View source for Bhim Army

{{Short description|Indian social organization}}
{{Distinguish|Bhim Sena}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date = June 2019}}
{{Infobox organization
| name                    = Bhim Army
| native_name             =
| logo                    = Bhim Army (Bharat Ekta Mission) logo.jpg
| logo_size               = 250px
| formation               = {{Start date and age|2015|07|21|df=yes}}
| founder                 = {{Unbulleted list|[[Chandrashekhar Azad (politician)|Chandrashekhar Azad]] | Vinay Ratan Singh|Satish Kumar}}
| founding_location       = [[Uttar Pradesh]]
| leader_title2           = National President
| leader_name2            = [[Vinay Ratan Singh]]
| homepage                =
| footnotes               =
}}
The '''Bhim Army''', alternatively '''Bheem Army'''<ref>S Raju, [https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/bheem-army-seeks-security-for-chief-chandrashekhar-azad/story-UgeTylC40N4Vv3nmAYGOtO.html Army seeks security for chief Chandrashekhar Azad], ''Hindustan Times'' (23 September 2018).</ref> ([[Literal translation|lit.]]"[[Ambedkar]] Army") or the '''Bheem Army Bharat Ekta Mission'''<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/what-is/what-is-the-bhim-army-5171341/ |title=What is the Bhim Army? |date=2018-05-10 |work=The Indian Express |access-date=2018-10-20 |language=en-US}}</ref> ([[translation]]: "Ambedkar Army Indian Unity Mission") is an [[Ambedkarite]] and [[Dalit]] [[rights]] organisation in [[India]]. It was founded by Satish Kumar, Vinay Ratan Singh and [[Chandrashekhar Azad (politician)|Chandrashekhar Azad]] in 2015.<ref name="Trivedi">{{cite news |last1=Trivedi |first1=Divya |date=2 February 2018 |title=Fighting spirit |work=[[Frontline (magazine)|Frontline]] | publisher=[[The Hindu Group]] | url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/cover-story/fighting-spirit/article10036189.ece |url-status=live |access-date=16 January 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190116210220/https://frontline.thehindu.com/cover-story/fighting-spirit/article10036189.ece |archive-date=16 January 2019}}</ref><ref name=Ahuja2016>Amit Ahuja, ''Mobilizing the Marginalized: Ethnic Parties without Ethnic Movements'' (Oxford University Press, 2019), p. 206.</ref> The organisation runs more than 350 free schools for [[Dalit]]s and [[Muslim]]s in [[Uttar Pradesh]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ali |first1=Mohammad |title=Bhim Army, soldiers on a literacy mission |url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/soldiers-on-a-literacy-mission/article19156058.ece |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] | date=28 June 2017}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> The organisation is named after [[B. R. Ambedkar]].
== Mission ==
Bhim Army's stated mission is "''[[direct action]] based on confrontation to preserve or restore the dignity of [[Dalit]]''" and it has an estimated 20,000 followers in the Saharanpur region, which has a 20% Dalit population.<ref name="Rehman33">Mujibur Rehman, "Introduction" in ''Rise of Saffron Power: Reflections on Indian Politics'' (ed. Mujibur Rehman), p. 33, note 33.</ref> The Bhim Army is aimed at supporting the marginalized sections of society such as Dalits and farmers,<ref name="NewParty">[https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bhim-army-to-formally-join-politics-1627624-2019-12-12 Bhim Army to formally join politics], Indo-Asian News Service (12 December 2019).</ref> and more broadly what the founder of the organisation [[Chandrashekhar Azad Ravan|Chandra Shekhar Aazad]] describes as "''the Bahujan community which includes [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes|SCs, STs]], [[Other Backward Class|obc]] and Muslim minorities who had been away from the mainstream for long''".<ref name="Sharma">Pratul Sharma, [https://www.theweek.in/theweek/current/2020/02/22/chandrashekhar-azad-is-building-a-dalit-muslim-coalition-to-take-on-bjp.html Chandrashekhar Azad is building a dalit-Muslim coalition to take on BJP], ''The Week'' (22 February 2020).</ref> He has said that "''We may even [[gherao]] the [[Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly|Vidhan Sabha]] in support of our demands''".<ref name="NewParty" /> He has sought to build a coalition between Dalit and [[Muslims in India|Muslims]] against the [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]],<ref name="Sharma" /> and has described himself as a supporter of the [[Constitution of India|Indian Constitution]] and an opponent of theocracy<ref name="Sharma" /> and ''[[Manuvāda]]'' ideology.<ref>[https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/chandrashekhar-azad-dares-rss-chief-to-contest-elections/article30893890.ece Chandrashekhar Azad dares RSS chief to contest elections], Press Trust of India, 23 February 2020.</ref>
== History ==
[[Chandrashekhar Azad Ravan|Chandra Shekhar Aazad]] founded the Bhim Army in 2015 to protect constitutional rights and oppose caste oppression.<ref name="Rashid 2017" /><ref name=":02">{{Cite web |title=Ambedkarite 2.0: Saharanpur's Bhim Army signals the rise of a new, aggressive Dalit politics |url=https://scroll.in/article/837494/ambedkarite-2-0-saharanpurs-bhim-army-signals-the-rise-of-a-new-aggressive-dalit-politics |last=Daniyal |first=Shoaib |website=Scroll.in |date=13 May 2017 |language=en-US |access-date=2020-05-19}}</ref> The group formed after reports of discrimination and caste-based violence faced by [[Dalit]] students at AHP Inter-college in [[Uttar Pradesh]], and the Bhim Army then helped protect the Dalit students.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |title=Ambedkar's Army |url=https://thequint.com/quintlab/ambedkar-dalit-army-fights-caste-atrocities-in-uttar-pradesh/ |last=Quint |first=The |website=TheQuint |language=en |access-date=2020-05-19}}</ref><ref name=":02" />
Azad gained attention after publicly posting a sign which read "The Great [[Chamar]] of Dhadkauli Welcome You."<ref name="Rashid 2017">{{cite news |last1=Rashid |first1=Omar |title=The lowdown on the Bhim Army |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/the-lowdown-on-the-bhim-army/article18956257.ece |access-date=22 January 2022 |work=[[The Hindu]] | date=June 10, 2017}}</ref><ref name=":02" /> Upper-caste [[Rajput]]s were upset with the Dalit celebration of identity and objected to the erection of the board.<ref name="signals">{{Cite web |title=Ambedkarite 2.0: Saharanpur's Bhim Army signals the rise of a new, aggressive Dalit politics |url=https://scroll.in/article/837494/ambedkarite-2-0-saharanpurs-bhim-army-signals-the-rise-of-a-new-aggressive-dalit-politics |last=Daniyal |first=Shoaib |website=Scroll.in |date=13 May 2017 |language=en-US |access-date=2020-05-20}}</ref> But, the Bhim Army intervened and ensure that the Thakurs did not unleash any violence.<ref name="signals" /> In another incident, the Rajputs prevented a Dalit groom from riding a horse to his wedding.<ref name="signals" /> Yet again, the Bhim Army intervened and escorted the groom.<ref name="signals" />
The Bhim Army attained national prominence after clashes in Uttar Pradesh.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-after-up-bhim-army-set-to-rock-maharashtra-2486846 |title=After UP, Bhim Army set to rock Maharashtra |date=29 June 2017 |publisher=[[DNA India]]}}</ref> In June 2017, the group's leader Chandrashekhar, a lawyer, was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh [[Special Task Force (India)|Special Task Force]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/bhim-army-chief-arrested-family-threatens-govt-congress-calls-him-victim-4695617/ |title=Bhim army chief arrested: Family threatens govt, Congress calls him 'victim' |date=9 June 2017 |newspaper=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref> Chandrashekhar was granted bail by the [[Allahabad High Court]] in November 2017, but the Uttar Pradesh government led by [[Yogi Adityanath]] continued to detain him under the [[National Security Act (India)|National Security Act]] until it dropped the NSA order in September 2018 and acquitted Chandrashekhar from jail.<ref>Omar Rashid, [https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bhim-army-chief-chandrashekhar-azad-released-from-jail-says-dalits-will-ensure-bjps-rout-in-2019/article24947396.ece Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad released from jail, says he will ensure BJP's rout in 2019], ''The Hindu'' (14 September 2018).</ref> Chandrashekhar describes himself as a representative of [[Bahujan]] identity and a follower of [[Kanshi Ram]].
The group protests against discrimination and [[Caste-related violence in India|caste violence against Dalit]] by members of the upper [[Rajput|Thakurs]] caste in [[Saharanpur violence|violent clashes in 2017 in Saharanpur]]. Bhim Army rally in [[Jantar Mantar, New Delhi]] in 2017 was attended by a large crowd,<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |url=https://www.ndtv.com/video/news/we-the-people/we-the-people-the-curse-of-caste-458461 |title=The Curse of Caste? |date=28 May 2017 |work=[[We the People (Indian TV series)|We the People]] | publisher=NDTV}}</ref> estimated to be 10,000 by [[Delhi Police]].
In August 2019, the Bhim Army took part in nationwide Dalit protests against the demolition of [[Shri Guru Ravidas Gurughar]], a temple dedicated to [[Sant Ravidas]] in [[Tughlaqabad]], [[Delhi]], on the orders of the [[Delhi Development Authority]] (DDA), following lengthy litigation between the DDA and Guru Ravidas Jainti Samaroh Samiti.<ref>{{cite news |first=Mukesh |last=Rawat |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/dalit-protest-demolition-ravidas-temple-delhi-tughlakabad-explained-1590482-2019-08-22 |title=Explained: Why are Dalits agitated over demolition of Ravidas temple in Delhi |date=22 August 2019 |work=India Today |access-date=9 May 2021}}</ref> Dozens of people, including Chandrashekhar and Vinay Ratan, were arrested by police, prompting the Bhim Army to demand their release.<ref>[https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bhim-army-warns-movement-if-top-leaders-not-freed-1591311-2019-08-25 Bhim Army warns of movement if its top leaders are not freed], [[Indo-Asian News Service]] (25 August 2019).</ref>
In March 2020, Chandrashekhar announced that the Bhim Army would formally enter electoral politics. The group previously operated as a quasi-political force. Chandrashekhar stated that "''We tried to join hands and work unitedly with the [[Bahujan Samaj Party]] but its leader was unwilling to do so.''" Chandrashekhar said the new political party would set up an office in [[Lucknow]] and work to counter the ruling BJP. Chandrashekhar has described the BJP as his chief political adversary, but has also competed with [[Mayawati]], the leader of the [[Bahujan Samaj Party]].<ref>{{cite news  |title=Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad to announce new party on BSP founder Kanshi Ram's anniversary |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/Mar/12/bhim-army-chief-chandrashekhar-azad-to-announce-new-party-on-bsp-founder-kanshi-rams-anniversary-2115770.html |access-date=16 June 2024 |work=The New Indian Express |date=12 March 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
The Bhim Army opposes the BJP's [[Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019]] (CAA) legislation<ref>{{cite news |title=Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad Sent To Jail For 14 Days Over Citizenship Protests |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bhim-army-chief-chandrashekhar-azad-sent-to-jail-for-14-days-over-citizenship-protests-2152452#:~:text=Bhim%20Army%20chief%20Chandrashekhar%20Azad%20was%20sent%20to%2014%20days,before%20sending%20him%20to%20jail. |access-date=16 June 2024 |work=NDTV.com}}</ref> In January and February 2020, the Bhim Army engaged in the [[Citizenship Amendment Act protests|protests against the CAA]] and sought its repeal.<ref>[https://www.deccanherald.com/national/south/bhim-army-chief-chandrashekhar-azad-vows-to-fight-until-caa-is-repealed-800693.html Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad vows to fight until CAA is repealed], ''Deccan Herald'' (2 February 2020).</ref><ref>[https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/anti-caa-protests-court-asks-police-to-verify-if-bhim-army-chief-has-an-office-in-delhi/articleshow/73354094.cms Anti-CAA protests: Court asks police to verify if Bhim Army Chief has an office in Delhi], Press Trust of India (18 January 2020).</ref> In February 2020, street clashes took place between pro-CAA BJP supporters and Bhim Army supporters in connection with the [[North East Delhi riots]]; both sides engaged in stone-pelting.<ref>Neeraj Chauhan, [https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/delhi-riots-face-off-between-bhim-army-caa-backers-a-trigger/story-iYMqbEZjVNcXY3kzjxw8OO.html Delhi riots: Face-off between Bhim Army, CAA backers a trigger], ''Hindustan Times'' (28 February 2020).</ref>
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Ambedkarite organisations]]
[[Category:Anti-caste movements]]
[[Category:Dalit politics]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Uttar Pradesh]]