Ashok Shrimali, who moved from Gomtipur to Shyam Bungalows, one of the Dalit societies in Chandkheda post 2002 riots, said, “A quest of safety took me to various Hindu-dominated housing societies in Ahmedabad. But I was denied an accommodation everywhere as I am a Dalit,” says Shrimali. Even in Chandkheda, he could not find accommodation in any of the mixed societies.

“Finally, I moved to this society, inhabited by Dalits only,” he says.

“When does they (Sangh Parivar) consider us Hindus? Just check the list of the dead and wounded in the riots, you will find names of only Muslims and Dalits.” says Bharatbhai Makwana, a small time businessman in a Dalit society in Ranip. “Only during elections and riots, they come to us. Otherwise, we are never considered as a part of Hindu society,” he adds. “It is not only people from the lower income bracket, but Dalits retired from senior government position also find it difficult to find accommodation in the up market residential areas,” says Valera, pointing to Kanabhai Parmar, a former under-secretary of Gujarat Legislative Assembly, who being a Dalit was denied accommodation in a upper caste housing society in Gandhinagar.

Bitthal Bhai Makwana, a former government official and an ex-editor of National Book Trust, points out that even today, a Dalit cannot buy a house in the upper caste housing societies coming up in Chandkheda Gandhinagar Highway.

“We have been trying to buy a house in Satelite for last 10 years with no result, as people refuse to sell their house to a Dalit,” says Makwana. He adds that only recently, a gentleman from Uttar Pradesh has sold them a house in that coveted area. “Right behind my house is the Pramukhswami Society, a upper caste housing society, which has couple of shops vacant for sometime,” he says. So far Makwana had made futile attempts to hire a shop there. “They would rather let this shops decay than rent it out to a Dalit,” he adds.

... contd.