Bangalore: Untouchables are recognised officially as one among the poorest of the poor in India. Dalits are socially the lowest, economically the poorest and politically the most powerless. Hence they are the most exploited. There is no dispute on this point.
When that is the case can we think of exploiters springing up within this class of the exploited? How can some children of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar turn into exploiters and go against the very thoughts of their own Father ?
Such a complaint was heard from all the speakers at a big conference of Madigas (Chamars) held here on July 17.
Bid to divide Dalits: Those present at the state-level conference of Madiga (Adi Jambava) leaders included all the Madiga MPs, MLAs, MLCs, ex-ministers and ex-legislators. That means it was very much a representative gathering of the Untouchables belonging to the Madiga community.
Almost every speaker wondered how one section of the Dalits could came in the way of the social change of another section.
Another leader told this writer that the moment they demanded reservation in proportion to the population of each Untouchable subcaste (jati), the dominant subcaste among the Untouchables, namely the Holeyas, accused them of “dividing” the Dalits.
Another Madiga leader, who named certain Holeya leaders like K.H. Ranganath, a Cabinet Minister, said the Holeya argument was exactly like that of M.K. Gandhi who on behalf of the Hindus came in the way of their social change. The Madiga leader said:
“Gandhi opposed Babasaheb’s demand for separate electorate for Dalits saying that it would divide the Hindus. Today, we hear the same argument from the Holeyas. They say if Madigas ask for reservation in proportion to our population then Dalit movement will get divided. Is this not a proof of some Holeya leaders betraying Babasaheb?”
The Madiga conference was acknowledged as the biggest conference of leaders so far held in the state. The conference decided to make a second approach to Chief Minister S.M. Krishna to ask for a population- wise reservation.
The speakers, however, made it clear that their demand for “categorisation” of reservations aimed at assuring each Dalit subcaste equal sharing of the fruits of reservation in proportion to its population. So, they were not against any Dalit subcaste.
“Though we are Madigas, we fight on behalf of all subcastes within the Untouchables”, a Madiga leader said.
Reservation killed: But has not their demand come too late? When the upper castes have already killed the very reservations itself, what is there to ask now? Privatisation is being speeded up. Even the little remaining public sector undertakings including banks and insurance are being privatised. And private sector means upper caste monopoly. So are the Madigas asking for the moon?
Be that as it may, the Madigas were in a very angry mood. For them, the model was the struggle put up by the Madigas in the neighbouring state of AP where the Madigas demand for “categorisation of reservation was endorsed by the legislature but blocked by the upper caste-dominated judiciary.
Fear of Congress domination: In AP, the Madigas were able to make so much of progress because the Madiga “caste identity” and “caste consolidation” was fairly well-established because of the long struggle. But in Karnataka, the Madigas are yet to open their eyes. Madigas suffered here because of their failure to strengthen the Madiga identity. The reserved employees among the Madigas, the beneficiaries of reservation, were are they?
The conference was inaugurated by D. Manjunath, a former Minister. G. Ramakrishna, another ex-Minister, presided. According to Anjaneya, the general secretary of the Madiga struggle committee, Madiga population in the state was about 75 lakhs.
Yes. They had the strength of numbers. But in India, mass support is thwarted by wicked and cunning tricksters who manipulated things. The Madigas can counter the crooks if they have the intellectual power.
The portraits of Babasaheb Ambedkar along with that of Babu Jagjivan Ram, a Madiga (Chamar) leader, were prominently kept on the stage.
The conference demanded a judicial commission to go into the reservation issue and recommend “categorisation” on the lines in AP.
What impressed us most was that the conference was being guided by Madiga intellectuals like L. Hanumanthayya, an eminent Dalit writer.
However, the total domination of the conference by Madiga leaders belonging to the Congress Party is a cause for worry. We are sure the Madiga intellectuals will take care of this fear.
DV support: On behalf of the Dalit Voice, we want to assure our support to the just demands of the Madigas. We want to remind them that it was the “caste identity” Debate in DV that inspired the Madigas of AP to launch their struggle for proportional representation which is a great democratic principle. As Ambedkarites, we are pledged to support the weakest of the weak
