This is with reference to M.L. Dohray “communication” on Babasaheb’s Three Commandments (DV, May 1, 1991, p.11). We do not need any great authority to correct the slogan of our Savior. Any semi-educated man instantly corrects it as “organize and agitate”. The semi-educated people emphasize that there could beno agitation without organisation and hence Babasaheb might have announced it as “organize and agitate”. Naturally, in defiance he cites the authority/reference of Dhananjay Keer etc.
Even 99% of our literate and illiterate Ambedkarites Sand agitate”. For years, | have faced the problem of understanding the Keer’s dictum, “Agitate and organize”. Now if Dr. D.R. Jatav says that the “Brahmin Keer distorted it willfully,” we may get answer but this is no explanation. Dr. Jatav did not in any of his books on Dr. Ambedkar find it essential to point out this earlier. Dr. Jatav’s cursory dismissal of Keer as a Brahmin is very unfortunate. Bhagavan Das is also not authentic. Shankar Ananda Sastry, who claims some association with Dr. Ambedkar, followed the sequence as “agitate and organize”. Das and Dr. Jatav must come out with their sources to prove their authenticity.;
I stand by Dhananjay Keer’s sequence, “Educate, Agitate and Organize”. There cannot be an organisation without agitation. Some goody-goody organizations that are merely social and cultural can » be formed without agitation and they need not have any plan for agitation. A political party gets more and more organized by agitations. It is not formed for agitation. Hence “agitate and organize”.
Secondly, | believe that Babasaheb gave us some higher forms of thought with the sequence, “agitate and organize”. | do not believe that Babasaheb gave just a simple message, as the man in the street wishes it as, “organize and agitate”. By all means, let us not drag down the message of Dr. Ambedkar to our level of understanding. Until otherwise disproved, Dhananjay Keer’s version, “agitate and organize”, remains correct. We wish Dg. Jatav and Bhagavan Das disprove it beyond ‘doubt. Despite the shortcomings and inadequacies, Keer’s biography of. Babasaheb remains the most inspiring and outstanding “even while acknowledging the contributions of both Dr. Jatav and Bhagvan Das to Ambedkarism.
Nazi bid to distort our movement: Dr. Ambedkar said that one single Ambedkarite is equal to one lakh followers. We should strive to come up to that level.
We do not believe that the Brahmin in Keer willfully or skillfully distorted the slogan as “agitate and organise”. There is not much to gain by this simple slogan through distortion. We are keen to know the distortions in Keer’s book. Dr. Jatav should write this and DV should publish and educate our people. Unfortunately, most of our “organizations” begin with a war cry and end up in a whimper. The Hindus are fomenting the formation of Dalit Senas, Balmiki Senas and other war groups — setting up Manges against Mahar’s in Maharashtra. Shiv Sena is specialized in this Nazi art of setting one group of Untouchables against the other. “Organise and then Agitate” suits such Nazi lords.
Political organizations should raise war cryies and agitations. Otherwise, we need a great number of organisations. for peaceful reconstruction of our societies. All organisations need not aim at “Sangharsh/ agitation” Agitation is only to articulate our rights and demands. Pity, even Buddhist organisations produced no such organisation like the Red Cross or the Lions Club to rehabilitate and resettle the victims of atrocities/ racism. Let not every organisation aim at agitations.
Here in this context, let me pay my grateful thanks to Dhananjay Keer for this biography on Babasaheb. His biography inspired me to dedicate my services to Ambedkarism and the community service. His approach was one of sentiment affection and highest regard for Babasaheb. Keer sanctified his personality by Baba’s biography. There may be some shortcomings in it but he wrote far better than many biographers belonging SC races. On the lines of the Buddha and His Dharma, we need more biographies on Babasaheb would suit the students at various levels — they need concentrate more on Babasaheb and Indian races, rather than on Brahmin baiting. Dry and lifeless research studies are no biographies.
