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April 5, 2006

 

 

POLITICS  BEYOND  AMBEDKAR

 

 

Prof Mrs TS Kalanjali

 

 

Is Baba Saheb Ambedkar Relevant Today?  May be Yes or may be No!  Why if Yes, and Why if No?

 

No, Baba Saheb Ambedkar is not Relevant Today!

 

True to the Saying or Commandment of our great Tamil Saint, Thiruvalluvar, in his Kural Number 423, under Arivudaimai or Wisdom, in the Part on Arasiyal or Politics, of Chapter II Porutpal or Materialism –

 

 

Epporul yaryarvayk ketpinum, apporul

Meyporul kanba dharivu!

 

It means that –

 

Whatever, from whomsoever, even if heard, those sayings,

Real meanings, examination, is Wisdom.

 

So, let us Examine the Real Truths and Reasonings behind the saying, opinion that –

 

No, Baba Saheb Ambedkar is not Relevant Today.  If that is so, Why?

 

Baba Saheb Ambedkar is not Relevant Today!  No, Baba Saheb Ambedkar is not Relevant Today!  That, because he is still seen by the brahmans, brahmanic society and their Friends, as an Enemy, a bitter Enemy in that. 

 

Baba Saheb Ambedkar is an Enemy, a bitter Enemy.  He is seen so, even today, by many of the brahmans, the brahmanic society, and their Friends.  If that is True, then whose Enemy is he?  And why is he an Enemy?  Why is he a bitter Enemy?  

 

If Baba Saheb Ambedkar is an Enemy, he is Enemy of whom, and then why is he an Enemy, that too Decades after his Death?

 

Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar, was and still is seen as an Enemy!  An Enemy, because he was against the brahman Hold over the People, Grips over the Society.  And for that fact, Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar, was against any one Section’s Domination over others.  He did not like anyone’s or any Groups’ Control over the rest of the Society.  He definitely did not Relish the Domination of any single Group of People in the Govts, or monopoly of the Administration therein, nor was he comfortable about the grip of anyone or any Group of People in the matter of exercising Public Authority, especially sovereign Power in the Society.  He was definitely against and Exploitation over any Section in the Country, particularly very large significantly huge Sections of People in the Country.  The brahmans who have been controlling the affairs of the People in almost all parts of the Indian Society, therefore considered Baba Saheb Ambedkar as an Enemy, an unwanted Individual, and a Danger to their Interests, almost throughout his lifetime.  In fact they are still opposed to him.

 

Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar, is still seen as an Enemy by many!  That many are invariably fundamentalist fascist brahmans and their friends.  The brahmans and their Friends, being the rich powerful dominant people in the Country, having been dominating and ruling the Nation.  Thus, the brahmans etc being the elites and ruling classes, what they felt and still consider, is important and carries much weight in the Country, almost unconsciously.  The brahmans and other elites being the big opinion makers, and always emerge as the spokesmen of the Society, popping themselves first on their own, what they say and consider has much influence on the rest of the People in the Country.  That is how the brahmans are still in dominant positions, holding Important Offices, and crucial Powers of the Nation in their hands.  This, though they are only on an average 3% of the Population.  Even this fact was not known to anyone, till the Census by the British Rulers about hundred years ago, which the ignorant really stupid Indian Orthodoxy bitterly opposed, for various irrational and illogical reasons during those days.  Now aware of the Dangers of Census to their overall and larger Interests, the same brahmans are today opposed to separate enumeration of Backward Castes.

 

Many brahmans still consider Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar as their Enemy, and hence he is still seen as an Enemy by many others, for no real reasons or personal opinions.  The brahmans consider Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar as their Enemy, because he had surely upset their comfortable Apple Cart of conveniently controlling others with their traditional historic hold on the Society Rulers Govts and Administration.  They are also Angry, as he considered their Traditional Enemies, the Enemies of their Domination – Gautama Buddha, Kabir, and Mahatma Phule as his Gurus.  Gautama Buddha, was their original ideological Enemy, who had dislodged them, loosened their Control over the Society, and weakened their Power over the People, with his very intelligent successful Middle Path, Sangha and other Buddhist Teachings.  They knew how they had to struggle for long and a lot, wait over a long period of many Ages and Centuries, before they could overcome Buddha and his Teachings, sideline Buddhism and Sangha, and push them all virtually out of this Country.  Kabir was the next Enemy, who had weaned many Sections of People, and even some Groups of Brahmins to his line of thinking, and out of their Control and Influence.  And finally, the greatest moral Danger came from the Third Enemy, the Backward Caste Mahatma Phule, who had publicly exposed them and the fact that the Kings and Rulers have been wasting the States’ Funds and Tax Collections in Maintaining Temples and Feeding the brahmans therein.  Hence, they were bitterly opposed to Baba Saheb Ambedkar.

 

Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar, was rightly seen as an Enemy by the brahmans and their friends, as he went on to Challenge the basic tenants of their religious and social Philosophy.  He wanted to Destroy Castes, and wanted to Speak about that.  They thought that he had the cheekiness to Publish his Speech in his Annihilation of Castes, when he was actually not allowed to speak out on that.

 

The brahmans consider Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar as their Enemy, because he had directly and almost head on Challenged their hold and control on the Society Economy Govts Administration and National Resources.  They also found that by opposing and challenging their exploitation over all others, particularly the Depressed Classes, Baba Saheb had committed a biggest sin, and taken out of their holistic Control the whole Working Classes, Labouring for them almost freely for nothing, and also others who paid respectful obeisance and also comfortably maintained them by providing all necessary Funds, free Food, Resources, leisurely Comforts and many other good things in Life.

 

The friends of brahmans the kshatriyas and vaishyas, were not only influenced by the brahmans in opposing Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar, but also swayed by what they saw by themselves.  They perceived many big Dangers, direct Threats, and great Losses to their Social Political and Economic Interests.  The Awakening the Depressed Classes, the basic Working Force in the Country, was a real threat to them.  Providing for many Labour Safeguards to Workers in the Organised Sector covering almost all Backward Castes, was a big blow to them, as that reduced their Capacity to exploit the Workers, and reduced their Profits and Gains considerably.  They also saw a bigger danger in his Demands for Nationalisation of Land, and trying to introduce Labour Officers even in the Agricultural Sector to protect the Interests of Landless Labourers.  That would have taken out almost all SC&ST Dalits and Backward Castes who provided the Labour Force for Agriculture.  His attempts to provide Rights that would have liberated even their own captive Women out of their unreasonable Restrictions and Control, was seen as the final atrocious attempt by Baba Saheb, to Weaken their Control on the Country and its Resources, and also to their Future and that of their Children and Descendants. 

 

The brahmans also found that Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar would grow as their biggest Enemy ever, because he had one by one dismantling their elaborate infrastructures of power control oppression and exploitation.  And by his various Struggles Agitations and silent Legislations, he was also slowly Liberating the Backward Castes, Working Classes and Women – half of the Society.  He was showing clear signs of co-opting all helpless exploited and marginalised Minorities and Backward Castes in the Country.  His close alliances and extensive cooperation with the Backward Caste Rulers Chatrapathi Sahu Maharaj of Kolhapur, Maharaja of Mysore and others; his closeness with the Maharaja of Baroda, Nizam of Hyderabad etc; his hobnobbing with Mohammad Jinnah the Muslim Enemy of hindus and hinduism Bharat and brahmanic Control over Akand Bharat; and also his contacts with the direct and openly anti-brahman antagonist Periyar – EV Ramasamy Naicker of Madras Presidency, were unforgettable and unpardonable.

 

The brahmans and their other ruling class friends considered amongst all that, Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar’s contacts with Periyar EV Ramasamy Naicker of Madras was more Dangerous, and if they cement their alliances, they would grow to be their biggest and insurmountable Enemies forever.   Hence his contacts and dealings with Periyar were watched with great concern and worry.  For Periyar, amongst all was proving to be the most bitterest enemy of the brahmans, and had come out completely and totally in the open, that too very publicly in the Streets against the brahmans.  It was that same Periyar who had also said that, even the most poisonous Cobra is far better than a brahman.  His argument was that Cobra had poison only in its teeth, where as the brahmans had poison all over their bodies.   He had also said that one who had created gods and goddesses is a fraud of the first order, one who worships them is a fool, and the one who promotes them and their worship is the greatest cheat.  That directly hit at the very roots of the main brahman interests, vocations, earnings, livelihood, philosophy and hold on the society.  And that Periyar had also challenged the brahman authority and rule by participating in the Vaikom Protest and SC Dalits Temple Entry Movement in Kerala, was a clear sign of things to come.  Not only that, Periyar had clearly exposed the brahmans and their activities.

 

If Mahatma Phule had earlier brought out in Public that they, the brahmans were living on the State and Temples, and that the Rulers and their Govts were spending most of the State Funds collected from the ordinary poor People as Levies and Taxes, Periyar had exposed them much more.  Periyar had opened the secret that the brahmans were not only living on the State, Govt and Temples, but were also enjoying themselves at the cost of Congress Party and its Offices as main and important Party Functionaries, travelling First Class, by Car and otherwise Comfortably and also luxuriously.  He had also said that the brahmans were using Temples as their main places of social and economic contacts, business centres, and that the Govt Offices were turning out to be their excusive Caste Associations, and Congress their private Religious and Caste Clubs.  All these, made Periyar much more dangerous, and very much feared Individual, a Political Force and big Social Personality.  Therefore, the brahmans rightly felt, very clearly from their points of view, that, Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar’s contacts with Periyar EV Ramasamy Naicker of Madras, was a much bigger threat.  And also that, they can never forgive or forget, or can ever allow themselves to have any sort of Compromise with Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar.

 

The brahmans felt that Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar had crossed all Limits, when he wanted to Convert and Embrace some other Religion.  They found his open Counsel with various streams of Christianity, different Groups of Muslims, and Sikhs etc is a big Threat.  They also considered that by openly declaring his intention to Convert to some Liberal Religion, that too along with thousands and thousands of his followers, he was trying to finish off the brahmans completely, ruin Hinduism and destroy the Indian Society and Nation.  For, for the brahmans, Indian Society and Nation always meant brahmans and brahman interests.  They arrogantly equated themselves, their Welfare and their Leadership with the whole of the Indian Society, the whole Country, and entire Indian Nation.

 

Therefore the brahmans and his friends would always like to eliminate Baba Saheb and his Memory.  What better way can they find, than by declaring that he is not at all Relevant to the Nation and Society Today?  That is why Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar is considered to be, Not at all Relevant. 

 

Therefore that Statement, Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar is not at all Relevant to the Nation and Society Today, is only one Opinion.  And it is a very much Wrong Opinion.  If that Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar is considered to be Not at all Relevant, who else can then be actually Relevant?

 

The other View is that Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar is very much Relevant to the Nation and Society.  And in fact he is only Relevant to the Nation and Society, and for the Future and Welfare of the People.

 

 

Now let us see and examine the other Response –

 

Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar is very Relevant.  

 

The very Statement to the Contrary by some, saying even these days that, Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar is Not at all Relevant, in fact makes him Relevant to us, and forces anyone to examine him and his works. 

 

If Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar is Relevant Today, why?

 

Now let us Examine this Statement also.  And let us ask, Why?

 

Thus, the very Statement that, Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar is considered to be, Not at all Relevant, makes him Relevant, needs to be examined.

 

Let us now therefore take the Question proper –

 

If Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar is Relevant Today, why?

 

In fact that very Question, by itself makes him Relevant. It makes People to see him, look at his life, examine his works, analyse his contributions, and talk about him.  After all one can’t Answer the Question without seeing him, looking at his life, examining his works, analysing his contributions, and talking about him.

 

To be honest, People talk about Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar’s Relevance Today, at times even abroad and in Foreign Universities, because he stands tall above all of us and rest of the Social Religious and Political Leaders of his times, also before and after, like a Colossus.  That is why he could not be neglected by anyone, however much one may not like him, hate him or consider him as their Enemy. 

 

If the brahmans, and the elitist ruling brahmanic sections of the society see Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar as an Enemy, then there must be many good reasons, and they may be right.

 

May be Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar was Casteist, and very Communal, and he unfairly wanted his People Caste Community and Society dominate the Country!  Yes, Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar, was born poor in an emerging middle class Depressed Class Community.  His family was Educated, and Worked in British Army.  There, his Family elders had learnt the Values of Education, Righteousness of Honesty, greatness of being Good, esprit-de-corps, Dignity of Work, Team Work, Results of Hard Work, Credits for Good Work, Respect for Individuals, and Greatness of Human Existence.  He was definitely for Individual Growth and Development to ones full Potentials, interested in his poor People, and wanted to Deliver them from their Problems, Miseries, and Sufferings.  That was not being Casteist or Communal.  He was against all Sufferings like Buddha.  He was against all Exploitations by one individual against another.  He was against the Control of any Individual or Family or Group or Caste or Community over any other Section in the Country.  Like Buddha he became Aware of the Problems, Miseries, and Sufferings of his People, and wanted to Liberate them from all those, and also realised that they were all only due to the deliberate wanton and very elaborately planned Oppressions and Exploitations by the brahmans, brahmanic society, and their Friends.

 

Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar found that the Oppressions were not only against his individual Caste and Community, but against very large significantly huge Sections of People in the Country.  And he realised and felt that, that was a great wanton and avoidable Injustice.  That is why he rose against those Injustices.  He was not per-se against any brahman or any in the brahmanic society, or any of brahmanic friends.  But he was very much against brahmanic collaborators.  That is why he opposed determinantly, and fought against Gandhi.

 

Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar was seen as an Enemy, by the brahmans, as he had seen them controlling the affairs of the People very unfairly in almost all parts of the Indian Society, to perpetrate their dominance and supremacy over the rest of the People, and also perpetuate the same perpetually for the benefits and comforts of their Children, future Descendents and Community, almost forever.  Therefore he considered that, that was wrong, and must be changed.  That is why the brahmans saw Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar as an Enemy, a great Enemy, a bitter Enemy, an unwanted Individual, and a Danger to their Interests.  That not only throughout his lifetime, but also still.  That is why they are opposed to him, even today.

 

Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar was a bigger Danger.  He was not only stirring up his People in his Community, but he was also a Leader of the Masses.  He belonged to the largest segment of the Society, the SC&ST Dalits.  The SCs and STs are not just a List.  They may be creations of the Law.  But over the last so many Decades they have come to be Reality, a Constitutional Creation, a Legal Entity, and very much a Force, a big Political Force in that.  They may be still in deep slumber, and may be trying to find their feet on earth, as they stagger around half awake.  The way they are trying to Plant their Feet in the States of Maharashtra, Andhra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, are sending jitters up the Spines of the brahmans and their Friends.  Their half hearted still not fully organised assertion in UP had already shaken up the Political Scenario completely in Uttar Pradesh.  Imagine what will happen if they wake up in many other parts of the Country.  It will radically and totally alter the Politics and Future of the Country.  It will also turn the Country upside down, much more than what Communists World over have been seeking to achieve.

 

Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar is much more Dangerous.  He had then said that, if the Depressed Classes and Backward Castes can join together, they can send more than 50% of their Representatives to the Assembly in Central Provinces, and Control the Govt there.  If they Control the Govt of Central Provinces, they will have direct Control over the Parliament, which has bulk of the Members of Parliament from the Central Provinces.  That Fear is what had shaken the brahmans and baniyas of Congress pushed out of the scene completely, and of the fascist fundamentalist Party and their Parivar or Family, dislodged from Power by the casual cooperation between Kanshi’s BSP and Mulayam’s SP.  It is to the manipulation of the Fascists that, Kanshi’s poor hollow shallow flamboyant egoistic Representative was influenced brainwashed and bought over, to split the loose alliance between BSP and SP.  That wedge between Maya and Mulayam to break the SC&ST Dalits and Backwards, had put Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar back by many many Decades.  But the Clock of Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar is ticking.  The Alliance and Collaboration between SC&ST Dalits and Backwards, foreseen and visualised by Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar is Inevitable in the Near Future.  That Day is not Distant, definitely not far-off.  That is nothing but a Natural Alliance.  The Ati-Shudra and Shudra combination will be Deadly and Potent, for the brahmans.

 

Imagine as to what will really happen in different parts of the Country if SC&ST Dalits join hands with the Backward Castes in their Regions.  If the SC&ST Dalits like the Pulayas and Backward Castes such as Ezhavas come together in Kerala, Holayas and Backwards of Karnataka, the Parayas and Vanniars in the Northern Parts and the Pallas and Thevars in Southern Parts of Tamil Nadu, the Malas and others in Coastal Andhra, Madigas and Backwards in Telengana Region in Andhra Pradesh, and similar Combinations in other States such as Valmikis Chamars and Jatavs join hands with Jats in Punjab Haryana Rajasthan and Western UP, with Yadavs in rest of the UP and Bihar and so on. 

 

The brahmans have already realised the Dangers of SC&ST Dalits joining hands or at least combining electorally with the Backward Castes.  That is why many of them are running away to distant foreign Lands in some name or with some excuse or on some pretext or other.  They know pretty well that they can not survive for long in other Countries, or hope to have the lives they are used to in this Country.  That is why they have begun to grab land under one cover or the other.  But, without the land based Sons of the Soil – the SC&ST Dalits and Backward Classes, the parasitic brahmans or their friends can do nothing.  They can not Ride their Rockets, or Float directly to the Heavens with their Computers, or Sail through their TVs, or Eat their Papers Books Money or the Earth of their Lands.  The brahmans and company, have to come begging finally, to the SC&ST Dalits and Backwards, if only the later wake up really and become wise.  That is what the brahmans want to prevent, and stop. 

 

Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar was not just talking in the air or preaching only to others in his Community, while he worked with his People and Struggled for the Emancipation of his Castes.  He was not just talking through air, or only preaching others.  In reality, Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar was not opposed to anyone as individuals at human levels.  He had many friends and partners, in most of his struggles against the brahmans, religious orthodoxy, and Govts.  They were from different Communities, including many brahmans.  He did not find any problems with the individuals from any caste.  He found the dangers and saw the warning signals, only when the individuals behaved with group and caste mentality.  He was afraid scared and saw the threat when the individuals placed their group and caste interests above individual Human Interests and Nation’s Good.  In fact he openly warned against this tendency in his final Speech in the Constituent Assembly in 1949, while moving for Adoption of the Constitution.

 

Most of the times, Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar’s Political Outfits and the Electoral Parties that he formed, gave Representations and open Opportunities to all other Castes and Communities.  Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar was always open and basically Human!  And he Practiced in his Life, what he Preached in Public to others.

 

In reality, while talking about SC&ST Dalits Alliances with Backward Castes there are many Doubts Gaps and Problems.  And it is true that, there are much more Differences and Clashes of Interests between SC&ST Dalits and many Backwards.  To analyse and overcome them, is the Job and Challenge today, for all the Thinkers, Intellectuals, Wise men and Statesmen amongst the SC&ST Dalits and many Backwards.  They have to lay down the route map to realise what Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar had foreseen and dreamt of.   Only that will make India a True Democracy and a Real Republic.  Replacing the Govts of brahmans, Rule by brahmans only, is a big Job ahead of all of us.  Govts of the People, and Rule by the Majority, for the Good of All in the Country was what, Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar had Dreamt of and Desired, when he talked of Democracy in the Country, and provided for in the Constitution!

 

Achieving what Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar had Foreseen, Dreamt of, Desired, and making them Realities are the big task today.  And now, that what real, POLITICS BEYOND AMBEDKAR is in the Country.  That should exactly be the main actual and real –

 

POLITICS OF PEOPLE

AND THE POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE COUNTRY

 

 

 

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·                      Prof TS Kalanjali, is a Scheduled Tribe Dalit Lady.  Basically an Activist, bold Speaker and Writer on Social Political Environmental and SC&ST Dalit Issues, she is an Educationist.  She was a Teacher, taught in Rural Areas, working in various capacities in many places at different times, such as an Headmistress of Govt School  at Chikka Bidar Kallu in Bangalore Rural, Principal of Bishop Sergeant School Tumkur in Karnataka, Lecturer in Govt College of Teachers Education in Mangalore, Senior Lecturer in District Institute for Education and Training Bangalore

 

 

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