Before I begin, I would like to clear that I mean no disrespect to Babasaheb or any others who have contributed to the Bahujan community. This is my own analysis and interpretation of the human behavior and the loopholes in our quest to power.
I was a typical Dalit who had firm faith in Ambedkarism and Buddhism, but later the thing that bothered me was why doesn’t it work? Why there is no success? I got the answer in Charles Darwin’s, The Origin of Species. The theory is considered loathsome by many but it has the explanation about the nature of living organisms. Truth is often harsh.
AMBEDKARITE MISTAKE
The goal which many Ambedkarites pursue is to create a drastic change in the mentality of masses. For decades all time and resources have been allocated to achieve this target.
There are three fundamental facts about human nature which I think are ignored by the Ambedkarites:
(1) The only purpose of humans or any living being is Survival and Replication (S&R). Survival comes first as there is no life without survival and replication comes second which ensures passage of genes and continuity of race. All emotions of humans are to support S&R. As long as any action of emotion supports the purpose of S&R, there is nothing right or wrong.
(2) Justice, equality and political freedom are just ideas and not facts. In each or every society there is a hierarchy of some kind or other. There are rulers and there are subjects.
(3) Power is amoral. And so is the path to gain power. There isn’t a single largescale victorious revolution which has occurred without bloodshed. (largescale revolution means complete gain of power).
INDIVIDUAL SALVATION
The first point is the answer to why the Bahujans have more regards to gods (irrespective of religion) rather than to Babasaheb. He made the first big change and that is why people at that time were staunch followers and supporters because it gave a boost to their S&R value. Untouchability and other practices which were harmful for us were “constitutionally” abolished, and that was the first major victory for us.
However it is still there because the rulers have still not changed. For the educated and elite Dalits, especially the younger generations, it is more or less like it never existed and hence they do not bother about taking it to the further level because it no more fuels the individual S&R value. What fuels the S&R value is individual progress in terms of money or wealth.
BRAHMIN CONDITIONING
The other section of the Bahujans who assume that they are more enlightened and good human beings are absolutely wrong. There is nothing good or bad, it is just an interpretation of actions as a result of social conditioning. It is the will to power which fuels us on an unconscious level to take such actions.
By reading this statement many will be angry. Ask yourself a question: Do you really think that you are people of high moral standards who think about the welfare of the society? The answer is NO. Its just that you have been a born Dalit and you have been influenced by the teachings of Babasaheb.
If you had been a born Brahmin family with different social conditioning, you wouldn’t be the same.
A hypothetical example: if Babasaheb had been born a Brahmin with all luxuries would he create such a revolution? The obvious answer is no, for the very simple reason that it won’t make any sense. The common rebuttal which comes to anyone’s mind is examples like Phule, Dr. Ambedkar, Abraham Lincoln etc.
SELF-INTEREST AS MOTIVE
Such acts of altruism are also done for selfish motives. It is rewarded with fame and attention. Phule wouldn’t do that if nobody objected it because psychologically people are tempted to do what is forbidden. Babasaheb’s Brahmin teacher saw a great caliber in him, so it’s obvious that when he turns famous he will be known too. It’s not that he educated all Dalit children. Abraham Lincoln would not have introduced the greenbacks if there was no civil war and the central bank would be under the government control.
One line from the Buddha and His Dhamma: “A son is brought up for the sake of the family, the father is honored by the son for the sake of his own future support the world shows kindness for the sake of hope; there is no such thing as unselfishness without a motive.”
What I would like to add that now it’s hopeless to be kind.
The fact is that we all are selfish. And any individual will chose a path which increases its S&R value and not decrease it.
Why would a Brahmin or anyone give away power which has been held for so many centuries just for the sake of equality?
This brings me to the second point. Those who are fueled with will to power become a king and those who are not end up as slaves. In each and every society there are only two probabilities. Either you are part of the system or slave to the system. Not all men are born equal, only the strong will prosper and conquer.
JUSTICE IS LANGUAGE OF THE WEAK
Take democracy as an example, it says equal rights to everyone, liberty, freedom-blah blah blah. What does an average citizen do? He or she will educate, work, reproduce and resort to some kind of entertainment for change and eventually will die in some way or the other. Does any kind of freedom makes any difference to such kind of a person? Lets assume that there is no freedom of speech. Will it make any difference, if the majority of them just work and come back home?
Justice is the language of the week, the ruler is not bothered about it because he wields power.
FARMERS SUICIDE
This brings me back to S&R value. We chase these people telling them to be an atheist, accept Buddhism and Ambedkarism. Some people listen to it. But what significant change does it bring to the person’s life? For a theist, religion and god Increases S&R value because abiding to the former ensures them a good stable life as well as afterlife. A farmer who has witnessed number of famines and suicides of his fellow men sees no S&R value in democracy which attracts him to communism, as it is result-oriented. In Stalin’s words, Death is the solution to all problems. No man, No problem.” The farmer sees higher S&R value in communism
THREAT TO BRAHMIN
In general people are lazy, they don’t want to think, that is why they give authority to one who is leading. Hence it is idiotic to chase the masses. They key lies in refining ourselves.
Unless a group of Bhaujans are identified as a major threat to the Brahmin rule the followers will always be few in numbers.
This brings me back to Dalit intellectuals. All I hear everywhere is that Babasaheb said this and that, Buddha said this, Babasaheb is right about Buddhism, Tibetans are wrong. We fight over vipassana. I don’t understand why is so much time and resources spent over these issues? If we claim to be educated and rational people then can’t we think for ourselves? Are we so pathetic that we have to resort to some doctrine for answers?
MONEY DICTATES THINGS
There are a bunch of Ambedkarites who say that we have to work behind the curtain and we should refrain from increasing assets. Does Ambedkarism mean pauperism? Isn’t it obvious that if the individual is guaranteed fame and monetary success for his work, then the output and efficiency of his work will increase? That is the reason why many Dalit people work loyally in other parties. Money dictates everything. The mistake which we make with the money we get is we host dhamma programs.
It is smarter to invest it and take advantage of capitalism instead of cursing it.
This brings me to the third point, the amoral stance of power. Since man is selfish, power is amoral.
There is no such thing as equality. It does not exist in any society which makes Ambedkarism as the Indian version of socialist utopian concept.
There are many patrons of democracy who claim that ballot has put many people out of power than bullet. Another example of triumph of democracy in every Ambedkarites tongue is Barack Obama. This indicates that our knowledge of international politics is absolutely zero. Even Gautam Chakravarty who has spent so much time in UK is unaware that European and American govts, are controlled by bankers and Obama is a mere puppet.
POLITICAL POWER IS NO POWER
Even if the majority vote to Bahujans at central level, do you think that will just happen like that? The Brahmins know the counter measures and they are very good at it.
The Dalit intellectuals are caught between morals and the will to power, both are not possible.
I am a regular reader of Dalit Voice and the Dec. 16, 2009 issue caught my attention. The Editor gave special attention to his involvement and his support to the Sikhs during the “Operation Blue Star”. It is really sad the Sikhs forgot his contribution. The Sikhs favored him then for obvious reason that there were mass murders, they needed support in all ways. But the condition has changed and hence there is no such necessity for help. What I think is there should be no more chasing and convincing for alliances to the masses. It all comes back conditions which favor S&R.
Once the intellectuals separate out and claim that they are not interested in aiding the masses from Brahmin atrocities, then the masses will be scared and will automatically join willingly.
One should not forget that even though the good things in this country are because of Babasaheb, the history is written by victors. And to rewrite history blood will have to be shed. The history is not favoring us hence the burden of proof is on our shoulders.
The E-paper and television channel will really help if there is promotion of a cult and not utopia. If the propaganda is not changed all investment will go in vain.
