Dr. Rahul Kumar Balley, MA, PhD
(Samajweekly) –Dr Ambedkar, a principal architect of Indian constitution is a great son of India who never yielded to political or religious or social pressure of Brahmins despite insurmountable hurdles & sharp criticism. The world knows about Dr. Ambedkar`s outstanding contributions for Indian society as a whole. Hardly any author who wants to make authentic research into Indian society can omit the name of Dr Ambedkar and his great achievements. Dr. Ambedkar is a shining star in the galaxy of academicians, scholars all over the world.
Amit Shah, Home Minister, Government of India made a derogatory remark against Dr. Ambedkar in the Parliament of India. Is it an accidental or a calculated move? Dalits across India are demanding an apology from Amit Shah. Dalits are seen protesting in front of Indian High Commissions abroad against Amit Shah and demanding apology and resignation. Will he do, or will he succumb to the pressure is not yet known?
Both national political parties are seen blaming each other in respect of Dr. Ambedkar. A comparison must be held in terms of who is what.
Gandhi, the backbone of Indian National Congress (INC) launched the All-India Anti- Untouchability League in 1932 to eradicate Untouchability in India but no such movement was launched by BJP/RSS in India.
In Comparison to the Indian National Congress, the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) is a master party in appropriating Dr Ambedkar. Where Congress party left behind there BJP tried to win hearts of the Dalits. It is a fact that the Congress party did not come forward to honor places where Dr Ambedkar studied and lived. For example, London House where Dr Ambedkar stayed in 1921-22 for higher studies was purchased by the government of Maharashtra (BJP Government), in 2015. Similarly, The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi inaugurated the “Dr. Ambedkar National Memorial (DANM)” at 26, Alipore Road, Delhi in 2018 at the place of Mahaparinirvana of Dr. Ambedkar. The memorial is dedicated to the life and contributions of Dr. Ambedkar, the principal architect of the Constitution of India.
Not only this, the Congress Party left clothes of Dr. Ambedkar unattended at Chaitya Bhoomi, Nagpur, Maharashtra and later these clothes were worn out. These historical places deserve proper recognition in memory of Dr Ambedkar but the Congress Party ignored it despite nationwide agitations.
On the other side, the RSS/BJP weakened SCs/ST s Act which protects the life and property of SCs/STS. After 2014, violence against the Dalits increased manifold despite tall promises by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Marriage processions of Dalits are disturbed by Upper Caste Hindus. Dalit Bride and Bridegrooms are openly beaten and insulted under the nose of the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh and other BJP ruled states.
The BJP wants to enforce ‘Manusmriti’, in Ambedkar`s word a Code of Laws, and is aggressively trying to implement it. The proposal to teach Manusmriti to law students of Delhi University by the BJP; Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to initiate steps to produce, process and brand cow-urine and cow-dung for consumers.
The BJP associated authors have been penning down anti-Ambedkar books. Arun Shourie, former Minister in the BJP government wrote ‘Worshipping False Gods: Ambedkar, and the facts which has been erased’ in 1997. The Gujarat BJP government banned the book ‘Rashtriya Mahapurush Bharat Ratna Dr B R Ambedkar, written in Gujarati by Dalit Scholar (P.A. Parmar), which was distributed to students of Class VI-VIII in government primary schools across the state. Bharatiya Janata Party member of parliament (MP) from Karnataka, Anant Kumar Hedge has said that the Indian constitution needs to be changed ‘to save our religion. Since 2014, the RSS, the backbone of the BJP, in a secret manner, has been making rock-hard efforts to annihilate ‘Reservation’, shows the mind -set of the BJP. Over all these actions by BJP MPs, scholars and activists, Prime Minister Narendra Modi remains silent.
On the other hand, the quota of ‘Reservation’ in government services has actually been cut down by the NDA government since 2014. In comparison to Congress, the BJP is swiftly moving to privatization where a large chunk of Dalits would remain unfit for skilled employment either due to lack of technical education or having outdated education.
Article 25: It imparts freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion. Article 26: It gives freedom to manage religious affairs. Article 27: It sets freedom as to payment of taxes for promotion of any particular religion. The BJP is anti- freedom of religion. Since 2003, the BJP government in Gujarat has had a law pertaining to punishment for forcible conversions. The law, also dubbed the anti-love -Jihad law, has provisions penalizing for forcible or fraudulent religious conversions through marriage. In Goa under the BJP government a law is made saying that a Hindu man to marry once again if his wife does not conceive a child by the age of 21 or a male child by the age of 30. On the other hand, Muslims who register their marriages in Goa are prohibited from engaging in polygamy and triple talaq.
Vandalization of Dr Ambedkar statues by Upper Caste Hindus are common affairs in India. Despite complaints by the Dalits, the BJP has not made any law that can punish the miscreants and stop it permanently. During Christmas celebrations it is often observed that the members of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) are found disrupting the Christmas celebrations. Recently, the Nallepilly incident in Kerala shows the true character of Hindu outfits.
Annihilation of Reservation, implementation of Manusmriti and anti-Ambedkar books and pushing privatization are some of the diabolical deeds of the BJP hence one can safely say that the BJP is, in true sense, an anti-Dalit, anti- Constitution and anti-democratic, anti-scientific political party in India.
The ruling as well as the opposition are equally responsible for the social and economic conditions of the marginalized minorities in India. Both do not want to empower Dalits, Muslims, Christians and Sikhs. Both want religious minorities in thrall. Both are against the thoughts and genuine principles of Dr Ambedkar. Both are two sides of the same coin.
The chanting of the name of Dr Ambedkar and displaying pictures for both the political parties have become unavoidable. Both understand that without talking about Baba Saheb Dr. Ambedkar it is difficult to capture political power. This fatal strategy on behalf of the BJP, and the Congress party is not understood by the majority of the Dalits. The Dalits running political parties including the BSP are just ragdolls in the hands of these two national political parties.
The sooner it is learnt the better it would be for their welfare. The Dalits need to protect the legacy of their icons and to teach their children. Dr Ambedkar said, “Self-help is the best help”. Therefore, the Dalits need to believe in their strength and work for their own upliftment.
