The 19th-century Bengal witnessed a social awakening of the Chandals who evolved gradually to more political ways of protesting. Both adaptability and resistance worked simultaneously in building collective aspiration and developing practices to achieve consciousness collectively. Their leader Harichand Thakur formulated plans of action against caste-based oppression to emancipate the Chandals and brought socio-religious transformation in the community. A strategy-oriented study of his life and activities explains reformer Harichand Thakur becoming a God.. The article finds spiritual vision motivating material changes within a community—a legacy uniting people beyond their caste, class, and gender.
