Strengthening roots of Kathputli Colony

I left my job as an engineer because I realised that my community needs me more,” says Vijay Kumar.Kumar hails from a lower middle class family, his father is a carpenter and mother a homemaker. He slogged his entire childhood to live up to his father’s dream of seeing his son as a well-paid engineer.

Kumar studied in Rohtak and joined IBM after getting his degree. One day when he came back to his home in Kathputli Colony, he saw his childhood friends, either married off, as labourers and some even as drug addicts. His heart did not warm up to this situation, he tried hard to go back to his normal life but just couldn’t.

Kathputli Colony is a heritage site, many say, with some of the best artistes of the dying traditions of India residing here. “This place comprises mostly of 12 communities, there are drummers, magicians, puppeteers, acrobats, dancers, actors etc, and they are very rich in their talent. I would go as far as to say they are a living heritage,” says

Kumar, himself a theatre artiste. He decided to remain there as a social activist and improve the conditions of this place.

The 23-year-old is presently involved in three major philanthropic movements that he started in his community. One, he wants to end the system of middlemen coming in the way of employment between the artistes and client, second, he wants to educate the dropouts and illiterate people in his colony and third, which is very much his priority right now, is mobilising people against the Delhi Development Authority, which is relocating people of the colony to new homes. “The DDA has asked people to shift to the transit camps three kilometres from the colony till the colony is developed,” says Kumar.

“They are selling the land to Raheja builders, and have said that they will soon build a 15-storey building where we can all be accommodated. But they haven’t provided any documentation or clear strategy of carrying out this plan. We want better homes for sure, but we are already so poor how can we go along with something without feeling secure,” expounds Kumar.

He has organised various events since 2013 to bring the 12 communities together and now has nearly 7,000 people supporting him for his cause. “Now there will be no mediators, anything that goes on in Kathputli colony will be done by the people who live here,” he says.

“Police used force to move the people out, they have used violence at times too. Last month, I was offered Rs 1 crore to stop my campaigning. Some families have been bought and they are supporting the DDA. But there are 3,200 families who are still staying strong with me,” adds Kumar. Through their plays, musicals and talks, the residents have gathered momentum for their cause.

To stop the police and contractors from breaking their houses, Kumar and his mates stayed up all night and sat on dharna near the boundaries of the locality, so that the bulldozers wouldn’t enter.

 “We are also fighting a legal battle and hence our homes are intact. I want to make Kathputli Colony a tourist spot too as there is so much culture hidden here. Cleaning up the colony is also on my personal manifesto. We are trying to be independent and are looking for jobs ourselves. Our clappers and dance troupes have performed in Satyamev Jayate and India’s Got Talent, respectively,” Kumar adds.

“First time in 60 years, since the colony was established, the 12 communities have come together. Everything is going fast, but smoothly,” says Kumar.