Brother Kovena’s (DV March 16, 2007) formula to form caste-based unions in all villages, towns and cities is a wonderful idea to strengthen each caste to fight the enemy.
He says the Editor’s caste solution has nothing to say on “organize”. He is wrong. The Editor has explained various aspects of the problems facing India’s oppressed in his famous book, Caste — A Nation Within the Nation (Books for Change, 2002). He says:
The loss of caste consciousness among the Bahujans had led to the loss of identity which in turn has led to the loss of political power. When a community is deprived of political power, it is said to have lost the key to its community’s progress. Since all the Bahujans are politically insignificant they cannot unlock the door of progress closed to them. That is how all these communities have become weak and poor in every aspect.” (p. 38)
Dr. Ambedkar, our messiah, has given great importance to his Three Commandments. Since our Editor is a staunch Ambedkarite he wants to follow the spirit of the Three Commandments. We have to follow it in its order, Educate, Agitate, Organise.
Dr. Ambedkar said:
My final words of advice to you is Educate, Agitate and Organise; have faith in yourself. With justice on our side, I do not see how we can lose our battle. The battle to me is a matter of joy. The battle is in the fullest spiritual sense. There is nothing material or social in it, for ours is a battle, not for wealth or for power. It is a battle for freedom. It is a battle for reclamation of human personality. (Quoted by our Editor in the booklet, “Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s Three Commandments,” DSA-2005, p.5)
Kovena’s plan to “Organise” the Bahujans leaving the first two items of the Three Commandments must be revised so that it follows the correct order. Agitation is necessary to unite the oppressed classes to defeat their oppressors. The Editor’s “caste identity” thesis is the sharpest weapon to “educate” the downtrodden.
Our Editor says:
“So, unity comes out of crisis. And if there is no crisis, we must create one. This is called the sharpening of the contradictions. Ambedkarites must always welcome crisis and caste war. And this crisis is called ‘agitation’ by Babasaheb. So it is this crisis, this agitation that unites people, throws up genuine leaders. And this in turn leads to organisation. Not vice-versa.”
