A.L. UKEY, ASST. ENGR, ATPS: MPEB, CHACHAI, SHAHADOL, MP-484 220
We have hundreds of Dalit organisations, each with a different goal. It may be healthy to have different views on any issue. But history teaches us just the opposite. These Dalit leaders are always used by Hindu nazis to their advantage. To have different views is not what bothers us but playing into the hands of nazis is dangerous. Kashi Ram says something, Prakash Ambedkar tells the opposite, Prof.Jogendra Kawate warns one way but V.T. Rajshekar warns other way. Confusion.
Who is right and who is wrong?
We have two major issues of highest importance: 1. Reservations and 2. Religious conversion.
- Reservation: Some Dalit leaders argue that the present constitutional reservation must continue. They say:
- 1. Reservations are mainly on social deprivation due to the “Poona Pact.”
- 2 It helped them to establish social status which was more important than economic status, said Jagjivan Ram in his book, Bharat Main Jati wad aur Harijan Samsya. If any Dalit became a police inspector, a Brahmin constable under him would have to salute him. But instead, if a Dalit had become merely rich the same constable would never salute him.
- Reservation also means a source of sharing the post, position and power in the state, administration and judiciary in proportion to their population which they can never get otherwise.
- Although the Hindu nazis are deceiving us by non- implementation of the reservation, still our Dalits are coming up despite such half-hearted implementation.
- Reservation aims at stopping the age-old sin of looting the human rights of the Dalits. Hence, reservation are nothing but our human rights.
Opposition to reservations: But some Dalit leaders criticise the reservation policy. They say that
- It forces Dalits to live under the Hindu-fold thereby strengthening brahminism.
- It discourages Dalit mass conversion, specially to Islam and Christianity which are antidotes to Hinduism.
- It destroy self-respect among Dalits.
- Dalits become vote-banks of the ruling class and are compelled to dance to their tune.
- Caste-based reservation should be stopped since it strengthens casteism which is against the democratic aims of India.
Religious conversion: Many Dalit leaders are totally against any religious conversion. They think that: –
- Our problem cannot be solved through religious conversions. Despite this conversion, Hindus continue to hate us.
- Other than Sikhism and Buddhism, the converted Dalits are going away from “Indian culture”.
- Conversions put a barrier on our way to revolution.
Islam and Christianity: Some Dalit leaders emphasise that conversion is the only method by which Dalits can solve their problems. Some others, so-called progressives, think that even Buddhism can- not free them from the clutches of brahminism. They warn that Buddhism, as it has already proved to be a part of Hindu religion, can never be antagonistic to brahminism. If religious conversion has to be effective then Islam or Christianity should be preferred.
On the other hand, some Dalit leaders prefer Buddhism. They argue that: – 1. Dalits were originally Buddhists as researched by Dr. Ambedkar. 2. Our Saviour had embraced Buddhism. 3. It is Buddhism which alone can give them scientific reasoning and temper as codified by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.
4. It is only Buddhism by which they can fight any anti-revolutionary forces as proved by history. 5. It is only Buddhism which can answer the menace of marxism.
Some other Dalit intellectuals see the Dalit problem as a socio-economic issue and hence, according to them, socio-economic reformation is the only solution and not any religious one.
So, these are some basic differences of opinion among various sections of Dalit leaders and their organisations about these two major issues. Indian Dalit leaders, whatever may be their concern, I call upon them to express their clear-cut views on this subject.
