Ramesh Chander, Retired diplomat
(Samaj Weekly)- With the death of Babu Kanshi Ram on October 9, 2006, a wide political vacuum was created in the dalit politics of the country, second time after the parinirvan (death) of Babasaheb Ambedkar on December 6, 1956. The vacuum is still wide open and it appears that the situation would persist for years to come as no dalit leader is in sight that can fill the gap, unfortunately. I wrote in my blogs about Babu Kanshi Ram and his legacy many a times earlier too. I thought of writing and remembering the tall leader, Babu Kanshi Ram, rightly called Bahujan Nayak, Manyawar and Saheb, on his death anniversary as I find a lot of relevance and need of his views and thoughts in the fast changing socio-political scenario of India that is Bharat.
Babu Kanshi Ram was not only an excellent organizer and political strategist but also a visionary leader. He founded All India Backwards (SC/ST/OBC) and Minorities Communities Employees’ Federation (BAMCEF), Dalit Shoshit Samaj Sangharsh Samiti (DS-4) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) which culminated in a political
force to reckon with in the coming years. His political protégé, Kumari Mayawati; popularlarly called ‘Behnji’ became the CM of UP for four times. During his life time, Kanshi Ram became a much sought after political personality in political circles and corridors of power not only in several states of India but also in New Delhi. Babu Kanshi Ram’s untimely death in October, 2006 halted the ‘Caravan’ of Babasaheb Ambedkar very skillfully steered by Babu Kanshi Ram. Kumari Mayawati and his followers could not hold the flag and failed their
iconic leader and the dalit masses. It is a matter of great regret. Perhaps Babu Kanshi Ram has had an inkling of the things to come after his death. One of my fellow Bootan Mandians and a friend, Prem Shant in Jalandhar was close to Babu Kanshi Ram and Babu ji used to stay with them quite often while in Jalandhar. He told me an interesting and relevant anecdote. Once at a political rally in Jalandhar, on arrival of Kanshi Ram, the crowd resorted to, as usual, in sloganeering ‘Kanshi Ram ji Sanghrash Karo; Hum Tumhare Sath Hain” Kanshi Rsm whispered in a lighter vein “Han Tushin Kuch Na Kariyo Sab Kuch Kanshi Ram Hi Kare”.
Just to register the potency of Babu Kanshi Ram’s thought and mission, I will come to the current political scenario later in the narration. Let me mention about an anecdote which I read in one of books on the dalit icons, President K.R. Narayanan and Babu Kanshi Ram. One day, Babu Kanshi Ram went to Rashrapati Bhawan to call on President K.R. Narayanan. After the meeting, setting aside all protocols, President came to see off Babu ji to one of the outer doors in spite of Kanshi Ram’s pleas that he should maintain the laid down protocol norms and let him go. President in his elements said in great humility that there would be many Presidents in the future but there may not be another Kanshi Ram in the years to come in the near future. India is India because of such great leaders.
Now I come to the current scenario. Some time ago, I wrote as to how the various political dispensations like BJP and even RSS and also Congress Party and numerous regional outfits were keen to own and appropriate Kanshi Ram and his legacy for political gains. Democracy has its own mechanism of leveling the playing field. Kanshi Ram has again surfaced on the political landscape in the wake of forthcoming state and national elections. Rahul Gandhi has supported the caste census in the ongoing slugfest on the issue. He said that he would tend to agree with the dictum of Babu Kanshi Ram “Jis Ki Jitni Ginti Bhari; Utni Uski Hisedari”. Here lies the importance and relevance of Kanshi Ram. I only hope, in the interest of the country, yet another wish of the Bahujan Nayak “Vote Hamara Raj Tumhara; Nahin Chalega Nahin Chalega”, is fulfilled and India becomes ‘Secular, Socialist, Democratic Republic’ in reality. The sooner the better.
I leave it here as my humble tribute the great leader, Manyawar Kanshi Ram on his death anniversary.
