Telgaon, Solapur - They say time flies, and with the blink of an eye, the world changes. But for 45-year-old Ramabai (name changed), life has been frozen since 2006. In a small village called Telgaon in Solapur district, Maharashtra, this Dalit woman lives a life marked by deprivation, exclusion, and despair with her son, his wife, and their two children.

It was March 14, 2006, a dark day that altered her life forever. The harrowing memories of that day – hands tearing at her body, her clothes ripped off, leaving her exposed, her hair pulled as she was dragged across the entire village – are still fresh in her mind. In this horrifying incident, her innocent seven-year-old son was also not spared. He was pulled from his school, subjected to similar cruelty, and made to suffer alongside his mother.

This tragic story took many twists over the years. Although nine individuals were convicted in 2020, they are now out on bail. Far from hiding in shame, they brazenly pass by Ramabai’s home multiple times a day.

Ramabai’s only shield – police protection – was also withdrawn without prior notice or reason. Despite her legal victory, she now lives under a shadow of fear and insecurity. Speaking with The Mooknayak, Ramabai was visibly emotional.

“Since that dreadful incident in March 2006, I was provided police protection from the accused. But now, as of August 18 this year, my police security has been revoked. I constantly fear for my and my family’s lives. All the accused live near my home and pass by my house several times a day. They had to go to jail because of me – is there any chance they would let me and my family go unharmed? They’ll surely act against me again,” Ramabai said in one breath, her voice trembling. She continued, “If anything happens to me or my family, the police administration will be entirely responsible.”

Ramabai’s son, Ajay (name changed), shared with The Mooknayak that physical safety isn’t their only worry. “I studied up to the 10th grade, and I don’t know any other work, so I do daily labor in the fields to feed our family of five. There’s no guarantee of daily work – if there’s work, I go; otherwise, we are confined to our home,” he said. No one in the village maintains any contact with Ramabai and her family.

Telgaon has a population of about 2,500, with 80% being Marathas and other upper castes, while the rest belong to Dalit and backward communities. Ramabai is from the Charmakar community, which is classified as a Scheduled Caste.

Ajay continued, “Even our Dalit community stands with the accused, not with us, because the accused are powerful and wealthy. They’ve forbidden everyone from supporting us, so no one visits our home, nor are we invited to any community events.” Eighteen years ago, when Ajay was paraded through the village with his mother, he was only seven years old. The trauma of that event is so deeply ingrained in him that he remains apprehensive even while speaking to strangers. They are completely isolated in the village – they can’t buy groceries or essentials. To buy basic items, they have to travel 7 kilometers to a nearby village, Kandal.

Ajay was married a few years ago. His wife cares for their children and manages the household. In a tone heavy with frustration, he said, “My daughter is five years old and goes to the Anganwadi, and I have a two-year-old son. I want to educate them so they don’t end up doing labor like me, but what can I do? We have no other options – no farmland, and staying here is dangerous and difficult, but where can we go? The government doesn’t help, and no one listens.”

Ramabai shared that after the case was filed under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, she only received a meager Rs. 50,000 in compensation. The additional sessions judge ordered that she should receive full compensation, including compensation for lost wages and transportation costs, from 2006 to 2020, but she is still awaiting the implementation of the court’s decision. Recently, she submitted an application to the Social Welfare Department demanding Rs. 1 crore 10 lakh as compensation.

In her application, the victim has detailed the losses she has suffered over the last 18 years. Ramabai said that not only did she lose her livelihood and employment opportunities, but her family’s social dignity was also severely damaged. Describing the deep impact on her and her son’s mental health, she mentioned that they continue to face social exclusion and isolation.

Ramabai believes this compensation is necessary to address the injustice, loss of reputation, mental agony, social damage, and adverse future impacts she and her son have endured.

The Mooknayak spoke to Dalit rights activist and National President of the Ambedkar Center for Justice and Peace (ACJP), Nagsen Sonare, who has been supporting Ramabai’s family with emotional and legal guidance. Sonare explained how challenging it is for a Dalit woman to live with dignity in society despite stringent legal provisions.

“All nine accused were arrested and sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment with fines. However, they appealed against the additional sessions judge’s order, obtained bail from the Bombay High Court, and are currently roaming free. Ramabai and her family are under a serious threat to their lives from the accused. How can an ostracized woman in a village fight against such casteist people when her police protection was withdrawn two months ago?” Sonare remarked.

He added, “Our organization had long ago suggested that she be relocated to an urban area with financial aid of Rs. 15-20 lakh so she could start a small grocery shop and live peacefully with her family. But so far, the government has shown no empathy for her plight. We are consistently reaching out to officials to secure her support and ensure her safety through renewed police protection.”

Reason Behind Her Humiliation: Branded 'Over Smart' for Seeking Independence and Falsely Accused of Exposing Illicit Activities

The reason behind Ramabai's horrific public humiliation and subsequent social ostracism in her village seems rooted in a toxic mix of caste-based prejudice, gendered control, and a suspicion that painted her as a threat to powerful figures. RamaBai single mother from a marginalized community, was perceived as "overly smart" and defiant simply for asserting her autonomy—first in her divorce proceedings and later in her travels outside the village. This independence, coupled with villagers’ suspicion that she had alerted authorities about alleged illicit activities led by influential Maratha men, made her a target.

Despite her repeated denials, villagers believed Ramabai had written the anonymous letter accusing these powerful men of running illegal liquor and prostitution operations. Her regular visits to Solapur for her divorce were twisted into "proof" that she was conspiring against them. This perception—that she was “too smart” for her place and therefore guilty—fed into the harassment and ultimately escalated into the brutal act of stripping and parading her naked to teach her a "lesson."

Investigations later confirmed that Ramabai did not author the letter; her handwriting did not match. Yet, the price of defying traditional power structures has left her and her son socially isolated, shamed, and punished far beyond the original accusation. Despite her innocence, she continues to suffer the stigma, while those responsible for the atrocity roam free.