.
The breakfast consisted of beef, egg, dal, sweets, fruits, so many things. The Nawab waiting at the entrance led us to the dining table. After tea, we were taken to the hall. More discussions followed. Shyam Sunder was close to Sheik Abdullah, Prime Minister of Kashmir. He used to visit Kashmir often.
LOVE OF BEEF
We left Hyderabad after a week to tour his constituency. Everywhere he was greeted with big gatherings.
He told me that he had some fears about those villages which he had never visited. But the counting of votes surprised him. He got the highest votes-even from such villages. He was an ideal leader who sincerely loved his people.
I was then studying at Maharaja’s College, Mysore. Saheb had a meeting at Mangalore, South Kanara. He came to Mysore to take me with him. Leaving the other direct route to Mangalore, he came all the way to Mysore and searched for me in the college and took me into his car for Mangalore.
BETRAYAL & GRATITUDE
After his official work, he started going to the localities of Dalits and Muslims. Meetings and dinners followed. Generally, meat was served since he liked beef. He never touched liquor or smoked. Not even betel leaf chewing. He always preferred to sit with people in a group. A real mass leader who loved them and lived with them.
My last meeting with Shyam Sunder was in 1972 in Bangalore. He had his last supper at my house and later left for Hyderabad. After a few days I read in the newspaper that he was dead.
He founded the famous Bheem Sena 30 years before that. It was a self-respect, self-confidence building movement. He published a small booklet called Manifesto. A road at Gulbarga is named after Shyam Sunder.
He is no more with us, but he has inspired hundreds of young men. But still a larger number of people betrayed him.
Dalits are yet to know the meaning of the word “gratitude”.
