Una flogging 10 years on: Fight for justice continues for Sarvaiya family

Every day, the Sarvaiya family in the village of Mota Samadhiyala, Gir Somnath district, starts their day by caring for their cattle before delivering milk to a local dairy. This meager income barely supports the family of seven. They chose this occupation after abandoning the long-standing practice of lifting and skinning dead cattle, a task once expected of Dalits.

On July 11, 2016, brothers Vashrambhai and Ramesh Sarvaiya, along with their cousins Ashok and Bechar Sarvaiya, were beaten and stripped by self-styled cow vigilantes after being accused of slaughtering a cow. This attack was captured on video and sparked outrage across the country, contributing to one of Gujarat's largest Dalit movements and reigniting discussions about caste discrimination and cow vigilantism.

Ten years later, the family has shifted its focus from their former occupation to rebuilding their lives. They continue to fight legal battles, await promised rehabilitation, and rely on the modest income from selling milk. Vashrambhai, now 33, said, "We understood Babasaheb Ambedkar only after Una. We realized we should not continue such work imposed on us only because of our caste.

We decided that no matter how difficult life became, we would never again lift or skin dead animals." The family's resolve is evident in Vashrambhai's recent decision to adopt a pony, symbolizing equality and self-respect, as riding horses is traditionally considered a caste-based privilege in parts of Gujarat.

The assault on July 11, 2016, involved skinning the carcass of a dead cow, a practice their community had done for generations. Four family members were tied to a vehicle, beaten, stripped, and paraded through Una town before police intervened. The victims were initially taken to Una hospital and then to Rajkot for treatment. In response to the attack, thousands of Dalits protested, blocked highways, and vowed to stop removing dead cattle carcasses.

This led to the Dalit Asmita Yatra, led by activist Jignesh Mevani, which called for the return of land rights, employment, and economic alternatives. The movement, Mevani, who later served in the Gujarat Assembly, remains a pivotal moment in Gujarat's Dalit politics. He noted that the practice of lifting dead animals had been deeply entrenched and that more than 15,000 Dalits had pledged to stop the practice.

However, he highlighted the need for continued rehabilitation, as many land promises have yet to be fulfilled.