Bhopal:

On January 7, Ramesh Baghel’s father died. No one could have imagined that the cremation of a pastor from a village in Bastar would reach the country’s Supreme Court. His son wanted to bury him near the graves of his ancestors in the village, but he couldn’t.

On Monday, the Supreme Court ordered that he must be buried in a cemetery in Jagdalpur, 30-35 km from the village. However, a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court was divided on the decision – one judge supported burying the body in the village, while the other said the last rites should be performed in the cemetery reserved for the community.

This ground report attempts to explore whether there exists a gap between court verdicts and social realities. Are social conditions often as simple as they appear based on facts alone?

A Village at the Crossroads of Faith and Law

In Bastar’s Padarpara, a group of young people from the Christian community sing prayer songs. But the dusty roads of Chhindawara have settled over this song. In this quiet village, a farmer’s fight has captured the attention of the entire nation – a village standing at the crossroads of faith, tradition, and justice. Politics and legal arguments kept heating up over the body of a pastor. His body lay inside a cold freezer for three weeks.

Ramesh’s father, pastor Subhash Baghel, died on January 7. The family wanted him to be buried in the village cemetery near his ancestors. But this simple wish turned into a big controversy.

A Fight for Dignity, Not Just a Grave

For three weeks, Ramesh Baghel’s father’s body has been waiting burial. He was not allowed to be buried in his own village. This family believes this is not just a fight for a grave, but a fight for respect, against oppression and religious discrimination.

“Where I have buried my ancestors, my grandfather, my aunt, if suddenly someone refuses to allow it, then obviously the police and tehsildar who came supported them. Tomorrow, someone might tell me to leave my house… That’s why I thought this was against my rights. My entire family is buried there, yet they are depriving us of this,” said Ramesh.

A Community Divided by Faith

Ramesh’s grandfather, Laksheshwar, and his father, Subhash, were among the first people in the village to convert to Christianity in the 1980s. Ramesh said earlier, everything was fine, but over the years, due to their religious beliefs, relationships in the village became strained to the point where they had to shut down their grocery store. If someone even bought a matchbox from them, villagers imposed a fine of Rs 5,100. The situation is such that even laborers refuse to work in their fields. The panchayat itself acknowledges this.

“We had a small shop, but it was shut down because of this. Now, no one wants to work as a laborer for us,” said Ramesh.

The deputy sarpanch Rameshwar Nag, said their people say they have abandoned their tradition. “They say it is not right to maintain relations with them, so people have stopped visiting them,” Mr Nag said.

Ramesh could not find a grave for his father in Chhindawara. The village has a population of 6,450, with over 6,000 belonging to tribal communities, while the rest are Dalits from the Mahara caste, which includes Ramesh’s family.

However, Ramesh’s case is not the first.

On the outskirts of the village, Padarpara exists. In October last year, Ishwar Nag from that village died in Tongpal, Sukma. His cousin, Jaldev Andhakuri, cremated him there, triggering controversy. The matter escalated so much that many of his relatives were detained by the police for five days, and Section 170 was imposed. This section is applied to someone who impersonates a public servant to commit wrongdoing.

Tribal communities such as Kalhar, Raut, Kumhar, Maria, Bhatra, Halba, and Dhurva, along with Dalits from the Mahara caste live in Chhindawara. Panchayat officials said this is not just a religious issue but also a matter of tribal identity and their reservation rights.

The panchayat refers to the 5th Schedule and explains that, according to state laws, bodies can only be buried in designated locations. They also cite the PESA Act.

Many villagers say Christian customs threaten their traditional orthodox practices. On February 7, 2024, the gram sabha passed a resolution saying anyone who leaves this tradition and adopts another religion will not be given a place in the village cemetery.

Chhindwara has around 10 cemeteries, designated for different ethnic groups. In 2007, Ramesh’s grandfather, Laxeshwar, and in 2015, his aunt were buried following Christian customs, and there was no objection at that time. However, now the gram sabha has passed a 13-point resolution.

Mangtu, the husband of the sarpanch, said, “No one is instigating from outside. Those who have abandoned traditional customs, why should they claim ownership of our cremation grounds? Our traditional burial sites are allocated for the entire community, so why do they want to take over? We do not have any separate land for this. During their burial rituals, pastors come, the Bible is read… Our traditions are different, and that is why we do not want this. We follow traditional customs – if we ask to bury someone in a Muslim cemetery, will they allow it?”

Mangoes Ripen, Conflicts Deepen

Social divisions are deepening in the village. Wven festivals and something as simple as sweet mangoes are becoming sources of conflict. Christians say they only have issues with idol worship but participate in all other celebrations. Those following traditional customs disagree.

“They do not observe our festivals, do not participate in jatra (a local fair). When we organise fairs based on our traditions, we collect donations. We celebrate on specific dates, but they do not follow them. They celebrate Hindu festivals, but not our traditional ones,” deputy sarpanch Rameshwar Nag said.

“Until now, there was no dispute; they have always celebrated their way, and we never objected. But now, they are interfering in our festivals. For example, we do not eat mangoes until we complete our festival rituals, but they pluck and sell them before our festival arrives. By the time we celebrate, the mangoes are gone. These things make us very upset,” he said.

Ramesh Baghel, the son of late Subhash Baghel, however, said everyone contributes donations, but not participate in idol worship.

Not all members of the majority community support this “discrimination”. Some openly spoke against it on camera, including the panchayat members themselves.

“A burial ground should be provided. Where else will they go? Private spaces are not allowing them. Every religion is great. The problem is not religion; the issue is about land, water, and roads, which belong to everyone,” said Raju Ram, a panchayat member.

Bastar has nearly 70 per cent tribal population. The people here – Gond, Maria, Muria, Bhatra, Halba, and Dhurwa – deeply respect their traditional customs and religious beliefs.

As we traveled, we stopped at a cemetery in Tirathgarh, where the Muria tribe members were preparing for a funeral. Nearby was a white grave belonging to the Sodhi tribe. Locals said since they were distant relatives, a spot was allocated for them beside the cemetery.

“The village elders make the final decisions. So far, no one from outside has been buried here. All these graves belong to our relatives; we are one family,” Ludru Ram Kashyap, a villager, said.

Deepchand Kashyap, another villager, said they don’t want to allocate cemetery space for Christians in Tirathgarh. “It will be a problem.”

Christians make up 8 per cent of Chhattisgarh’s population. Around four lakh people in the state are directly associated with the church, out of which 2.5 lakh belong to the Catholic community. For the past two years, disputes over Christian burials have been increasing.

There have been more than 350 incidents related to burial conflicts in this period. In Chhattisgarh, particularly in Bastar, social inequality is evident. At a crossroads, society seems divided – some even say that in the coming days, this issue could become bigger than the Maoist problem.

Christian groups accuse the ruling party and Hindu organisations of inciting people against them, while the BJP denies these allegations.

“Villagers are being provoked and taught to suppress Christians in this manner. Earlier, everyone lived together. Christian burials had been happening for a long time. But when there was a change in power at the centre, and later in the state, these problems started appearing. Nothing like this happened before,” saud Bhupendra Khora, convener of the Chhattisgarh Progressive Christian Alliance.

The local MP Mahesh Kashyap said none of these was a matter of the BJP or any organisation.

“This is about the culture, traditions and identity of Bastar. There was a time when people were unaware. Even during 800 years of Mughal rule, there was no religious conversion here, nor during 200 years of British rule. I believe this is the only region in the world that has remained safe and protected in every sense. But today, in Independent India, this region is facing a kind of encroachment. Naturally, people are angry, and that is why they are coming forward and using legal means to prevent it, with the entire society involved in this effort,” Mr Kashyap said.

In Bastar, issues related to religious conversions and burial grounds have often led to tensions, violence, and even clashes.

In December 2024, a dispute arose over the burial of a Christian woman in Bade Bodal village. The situation turned violent, leaving eight people injured.

In February 2024, a 25-year-old laborer, Tulsi Nag, could not be cremated in his own village in Navaguda due to similar conflicts.

In 2023, a church in Narayanpur district was attacked. During that period, the issue of burials also led to unrest in several districts, including Bastar, Narayanpur, Kanker, Kondagaon, and Dantewada.

“Many times, a peaceful resolution is reached, but there have been instances where it has been said that since there is a cemetery in the city, Christian community members should bury their dead there. Here, the PESA Act is in effect, and until a burial ground is officially designated, burials cannot take place. This becomes a contentious issue,” Bastar SP Shalabh Sinha said.

It is true that the 5th Schedule is in effect in Bastar, which means the Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) applies here. Under this law, no factory can be set up, no place of worship can be built, and no religious gathering can take place without the consent of the gram sabha.

However, in the case of Ishwar Korram’s burial in Chhindbahar, a Chhattisgarh High Court bench led by Justice Rakesh Mohan Pandey referred to a verse from the Yuddha Kanda of the Ramayana in the opening lines of its judgment.

“Mitraani dhan dhaanyaani prajaanaam sammatani va, Janani janmabhoomischa swargaadapi gareeyasi (friends, wealth, and resources hold great value in this world, but nothing is greater than one’s mother and motherland)”

As a result, Ishwar Korram’s family was granted their constitutional right under Article 21 to conduct his last rites with dignity.

However, in the case of Subhash Baghel, the law stood in the way of his family’s wishes. The ruling came from the Supreme Court, though the bench was divided.

One judge saw the burial restriction as a violation of Articles 14 and 15(1), which guarantee equality before the law and prohibit religious discrimination.

The other judge, however, held that burial grounds cannot be arbitrarily designated. While the right to last rites is protected under the Constitution, no one has an absolute right to choose any burial site. Under Article 25, the freedom of religion is subject to public order, and the government has the authority to regulate such provisions.

So, Subhash Baghel was not buried in his own village but laid to rest in the Karakaapal cemetery. Ramesh Baghel finally buried his father here and the Supreme Court’s verdict may bring closure to one family, but it also raises larger questions about coexistence in a country that thrives on diversity.

Can people truly embrace unity if the differences that define them continue to divide them?

As the dust settles over the grave of Subhash Baghel, his family is left grappling with a sense of displacement. Their battle was not just for a burial ground but for dignity, identity, and the right to mourn their loved ones in the land they call home.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah today met families of jawans who died in the line of duty in Maoist attacks and also civilians affected by violence on the second day of his visit to Chhattisgarh’s Bastar.

“Today I paid tributes to the martyrs. I salute the sacrifice of the martyrs, due to them Bastar is naxal-free. The country will always be indebted to them,” said Mr Shah during his visit to Amar Vatika, assuring them of the unwavering support of the central and state governments.

While expressing his condolences to family members of those who lost their loved ones in the Maoist violence, the Home Minister said, “Sacrifices of martyrs will not go in vain. In the last forty years, many have lost their lives but I assure you this will change as Naxalism will be eradicated soon.”

“The pain of losing your loved ones cannot be diminished, but we stand firmly with you. The Chhattisgarh government is making efforts to preserve the memories of the martyrs to ensure their sacrifices remain eternal,” he said, acknowledging the immense loss they have endured in this painful battle.

“We are committed to ensuring that no one else has to suffer the loss you have faced. I pay my heartfelt tributes to the jawans and citizens who lost their lives in Naxal violence. I promise you that we will eradicate Naxalism from the sacred land of Maa Danteshwari,” he added.

हमारे सुरक्षा बलों के जवानों ने एक ओर जहाँ वामपंथी उग्रवाद के खिलाफ मोदी सरकार की ‘जीरो टॉलरेंस’ की नीति को जमीन पर उतारा है, वहीं प्रभावित क्षेत्रों में विकास संबंधी कार्यों को आगे बढ़ाने में योगदान भी दिया है।

नक्सलवाद के खिलाफ लड़ाई में अपना सर्वोच्च बलिदान देने वाले जवानों… pic.twitter.com/gtyZk0y0h0

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) December 16, 2024

The Union Home Minister also highlighted the remarkable efforts of various security forces and state police in countering Maoism. “Over the past year, a well-executed strategy has significantly curtailed the influence of Naxalism, enabling us to accelerate developmental activities systematically. The central government fully supports the anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh.”

Mr Shah also appreciated the efforts of forces operating on the ground and the three-pronged strategy they have been using. “Our efforts are focused on three fronts: encouraging Maoist rebels to surrender, arresting those involved in violence, and responding firmly to those threatening lives. Those who choose the path of violence are being dealt with in their own language.”

The Union Home Minister praised the Chhattisgarh government’s initiative to dedicate one day every week at the Inspector General’s Office to address the grievances of families of jawans who died in the line of action. “I can request the Chief Minister to ask district collectors to participate in this initiative, ensuring a more comprehensive support system so that these people who have suffered so much can get their problems solved,” he said.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai reassured the families that the sacrifices of their loved ones would not go in vain. “Both the Central and Chhattisgarh governments are united in safeguarding your interests. We are resolute in our commitment to ensuring the well-being of all affected families,” he said while offering his condolences, adding that to honour the memory of our brave jawans, the Chhattisgarh government will install statues in their villages, preserving their legacy for future generations.

Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma also expressed his solidarity with the families, saying, “We wanted to meet the families of our brave martyrs and those affected by Naxal violence. You are part of our extended family, and your pain is our shared grief. Your loss deeply touches all of us.”

The event organised by the state was attended by families of the jawans killed in the line of duty and victims of Maoist violence.

The Union Home Minister also reviewed the progress of security forces and state administration as to how much inroads they have been able to make deep inside the Maoist strongholds. Mr Shah also gave a deadline to forces operating on the ground that Maoism should be eradicated by March 31, 2026.

New Delhi:

Once famous for Maoist violence, Bastar is now becoming a tourist destination for many. Appreciating the efforts of the state government and security forces in this transformation, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that if Maoists give up arms in Bastar it will attract more tourists than Kashmir.

“Maa Danteshwari has given immense natural beauty to Bastar. If Maoists end here, I can assure you all that more tourists would be coming here compared to Kashmir,” Mr Shah said at the closing ceremony of the Bastar Olympics 2024.

He said the Centre is making many schemes to promote tourism in this region.

“Everyone can see the region’s remarkable transformation from Maoist-affected zone to a symbol of peace and development,” Mr Shah said.

He said it is the collective responsibility to establish peace in Bastar, foster its development while preserving its natural beauty, and attract tourists from around the world.

“This can only be achieved through the construction of roads, the introduction of railways, the provision of electricity and water, and, most importantly, the establishment of peace,” he said.

Mr Shah also highlighted how in the last 10 years of the Modi government a two-pronged strategy is being used to eradicate Maoists.

“On one hand, the security measures against Maoists involved in violence have been strengthened, effectively curbing their activities. On the other hand, efforts have been made to rehabilitate surrendered Maoists,” he said.

“यदि नक्सलवाद समाप्त होता है तो #कश्मीर से ज्यादा पर्यटक #बस्तर में आए इस प्रकार का कुदरती सौंदर्य मां दंतेश्वरी ने बस्तर को दिया है। इसके लिए भारत सरकार योजनाएं बना रही है।* यहां पर पर्यटन को आगे बढ़ाएंगे।- केंद्रीय गृह मंत्री अमित शाह pic.twitter.com/9MNBIXrKyy

— Neeta Sharma (@NEETAS11) December 15, 2024

Mr Shahs said the Modi government has focused on developing Maoist-affected areas, which had fallen behind in the development race.

“Because of the efforts of the Modi government, there has been a 73 per cent reduction in the deaths of security forces and a 70 per cent reduction in civilian casualties in areas plagued by Maoists since 1983,” he said.

Mr Shah said when the Congress was in power in Chhattisgarh before the BJP assumed charge a year ago, the action against the Maoists became slow. “But after our government came to power in Chhattisgarh, action against the extremists speeded up resulting in killings of 287 Maoists in the last one year, the arrest of 992 Maoists and surrender of 836 others,” Mr Shah said.

Mr Shah said after the Modi government assumed charge, there has been a 73 per cent reduction in casualties in security forces and a 70 per cent decline in civilian deaths.

The Home Minister reaffirmed the Modi government’s commitment to completely eradicating Maoists from the country by March 31, 2026.

Even as security operations continue, the state government is working on a road map to revitalise the region and transform Bastar, he said, adding the Bastar region is endowed with waterfalls, caves, and national parks like the enchanting Chitrakote waterfalls, also known as the Niagara Fall of India.

Bastar:

‘Newton’ was not just a film for the residents of this village in Bastar, Madhya Pradesh. Two residents who had speaking parts of the film, say the area is just as underdeveloped today as shown in the film, made more than seven years ago.

Newton — a satire on how democracy functions in Maoist-hit areas — was India’s official entry in the Best Foreign Language category at the 2017 Oscars. The shooting took place at Dalli Rajhara in Durg but it put Kongra, a small village in Bastar’s Kondagaon, on the developmental map.

Juno Netam and Sukhdhar – two of the local actors who took part in the film — told NDTV that the village got tap water connection a year ago. A school and a hospital were built around five years ago.

The slow pace is reminiscent of a dialogue in the movie – “A forest does not grow in a single day”. But for Kongra, it has taken 70 years after Independence to get the basic amenities.

Not all the boxes are ticked, though, even now. The village is yet to get a metalled road. The approach road is a dirt track that begins from a left turn on the road from Kondagaon to Narayanpur.

At Mr Netam’s house, his daughter-in-law Sukhwati Netam was seen cooking lunch on a wood stove. The family said she has not received the benefit of Ujjwala Yojana. Even the Rs. 1000 grant of the Mahtari Vandan Yojana has not reached the family. Under the Mahtari Vandan Yojana scheme, the Chhattisgarh government provides Rs 1000 per month to those female applicants who come from married, widowed and economically weaker categories.

Sukhdhar’s role in the film was a single line. The man, playing a Maoist, had to say, “If you vote, we will cut off your hands”. But while the location is bang in the middle of Abujhmaar, among the biggest Maoist hubs, locals say they are yet to see a Maoist. Sudhakar has/has not seen a maoist. Neither has Mankar Netam.

The film was shot for 14 days, for which the men were paid Rs 1,400. Asked if the shooting took place in the village, Juno and Sukhdhar said they had gone to Delhi for it.