Today I feel so helpless. frustrated to meet the situations.
I may sound cynical but I have serious reservations about cut-and-paste unity/amity among Muslims and Dalits. History has worked over centuries. Upper castes (Hindus) have been ceaselessly working for decades with the success of carving out two distinct and diverse communities. To use Huntington’s phrase, “it is a clash of culture”. Culture indeed divides communities to the extent of great animosities and culture unites to the extent of great solidarities.
CULTURAL DIVIDE
Whether we like or not, culturally Dalits are nearer to Hindus than to Muslims admitting even their practice of beef-eating and living side by side. Practically both Muslims and Dalits know. that the Dalits are Hindus, if not first class, second class Hindus. And this sense of identity has enough potential to ignite and take respective sides to their communal divide. This is an inherent fact.
Whether we like it or not, Islam as is practiced would hardly attract humanitarian who happens to be inherently rational. You know I have lived in the chawis of Ahmedabad with exclusive Muslim neighborhood for over 20 years and save for the exception, I have found them with foul language, violent disposition, engaged in all sorts of goondaism. Even a small boy of 5 would intercept a Dalit child who would be going, to buy milk and both Muslim son and father would make obscene advances towards Dalit women entering their mutton-shops.
CHRISTIANITY PREFERRED
I have emphatically told you that I neither believe in religion or in god of any denomination. But if I am asked to opt for religion by force, I believe Islam would be the last choice. I would prefer Christianity (not even Budhism) I have seen it working wonders among Blacks. The necessary evil offers English education and with its help Blacks have come up as decent citizens in UK, USA etc. I don’t say they have achieved equality but they are certainly better-placed, better-equipped with English language and liberal humanitarian values imbibed through Christianity. Perhaps their primitive deities and dialects would never have given them this exposure, understanding.
As to why Dalits turned against Muslims, I have the simple answer: They are made different and we have not tried to bring them together.
Please don’t rush to the conclusion that my mind is corrupted or poisoned by some khakhi chaddiwala.
As I have said in my earlier communication, to build up Dalit-Muslim unity is a herculean task even though the history is on their side and they are historically our blood brothers. With different religious ethos, both the communities have inculcated different values and they have in turn produced communities not at ease with each other.
EDITOR LOSING BATTLE
Occasionally you may find incidents of amity. But it is out of their compulsion of living together. If shifted to other localities, Dalits would turn hostile and feel proud in lending support to their co-religionist upper castes (Hindus).
You are fighting a losing battle. Get yourself prepared for that. No amount of wishful thinking helps at the ground level.
I believe your visit could be fruitful after a semblance of normalcy returns. That will take another couple of months.
