Caste-based violence against storyteller Mukut Mani Yadav of Etawah and his associates. His hair was cut during a storytelling session, and he was humiliated. Honor in Lucknow, tension in the village in protest.
UP News: The caste-based violence against storyteller Mukut Mani Yadav of Etawah and his associates has created an uproar across the state. This incident not only questions social harmony but also brings administrative and political activity to the forefront.
Mukut Mani: A Storyteller
Mukut Mani Yadav is a resident of Jawaharpura village in the Civil Lines police station area of Etawah district. His father, Ram Prakash Yadav, said that Mukut Mani is the eldest of their eight children. For the past 15 years, he has been going from village to village reciting religious stories.
Mukut Mani considered Avdhesh Yadav, in a village near Achalda, as his guru under the guru-shishya tradition and learned the art of storytelling from him. After this training, he started narrating stories continuously. According to the family, Mukut Mani has received a lot of respect in villages and towns.
Mukut Mani and his associates victims of caste-based violence
Recently, Mukut Mani Yadav and his assistant, Sant Yadav, faced caste-based violence in Dandarapur village during a storytelling session. It is alleged that during the storytelling, some people asked about their caste and then started beating them. Mukut Mani's braid was cut, and Sant Yadav's hair was also cut.
The most deplorable allegation is that a woman also urinated on the storyteller. This incident is not only inhumane but also shames the social structure.
The family's sorrow and the village's outrage
Mukut Mani's father, Ram Prakash Yadav, is deeply hurt by this incident. He said that the entire village is stunned by this behavior. He said, "Our son has never behaved badly with anyone. He does religious work and is the pride of the village." Mukut Mani's younger brother, Ranjit Yadav, said, "Bhaiyya has been telling stories for 15 years, but this has happened for the first time. The whole family is in shock after watching the video."
The plight of differently-abled associate Shyam Ji
Shyam Ji Katheria, who has been playing the dholak with Mukut Mani for the past year, is visually impaired. His mother, Kushma Devi, said that Shyam Ji did his initial schooling in the village school and then enrolled in the differently-abled school in Auraiya. There, he learned to play the dholak. For a year, he has been participating in storytelling programs with Mukut Mani, and his family survives on the income he earns from them. He and his family are also terrified and saddened by this incident.
Sant Yadav: Teacher turned Acharya
Sant Yadav, an associate of Mukut Mani, has a BSc in Biology. He was previously a teacher in a private school, but after Covid, he left teaching and chose the path of religious service.
Sant Yadav, proficient in reading and speaking Sanskrit, said that he became an associate of Mukut Mani and started accompanying him in storytelling. He said, "Because I taught at Saraswati Gyan Mandir School, people started calling me Acharya. But I will never forget the incident that happened to us."
Akhilesh Yadav honored them by inviting them to Lucknow
After this matter came to light, the National President of the Samajwadi Party, Akhilesh Yadav, called Mukut Mani, Sant Yadav, and Shyam Ji to Lucknow and honored them. This honor will not only boost their morale but will also send a message of unity and equality in society.
