Train to Begampur

Passionate individuals led by illustrator and design researcher Bao whose work intersects caste gender and ecology have formed an anticaste reading circle It aims to challenge the deeply entrenched caste system through collective learning Their chosen setting The very public accessible and humble Mumbai local trainsInspired by the fictitious Begumpur a society envisioned by Guru Ravidasrsquo 15th century poetsaint where people live in harmony without discrimination this journey is called Begampur LocalldquoGiven the current political environment of the cityrdquo Bao explains ldquoseeking permission from the police or authorities for access to public spaces or parks to read anticaste literature is tedious and difficult Local trains are a safe space to read and invite fellow passengers into the discussions After all the idea behind this is not just about literaturemdashitrsquos about bringing anticaste sensitivities into the everyday lives of citizensrdquoLast Sunday we ventured out of our comfort zones and joined the group on the Western Line starting at Churchgate We met outside Government Law College boarded the train to Borivli taking turns to read aloud passages from Dr Babasaheb Ambedkarrsquos Annihilation of Caste and discussing them Previously the group had journeyed from CST to Vashi on the Harbour Line on September 2The circle has already garnered attention with new members joining each session and reading three sectionsmdashthis week was a continuation of the text of Annihilation of Caste It was a festive Sunday so the turnout wasnrsquot too great but we did have a film director a student and a marketing professional as companions Passengers around looked on inquisitively We were drawn towards the text a groundbreaking critique of the caste system offering a powerful call for social justice and equality For instance we learnt from the reading that the term Hindu was introduced by the Mahomedans to differentiate the local population from themselves The name does not appear in any Sanskrit texts before the Mahomedan invasion It says Hindu society as such does not exist It is only a collection of castesFocusing on the power of public engagement the circle operates on a simple premise gather read aloud and discuss Each group member brings their copy of the reading materialmdashphysical or digitalmdashand takes turns reading aloud Afterwards a discussion ensures participants engage with the text and each otherrsquos perspectives The group has clear guidelines that foster respectful and compassionate engagement ldquoItrsquos not just about listening but about actively participating in a conversation that has too often been ignored or suppressed Participants are encouraged to join with an open mind and form anticaste beliefsrdquo says BaoOne of the grouprsquos fundamental principles is flexibility Members can board from any station and leave whenever they wish We alighted midway too no questions asked This open structure ensures that the group remains accessible despite the everchanging schedules of mega block rail maintenance on Sundays A WhatsApp link is sent to join a group where all meeting information is sharedBao also emphasised the importance of making this a space for all ldquoThe curiosity and participation of children is encouragedrdquo Bao explained noting that challenging the caste system is an intergenerational effort rdquoMembers of the Dalit Bahujan and Adivasi communities are not expected to bear the burden of educating others Rather the circle aims for collective learning and mutual respectrdquoThe discussions following the reading sessions are critical to the circlersquos purpose Participants are encouraged to ask questions but are reminded to be respectful and mindful of words rdquoItrsquos not a place for passiveaggressive remarks or casteist questions disguised as curiosity Instead itrsquos a space for critical heartfelt engagementrdquo says film director Shubhra ChatterjiAs the movement grows there will be more literature to be read and discussions to be had By turning Mumbai local trains into forums for dialogue the circle makes a powerful statement that change is possible in the most unexpected places In a world where caste discrimination persists despite modernity initiatives like these remind us that liberation begins with awareness understanding and the courage to challenge deeply rooted systems of oppression