Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar, who identified Brahminism as the Enemy No.1 of Dalits in all his writings and speeches, is being reinterpreted and his thoughts distorted by some Dalit writers who have launched a new theory saying that Brahmins are not the enemies of Dalits but the Backward Castes.
This new theory propounded by some brahminical agents among Dalits is given wide publicity in “national” toilet papers. And quite a number of “educated”, urbanised, coopted and corrupted Dalits have started nodding their heads. We have received some letters from even a couple of DV readers advocating such a new line of thinking.
Hate what enemy loves: That means we have to bury Babasaheb’s thoughts and revise the entire line of thinking and action. Fortunately the number of these infected “new thinkers” is only a handful but they get magnified by the publicity they get in the brahminical media. The vaidik media will give publicity to any person who serves their interest. So. going by our time-tested yardstick namely hate what the Enemy loves and love what the Enemy hates what should be the stand of DV?
UP’s new alliance: It is this new theory that has led to the Dalit-Brahmin alliance in India’s premier cow belt state of Uttar Pradesh (UP) where Sister Mayawati, a firebrand Dalit leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), became the Chief Minister for the third time on May 3, 2002 with the support of the Brahmana Jati Party (BJP). (DV Edit March 1, 2002: “BSP-BJP post-poll pact in UP will be disastrous to Bahujans & demoralise Dalit party cadres“).
Dalit leader Udit Raj addressing the mammoth over 1-lakh strong Dalit-Muslim unity gathering said in Delhi on May 2:
“The BSP rose against Manuvad and taught Dalits in particular and minorities, BCs and the poor in general to regard forces like the VHP, Bajrang Dal and RSS as their enemy number one. It also gave the slogans like Tilak, Tarazu aur Talwar, Inko Maro Jute Char. The same BSP got an initial boost in UP because of the Muslim support and it has now entered into an alliance with the BJP whose hands are stained with the blood of Muslims in Gujarat. Dalits are utterly disappointed and are looking forward to see a new face which can replace the BSP”. (Astan Age, May 2, 2002).
Kanshi Ram “media centre”: In UP the stronghold of Brahmins-BSP had twice before conducted similar experiments at forming govt. with Brahmins but every time her govt. fell within. a couple of months when the Brahmins ditched her. Kanshi Ram formed a “media centre” in Noida (bordering Delhi) but the upper castes did not allow him to start it.
Mayawati as CM started several dream projects in UP to empower Dalits but the enemy scuttled it. In all her public meetings she used to ask Brahmins. Thakurs and Banias the three upper castes of UP to get out and told them that the BSP did not want their votes.
Bahujan to Sarva Samaj: Today, the same Mayawati is mellowed. She no longer talks of Bahujan Samaj. She wants to please the Sarva Samaj.
Babasaheb fought Brahminism all his life and finally they only killed him. He wanted separate electorate for Dalits but the Brahmins used M.K. Gandhi to scuttle the “separate electorate” and forced him to yield to “reservations” by which the Dalits were made to live at the mercy of brahminical forces. Even after 50 years of reservations, its implementation is not even 5%. Brahminical forces sabotaged reservations and the upper caste-dominated judiciary further broke the backbone of reservations.
All over India and all through the past 50 years, brahminical forces have proved to be our principal oppressor. But our infected “new thinkers” want us to rethink and re-cast Babasaheb’s thoughts. They want us to take Brahmins as our allies and fight the Backward Castes, who they say, are our real enemies.
Is this true?
Original brahminical party: Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar had identified the Enemy and also the friends of Dalits. There was never any confusion in his thoughts. There was neither Inconsistency. He fought M.K. Gandhi and his Congress, calling it the original brahminical party of India.
But today the BSP India’s only Dalit party which inspired the confidence of Dalits because of its leader Kanshi Ram’s long struggle and sacrifice has reinterpreted the thoughts of Babasaheb as far as UP is concerned.
Brahmin-Muslim-Dalit unity: The Brahmin leaders of the Congress Party ruled UP for decades with the same winning formula of Brahmin+Muslim+Dalit (BMD) combination. Indira Gandhi won many elections on this theory. Finally, the combination failed and the Congress lost UP. Today, the BSP wants to revive the same BMD formula declaring the Backward Castes as the enemy of Dalits.
But it is this same Kanshi Ram and BSP who were in the forefront of the struggle for Mandal Commission reservations to BCs. How did it change its stand?
Brahmins have no confusion: The brahminical rulers suffer from no confusion. In UP, they will continue to rule through their bureaucracy, Judiciary, educational, financial, religious institutions which are controlled by the upper castes. Besides, they have the cadre-based committed RSS-BJP party to carry out the task. Dalits have none. Mayawati may be the CM but the upper castes will be the real lords. They will call the tune. More than anything the media is their sole monopoly which can manipulate the mind and make falsehood appear as truth.
Brahmins are Aryans and hence aliens but Dalits are the natives and hence owners of India. Between the two there can never be any compromise. This is a historical fact repeated by Babasaheb, the father of the entire Dalit community and their Saviour.
In fact the deadliest enemies of the Aryan upper castes are the Dalits (rakshasas, danavas, pisachis, asuras, vanaras etc.) not BCs and not Muslims.
Besides, Babasaheb Ambedkar himself was a product of three important BC movements (DV May 16, 2001 p.23: “Babasaheb is product of many BC leaders’ struggle”). Babasaheb was also a great advocate of BC human rights and had assured the BCs that Dalits were like that tortoise with a strong back. BCs could jump on the back of the tortoise which would safely take them across the river. This was Babasaheb’s assurance to BCS.
But, today, we hear a new slogan that BCs are the real enemies of Dalits and not the upper castes (Brahmins). Is this true? Are we to consign Babasaheb’s thoughts to flames?
Dalits thrown into confusion: Look, how beautifully and effectively the vaidiks have thrown us into utter confusion while they continue to remain calm firmly hugging their Manudharma Shastra.
The new interpretation given to Dr. Ambedkar’s thoughts by some Dalit writers is being further elaborated by a Brahmin journalist from Madras. We are publishing his article below so that there may be a Debate on this subject.
No complaint against BCs: Remember one thing. The Brahmins and their upper caste allies have never, ever declared the Dalits as their brothers. Their representatives in bureaucracy, judiciary, media are persecuting our people at every stage and every part of India. This will continue.
Till today we have not received any complaint from Dalits against BCs. In fact the division of the society into SCs and BCs is artificial. BCs in one part of India are SCs in some other part.
If the upper caste shudras like the Reddi. Khamma, Lingayt, Nair, Patel, Maratha, Jat have committed any atrocities on Dalits it is done at the behest of the brahminical forces. As the vaidiks control the media they play upon the contradictions between the shudras and Dalits and keep the pot boiling. But hardly there is any Dalit complaint against the BCs.
Dalits lead Mandal agitation: On the other hand, it was the Dalits who took the lead in the agitation in favour of the Mandal Commission and suffered the upper caste beatings on behalf of the BCs. DV was in the forefront of the Mandal agitation. So too Kanshi Ram. This is history.
The Bahujan Samaj concept itself is based on this theory that BCs and Muslims are part of this united front.
Can wolf & lamb live together: Kanshi Ram’s BAMCEF, included Backward Castes. Muslims, Dalits, Christians, Sikhs and Tribals. When he launched his political party, Bahujan Samaj. then also he stuck to the same principle. Over 85 of India’s oppressed (SC/ST/BCs-65% and Muslim/Christian/Sikhs-20%: 85%) are under the Bahujan Samaj, which is a concept borrowed from the Budha.
Will Muslim trust us: Now, with this new interpretation given to Babasaheb by taking Brahmins as the friends of Dalits, will the Muslims join this conglomeration? Who killed hundreds of Muslims in Gujarat in the latest blood-bath? Who launched the Mandir agitation to kill Masjid? Muslims know their enemy. But this enemy is now declared as the new friend of Dalits. Can we believe it? Is there any historical precedent to prove the efficacy of this new theory? Did any revolutionary of India advocate such a theory? Can the wolf and the lamb sleep together? Can oil and water mix? Can Aryans and Dravidas become friends?
But, today, we suddenly hear that BCs are our enemies and not the Brahmins. That means the entire scaffolding of the Babasaheb’s social structure, which he built so painstakingly, is collapsing. And we have to begin from the beginning and learn afresh.
Vaidiks laughing: Look, the vaidiks are laughing at our confusion. They are enjoying our foolishness. They are rejoicing over the murder of Babasaheb by his own children who came up by using the ladder (reservations) provided by Babasaheb.
In DV, we have been taking a consistent stand and strictly adhering to the thoughts of Babasaheb.
Should we change our line as suggested by the brahminical writers or stick to the time-tested and the historically proved thoughts of Babasaheb? Should we continue Dalit Voice or not?
We need a Debate.
