Bangalore: In connection with his efforts to contact Bahujan intellectuals through symposia all over India, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Kanshi Ram was here on Sept. 9 and 10 last. The symposium was on the question:
“Why Bahujans have not rebelled against the denial of socio-economic equality in spite of their being given one man one vote, one vote one value-as predicted by Babasaheb in 1949”.
The discussions were very lively and thought- provoking. Many members of the DV family took active part. J. Subramanyam, advocate, attributed the reason that India has very few large-size states divided on linguistic basis instead of more small-size larger number states on sub-language basis. This has created hurdles in the dissemination of ideas in the length and breadth of the huge subcontinent that is India.
Misuse of “Hindu” word: Iqbal Ahmed Shariff, advocate, attributed the reason to the fact a cultural revolution did not precede Bahujan political struggle while the upper caste political parties are more cultural- oriented than political. Cultural movement must occupy the driver’s seat or taken at least as co-driver.
P.S. Sridhar Murthy, advocate, referred to the upper caste trick of misusing the word “Hindu” for all non- Muslim, non-Christian Indians. This has created great confusion in the Bahujan minds and Bahujan castes must be told of this treachery and persuaded to go out of the Hindu fold.
Lack of media: Col. Vishwanathan of Kerala totally rejected that there was no Bahujan revolt against BSO. Starting from Kashmir on day-one, it spread to Manipur, Tripura, Nagaland and Khalistan. The struggles of Phoolan Devi and Veerappan are also Bahujan rebellions against the BSO-all of which have been dubbed by the rulers as terrorism, secessionism, dacoity, brigandage etc.
Ms. Jyothiraj attributed the failure to the lack of publicity means and media as the main reason for the failures a point which has been repeatedly raised by the Editor of DV.
Summing up the discussions, Kanshi Ram said that the Dalit movement was a process of evolution and not revolution. Starting from zero a century ago, the movement was progressing year by year. The SC/STS had become the largest group next only to Brahmins in the administration now. Shortly a time would come when instead of seeking reservations they would be in a position to give reservation to others.
Why alliance with BJP: He was extensively grilled for his alliance with the BJP in Uttar Pradesh to make Mayawati as the chief minister. He explained that this was done to correct certain historical blunders which could have been done only through “political power” in his hands.
He cited the fact that during V.P. Singh’s Chief Ministership, 7 lakh odd acres of land were granted to landless Dalits but none could take actual possession because of resistances from upper caste landlords. V.P. Singh even ploughed Dalit lands in the presence of village people to give credence to the patta holders and encourage them to assert. But it did not bring the desired results.
Political power first: But Mayawati during her six-month rule posted 40 DMs supported by 170 SPs of her choice in vulnerable districts to see that the grantees occupied the lands with police help. Over 1,70,000 gооndas, who thwarted the occupation earlier, were detained under the Goonda Act. The combined effect of all this was that all the 7 lakh odd acres of lands were now in the possession of Dalit grantees. Thus stating, he concluded that without political power, nothing could be done.
On the question of media, he said the limited funds he had were required for party work, and there was no money left for media work. However, a huge complex was already constructed in Noida, near Delhi, for the purpose. Once BSP got into power in Delhi, the DD-1 and DD-2, being government agencies, could be utilised for media purpose.
Appreciating Mayawati’s achievements, Iqbal Ahmed Shariff, DV’s Bangalore representative, said such an achievement was unknown to even these 30/40 well read and well reading participants. Had not somebody put the critical question this achievement also would not have been known to these 30/40 participants. Even this was known after so many years that too on personally meeting each other. Such a great achievement of Mayawati should have received the widest publicity with the purpose of:
(i) informing the BSP cadres to boost their morale, (ii) to show the way for other leaders, (iii) to encourage prospective members of BSP and (iv) also to warn the enemies that Dalits were also capable of countering the BSO mischiefs.
All this was lost because Kanshi Ram or any Bahujan leader/party did not have any media. He wanted to point out that media was more urgent for those on the ladder than those who have already reached the top. He also wanted to point out that media did not require big buildings and big budget gadgets but well-trained, committed, co-ordinated minds and petty materials like paper and print to propagate ideas and to tell the truth. And this can be done with proper planning and at very little cost, with the help of Bahujan intellectuals and writers.
But all this could not be said as there was no time left.
(Text of the papers presented at the seminar by the DV think-tank are published separately).
