Three Cheers to Andhra & Karnataka

On behalf of the vast Dalits, tribals, Backward Classes & persecuted minorities of India, we congratulate the people of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka for throwing out an oppressive regime, teaching a lesson to the power drunk corrupt politicians pawned to a dynastic rule, and opting for a refreshing change. Every change is welcome. The change may be for the good or sometimes for the bad. Whatever it is, we must welcome the change as it invariably leads to some improvement. Since the stagnant, static, stinking waters of the Indian social cesspool seldom welcome change & the forces of status quo are so strong and ever vigilant to maintain, if not consolidate, their exploitative apparatus, the Jan. 5 voting in two crucial Assembly elections has given a clear rebuff to the forces of reaction. It has also clearly indicated that the bottom line of the Indian social pyramid has started mildly shaking. Behold, the poor, suffering masses do get angry and protest. This is the not the first time. They did protest earlier also kicking out the very same Emergency intoxicated Congress regime and installing the Janata. When the RSS became headstrong and uncontrollable, the very same poor kicked out the Janata also and brought back Indira Gandhi. Great! Hence the poor, illiterate rural masses of India have displayed tremendous commonsense unlike the cockeyed sense of judgement of the urban elite. We salute them. We have so far refrained from commenting on political developments as we have been maintaining that in India political changes do not necessarily lead to social and economic changes, which is what the Dalits, OBCs and persecuted minorities need most. Their poverty has led to illiteracy and this has allowed them to be exploited by religion and superstition, already well-protected by the caste system. No revolution, therefore, is possible in Hindu India without first destroying the caste. Because the masses rarely get angry. To become angry and protest, one should first know that he or she is wronged and exploited. But the masses, drugged by a fatalistic dope, do not even know that they are wronged. That is what we mean when we say that the slaves of India are enjoying their slavery. But the Jan. 5 voting does make us feel confident that the masses are capable of protesting, though very mildly. The latest voting has extra ordinary significance because of one very important reason. Remember that even when the stinking Hindi  heartland in North India once kicked out this very same oppressive regime, it was the people of AP & Karnataka who stood by the Amma. Therefore, with this revolt of the most loyal voters of AP and Karnataka, it is now clear that the vast submerged sub-humans are capable of getting angry. The victory in the battle of the ballot box may not indicate anything. Yet it has given us a glimmer of hope. The voting has thrown up a couple of vital issues, the most important of which is that the people are getting increasingly fed up with “national parties” and gradually realising the need to go in for smaller regional parties. The sub-national pull. This is a welcome sign. Already in Tamil Nadu, Periyar EVR has shown the way. AP has now followed it in a big way. Had Devaraj Urs been alive, not only he would have been the obvious choice for the Karnataka chief minister as the father of the Kranti Ranga, but he would have secured a better mandate like the Telugu Desam. Be that as it may; we acknowledge the beautiful sense of judgement of the people of these two States and hope they will learn more lessons from this, use the electoral victory to carve out better and more effective regional parties fully vibrating to the wishes and aspirations of the Dalits, OBCs and minorities. The brave example set by the Akalis should give us courage to go ahead. The Jharkhand demand of the tribals is another silver lining. Assam and Meghalaya going to polls shortly have now an opportunity to assert. The problems of Dalits, tribals, OBCs and persecuted minorities can be better tackled if the administrative unit is smaller and the States enjoy greater autonomy. National parties, even if they are of the Left brand, will not meet the needs of the persecuted sections. There is a fear that the Karnataka poll outcome may lead to political “instability”. This will be true. Doesn’t matter. “Stability”‘ is what the fascists always want. It is the slogan of those opposed to autonomy. Instability means a better say for the underdog. It is also true Telugu Desam may bring a landed high caste rule of the Khamma party led by a film actor, N. T. Rama Rao, a Khamma. But TN is also headed by a high caste film hero, MGR. The Janata-Kranti Ranga combine is also loaded with high castes. A more corrupt and communal Brahmin has become CM. Muslims and Christians completely mauled. The minorities and OBCs are the worst sufferers in this bargain. Naturally they have every reason to be upset when the dust settles. In this sub-national wave, it is they who have suffered most. If there had been no reservations for SC/STs, they too would have been wiped out. It is here that the role of the Muslims and Christians comes. Being the culturally more enriched, if they want to protect their interests in the shape of the things to come, they should take the initiative in forging alliance with their allies – Dalits. To begin with, Muslims and Christians would do well to have their own parties to safeguard their interests. A look at the caste composition of those elected may bring shudders. Is it a jump from frying pan to fire ? Brahmins and other high castes have very much improved their position. They got elected even in the name of the CPI, CPM. The RSS- controlled BJP has come up in a big way. If the Congress got some seats, it was because of the BJP which split opposition votes. But all this is unavoidable and inevitable in a society where people do not want Revolution but only Reform. Under the existing electoral system, it is only the majority community that gets the majority vote. That means the landed high castes (Reddis and Khammas in AP and the Lingayats and Vokkaligas in Karnataka), who also own the property, have better chances of winning. And Brahmins being at the apex of the caste pyramid will be the natural leaders when caste rivalries make the society a house divided. This is what has been going on in India since “independence” and this is what has happened now in these two States. The existing electoral system is loaded against Dalits, and the persecuted masses. That is why Ambedkar wanted a separate electorate. We have to give serious thought to this also. Until the electoral system is changed we can do nothing about it. So we go from one high caste rule to another. Even then, it is a change. Will it not at least end a dynastic rule? Hence, we welcome this change. We do not expect any miracles from the new regime. It is simply not possible under the existing setup. If we want miracles, then we have to go in for Revolution. If we don’t want Revolution, we have to be content with Reform. Political changes will not lead to social changes. But all the more, this election has brought some change, helping to sharpen the contradictions. The process of churning has begun. This is what we want. And this is what the RSS and other status quo-ists oppose. The voters have also proved that the Congress money power and police muscle power will not work. Hundreds of cars and jeeps were marshalled and thugs from Delhi descended on the South to take charge of the election work of the Congress, directed from five-star hotels. State leaders were pushed out. Compared to this glitter, the opposition was a pale show. But the people did not vote for power or money. The PCC was not even consulted on the selection of Congress candidates. It was all done in Delhi with the help of the police officers. Govt machinery was used. Gundu Rao sent SOS to film actors MGR, Amjad Khan and others to campaign for him. Coffee planters poured millions of rupees. Before the election he had bragged that he would get elected from any constituency and that his party would sweep the polls. But what happened? He was defeated in his own home town by an ordinary person. Look at the arrogance! The Supremo and the pilot thought the Rs. 1,500 crore glittering gala of the Asiad would fetch them votes. But what have the masses to do with the Asiad? The “classes”‘ have enjoyed the Asiad and in the coming Delhi corporation elections we will see the very same “classes” voting against this Asiad. The Supremo did every thing to please the “classes” but the classes have been never with Supremo. This habit of taking the votes of the rural poor and helping the urban rich must end. The Supremo and the super-dupers of Delhi, the whiz kids, the smart alecs intoxicated by the five star culture will never, ever learn a lesson. They have learnt nothing and forgotten nothing. Why should they learn anything when their money is safe in the Swiss banks? And the Shankaracharyas are there to bless it? The Times India (Dec. 12, 1982) correspondent reporting from Jabalpur (MP) said welcoming the Prime Minister (to the Rs. 1 crore fabulous Tripura Sundari Temple at Joteshwar) the three Shankaracharyas including the Sringeri and the Dwaraka pithas, said “a new era was dawning under the dynamic leadership of Mrs. Indira Gandhi”. The three Shankaracharyas, who are the pillars of the RSS and every other Hindu fascist forces in India, also gave her an exclusive interview and blessed her saying that “she is the only hope of the Hindus”. We also learn the Shankaracharyas directed temples in AP and Karnataka to conduct special pujas and pray for the success of the Congress. She flew from Bangalore to this remote hill temple in a tribal area changing two planes even in the midst of her breathtaking election tour, indicating the significance she attached to this visit to seek the blessings of the Shankaracharyas. And the result of this blessing is the mind-boggling slap on the face of the Supremo. Three cheers to the people of AP and Karnataka. They did it.