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Ssc SOCIAL STUDY CIRCLE di (ESTD
1982) www.dalitindia.com ssc@dalitindia.com *********************************************************************** |
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October
27, 2001
Come 26th Jan 2001, Our Democratic Republican Constitution
would have completed 50 years of existence.
In fact, 26th Nov 2000 would see the completion of 50 years, since the
Adoption of the Constitution by the Constituent Assembly of India. We are already in the 50th year of operation
of the Constitution.
The Constitution of the India is unique, and is peculiar
in many respects. It was framed by the
elected Constituent Assembly, and adopted by the People of India all
right. But it was adopted after various
Provisions therein were carefully hammered out, almost single handedly by the
Leader of the Depressed Classes whom the Indians, particularly the caste
hindus, refused to accept even as human beings, and carefully kept them out in
isolated areas outside and beyond the Villages, near the shallow low areas and agricultural
lands, and in exclusive slum-like-areas in the Cities and Metropolitan
Towns. The main Party of the caste
hindus and their Leader Mr Gandhi, even failed to acknowledge the Leader of the
Depressed Classes, Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar, as the Leader of the Depressed
Classes.
At the same time, the caste hindus, their Party the
Congress and their Leaders led by Gandhi, began claiming the Depressed Classes
as hindus, just only to bolster their own numbers in the number game before the
Imperial British and their Colonial Govt, vis-ŕ-vis the dominant erstwhile
Muslim Rulers of India, their descendents, and their mainstream Political Party
- the Muslim League. And Gandhi, went
to the ridiculous extent of claiming by himself and on his own, the Leadership
of Depressed Classes, specially after the spectacular successes of Baba Saheb,
in Leading his People in their Fight against the caste hindus for their Human
Rights and Equality, and the Struggle before the British for Civil Rights and
Justice. And Gandhi, also stupidly
challenged Baba Saheb's Leadership of the Depressed Classes, before the
Imperial British and its Govt in London, before during and even after the
Second Round Table Conference. He then
went on to try, and dupe defraud and cheat the Depressed Classes, by claiming
to develop them socially and financially, through his own apology of Harijan
Sevak Samaj, with some half-hearted mobilization of paltry little funds, after
the 1932 Poona Pact, as rightly and critically observed by Baba Saheb himself
in his Speeches and Writings..
The Constitution of India is unique, for when adopted on
the 26th of November 1949, it was the most voluminous and detailed work, with
almost all the Noble Thoughts and Great Provisions, Human Society in many Parts
of the World struggled, fought for, and managed to gain and extract from the
Governments of the day and the ruling classes.
And within its folds, the Constitution contained the First Govt of India
Act of 1919, and the Second Govt of India Act of 1932, enacted by the then
British Colonial Rulers in response to the Aspirations of the Indian People for
Freedom, Liberty, Independence, Civil-Rule, Home-Rule and Self-Govt. And, the Constituent Assembly was originally
constituted by the British Colonial Rulers for a Free United India, during the
pre-Independent Days. And, Dr BR
Ambedkar originally represented a Constituency that went to Pakistan's Eastern
Wing, and is now in Bangladesh. For,
Congress and its dominant Leaders did not want Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar
anywhere near the Constituent Assembly, and defeated him in the Elections to
the Constituent Assembly from his home Constituency in Bombay Presidency. And before the Elections, a very prominent
and great Leader boasted that Baba Saheb would never be in the Constituent
Assembly. He claimed to not only having
closed the doors and windows of the Constituent Assembly, but also the
ventilators to prevent Baba Saheb's entry into the Constituent Assembly. True to this claim, he and the Congress saw
to that Baba Saheb was defeated. But
thanks to Mr Mandal - who went on to be the counterpart of Baba Saheb in the
post-British Era, as the Law Minister of Independent Pakistan - Baba Saheb was
elected to the Constituent Assembly, in the Bye-Election for the seat
specifically vacated by Mr Mandal, for Baba Saheb to contest win and come to
the Constituent Assembly, from that part of pre-Independent United India that
later went to Pakistan, and is now in Bangladesh.
We now have a Constitution, drafted by an unwanted man, an
Untouchable, a Leader of those who were not recognized as human beings - in
fact it is so even today in many parts of the Country. That is why, the SC&ST Dalits, always
revere the Constitution. For them, the
Constitution is very valuable, precious and is sacred. It is their Bible, Gospel and Grunth. Where else can they find their rights
accepted, acknowledged, assured, guaranteed and protected, other than in Street
Fights? Even bloody bleeding
Revolutions, as some World Sociologist recently said is imminent in this
Country, may not provide these all to the SC&ST Dalits and their
Women. Let us not forget, and always
keep in mind that in many Countries, Women still don't have many Rights,
particularly Adult Franchise. That
Right to Vote is the most Powerful Weapon, which when and if rightly used will
prove to be the Ultimate Weapon, and bring the caste hindus on their knees
before the majority of Shudra OBCs, and Ati-Shudra SC&ST Dalits now divided
and scattered in every religious folds and political groupings! That is the best of all the Rights and
Powers given to us by the Great Messiah, Baba Saheb!
The Constitution is sacred and very valuable to the
SC&ST Dalits, not just because it contains many Promises for them, gives
them lots of Guarantees and assures them so much of Protections! It is much more than that! The SC&ST Dalits feel that their Life is
in this Constitution. It is simply
because it was drafted by their Leader, by their own man, that immaculate Baba
Saheb! There needs to be no other
reason for them! It is infact their own
way of paying their respects, being grateful, remaining faithful and silently
saying thanks to their Leader! But this
is not so with others. Many
fundamentalist caste hindus freely and frequently criticize and carelessly
rundown the Constitution. They just
don't have the due regards and show respect to the Nation's Constitution, the
Supreme Law of the Land. And that this
is much more Sacred, as it is the First Constitution of the Country, the Free
India, the United India that never was ever in this shape throughout the
history of the land, does not dawn on them!
For, their minds are distorted, twisted and they are always unfair
unjust and unreasonable. Hence they attack
the Constitution, whenever it is possible, and wherever they get a chance. There is a great gap between the ruled
SC&ST Dalits and the ruling dominant caste hindus, who infact Use the
Constitution to govern or misgovern, administer or neglect the Country and the
State, Society, the People and the Govt Machineries including the Courts and
other Law and Order Machineries like the Police.
Made by the one, blocked initially from even entering the
Constituent Assembly, the Constitution had served the Country very well for the
last 50 years, in spite of all the trials, tribulations and crisis’s at
different times within the Country.
Finalized by the individual, who entered the Constituent Assembly later
than almost all others, through the Bye-Election as the Representative of the
Constituency that had gone to Pakistan, and is now in Bangladesh, it had stood
the test of the times, and stood well even during all the trying circumstances,
imposed on the Country and the People, by forces from outside and different
external environments at various times, and also during external aggressions
and War. This Constitution has Great
Ideologies, like Justice Liberty Equality and Fraternity of the Western World,
which are even today anathema to Indian Population and unacceptable to the
Indian Society. This Constitution,
shaped by Baba Saheb, has very many Provisions framed by the British Colonial
Government. Many of those were actually
extracted out, rather forcefully from unwilling caste hindu leaders in pre-Independent
India, as the disputes struggles and conflicts were arbitrated before a
reasonably fair neutral imperial British Rule. This Constitution had held the Country together, even when great
Powers and many Nations in the World were breaking apart. And this Constitution by Baba Saheb, had
helped preserve Democracy in this Country, even while Democracy in almost all
Nations around were falling down like nine pins. This, when Dictatorial Tendencies and Leaders within, were
raising their heads against the Democratic Way of Life Governance and
Administration, showing their true colours and intolerance to the Demands of
different Sections of People from time to time. They were oftentimes growing not only intolerant, but were
becoming totally indifferent and impatient to others, and were against all
dissenting voices in this land of wide disparities, extreme diversities and
radical differences.
The Constitution contains, for the caste hindus two
important uncomfortable features. Both
part of the concessions that the caste hindus had to agree under force of
circumstances, before Independence for this Country could be agreed by the
British. In fact, they were the
pre-conditions for Independence of the Country. One, the invisible factor within the Indian Union - partition of
India into two, as Indian and Pakistan, a practical reality outside for the
World. Second, the touch of the
unwanted Baba Saheb, the Leader of the undesirable Depressed Classes, who as
the SC&ST Dalits are unacceptable even today. That touch of Baba Saheb, is his belief and claim for building in
this Country, the four pillars of Democracy and Civil Society anywhere in the
World – Justice Liberty Equality and Fraternity, and the resultant necessary
Constitutional Guarantees to protect the Weaker Sections. Thus the Constitution contains, specific
provisions for protection of all from SC&ST Dalits to OBCs, Working Classes
and Women to Children. Nothing tangible
could be done by the caste hindus to undo the first. As for the second, We see today, the unending deliberate
denigration of the Constitution, its Liberal Principles, Universal Features,
and also the subtle condemnation of the various Guarantees to the Weaker
Sections, as concessions compensations exceptions and deviations.
Baba Saheb struggled almost single handedly for Justice
and Reason, at a time when the Society was more Conservative. He fought for Equality and to build
Fraternity at a time when social interactions of caste hindus with the
Depressed Classes were unheard of. He
talked about Liberty and Freedom when and the number of educated employees and
earning individuals were very very small, with almost Nil Representations from
the Depressed Classes. Yet, there were
many enlightened caste hindus who supported Baba Saheb wholeheartedly, worked
with him and even helped him in his struggles against the stupidity,
superstition, illogical prejudices and dogmas of the conservative hindus and
their leaders. As a result of Baba
Saheb’s Struggles - in front of the alien Imperial British Government, which
was free from caste divisions, and hence could afford to be neutral, reasonably
reasonable, unbiased and just some of the educated liberal hindus began to see
reason, the logic and force of righteousness in the claims and demands of Baba
Saheb, and the endless Sufferings and Struggles of the millions of Depressed
Classes.
In view of the above, at the time of Independence in 1947,
Adoption of the Constitution in 1949, and its enforcement in 1950, the
unacceptable SC&ST Dalits could find some accommodation and a little scope
for their survival amidst the hindus.
For, the caste hindus had come to develop some pity for SCs&STs,
particularly for those from their own States, ancestral Home-Towns, parental
Villages and Native Districts, though the SC&ST Dalits could not come near
or close or be touched. But during the
last 50 years, the equation had undergone a sea change, and had grown completely
reverse. Today, while SC&ST Dalits
can in public shake hands, sit and even dine together with the caste hindus
like brothers or family members, the later had come to develop a great aversion
and secretly harbors uncontrollable hidden hatred and unspoken enmity in their
hearts - which shows off and appears at unexpected moments. The cruel face of the same, are the
frequent outburst of atrocities committed against the SC&ST Dalits,
particularly the SCs, and also the increasing criminalisation of the attacks
against the SCs and those who help them - especially the Christian
Missionaries. They are also
specifically against the newly Emerging Leaderships of the SCs, and against
individual educated conscious intelligent sharp and Capable Dalits.
This schism and distortion in the social equations had
already taken roots, and if this develops into a big gulf between the clearly
identifiable major sections of the society allover the length and breadth of
the Country, and if these are the social realities, administrative responses,
legal distortions, judicial ambivalence and political somersaults, one has to
fear as to what will happen to this Nation.
What is in store for the future?
Are Baba Saheb's Fears and Warnings, clearly unambiguously and in no
uncertain terms expressed in the Constituent Assembly itself, in his last
Speech, on the penultimate day coming true?
Are the Sociologists in this Country conscious of these
Changes? Are our Political Scientists
aware of these Developments? Are our
Political Parties sensitive to these New Problems? And have our Political Leaders noted these Dangers? What will the Govts do? Will there be just knee jerk reactions only
till the events overtake them beyond repair?
These questions should worry us.
Answers are hard to find, though the task is not easy in the totally
confused and messed up present situation.
Everyone concerned have to put their heads together, pool their thoughts
and evolve a clear picture to honor 1932, and redeem Nation's Pledge, People,
Society, and the Country!
The hindu society has always been unjust and unfair. But in Free India, the hindu society has to
confront Democracy, forces unleashed by the Elections, the social and economic
concessions and political compromises to be made at the Hustings, development
of Welfare State, Rule of Law, and the Equal Opportunities that have to be
provided to every section of the society, enforced by Reservations specifically
provided in favor of the SCs&STs, as well as the Backward Classes, as
Constitutional Guarantees and Legal Imperatives against discriminations
deprivations and injustices. Thus, the
contradictions between the Legal and Constitutional Compulsions of the
Political Parties and the Government, and the cumulative forces of prejudices
of the officials and dominant people in the society! It is a result of these inherent and ongoing contradictions that,
we find strains of dictatorship everywhere in the society, in every office and
with every official. The same are the
reasons for the irresponsible unresponsiveness of the administrative
machineries all round limitless corruption and injustices conceived and
practiced by the dominant sections of the society.
The Contradictions and Distortions in the Society and the
Govt are not strange aberrations, but a logical consequence of the unjust
society, that is only trying to concentrate power and wealth in few private
hands of powerful caste hindus. Hence,
the collapse of Law and Order Machineries, failure of the Police and Judiciary
to see Reason and Act Rationally. So
crumble various Public Service Commissions and other Special Service
Commissions, resulting in flagrant nepotism, favoritism, corruption. Hence, there could be no just and fair
selections, recruitments, appointments, trainings, postings, work allocations,
recognitions, assessments, reports, gradings, promotions and transfers. The Gulf between the Constitutional Dictates
and Dominant Social Values are the real reasons for the concealed but
continuing virulent attacks against Reservations in general, and the SC&ST
and OBC beneficiaries in particular, from outside. And these are the oblique reasons to find some fault with the
Constitution. Meanwhile, silent
subversion and wrecking of the Reservation Policy goes on from within, to ruin
Reservations and make them ineffective.
Reservation Policy meant for the Whole Communities, to ensure the best
and full Representations of the Community, both in Govts and Services, had been
opposed and sabotaged from day one, starting from Gandhi - the Leader of the
caste hindus and Congress Party of the days of pre-Independent united India,
and now the father of the Nation.
Reservations have now been reduced from the original Noble
Objectives of achieving Representations of whole Communities, to the lowly
levels of being just a channel for getting jobs, or finding opportunities for
development, as well as growth of some educated individuals. Such a distortion helps, to divert the goals
and defeat the very aims objectives and purposes of Reservations, and destroy
the Policies and Principles behind them.
Are the caste hindus ignorant, and so stupid? Perhaps yes! As Baba Saheb Ambedkar himself had said, we have to educate the
caste hindus! For, they know not the
Indian Society, and what all harm they are doing to the Nation, reducing the
standards of the society, and blocking the Future of the People. This may be so and really true, as far as
the majority of caste hindu common man woman and other people are concerned. They may be stupid, ignorant, superstitious,
conservative, and may not know the social realities. But the same cannot be said about all. There are some, who know things very well, but purposely appear
to be unaware, or feign ignorance. They
are deliberately out to create confusion, want to distort the facts, and desire
to divert the attention, so as to dilute all actions, disturb the very System
and wreck the results.
The net result, during the 50 years after Independence we
have had only one VP with the same person again as the only President, no PM,
no CJI, only three SC Judges at different points of time, with no one now, only
one CJ of the High Court now who has been denied of his elevation to the
Supreme Court for the last few years even though a dozen of his juniors have
moved up, only one Planning Commission Member, no Service Chief, no Cabinet
Secretary, hardly any Secretaries or Ambassadors, and only three out of the 25
Governors for the 32 States and Union Territories, no Chairman or Member of the Railway Board, or even
Additional-Member, no GM in any of the Zonal Railways in the Country, no Chief
Minister except in the inevitable North-Eastern States, no Police Chiefs, and
only a few odd VC’s - that too some being known favour seekers, extensive
manipulators and one or two of whom are definite third raters. Still, we call ourselves a Democracy. Still, People accuse the SCs&STs as
having been pampered and occupying more then 70 to 80% of posts etc.
The maximum providable Reservations for the SCs&STs
are 15% and 7.5% now. That is also
invariably not provided for in many places, or ever ensured in most of the
cases of Recruitments Promotions and Postings.
How then can there be 70 to 80% of SC&ST Representations in any Post
or Service other than in the category of Sweepers, as some of the caste hindus
allege? How can this be possible
anywhere? We have to ask these
questions for them to answer. I am sure
they are not speaking the truth and are telling lies, deliberately and
wantonly, or are distorting facts. If
they are telling the truth - some truth, that is only half-truth. The 70 to 80% SC&ST Representation in
some posts, are only the results of stagnation of the SCs&STs suffering
without god-fathers and anyone to help them to get further promotion to higher
ranks, to which their general community colleagues have been promoted long long
ago, leaving them to stagnate. They
have been stopped by the invisible but ever present “filter” of cast prejudices
and biases against them.
The filter, if it is choked with tea leaves, that doesn’t
mean either the whole tea in the cup or in the kettle is full of only tea
leaves, and hence is not consumable as a drink or beverage. The truth is that, a reasonable amount of
tea leaves dropped in the kettle have been stopped by the filter, while pouring
out the tea into the cup, to ensure that there is no troublesome or
uncomfortable tea leaves in the cup while consuming the tea. Exactly alike, the
SC&ST Dalits who come into service invariably late and at the last, are
filtered out without any further promotions at certain levels.
It also means, in the alternate that, the SC&ST Dalits
had been denied appointments for long, and that it had taken one or two decades
for them to get their jobs, and so they are still young and are in service,
while all those who had blocked their entry into service, monopolized the jobs
and enjoyed their offices, including the SC&ST Jobs Share and
Opportunities, have now retired. Thus,
what they are highlighting and blowing out, out of proportion, is a transient
stage in an ever changing dynamic recruitment promotion transfer and retirement
scenario in the services that, we see at times a slightly more representation
of SCs&STs in certain offices at certain times. This position will change, as the SCs&STs retire, and new
people are recruited and promoted or transferred to these offices. Or, it may be simply that the unwanted
SC&ST Dalits are clubbed together and posted on Jobs unwanted by most of
the Employees. Yes, the whole World
knows that Reservations are not required for unwanted jobs, but become
essential and are required as they are absolutely necessary, whenever and
wherever there is competition and good things in life open up. Take the typical case of Sweepers. Since the job is difficulty, and with
today's technology equipments and aides is repulsive, generally others don't
come. So, there was no need for
Reservations here in this sector. But
look at good well-paying Public Sectors, with rare privileges and good perks
like Air India. Genuine Sweepers don't
get job there. Others grab these jobs
also there, and don't work. The same
thing is now beginning to happen in Rlys also.
In organized Sectors, where pay is good and jobs are scarce, benami or
contract systems have come in, in this sphere also.
Therefore, Reservations are absolutely essential, not so
much as to provide representations to SC&ST Dalits, but to keep the
prowling caste hindus under check and at a safe distance from what is others
dues.
Everyone knows these facts, but deliberate efforts are
being made to create a fear psychosis amongst others, and develop hatred
against SC&ST Dalits and the Reservations meant for them.
WHAT THEN ARE THE
REALITY AND TRUTH?
The true picture is not very far to see. Just look at the Banks. There is no Chairman, CMD or MD in any of
the Banks hailing from SC&ST Dalit Communities. Look at the PSUs, both in the profit making and those incurring
losses. So far, none had a Chairman,
CMD or MD. Look at the Board of
Directors. Hardly is there any SC/ST
Dalit. Look at the Secretaries to the
Govt of India in various Ministries and Departments. It is reported that there are only two Secretaries - one SC, and
one ST at present. Look below, even at
the level of Joint Secretaries. The
position is no better. Well, that is
the True Picture of the SC&ST Dalits, as the Nation is emerging into the
New Millennium. Deers don't matter in
the Forests. Who reigns are the Lions
or the Tigers. Clerks Peons and
Sweepers are of no consequence. What
relevant are the Representation and Presence of SC&ST Dalits at the level
of Chairmen, CMDs, MDs and Secretaries - or at least at the level of Joint
Secretaries to the Govt of India in the Ministries and various Departments.
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