Arise Bharat

–A.S. SANTHOSH

For decades, the Nakkala community—often referred to by the pejorative terms Jackals or Pittalollu or Jackalollu—lived in the shadows of society, marginalized and unheard, especially in rural pockets like Chinna Muthyampet village of Thoguta mandal in Medak district, Telangana. They bore the burdens of economic hardship, social exclusion, and institutional neglect. But today, a glimmer of justice has begun to dawn. The government’s recent decision to officially include the Nakkala caste in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list has finally acknowledged them as rightful beneficiaries of constitutional safeguards long denied.

This historic victory is not just about paperwork—it is a human story of pain, perseverance, and the quiet strength of a people who refused to disappear. And at the heart of this transformation stands Samajika Samarasatha Vedika, a grassroots organization that walked alongside the community for eight long years.

Silent Suffering in the Margins

The Nakkala community’s struggle was not merely against poverty—it was against invisibility. For years, they lived without caste certification, excluded from every welfare scheme and social safety net. Many lacked the courage to even enter a government office. Deep-seated fear and learned helplessness silenced their voices. Political leaders exploited their desperation for votes, offering promises that evaporated by morning. Even some officers from the Scheduled Tribes looked down on them, saying cruelly, “You are not one of us.”

Petitions went unanswered, rights were denied, and basic services—education, healthcare, employment—remained out of reach. Nakkala children dropped out of school. Youth turned into daily-wage laborers. Mothers wept quietly, believing that their birth was a burden. “No one saw us as human beings,” one elder said. “No one knew the pain we carried in our hearts.”

The Light Bearers: How Samajika Samarasta Vedika Sparked a Movement

In the midst of this despair, Samajika Samarasatha Vedika emerged as a beacon of hope. Eight years ago, Sri Appala Prasad Ji, the State Convener, walked into Nakkala hamlets—not with banners or political promises, but with listening ears and a compassionate heart. What began as a visit turned into a movement. The organization committed itself fully to the upliftment of this community, brick by brick, family by family.

This was not a fleeting campaign or a seasonal show of solidarity—it was a deeply rooted, sustained mission of humanity. Samajika Samarasatha Vedika stood by the Nakkala community in Medak district like a family would, embracing their pain and walking beside them with unwavering commitment. They revived the community’s cultural soul by bringing back the celebration of cherished festivals like Durga Puja, Kali Puja, Shivaratri, Dussehra, and Vinayaka Chavithi—festivals that had long faded from their lives under the weight of neglect and despair. These rituals rekindled pride and belonging in hearts that had almost forgotten what it meant to celebrate.

Their support was not symbolic—it was tangible, meaningful, and personal. They brought blankets to ward off the biting cold, notebooks and bicycles to keep dreams of education alive, sarees to restore dignity to women, and tuition centers to open the doors of learning. Each act, no matter how small, was a gesture of profound respect and hope.

Education was no longer a distant dream. The organization helped enroll children in intermediate and degree colleges, paying their fees and mentoring them with care. One young girl, trained as a nurse with their help, now serves in Siddipet—a living testament that transformation is possible when someone believes in you.

Health and hygiene, long ignored in these hamlets, became a priority. Medical camps staffed with dedicated doctors became annual lifelines. Campaigns against addiction and for clean living spread awareness and self-respect.

Spiritually, the Samajika Samarasatha Vedika gently strengthened the community’s roots. They discouraged conversions, not with force, but by nurturing pride in their heritage—encouraging families to grow Tulsi plants and engage in cow seva, age-old practices rich with meaning and identity.

Perhaps most powerfully, the Samajika Samarasatha Vedika guided the community through the legal maze that had long denied them recognition. From petitions to personal visits, from the MRO’s table to the Governor’s chamber, from the Collector’s desk to the courtroom—they walked every step with the Nakkala. Even two compassionate female judges in Siddipet heard their cry, leading to a historic writ petition that finally broke the silence of the system.

This was not activism for applause. It was pure, steadfast human service—driven by empathy, justice, and an unshakeable belief in the dignity of every human life.

A Day to Remember: May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025, will forever be etched in the hearts of the Nakkala people of Chinna Muthyampet. That was the day when the first ST certificates were handed over to four members of the community. Revenue officials, led by Tahsildar Srikanth, personally visited the village to issue the documents—not as a favor, but as a long-overdue affirmation of identity.

As the villagers held the certificates, tears flowed freely. For the first time, they were officially seen by the State. These were not just papers. They were keys—to education, to jobs, to dignity, to hope. They represented the fruits of perseverance, the outcome of eight years of grassroots mobilization.

A New Dawn

The road ahead is still long. But now, the Nakkala community walks it with heads held high. They are no longer just laborers, outcasts, or forgotten citizens. They are part of the nation’s recognized social fabric.

Their story is a profound reminder: true change begins when someone dares to believe in the humanity of the marginalized. Samajika Samarasatha Vedika did not just help a community obtain certificates—it helped them recover their lost identity.

Let May 21 not be remembered as just a bureaucratic milestone, but as a celebration of dignity restored. A tribute to a community that never gave up. And a salute to those who walked with them in their darkest hour.

Let it be known: when the nation listens, and when society stands in solidarity, even the most forgotten can find their rightful place under the sun.