Interview with Vimal: On Leadership, Caste, and Building a Better Future
2025-07-10 06:22
Vimal Kumar is a social reformer, educator, and the founder of the Movement for Scavenger Community (MSC) — a grassroots initiative dedicated to eradicating manual scavenging in India. Born into a family of sanitation workers, Vimal grew up facing caste-based violence and discrimination, often being called “Jamadarni ka beta” (son of a sweeper woman) at school. But instead of breaking under pressure, he built a path of resistance through education, activism, and leadership. Today, he holds multiple degrees, is a certified leadership coach, and runs youth centers that empower marginalized students. Vimal’s life is a testament to courage, dignity, and the transformative power of education.
Reflecting on his journey into higher education, Vimal shared that there were many turning points along the way. He became increasingly aware of how deeply caste discrimination and violence affected the people around him, and he was determined not to follow the same path as his parents. “Sanitation work was filled with humiliation,” he said. It was his mother who provided early motivation, telling him, “I don’t want you to do this work. Get educated. Be something in life.” That encouragement sparked his commitment to school — the first step in a lifelong journey of transformation.
In school, however, he faced daily discrimination — bullying, exclusion, and the pain of being treated as invisible. But rather than shrinking away, Vimal began to speak up. He even formed a group of children from his community and created their own cricket team. “We challenged others and won tournaments,” he said. “That gave us confidence and visibility.” For them, cricket became not just a game, but a form of resistance and empowerment. Yet, despite their efforts, caste boundaries persisted. “Other communities avoided us,” he explained. “They practiced untouchability — they wouldn't even eat at our homes. That’s why we had to start our own initiatives.”
The discrimination didn’t end at home. Even when Vimal traveled abroad, he encountered subtle but persistent caste-based divides among Indian communities living overseas. “The mindset sometimes travels with us,” he noted.
This long exposure to exclusion shaped his understanding of leadership. “I realized most leaders who speak for oppressed people have never experienced what we go through,” he said. “If you face the problem, you understand it best — and you also know the solution.” This belief has fueled MSC’s mission: to build leadership within the scavenger community, encouraging people to speak up and stand for themselves.
When he first talks about leadership in his community, he often hears the same reaction: “We’re poor. We can’t be leaders.” Many associate leadership with wealth or political power. But Vimal insists, “It’s about standing up for your rights. You don’t need money or status to be a leader.”
Accessing support from the state, however, remains a challenge. Government grants and welfare programs are difficult to obtain. “There’s a lot of corruption. Many give up rather than deal with the paperwork and bribes,” he said. That’s why he believes grassroots training and mentorship are more effective than policies on paper.
Vimal’s international recognition has also played a key role in his development. A friend once nominated him for a fellowship at the Milken Institute. Out of hundreds, he was selected as one of just eight global leaders. The experience, including study at Arizona State University and work with U.S. officials and the Navy, transformed him. “I became a certified leadership coach. Now I train communities across the world,” he shared.
What was holding him back before that? “Confidence,” he answered simply. “Doing things alone, without support, is scary. But when someone believes in you — it changes everything.”
When asked about his long-term vision, Vimal spoke with quiet conviction: “A more loving society. Less discrimination. More mutual respect. And real equality, not just on paper.”
Even with all he’s achieved, the work can feel heavy. “Sometimes I feel isolated,” he admitted. “People bring their problems to me, but I also need someone to listen to mine.” In those moments, he relies on breaks and support from friends around the world. “Even a leader needs another leader to talk to.”
To young people from marginalized communities who want to create change, his message is clear and heartfelt: “There is hope in this world. Don’t stay hopeless. Ask for help. Learn from others. Let go of your ego. Be a student. If you ask, people will support you.”