PROMOTION OF EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AMONG THE BHIL

In the year 1937, thinking to introduce the formal education among the Bhils of 12 Princely States Jhabua and its surroundings, Mama Baleshwar Dayal started a school of the Bhils called Dungar Vidyapeeth literally means Hill University. The Dungar Vidyapeeth was started in Bamania in the Princely State of Jhabua where the Bhils were oppressed and suppressed by the Rathore dynasty of Rajput kings. The noble venture was supported fully by the rich seths (merchants), advocates, journalists, high caste persons, etc.

Mamaji had initially 200 boys and 150 girls in the Dungar Vidyapeeth which was to grow up to in the final shape in the form of a residential Bhil University in the course of time if time favoured Mama and the Bhils. Saturanbai was the first Bhil girl who became an instructor in Dungar Vidyapeet after her own education in the tribal institution called Dungar Vidyapeeth.Later Mahatma Gandhi too appreciated the noble thought of Mama Baleshwar Dayal and fully supported his vision to educate the Bhils well. Thakkar Bapa too was doing the same missionary work as Mama but among the Bhils of Gujarat with great zeal.

Besides the formal education in the Dungar Vidyapeeth, Mama taught the Bhils the appropriate lesions of life as in the fast changing and growing India how to live life side by side with the people of higher castes and classes. Result of this was that the Bhils became their own leaders, guides, teachers and Gurus. Mama ideal wife became all round helper to the Bhils. What Mama Baleshwar Dayal achieved with the generous support of his fellow Hindu friends from Bamania, Petlawad, Thandla, Meghnagar, Jhabua, Banswara, Ratlam, Dahod and other places, the Government of Madhya Pradesh and Rajastha could not achieve till this day. We need supporters, visionaries, teachers and Gurus like Mama for uplifting the Adivasis of India and not the administrators and NOGs with huge budgets.

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