Salutes to the Self-Respect --- Self-Identity Struggle of Buddhists in wake of Khairlanji Killings and Kanpur statue desecration!
Recent militant agitations by the Buddhists of Maharashtra throughout the state in the month of October-November has opened new dimensions of the movement of self-respect--self-identity. It has also proved right what Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar said on Caste and Conversion, Conversion and Community. Though the militant but democratic protest were organised by the voluntary action of Buddhist community against the rape and brutal killings of Bothmange family
[4 persons; mother, daughter and 2 sons] of Khai-rlanji, Bhandara District. It has raised many di-mensions to be grappled with.
First, the continuous and well planned demonstrations at multiple levels from streets to internet andNagpur to New York (U.S., Canada, U.K. Japan) forced the Maharashtra govt. of status quoists to agree to almost all demands asserted by the community. Some of these major demands
were i) handing over the case to CBI, ii) setting up of fast track court iii) making the police officials and others involved as co-accused iv) alloting a pubic prosecutor of repute v) grant of arms for self-defence etc. Most of the demands were belatedly agreed by the Maharashtra govt. The govt. was virtually forced to agree to the demands and the remarkable aspect was, it couldn't dare to make undue suppression as it did during Namantar and Ghatkopar events in eighties and nineties. The strength of self-identity and struggle for self-respect, dignity and justice therefore is saluted by Bahujan Vision. This awakening (chetna) must be 'kept alive' and utilised for 'larger goals' to 'succeed Ambedkarism' in the decades to come. The couple of months should be monitered to ensure framing of proper charges and the couple of years for ensuring the justice in accordance with law. This is important so no one can dare to do community violence on us in future. Achieve the power of deterrence.
Identify the Brain behind the Hand:
We should however identify the ‘Brain’ behind the hands. The purpose of the brain to choose soft target. It’s immediate and long-term objective. To identify the brain we raise some pertinent questions which would unfold the unseen.
Questions :
1) Why 29th Sept. 2006 (i.e. 4 days before Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Dhamma Deeksha Movement i.e. 2nd Oct. 2006) was Chosen for the incident?
2) Why a village which had only 3-4 families of Buddhists was chosen?
3) What sort of advance preparations were made to develop the odium?
4) What was the psychology of crime? Was it a simple act of anger, out burst and revenge? Or degradation of dignity?
5) Which ‘class interest’ of caste wants no equality of dignity?
6) Which forces (apart from Buddhist) gave an abnormal reaction? Either too vocal or too silent?
Answers to these questions clearly indicate that the timings of the event were chosen to divert the attention from the Golden Jubilee of 'Conversion and the Dhamma Deeksha Movement' of Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar. This was conspired so by putting a rift between Buddhists and the OBC, with an intention of furthering the ripple effect to DT/NT/ and other scheduled caste communities like Matang, Mang, Chamar. The immediate objective of which was to isolate the Buddhists from other communities so they should not embrace Buddhism. This is the strategy of ‘competition and conflict’ to maintain caste as told by M.N.Srinivas, the famous social anthropologist and authority on caste. The village with 2-3 families naturally was selected as a soft target. A survey of such villages of Maharashtra was done in advance before 19th September 2006 which has a specific significance. On 19th Sept. 2006 the topmost leader of the Brahminical forces gave direction in Pune to the pracharks and sywamsevaks to work on a planned policy for 5 yrs. upto 2011 (i.e. census) to crush the Asuri forces (i.e. Buddhists for them) which are raising their heads. In connection with the same, on 29th Oct. 2006 the forces ofBrahminical Nationalism came out with a proposal to make purohits from amongst the Dalits as a counter strategy to tackle the Neo-Buddhist Movement upsurge. Both the events were reported by the leading newspapers, but we could not read between the lines.
The degradation of dignity was to malign the 'Buddhist Identity' which has become a source of most respectable and magnetic identity attracting almost 80-100 communities all over the country. This is reflected from the fact that this year itself over 2,00,000 people from 70-75 communities in 11-12 states embraced Buddhism. These states are Mah., A.P., Karnataka, TN., C.G., Orissa, M.P., Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, H.P., U.P. and Delhi. The 29th Oct. 2006 statement was given on the same day when over 4,000 persons in Delhi including 12 IAS officers embraced Buddhism.
The forces who gave an abnormal reaction are again the forces of Hindutva who kept absolutely mum till 10th Dec. 2006 when M.G. Vaidya gave a statement putting the onus on anti-nationals and tried to absolve the forces of brahmnical nationalism. Even their political party kept mum. These are the Brain and want to divert the conversion process. Do not allow ourselves to be a victim of their trap. Continue Dhamma Deeksha of DT/NT/and other communities relentlessly till 2011 in accordance with the ‘Will’ of these people.
Beware of Deviation and Hijacking by Communists :
The undue interest of communists (both Marxist and ultramarxist) in the event is just like the strategy to trap the 'prey' in the net while the hunter (shikari) terrorises them. The communists who till date are silent on the issue of caste, priest, temple property and brahminism. Those who distorted the social and economic philosophy of Buddhism as propounded by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. These who have never lead any anti-caste, anti-priest, anti-brahminsim, antireligious property agitation, (which are all matters of class operation of caste by 15% on 85%) are showing mistress sympathy by addressing the Buddhists as Dalits and diverting the whole anti-Brahminism issue as an issue of class oppression. They are holding the ‘State’ accountable for it and want to absolve (clean chit) the 'Brain' from the conspiracy. On the other hand, the non-Brahmin status quoist shudra castes want to
suppress the whole issue due to political reasons, as they do not want the Buddhists and otherDT/NT/Matang communities to consolidate as a social and political force on their own. They therefore by taking rescue to the Home Ministry tried to ideologically declare the movement from Ambedkarite to that to Naksalite (however it has been now taken back). The triangle of Brahminical (both Hindutvavadi forces and Communists) and non-brahmin status quoist shudra castes can be sketched as under in which the movement is tried to be trapped.
[4 persons; mother, daughter and 2 sons] of Khai-rlanji, Bhandara District. It has raised many di-mensions to be grappled with.
First, the continuous and well planned demonstrations at multiple levels from streets to internet andNagpur to New York (U.S., Canada, U.K. Japan) forced the Maharashtra govt. of status quoists to agree to almost all demands asserted by the community. Some of these major demands
were i) handing over the case to CBI, ii) setting up of fast track court iii) making the police officials and others involved as co-accused iv) alloting a pubic prosecutor of repute v) grant of arms for self-defence etc. Most of the demands were belatedly agreed by the Maharashtra govt. The govt. was virtually forced to agree to the demands and the remarkable aspect was, it couldn't dare to make undue suppression as it did during Namantar and Ghatkopar events in eighties and nineties. The strength of self-identity and struggle for self-respect, dignity and justice therefore is saluted by Bahujan Vision. This awakening (chetna) must be 'kept alive' and utilised for 'larger goals' to 'succeed Ambedkarism' in the decades to come. The couple of months should be monitered to ensure framing of proper charges and the couple of years for ensuring the justice in accordance with law. This is important so no one can dare to do community violence on us in future. Achieve the power of deterrence.
Identify the Brain behind the Hand:
We should however identify the ‘Brain’ behind the hands. The purpose of the brain to choose soft target. It’s immediate and long-term objective. To identify the brain we raise some pertinent questions which would unfold the unseen.
Questions :
1) Why 29th Sept. 2006 (i.e. 4 days before Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Dhamma Deeksha Movement i.e. 2nd Oct. 2006) was Chosen for the incident?
2) Why a village which had only 3-4 families of Buddhists was chosen?
3) What sort of advance preparations were made to develop the odium?
4) What was the psychology of crime? Was it a simple act of anger, out burst and revenge? Or degradation of dignity?
5) Which ‘class interest’ of caste wants no equality of dignity?
6) Which forces (apart from Buddhist) gave an abnormal reaction? Either too vocal or too silent?
Answers to these questions clearly indicate that the timings of the event were chosen to divert the attention from the Golden Jubilee of 'Conversion and the Dhamma Deeksha Movement' of Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar. This was conspired so by putting a rift between Buddhists and the OBC, with an intention of furthering the ripple effect to DT/NT/ and other scheduled caste communities like Matang, Mang, Chamar. The immediate objective of which was to isolate the Buddhists from other communities so they should not embrace Buddhism. This is the strategy of ‘competition and conflict’ to maintain caste as told by M.N.Srinivas, the famous social anthropologist and authority on caste. The village with 2-3 families naturally was selected as a soft target. A survey of such villages of Maharashtra was done in advance before 19th September 2006 which has a specific significance. On 19th Sept. 2006 the topmost leader of the Brahminical forces gave direction in Pune to the pracharks and sywamsevaks to work on a planned policy for 5 yrs. upto 2011 (i.e. census) to crush the Asuri forces (i.e. Buddhists for them) which are raising their heads. In connection with the same, on 29th Oct. 2006 the forces ofBrahminical Nationalism came out with a proposal to make purohits from amongst the Dalits as a counter strategy to tackle the Neo-Buddhist Movement upsurge. Both the events were reported by the leading newspapers, but we could not read between the lines.
The degradation of dignity was to malign the 'Buddhist Identity' which has become a source of most respectable and magnetic identity attracting almost 80-100 communities all over the country. This is reflected from the fact that this year itself over 2,00,000 people from 70-75 communities in 11-12 states embraced Buddhism. These states are Mah., A.P., Karnataka, TN., C.G., Orissa, M.P., Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, H.P., U.P. and Delhi. The 29th Oct. 2006 statement was given on the same day when over 4,000 persons in Delhi including 12 IAS officers embraced Buddhism.
The forces who gave an abnormal reaction are again the forces of Hindutva who kept absolutely mum till 10th Dec. 2006 when M.G. Vaidya gave a statement putting the onus on anti-nationals and tried to absolve the forces of brahmnical nationalism. Even their political party kept mum. These are the Brain and want to divert the conversion process. Do not allow ourselves to be a victim of their trap. Continue Dhamma Deeksha of DT/NT/and other communities relentlessly till 2011 in accordance with the ‘Will’ of these people.
Beware of Deviation and Hijacking by Communists :
The undue interest of communists (both Marxist and ultramarxist) in the event is just like the strategy to trap the 'prey' in the net while the hunter (shikari) terrorises them. The communists who till date are silent on the issue of caste, priest, temple property and brahminism. Those who distorted the social and economic philosophy of Buddhism as propounded by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. These who have never lead any anti-caste, anti-priest, anti-brahminsim, antireligious property agitation, (which are all matters of class operation of caste by 15% on 85%) are showing mistress sympathy by addressing the Buddhists as Dalits and diverting the whole anti-Brahminism issue as an issue of class oppression. They are holding the ‘State’ accountable for it and want to absolve (clean chit) the 'Brain' from the conspiracy. On the other hand, the non-Brahmin status quoist shudra castes want to
suppress the whole issue due to political reasons, as they do not want the Buddhists and otherDT/NT/Matang communities to consolidate as a social and political force on their own. They therefore by taking rescue to the Home Ministry tried to ideologically declare the movement from Ambedkarite to that to Naksalite (however it has been now taken back). The triangle of Brahminical (both Hindutvavadi forces and Communists) and non-brahmin status quoist shudra castes can be sketched as under in which the movement is tried to be trapped.
The Brahmin cal forces hitting by brain, the status quoits suppressing for political reasons and the communists trying to trap the Buddhists (B) in the net.
Run Independent Movement with Absolute Commitment:
We have to therefore avoid deviation and hijacking, and move ahead with absolute commitment as aindependent movement, of social transformation, economic emancipation, cultural change and cultural control as inspired by Mahtma Jotiba Phule-Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj-Narayana Guru-Babasaheb Ambedkar. We should also continue to buildup the Bahujan Samaj while strengthening the Buddhists and giving the base of Buddhism to Bahujan. The major action is to 'paralyse the brain' and major caution being 'Beware of the Communists!' as Dr. Babasaheb told.
Political Wisdom : Form an alliance of Ambedkarite Political Forces.
The awakening (Chetna) so raised in the Buddhists of Maharashtra should also be utilised to 'weld' the SC/ST/DT/NT/RM/OBC to defeat the Congress-NCP Congress, along with BJP-Sena in the forthcoming local elections to corporations and Z.P.'s. The Sociocultural awakening should be converted into a political victory atleast to become a balancing force. This is possible and achievable. For this all the'Ambedkarite Political Parties' should either form a grand alliance by wisely sharing the seats or the best candidate of these parties should be ensured victory by 'last time adjustment'. This would ensure that none loses its political identity and all gain in strength. The ultimate beneficiary would be the Ambedkarite Movement and society. Let us show this Political Wisdom in this hour of crisis.
Brahminism entres space : Modernity is at threat from caste
On 10th Dec. 2006 Ms. Sunita Williams, daughter of Deepak Pandya (a brahmin from Guj.) and Bonie (a christian lady from U.S.) entred space via space shuttle ‘Discovery’. It is reported by TOI, 11-12-2006, Ngp. edt. that she carries with her a copy of Bhagvat Gita and an idol of Ganesha. Both these are symbols of Brahminism which have now entred space. The ‘American Modernity’ is at threat from ‘Caste’. It is proved that a Brahmin even after marrying a Christian would remain a Brahmin and his progeny are likely to carry the ‘notion of caste’. The case of Sunita-Williams vindicates the caution of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, that due to the migration of hindus caste would become a world problem(ref. BAWS, Vol. 1, P. 5-6). The “Annihilation of caste“ therefore becomes the most urgent and top most priority of 21st century to save humanity. The document must be also sent to space immediately so that caste as a problem earth does not infects any other civilisation of the universe.
Kill Brahminism ! Save Humanity!! Shall be the slogan for the world.
Think of Social Security and Basic problems : A Permanent Solution
The whole issue also raises the ‘unsettled issue’ of Social Security of the SC/ST/MBC/DT/NT communities and the Buddhists. This requires more than acquiring licensed arms for self-defence. The whole socioeconomic, sociocultural relations in the caste system are required to be changed for a permanent solution. These are 5 visible solutions for action.
i) Develop a voluntary force of at least 20,00,000 within 5 yrs. for self-defence action.
ii) Separate settlements for SC/ST/MBC's as envisaged by Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar in his States and Minorities and Manifesto of AISCF, 1952. (ref. : Vol. 1,Vol. 1, P. 419-422, Vol. 17, 1st Edition P. 552-53 and 615-16) should be raised as a 'Charter of Rights' in the Parliament and Assembly.
iii) Make India a Boudhmay Bharat (i.e. at least over 60% of people become Buddhist for fraternity as a living force in society.) by 'Conversion and Dhamma Deeksha Movement'.
iv) Take the whole issue of caste-community violence under genocide and caste related violence to U.N.with conditional grants and trade concession as a precondition on the Indian Govt. A case for historical compensation can also be filed in the International Court of Justice.
v) Become a Governing class and create a casteless society for a durable solution.
These require a complete movement to be built up on all fronts.
We are committed to do so in future.
Babasaheb's Message to the Dalits : Become "One Community" by conversion
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar in his Essays on untouchability writes :
"The untouchables need three things. First thing they need is to end their social isolation. The second thing they need is to end their inferiority complex... How can they end their social isolation? The one and the only way to end their social isolation is for the untouchables to establish kinship...
Kinship makes the community take responsibility for vindicating the wrong done to a member... it is kinship which generates, this sympathetic resentment, this compound of tender emotion and anger.Kinship is the will to enlist the support of the kindred community to meet the tyrannies and oppressions by the Hindus which today the untouchables have to bear single-handed and alone. Kinship with another community is the best insurance which the untouchable can effect against Hindu tyranny and Hindu oppression.
What are the consequences of isolation? Isolation means social segregation, social humiliation, social discrimination and social injustice. Isolation means denial of protection, denial of justice, denial of opportunity. Isolation means want of sympathy, want of fellowship and want of consideration. Nay, isolation means positive hatred and antipathy from the Hindus.
Why is conversion necessary to establish kinship? The bond which holds a community together is called Kinship. While the bond which holds a society together is called citizenship.
The conditions precendent for acquiring kinship are quite different... common religion in place of unity of blood become a condition precedent to kinship .....
Without common religion there can be no kinship. Kinship is a social covenant of brotherhood.
For the untouchables where citizenship is not enough to put an end to their isolation and the troubles which ensure therefrom.. Whether conversion can solve the problem of untouchability. The answer to that question is emphatically in the affirmative”. (ref. : BAWS, Vol. 5, P. 413-420). Thus, Babasaheb wanted us to become one community by embracing one religion. Such a community would be free of inferiority complex, with sympathetic resentment, with self-respect, honour, as parts of one common life. Such a community would be with a social covenant of brotherhood. This he achieved by converting to Buddhism and the Buddhists have started becoming one community. This is reflected by the militant
agitations with sympathetic resentment either for the killings in Khairlanji or desecration of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar's statue at Kanpur. Both the events saw not only the Buddhist of Maharashtra responding as the pioneers but the others in foreign countries also acting at their levels, with same emotions to vindicate the wrongs. Though the agitations were militant but not violent. The movement moved by the inspiration of Phule-Shahu-Babasaheb has not damaged even a single human life or dignity of women. This is the most appreciable part of it.
A brief analysis (by taking non-reported cases as equal) of the chart shows that in comparison to the bigger states like U.P., M.P., Raj., A.P., Kar,., Guj., Ori., Bih., Ker., T.N. The atrocities in Mah. are very less i.e. 637 for a population of 9.68 cr. Not only this but if you compare atrocities of Maharashtra in proportion with smaller states like C.G., Utt., H.P., which have 706, 125 and 63 atrocities for a population of 2.08 cr, 84.89 lacs & 60.77 lacs respectively, it comes out to be very less. Even if the proportion of atrocities in relation to the percentage of SC/ST to the total population is taken, Mah. has lesser percentage of atrocities. It can also be established that states like M.P., U.P., Raj., A.P., Kar., Guj., Ori., T.N., Bih., Ker. who have more caste-communities as proportion to population are witnessing more atrocities. It is also seen that these states have very less Buddhist population. Only Punjab and W.B. stand ahead of Mah. in proportion to the factors taken above. According to a latest estimate atrocities on SC/ST from 2003-05 were 69,216 and 83,000 cases were pending in courts for justice.Nay, Equality before law is of no use if their is no equality in society and economy. Our struggle should be for 'Absolute Equality' in the land of inequality.
Now if we look at the population of Buddhists in the state, we can clearly derive the fact that the conversion in Maharashtra to Buddhism by former Mahar-Matang community have made them 'one community' strong, self-respecting with a 'Better Buddhist Identity'. It has made the relation between different communities with Buddhists cordial by and large. If the same is adopted by the whole Bahujan Samaj (if not atleast the SC/ST/DT/NT should adopt it in the 1st stage) in India 'fraternity' as a living force would be a reality and it would not only put an end to the caste violence but shall also help in 'Annihilating the caste', 'reduce economic inequalities' and make them the 'rulers of the country'. They should now come out of the 'hell of Hindu caste system' by embracing Buddhism as Babasaheb told.
The 'message of liberation' given by Babasaheb therefore has to be immediately adopted by the dalits, tribals and backwards who are in 'identity dilemma' or else our future is doomed in the 'culture of caste'.
The condition of degradation of dignity, oppression, backwardness of the shudras, atishudras, adivasiswould be transformed not only by education, reservation, economic empowerment, political power but also when they come out of their inferiority complex. The inferiority of culture and caste by Hinduism can be destroyed only by a 'New-Independent Identity' and 'Culture of our own'. The 'Mulnivasi Bahujan Samaj', therefore have to adopt its original identity of Buddhist given by Babasaheb by discarding the present one of Hindu and begin a New Life in 21st Century.
Let this message be carried to every nook and corner of Dalits, Adivasis and Backwards of India from Maharashtra.
Jai Bhim ! Jai Phule ! Jai Shahu ! Jai Narayan Guru ! Jai Prabuddha Bharat !!
- Vijay Mankar
Run Independent Movement with Absolute Commitment:
We have to therefore avoid deviation and hijacking, and move ahead with absolute commitment as aindependent movement, of social transformation, economic emancipation, cultural change and cultural control as inspired by Mahtma Jotiba Phule-Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj-Narayana Guru-Babasaheb Ambedkar. We should also continue to buildup the Bahujan Samaj while strengthening the Buddhists and giving the base of Buddhism to Bahujan. The major action is to 'paralyse the brain' and major caution being 'Beware of the Communists!' as Dr. Babasaheb told.
Political Wisdom : Form an alliance of Ambedkarite Political Forces.
The awakening (Chetna) so raised in the Buddhists of Maharashtra should also be utilised to 'weld' the SC/ST/DT/NT/RM/OBC to defeat the Congress-NCP Congress, along with BJP-Sena in the forthcoming local elections to corporations and Z.P.'s. The Sociocultural awakening should be converted into a political victory atleast to become a balancing force. This is possible and achievable. For this all the'Ambedkarite Political Parties' should either form a grand alliance by wisely sharing the seats or the best candidate of these parties should be ensured victory by 'last time adjustment'. This would ensure that none loses its political identity and all gain in strength. The ultimate beneficiary would be the Ambedkarite Movement and society. Let us show this Political Wisdom in this hour of crisis.
Brahminism entres space : Modernity is at threat from caste
On 10th Dec. 2006 Ms. Sunita Williams, daughter of Deepak Pandya (a brahmin from Guj.) and Bonie (a christian lady from U.S.) entred space via space shuttle ‘Discovery’. It is reported by TOI, 11-12-2006, Ngp. edt. that she carries with her a copy of Bhagvat Gita and an idol of Ganesha. Both these are symbols of Brahminism which have now entred space. The ‘American Modernity’ is at threat from ‘Caste’. It is proved that a Brahmin even after marrying a Christian would remain a Brahmin and his progeny are likely to carry the ‘notion of caste’. The case of Sunita-Williams vindicates the caution of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, that due to the migration of hindus caste would become a world problem(ref. BAWS, Vol. 1, P. 5-6). The “Annihilation of caste“ therefore becomes the most urgent and top most priority of 21st century to save humanity. The document must be also sent to space immediately so that caste as a problem earth does not infects any other civilisation of the universe.
Kill Brahminism ! Save Humanity!! Shall be the slogan for the world.
Think of Social Security and Basic problems : A Permanent Solution
The whole issue also raises the ‘unsettled issue’ of Social Security of the SC/ST/MBC/DT/NT communities and the Buddhists. This requires more than acquiring licensed arms for self-defence. The whole socioeconomic, sociocultural relations in the caste system are required to be changed for a permanent solution. These are 5 visible solutions for action.
i) Develop a voluntary force of at least 20,00,000 within 5 yrs. for self-defence action.
ii) Separate settlements for SC/ST/MBC's as envisaged by Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar in his States and Minorities and Manifesto of AISCF, 1952. (ref. : Vol. 1,Vol. 1, P. 419-422, Vol. 17, 1st Edition P. 552-53 and 615-16) should be raised as a 'Charter of Rights' in the Parliament and Assembly.
iii) Make India a Boudhmay Bharat (i.e. at least over 60% of people become Buddhist for fraternity as a living force in society.) by 'Conversion and Dhamma Deeksha Movement'.
iv) Take the whole issue of caste-community violence under genocide and caste related violence to U.N.with conditional grants and trade concession as a precondition on the Indian Govt. A case for historical compensation can also be filed in the International Court of Justice.
v) Become a Governing class and create a casteless society for a durable solution.
These require a complete movement to be built up on all fronts.
We are committed to do so in future.
Babasaheb's Message to the Dalits : Become "One Community" by conversion
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar in his Essays on untouchability writes :
"The untouchables need three things. First thing they need is to end their social isolation. The second thing they need is to end their inferiority complex... How can they end their social isolation? The one and the only way to end their social isolation is for the untouchables to establish kinship...
Kinship makes the community take responsibility for vindicating the wrong done to a member... it is kinship which generates, this sympathetic resentment, this compound of tender emotion and anger.Kinship is the will to enlist the support of the kindred community to meet the tyrannies and oppressions by the Hindus which today the untouchables have to bear single-handed and alone. Kinship with another community is the best insurance which the untouchable can effect against Hindu tyranny and Hindu oppression.
What are the consequences of isolation? Isolation means social segregation, social humiliation, social discrimination and social injustice. Isolation means denial of protection, denial of justice, denial of opportunity. Isolation means want of sympathy, want of fellowship and want of consideration. Nay, isolation means positive hatred and antipathy from the Hindus.
Why is conversion necessary to establish kinship? The bond which holds a community together is called Kinship. While the bond which holds a society together is called citizenship.
The conditions precendent for acquiring kinship are quite different... common religion in place of unity of blood become a condition precedent to kinship .....
Without common religion there can be no kinship. Kinship is a social covenant of brotherhood.
For the untouchables where citizenship is not enough to put an end to their isolation and the troubles which ensure therefrom.. Whether conversion can solve the problem of untouchability. The answer to that question is emphatically in the affirmative”. (ref. : BAWS, Vol. 5, P. 413-420). Thus, Babasaheb wanted us to become one community by embracing one religion. Such a community would be free of inferiority complex, with sympathetic resentment, with self-respect, honour, as parts of one common life. Such a community would be with a social covenant of brotherhood. This he achieved by converting to Buddhism and the Buddhists have started becoming one community. This is reflected by the militant
agitations with sympathetic resentment either for the killings in Khairlanji or desecration of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar's statue at Kanpur. Both the events saw not only the Buddhist of Maharashtra responding as the pioneers but the others in foreign countries also acting at their levels, with same emotions to vindicate the wrongs. Though the agitations were militant but not violent. The movement moved by the inspiration of Phule-Shahu-Babasaheb has not damaged even a single human life or dignity of women. This is the most appreciable part of it.
A brief analysis (by taking non-reported cases as equal) of the chart shows that in comparison to the bigger states like U.P., M.P., Raj., A.P., Kar,., Guj., Ori., Bih., Ker., T.N. The atrocities in Mah. are very less i.e. 637 for a population of 9.68 cr. Not only this but if you compare atrocities of Maharashtra in proportion with smaller states like C.G., Utt., H.P., which have 706, 125 and 63 atrocities for a population of 2.08 cr, 84.89 lacs & 60.77 lacs respectively, it comes out to be very less. Even if the proportion of atrocities in relation to the percentage of SC/ST to the total population is taken, Mah. has lesser percentage of atrocities. It can also be established that states like M.P., U.P., Raj., A.P., Kar., Guj., Ori., T.N., Bih., Ker. who have more caste-communities as proportion to population are witnessing more atrocities. It is also seen that these states have very less Buddhist population. Only Punjab and W.B. stand ahead of Mah. in proportion to the factors taken above. According to a latest estimate atrocities on SC/ST from 2003-05 were 69,216 and 83,000 cases were pending in courts for justice.Nay, Equality before law is of no use if their is no equality in society and economy. Our struggle should be for 'Absolute Equality' in the land of inequality.
Now if we look at the population of Buddhists in the state, we can clearly derive the fact that the conversion in Maharashtra to Buddhism by former Mahar-Matang community have made them 'one community' strong, self-respecting with a 'Better Buddhist Identity'. It has made the relation between different communities with Buddhists cordial by and large. If the same is adopted by the whole Bahujan Samaj (if not atleast the SC/ST/DT/NT should adopt it in the 1st stage) in India 'fraternity' as a living force would be a reality and it would not only put an end to the caste violence but shall also help in 'Annihilating the caste', 'reduce economic inequalities' and make them the 'rulers of the country'. They should now come out of the 'hell of Hindu caste system' by embracing Buddhism as Babasaheb told.
The 'message of liberation' given by Babasaheb therefore has to be immediately adopted by the dalits, tribals and backwards who are in 'identity dilemma' or else our future is doomed in the 'culture of caste'.
The condition of degradation of dignity, oppression, backwardness of the shudras, atishudras, adivasiswould be transformed not only by education, reservation, economic empowerment, political power but also when they come out of their inferiority complex. The inferiority of culture and caste by Hinduism can be destroyed only by a 'New-Independent Identity' and 'Culture of our own'. The 'Mulnivasi Bahujan Samaj', therefore have to adopt its original identity of Buddhist given by Babasaheb by discarding the present one of Hindu and begin a New Life in 21st Century.
Let this message be carried to every nook and corner of Dalits, Adivasis and Backwards of India from Maharashtra.
Jai Bhim ! Jai Phule ! Jai Shahu ! Jai Narayan Guru ! Jai Prabuddha Bharat !!
- Vijay Mankar
No comments:
Post a Comment