Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh recently recalled Indira Gandhi's dramatic 1977 visit to Belchi village in Bihar, invoking her political comeback during the current Bihar assembly elections. The reference came on her death anniversary, October 31, as the party faces electoral challenges in the state. On August 13, 1977, months after Congress's crushing defeat in post-Emergency elections, Mrs Gandhi undertook an arduous journey through monsoon floods to reach the remote village. She traveled by car, jeep, tractor, and finally an elephant to meet families of Dalits killed in caste violence. The Belchi massacre occurred on May 27, 1977, when a Kurmi group allegedly murdered eight Dalits and three OBC Sonar community members following a local dispute. The dramatic visit, especially the iconic image of the former Prime Minister riding an elephant through floodwaters, revived her political fortunes. She returned to Parliament in November 1978 after winning the Chikmagalur by-election and became Prime Minister again in 1980. The massacre trial concluded swiftly under her leadership, with two convicts executed in November 1983.
The Belchi Massacre and Political Fallout
The tragedy unfolded on May 27, 1977, in Belchi village when violence erupted between communities. A Kurmi group led by Mahavir Mahto attacked Dalit residents following a previous day's altercation. When Dalit youth rushed to help an injured man named Singhwa, armed attackers opened fire. The victims were tied, taken to fields, and shot before being pushed into a burning pyre. Authorities initially dismissed it as gang warfare despite survivor testimonies. Bihar was under President's Rule during the incident, and the subsequent Janata Party government under Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur gave inadequate attention to the case. However, Parliament witnessed strong protests when Union Home Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh accepted the gang war theory, forcing him to acknowledge casteism as the root cause.
Journey That Revived Brand Indira Gandhi
Recognizing a political opportunity, Mrs Gandhi embarked on her challenging journey through heavy monsoon rains. The three-and-a-half-hour trek included wading through waist-deep water and ultimately riding an elephant named Moti to reach grieving families. Her determination stunned companions, with her famously remarking it was not her first elephant ride. The striking photographs, particularly of her atop the elephant, resurrected her image nationwide. Within months, she won the Chikmagalur by-election in November 1978 by 70,000 votes, defeating the Janata Party candidate. By 1980, Congress swept back to power nationally and in Bihar, securing 169 of 324 state assembly seats. The Belchi trial accelerated under her premiership, resulting in death sentences for Mahavir Mahto and Parshuram Dhanuk, who were executed in November 1983.
Source: Link