Address to university professors at Indian Social Institute, Bangalore, on May 25, 2009 on “Understanding & re-discovering Dr. B.R. Ambedkar”.
Part-l
Since the gathering here comprises non-Hindu (Christian) and that too academics, I am very much relieved because the subject given to me is extremely “controversial”.
Besides, the two subjects are too big covering the whole gamut of Indian history.
Anything which goes against the value system of the upper castes (Hindus), who constitute a micro- minority in India, is called controversial and then shot dead.
CASTE COMPOSITION
So the subject will impress you only if I give you the caste and religious composition of the country – meaning the population statistics of today’s India.
Nobody will give you these figures because either they don’t know or silent as the figures are extremely uncomfortable and irritating to the ruling class. But without Total understanding the caste and religious composition of the country, it is not possible to understand India or any of its problems.
AMBEDKAR & JINNAH
The problem becomes more complicated because though you are a Christian and victim of the same forces, you are brought up and educated in the Hindu value system. The country got divided in 1947 on the religious question. In pre-independent days, Dr. Ambedkar and Jinnah together fought their common enemy. Who was their common enemy? The “Hindus”, who form a micro-minority, led by the Brahmins. The leader of the Hindus was M.K. Gandhi.
SEPARATE ELECTORATE
Jinnah led the Muslims and Dr. Ambedkar led the Untouchables.
Both fought the same enemy – just a 15% micro-minority led by Gandhi – who continues to oppress us even to this day.
I just returned from a tour of Pakistan (2009) where I was invited by the govt. to address the birth anniversary function of Dr. Ambedkar, a highly respected person in Pakistan because the Father of Pakistan, Allama Iqbal, and M.A. Jinnah, had close relationship with Dr. Ambedkar.
Dr. Ambedkar had only one simple demand, “separate electorate”, which would have solved all our problems and transformed India itself.
The benevolent British Govt. then ruling India (1932) accepted his demand because all the religious minorities then had been enjoying separate electorate. Separate electorate is a well-known democratic principle as part of self- determination.
But M.K. Gandhi, the Hindu leader, went on his fake fast against Dr. Ambedkar’s demand and once for all killed the future of untouchables. And the future of India. Gandhi was more interested in Hindus and their Hinduism. Not Dalits. But finally who killed Gandhi? They only.
UNDIVIDED INDIA’S MOST LEARNED MAN
Dr. Ambedkar was undivided India’s most learned person. Educated at London, a Barrister, Columbia University, Bonn University all world famous institutions. But Gandhi, Nehru and other Hindus were mere lawyers. Or “Sunday lawyers”.
He was also a man of character, nobility and super-human scholarship. The British recognised his genius and the whole world but not India’s Hindus.
Beverly Nicholas, a famous Western scholar, called him “one among the seven best brains of the world”.
I have read all his works and found him a towering genius. But the ruling micro-minority upper castes, just 15%, refused to acknowledge his greatness.
BRITISH LIBRARY INCIDENT
I will give you one confrontation that I had at the famous British Library headquarters in London two years ago
Not one person in the undivided India or even later could surpass Dr. Ambedkar in his all round
knowledge and mastery over law, international affairs, economics, political science, philosophy, religion, history and the command over English language.
So much so in the whole of India with all the highly educated lyers and Iyengars, they could not get a single person to draft the constitution of India.
“FATHER OF INDIA”
Brahmins finally fell on his feet and forced him to accept the responsibility.
But as soon the job was over, he was kicked out of the Union Cabinet as the first Law Minister of India.
The Congress Party, the original Brahminical party of India, hated him and continues to hate him.
They are not ready to recognise the greatness of the man who is described in Dalit Voice as the “Father of India”.
When the rulers of India have no respect for the country’s greatest son, you can well imagine what will be the future of this country.
Do you know India’s so-called “Independence Day” was started on an inauspicious day (the country’s future is judged by only astrologers and not thinkers and scholars) and from then onwards we have been slipping and slipping.
SUB-STANDARD UNIVERSITIES
Out of the 190 countries or so as members of the United Nations, India’s rank is 134. And it is going down. But our “India shining walas” keep it well hidden.
As you are teachers you can understand the chaotic situation in our education field. Our universities are producing sub-standard doctors, engineers, lawyers and other professionals. What a shame.
Even after 62 years of “independence” our literacy rate (in Indian languages) is not even 30%. English knowing population is not even 3%. Over 70% illiterate.
And this 3% people are 90% upper castes and enemies of the 85% of the population. And it is these people who are attacking churches and your nuns. How can India progress?
Kerala is an exception to this rule. In Karnataka, no school is functioning in villages.
MOTHER TONGUE MANIA
But in Bangalore, all upper castes, meaning the rich, are going to English-medium schools and jumping forward. But our people are working as clerks and peons, brainwashed by the Brahmin- created “mother tongue mania”.
This in nutshell is the Indian effort to “understand Dr. Ambedkar”.
” Sorry, Dr. Ambedkar is forgotten. That means our future is gloomy. When I say this I am dubbed a pessimist. But you must know that all revolutionaries were only pessimists. Budha said the world is full of dukkha.
For your information, I am not a born Untouchable. I belonged to an OBC jati and through marxism I came to Ambedkarism – which is marxism plus something more.
I am the Editor of Dalit Voice for the past 30 years. With about 100 books to my credit. My earning is from my books which are sold as hot cakes.
For taking up the cause of Untouchables and the other weaker sections I was badly punished: four arrests, once handcuffed and jailed in Chandigarh, passport impounded for 20 years, two attempts on my life. More will follow.
But more than that the country’s rulers have taken a decision that my name and that of my paper should not be published anywhere. And yet they boast that India is a great democracy with full freedom of speech and freedom of press.
The same people shout “sarva dharma samabhava”. But kill Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, Dalits. This is Hinduism.
I am not bothered. At the most they may kill me. They killed Gandhi, “father of their nation”. What do they care for me?
I have brought with me a book written by an upper caste Malayali Nair (not a Dalit or even OBC), Parameswara Menon, saying all that I have said so far.
The copies of this book are available with us. It is a must reading.
II – REDISCOVERING DR. AMBEDKAR
We have spent 1/2 hour on understanding Dr. Ambedkar.
But India’s micro-minority ruling class, which says the only job of the Christians is to convert Dalits and Tribals, is not interested in understanding the “Father of India”.
The services rendered by the church can be written only in the words of gold. We have said and written about it but the rulers hate church and yet make full use of its facilities.
KERALA’S CASTE COMPOSITION
When the ruling upper castes are not interested in understanding Dr. Ambedkar, how can we say they will be interested in re-discovering Dr. Ambedkar.
After having worked in the Indian Express for 25 yeas and now as Editor of Dalit Voice for about 30 years, I am too pessimistic about India’s future.
And my pessimism is fully supported by the socio-economic, cultural and political factors which the rulers are using to govern us.
I will give the latest and the most impressive example from Kerala to convince how the ruling upper castes think.
Kerala has 25% Christian and 25% Muslims and 30% OBCs, mostly Ezhavas.
At last because of the immense popularity of Achutanandan, the Marxists (CPM), came to power and he was hailed as incorruptible and man for the poor. But the 3% upper castes of the state – Brahmin, Nair and some upper caste Christians- joined hands to topple him.
Not only that. They got the party itself defeated. Why? The Brahminical people are not interested in Kerala or the country. Their permanent interest is their caste.
ADVANI HATED BY BRAHMINS
Why the upper castes of Kerala, who are not even 5% of the population, hate Achutanandan when he is loved by the people?
The upper castes were so furious that they did not mind defeating their own party. They wanted to get rid of Achutanandan because they think he is against them.
Have you heard such a thing? In the latest parliament election, the BJP got defeated because the upper castes vote swung from BJP to Congress.
Why? Because Advani is not a Brahmin. But he is a man of character, honest, incorruptible.
Upper caste rulers are not interested in all these things. Their only interest is their caste.
Because from the Brahminical point of view Manmohan Singh is very good. Because he is proved to be a great supporter of the rich who are mainly upper castes.
IN SEARCH OF BOMB
Sikhs don’t like him nor do the Muslims and Dalits. That is why the 15% upper castes love him.
Because he was ready even for the defeat of his govt. in his desperate search for what is described as “peaceful nuclear deal” – in other words bomb.
Manmohan Singh wanted to give bomb to the upper castes to fight Pakistan and China.
Upper castes are India’s only people who can clearly identify their enemy and friend.
This ruling class has declared Dr. Ambedkar thoughts are dangerous to their caste interests. Simple.
When this is the reality, how can India “re-discover” Dr. Ambedkar?
Who represents India? Not the Dalits. Not the Muslims. Not Christians. Not Sikhs. Not BCs. But only the micro-minority “Hindus” representing just 15% of the population.
There may be some good, honest persons among the upper castes. But such of them collaborate in the crime of their jatwalas by their silence.
MERIT – MY FOOT
The Brahminical people quickly counter this argument by pointing out “merit”.
I have written a book itself on the subject in which this question is answered.
The Supreme Court itself has quoted my whole book in a historic judgement and fully endorsed my thesis: Merit – My Foot.
Has anybody visited the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore? I go there sometimes.
This is said to be country’s “most prestigious and internationally known research institution”. Fine.
I asked them to give me just one instance of their research accepted as per international standards. The authorities started evading the question.
RESEARCH IN INDIAN INST. OF SCIENCES
But as a journalist I can speak with authority. IISc has not a single research to its credit that will help improve the living standards of the people. I said this once at a public meeting inside the IISc itself, presided by its then director.
No Indian scientist has received any Nobel Prize after “independence”. Those “Indians” who got such prize are not Indian citizens.
In the light of these, where is the chance for India “re-discovering” Dr. Ambedkar? Hate cannot build a society. It can only break the society.
CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS PREFER HINDUS
Christians, who did so much to educate India, serve India, are hated and killed. Muslims are killed daily, impoverished and pushed to urban slums. Dalits and Tribals have become beggars.
You may ask: what about the reservations? Did it not improve their lives?
No. That is why I brought a report of the UGC Chairman’s book on Dalit reservations.
As you are teachers you must be knowing this better than me.
Your own Christian schools and colleges prefer “merited” students, meaning upper castes. We have the famous example of Christ College and Mount Carmel College in
Bangalore. Situation is gloomy, dismal. In the din of the “India Shining”, all the facts are hidden.
But you have the famous example of China, which became independent two years after India, becoming the world’s No. 1 economic power. How it soared so high?
The Brahminical quick reply to this is: “India is a democracy but China is communist dictatorship”. But they don’t know China is a member of the WTO, World Bank, United Nations and all international bodies.
But to this day nobody has said China’s progress was due to communist dictatorship. Our upper castes have a jaundiced mind, sick mind. They have their own logic.
So in the light of such dismal records of the past 62 years when the rulers have forgotten Dr. Ambedkar and went against every principle and policy that Dr. Ambedkar propounded, where is the chance to re-discover Dr. Ambedkar?
III – DR. AMBEDKAR LOVED TO DEATH
The topic given to me does not mention economic reconstruction. That means our problem has been rightly diagnosed as social problem.
I don’t want to make a speech but put before you four questions. On receiving the answer to each question I will elaborate on the subject.
All the questions are familiar to educated Dalit youth who have · read Babasaheb’s book.
How many books of Babasaheb you have read?
You may say you don’t know English. How can I read? This is the biggest problem facing our liberation. One who does not know English is like a cow. English opens door to your knowledge. What is there in Kannada? Did not Basavalingappa say “kannada sahityadalli boosa”? (Kannada literature is nothing but cattle-feed).
DALITS BECAME BETTER SLAVES
Question 1:
While moving the constitution of India, Babasaheb said in Parliament that those who suffer from social and economic inequality will blow up the constitution.
Sixty years are over since Babasaheb made this speech. Our social and economic crisis are deepening. Not only of Dalits. The whole country is in social and economic crisis: agriculture, education, health, infrastructure, industry and technology. Even the very security of the country.
Dalits continue to remain slaves. No. They have become better slaves.
Did we revolt and blow up the constitution?
The pre-requisite for any revolution is revolutionary situation.
That means Dalits, who are the lowest and the poorest, must get angry. Did we get angry? Khairlanji recently provoked some anger but it is confined to Maharashtra.
Now answer the question: Did those who suffer from social and economic inequality blow up the constitution?
Question 2:
Babasaheb gave us two weapons to strike the Hindus, our enemies and pull them down as rulers.
The first weapon was “reservation”.
(a) Reservation in education and job and (b) Reserved constituencies.
Only about 5% of Dalits have been benefitted by the reservation in education. That means 95% of our people are still out.
Only if you have education, you can get a job. That means 95% of Dalits don’t have education and hence can’t get govt. jobs.
The second weapon is reserved constituencies. In Parliament there are about 130 reserved seats. There are many more MLA reserved seats. What are these MPs and MLAs elected from reserved seats doing?
Did we use Babasaheb’s two weapons: education and reserved seats to fight the rulers?
Question 3:
Babasaheb gave us the RP.I. This party got divided into five or six – all confined to Maharashtra.
WHY DALITS NOT JOINING B.S.P. ?
Kanshi Ram was the first Dalit leader to form an all-India party for Bahujans. It has about 17 MPs in Lok Sabha but have our people joined it? In Karnataka, BSP has not even one MLA.
We have tremendous population strength: Dalits 20%, STs 10%, BCs 35%, Muslims 15%. Total 80.
We have the strength of population. But Brahmins who have no strength of population are ruling us. Why?
At least in one state, we could come to power. In UP, BSP came to power 3 times but failed.
But BJP which is the party of 15% upper castes ruled India for five full years. In Karnataka, it is in power. We talk of Babasaheb, Narayana Guru, Phule, Periyar. But all these leaders are dead and gone. Do we have today any leader of that stature?
DALITS DIVIDED
We are divided on caste, subcaste. (B) Male domination. Our enemy is united. But we are divided. We have no money, no discipline.
Question 4:
Babasaheb said Dalits are not Hindu and were never Hindu. We are only called Hindu.
But in the recent two-day “communal riot” in Bangalore it was the Dalits who went to attack Muslims.
Are you Hindu? If you say no, did you teach this to your children? Are you going to temple? Did you quit Hinduism and embrace Budhism? No.
Ambedkarism loved to death? Four questions demand answer:
I don’t want to make a speech. Instead I want to put five questions. And on receiving
the answer to each question, I will slightly elaborate on the subject.
All the questions are very familiar to educated Dalits who have read Babasaheb Ambedkar.
Question 1:
While moving the constitution of India in parliament, Babasaheb delivered his famous speech. In that he warned:
Those who suffer from social and economic inequality will blow up the constitution”.
Did he not say that? Fifty years are over since he made this speech. Social and economic inequalities have increased by leaps and bounds. Dalits in AP and all other parts of India have not only remained as slaves but became better slaves.
Did you revolt and blow up the constitution?
The first pre-requisite for revolution is a revolutionary situation. That means you must first get angry. Did you get angry?
Question – Il: Babasaheb gave you two weapons to pull Hindus down as rulers. The first weapon is reservation: (1) reservation in education & jobs, and (2) reserved constituencies.
About 5% of our population took advantage of the 1st weapon.
In Parliament we have about 130 SC/ST MPs. Have they used these two weapons and defeated the ruling upper castes?
Question -III:
Babasaheb gave us the RPI but it got divided and failed. BSP is the first and the only Dalit- Bahujan all-India party formed after Babasaheb.
Our population is formidable. Dalits 20%, ST 10%, Total about 30%.
Did you make BSP the ruling party in India? We are the majority but the Brahminical BJP has become a ruling party though they form just 15% of the population.
You talk of Sri Narayana Guru, Ayyankali, Mahatma Phule Babasaheb. All these past. What is today?
We are divided on the basis of caste, subcaste, language. Even party-wise. In this meeting here today, I find not a single girl student. The minority 15% Aryans are united but we are divided.
Brahmins have mastered English. But we stick to our mother tongue.
Question IV: Babasaheb said Untouchables are not Hindu and were never Hindu. We are only called Hindu. But go to Tirupati temple, most of the fellows who go and get their hair shaved are Dalits. Did you convert to any other religion or at least to Budhism?
Question No.V:
The holiest place for Budhists is Bodh Gaya but it is under Brahmin control. A Japanese Budhist, Surei Sasai, based in Nagpur has been for years launching an agitation liberate Budha Gaya. But why the Dalits of even Bihar did not support him?
