Udaipur – The Kacchi Basti Federation in Udaipur, led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPM, is set to complete 50 years of its fight to get land and houses for poor and homeless people. This movement started in 1976 when the Urban Development Trust demolished a tribal person’s house in Dewali area, calling it illegal encroachment. CPM leaders stepped forward to raise voice for the poor.
How the Movement Began and the Famous Slogan
In 1976, after the house was demolished, CPM leaders like Comrade B.L. Singhvi, Comrade Bhanwarlal Barber, Comrade Jetraram Tawad, and Comrade Gahri Lal Meghwal formed a group and met the then Trust chairman Madanlal Dhoopar. They asked to let the poor person build the house again. Dhoopar said the land was not the poor man’s father’s property. The group replied, “If it’s not the poor man’s father’s, then it’s no one’s father’s.” This line became the slogan for the whole movement.
That same evening, a meeting was held in Dewali. It was decided that poor homeless people would occupy any empty land in the city. Under the leadership of B.L. Singhvi, Bhanwarlal Barber, and Aailadas, meetings and rallies were organised all around Udaipur. Poor people started occupying land in areas like Machla Magra, Amba Mata, and Dewali.
Police Attacks and Strong Protest
On the Trust’s orders, police attacked Machla Magra and Ambavgarh bastis and demolished houses. Next day, thousands of people, led by Constitution maker Balwant Singh Mehta, marched to the Trust office and surrounded it. Police lathi-charged the crowd, many people and policemen got hurt. Balwant Singh Mehta was badly injured and had to be admitted to hospital.
At that time, CPM MLA Shyopat Singh showed Mehta’s blood-stained clothes in the assembly. This forced Chief Minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat to apologise. B.L. Singhvi and Aailadas went underground but were later arrested while protesting at the collector’s office. After release on bail, they sat on a 5-day hunger strike. Finally, the government agreed not to demolish poor people’s huts in future.
What Was Achieved in 50 Years
From 1977 to 1986, police and administration tried many times to evict the poor, but strong organisation and people’s unity stopped them. Today, around one lakh people live in these settlements around Udaipur. Federation secretary and former councillor Rajesh Singhvi says this fight is still going on.
Recent Meeting and Future Plans
To mark 50 years, a meeting was held at Shirali Bhawan in Machla Magra, chaired by federation president Pratap Singh Devda. They decided to spread the history of the struggle to common people. A big meeting will be held on January 3, 2026, at the federation office in Dewali. A book on the movement’s history will be published, and programs to tell the story will run throughout 2026.
In the meeting, Ashok Paliwal said, “Udaipur was founded by Udai Singh, but the poor of Udaipur were settled by B.L. Singhvi, Bhanwarlal Barber, and Aailadas.”
President Devda said the old slogan was “Poor people unite and you will get homes.” Now some say “Hindus unite” but homes are being demolished. Yet those giving slogans become MLAs, MPs, ministers, councillors.
Former councillor Rajendra Vasita said when government has to give land pattas, it talks about forest land and Supreme Court orders. But for resorts or mining, it changes Aravalli definitions.
Jagdish Salvi said the fire of kacchi basti movement is still alive and will guide peripheral areas too.
CPI district secretary Himmat Changwal said it’s government’s duty to provide housing to all. When it fails, kacchi bastis come up. These are result of government’s wrong policies. Today people are divided in name of religion, but people’s unity won’t break.
Senior lawyer Salim Khan shared that his mother dreamed of a house with own roof. Poor here made boundaries with stones and occupied plots. He remembered 1978 nights spent wet in rain. Many attacks came but we didn’t break. It’s our constitutional right to have housing. If government offices, malls can be built on Machla Magra land, plots auctioned, why not give pattas?
Others like Heeralal Salvi, Ganpati Devi Salvi, Damodar Kumawat, Shamsher Khan, Munawwar Khan, Tarachand Paliwal, Sanju Rahi, Devilal Damor, Gopal Singh, Lokesh Gurjar also spoke.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q 1: When and how did Udaipur’s kacchi basti movement start?
Answer: It started in 1976 after the Urban Development Trust demolished a tribal house in Dewali as illegal. CPM leaders protested and gave the slogan “If not poor man’s father’s, then no one’s father’s.” Then occupations of empty land began.
Q 2: Who were the main leaders?
Answer: Key leaders were B.L. Singhvi, Bhanwarlal Barber, Aailadas, Jetraram Tawad, Gahri Lal Meghwal. Later Balwant Singh Mehta and Shyopat Singh joined. Now Rajesh Singhvi and Pratap Singh Devda lead.
Q 3: What was the biggest incident in the movement?
Answer: Police attack after demolitions, then march led by Balwant Singh Mehta, lathi-charge where Mehta got seriously hurt. His clothes shown in assembly forced CM to apologise. Then hunger strike made government promise no more demolitions.
Q 4: How many people benefited today?
Answer: In 45-50 years, about one lakh poor families got homes around Udaipur. Many bastis have become proper colonies.
Q 5: What are future plans?
Answer: Big event on January 3, 2026, book on history, and year-long programs in 2026 to tell the story. Fight for pattas and rights continues.