Unity of all the oppressed is the aim of self-rule. Where do we stand to achieve such self-rule? What is the hindrance under the present system of democracy where it is one man, one vote, one value. The majority ought to get power.
I have had one unique experience for any sort of unity among the have-nots in a village called Nunnoor, 50 kms from Bangalore. It was a govt. scheme to provide free houses for 5 cents to the site-less families. The aim was to recognise the citizenship of every family. The second aim was to break the caste barrier in villages by mixing all deserving castes.
In Nunnoor, about 10 Holeya (Dalit) families were identified for house-sites. There was no govt. land. Hence it was imperative to acquire suitable private land to form houses. There was this man, Thimmiah, a Holeya, who was a bonded labour. All his sons were also landed labourers under the same landlord. Thimmaiah was against the scheme as it wanted to include the touchable Dalits.
The other Untouchable leaders of the village also felt the same and the whole noble scheme fell through.
During the recent Kargil skirmish, I was at Jodhpur for six months. A life-size statue of Manu, the Brahmin lawgiver, was installed at the premises of the High Court of Rajasthan at Jaipur. I was shocked. Himachal Pradesh had a town, Manali, named after Manu. There is a temple of Manu where an annual fair is held. Again, I was shocked as I was brought up in the Ambedkar school of thought.
Yet. I see the need for unity of SC-BC. The arithmetic of gaining political power has to be taught. The caste- class unity of all poor with Dalits and minorities will tilt the balance of power in favour of the have-nots.
It is a bogus thought to portray that Brahmins having come from the head that directs the arms (Kshatriyas) and legs (shudras) in a Hindu body. It is very simple that everyone having arms and legs also has an independent brain which is capable of thinking and commanding. Brahminism creates hatred among the different SC/ST/BC castes. This hatred will automatically vanish with equal opportunity for educational and economic development. Hence the need for unity of SC/ BC/minorities and Tribals is more urgent.
