Baglung, Aug. 20 -- The historic village of Gairagaun is a 30-minute jeep ride from the district headquarters of Baglung. The village, predominantly a Dalit settlement, carries an illustrious history. It's the place where the free Dalit movement started; its torchbearer being Bhagat Sarbajit Biswokarma.

Today, the village, previously a part of Mulpani VDC, is a shadow of its former self; its place resigned to history. The village has 50 houses, 30 of them empty and in a state of despair. Locals lament the loss and their inability to continue the iconic status of the village.

Born in 1893, Bhagat Sarbajit Bishwokarma was the "founding leader of oppressed Dalit free movement". Sarbajit did his Master's in Sanskrit from Vanaras Hindu Unive...