A merger of their separate approaches can lift the Dalit movement out of its current crisis and lead it towards success
The Dalit movement in India, which started nearly 100 years ago, is going through a crisis today. This crisis is at both the ideological and political levels. Although nothing like a pan-Indian Dalit movement probably exists today, scattered Dalit movements are found in some form or the other at various State and regional levels. The common factor in all these movements is that they are all based on Babasaheb Ambedkar's ideas and have evolved directly from them.
The emergence of Kanshi Ram — and his success in politically empowering Dalits in Uttar Pradesh — is undoubtedly the second-biggest event in the history of Dalit movement since Ambedkar. The Dalit movement in U.P was inspired by Ambedkar and was born of the womb of Ambedkarism. However, while the U.P. movement has helped to empower Dalits in the State, it has also created tensions within the Dalit movement because of the conflict between Ambedkar's values and ideals-based ideology and Kanshi Ram's practical and pragmatic politics. The Dalit movement in Maharashtra which followed the path shown by Ambedkar has not yet been able to fulfil his dreams.
Kanshi Ram organised the Dalits of U.P into a wider category called Bahujan Samaj. Mayawati brought them under the bigger umbrella of ‘Sarvajan'. The experiment failed in the last U.P. Assembly elections. To understand today's Dalit movement in U.P., it is important to study the ideological differences between Ambedkar and Kanshi Ram, since a lot has already been said about their similarities.
The ideological differences between Kanshi Ram and Ambedkar arose mainly from their education and backgrounds. While Ambedkar studied at Columbia University and was trained in Western knowledge tradition, Kanshi Ram was born in a small village in Punjab and trained in the school of Pune's Dalit politics. Because of Ambedkar's western training, his ideological ingredients were derived by seeing Dalits in the context of history. Kanshi Ram's political arguments in favour of Dalits on the other hand merged historical and mythological contexts. This is because he understood the mythology and folk-based culture and society of U.P. Kanshi Ram initially tried to follow Ambedkar's path that had been adopted in Maharashtra. However, he changed course and asserted that although Dalit politics got its grounding in Maharashtra, it grew and was nurtured on the soil of U.P. Ambedkar called the politics of emancipation of marginalised groups the ‘Dalit movement' while Kanshi Ram preferred to term it the ‘Bahujan movement', avoiding the use of the word ‘Dalit'.
Ethicality vs. pragmatism
Ambedkar provided an ethical context to the politics of Dalit liberation since morality was very important to him. Kanshi Ram chose to be pragmatic in his attempt to politically empower Dalits. He was unmindful of the means of acquiring political power, emphasising the end, i.e., attainment of political power. If he was criticised for his ‘opportunism' he used to immediately reply that if Brahmins can become influential by being opportunistic then Dalits too could use opportunism to empower themselves. Kanshi Ram believed that until a casteless society was formed it was necessary for Dalits to strategically use their caste as a tool in their own emancipation and to dethrone Brahminism. While Ambedkar saw the abolition of the caste system as vital for Dalit emancipation, Kanshi Ram and Mayawati favoured the awakening of Dalit and backward identities in order to link these with the Bahujan movement. Kanshii Ram and Mayawati transformed Ambedkar's ‘slogan, ‘abolish the caste system' — propagated in his book, Annihilation of Caste — into ‘promote the caste system' to mobilise Dalits towards the restoration of their caste identity and self-esteem.
Kanshi Ram viewed caste as a double-edged sword and he wanted to use it in a way that benefited the Bahujans but destroyed Brahminical hegemony. He wanted to rouse the consciousness of the Dalit and backward classes and believed in associating them with Bahujan society. However, he disagreed with Ambedkar's demand for a separate electorate for Dalits even though, like Ambedkar, he too wanted Dalits to attain respectability and glory in mainstream society. Kanshi Ram's idea was to transform society into a samta muluk (equal) society with all castes seen as equal and each having its own caste identity. This dream of a samta muluk society was the philosophical underpinning of the BSP.
Kanshi Ram's and — by consequence, the BSP's — ideology was based on Ambedkar's theory of the ‘origin of the Dalits' (arising from a Aryan-non-Aryan difference). But crucially, Ambedkar had refused to accept Manu as the founder of the caste system in India while Kanshi Ram gave Indian politics the new concept of ‘Manuvad'. Kanshi Ram always kept in mind Ambedkar's motto that political power was the master-key for Dalit liberation and that acquiring this master-key should be the Dalit war-strategy. But he used to say that Ambedkar learnt from books while he had learnt from his own life and people. He further said, ‘He used to gather books; I tried to collect people.'
If the Dalit movement in India is to succeed, it is important to analyse both the similarities and differences between Kanshi Ram and Ambedkar so that a new strategy can be developed for the movement. The Bahujan-Sarvajan movement in Uttar Pradesh may want to borrow from Ambedkarite values in its U.P. experiment while the Dalit movement in other parts of India may learn from Kanshi Ram on how to mobilise new Dalit Politics.
i am in agreement with Chetan Kathi, there can not be a separate
analysis of these two personalities. Kanshi Ram ji was an Ambedkarite,
trying to establish what Babasaheb Ambedkar had wished for. Therefore,
an article appears to be mischievous attempt to tamper with the fact of
Ambedkarite movement.
Good analysis but needs more ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,the bahujans concept of this election in UP has shown it has regressed to only dalit movement. Kanshiramji was pragmatic in the short run while Babasaheb was more pragmatic in the long run..........For dalit politics to establish both needs to be taken into consideration
I hate castism and categorization... when will we truly realize the
actual sense of being a Hindu? That you are what you are by your acts
(and education) and not your birth nor color.
For example a person who is a doctor and is from a family of Brahmins,
wants his wife to abort their child because it is a girl is not a
Brahmin but is even worse than swine.
Also their were no casts but only communities based on professions
(acts, way of living), hence I cannot understand from where did
castism creeped in our Hindu society.
When will people shed these petty political covers to hide their
inadequacies and wrong doings and rise above to accept that their
actions and nature define them not their birth nor color.
Badri Narayanan's analysis leads to a notional wedge between Dr.Ambedkar and Kanshiram. The author explains the differing perceptions of both the leaders ,though does not focus on the path the Dalit movement should tread for betterment.The subtle difference in the leaders tone and tenor has never stood in the way of their commitment and the struggle for upliftment of Dalits. The Dalit movement as such is not in crisis as projected in the article, but suffers grossly by disunity among them.They should realise that the more the no. of outfits are organised under subsects, the more the movement gets weakened. Unfortunately, such organisations do not identify themselves with the struggles launched for common issues affecting all,the price rise, the unemployment, attack on the rights of working class,harassment to women, to name a few. They take cover under separate identity which hits a major road block in the unity and in the understanding. A sincere introspection is the need of hour.
Ambedkar can be considered as Prophet of nature to Harijans.He was among the greatest scholar ever born in India. Gandhi once said, I am respected more standing next to him in abroad than in India. Casteism has been a cancer which still persists in India. People often talk against reservation.I humbly ask them to study about Harijans evolvement & their conditions. Most of the SC and ST are not even aware of what reservation truly is. Mr. Ambedkar's movement for 'Casteless nation ' is one of the hardest goal for India to achieve. As I myself working in a well-known firm faced several queries because of my Surname. I don’t know why people are so interested in one's surname or caste? We the people of India are more interested in being cynic rather being cooperative citizens. This is the basic reason we fall off behind the nations like USA, China etc.
If we had worked with the thought 'we are one' irrespective of caste & religion,we could have prospered more than any nation in this world.
Dr.Ambedkar had the welfare of dalits in his mind and uplifting
them in society.He appeared to be a hater of hindu eventhough
he was a hindu and knew much more about hindu philosophy than most of the hindus.He could not clearly say how that philosaophy
stood in the development of Dalits.We all know that even the growth and upliftment of Hindus has nothing to do with their being hindus. The philosophy and religion of Hindus attracted all including the non hindus because it gave peace and comforts to them during distress.No regorous practice is needed or demanded.Dr.Ambedkar is remembered today more on political grounds and his being an important tool in the formation of our constitutions.The modern political leaders aiming votes and power,display the dalit card day in and day out.The buck stops there butDalits continue to be Dalits.
"I think Kanshiram's political movement should be read as a part with in post Ambedkar's India. As stated by Kanshiram himself through out his life time "I am the follower of Ambedkar" there can not a separate argument in this regard. "Political Power is the master key" is one of the slogans that were given by Ambedkar which Kanshiram has taken up. As quoted by the writer Ambedkar did not alone gathered books, he has gathered 5 lakh people at one place in 1956 with minimal transport in those days. It is one of the biggest gathering in Indian history. Ambedkar's ultimate aim is the annihilation of caste for which he has showed the alternate path too, political power can not alone annhilate the caste. Any dalit in this country who is enjoying the political power or education or employment or having the right to vote is part with in post Ambedkar's India. Kanshiram is a great political leader in this country but Ambedkar with his worldly perspective has changed the phase of this country"
Indeed, the pragmatism of Kanshi Ram is the sole reason why we, the upper-caste
Hindus feel threatened suddenly by the rise of the Dalits. Dr. Ambedkar's aim may however remain illusory. From my experience of living around the world, I have noted that people do not really wish to abolish discrimination, racism and the like, they merely wish to be the profiteers of such a system.
We Indians will often cry out when we are discriminated by the Australians, but in South Africa or in the U.S, we staunchly wish to maintain that we are not "coloured" or "dark", that we are "brown" and somehow superior to the Afro-Americans or the Latinos. East Europeans may complain that they are discriminated in Western Europe but at home, they have no qualms about ruthlessly abusing their own minority communities. So experiencing discrimination or racism as a community or even as individuals doesn't necessarily prevent one from being racist. The only solution is for the victims to attain power.
The backward classes had always had a fractious relationship with the Dalits. The resourceful Yadavs were known for leading attacks on vulnerable Dalits, who were their easiest prey.Till today, they remain sworn enemies.
Dr.Ambedkar's ultimate aim was to create CASTELESS SOCIETY rather than "samata mulak society".He had categorically mentioned this concept in "Bahikshutra Bharat". In casteless society, society will not have any affinity towards caste.So no need of equal status.Equal status is primary step towards casteless society.
Good article. Complete analsys and balanced also. Like it.
And we love both of these great leaders of India: Baba Saheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar... and Babu Kanshi Ram ji....
Bothe of them fight for whole of their lives for betterment of Dalits of the country...
There is a world of difference between Dr Ambedkar and Mr Kanshi Ram. The latter allowed himself to be captured and enslaved by Mayawati, leading to the very unfortunate total failure of the Dalit movement in UP. Dr Ambedkar, with his truly brilliant intellect, would never have allowed such a thing to happen.
I think all the politicians had used dalits just in the form of a vote bank, no one is really bother about their upliftment whetrher Mayabati, Rahul Gandhi or any one else. The status of dalits nowadays is not much better than that of past. Although they are getting opportunities in some areas, But how much differene it creating in to their status i am not sure.
Caste system should be completely abolished in India. This is has been the main thing which has been exploited by the Politicians to loot the nations. The reservations should be made on the basis of financial background and not the caste. Equal opportunities should be given to everyone regardless of their caste. The caste system is destroying India...
Finally, an article regarding two most prominent and important
personalities who helped shape the movement of emancipation of Dalits
in the 20th century. Author succinctly explained the philosophy of two
visionaries. Both existed in different eras and but they transcend times. We mistake political power for hegemony. Kanshi Ram used politics to empower Dalits. If our diversity is represented equitably in body politic, ours would be a wiser nation which has seen eradication of social evil. The recent editorial in The Hindu,
"Insensitive Indian", highlights the need of proper representation of each section in government and bureaucracy. I'm not a big fan of Kanshi Ram only because he 'vilified' upper castes. The solution to caste system exists in willful and mutual understanding of one another. There is a thousand years old wisdom waiting to be harnessed for dalits.
Although they tried the best attempt for good will of dalit samaj but still there is a huge difference in the status. caste system and reservation has made huge ditch between upper caste and lower caste.thought the reservation system provide wide opportunities but one can see the result, most of the seat are left vacant.so called dalit samaj are unable to expolite it, what is the reason behind it.
i think attempt should be made to improve the condition directly by different panchyat with administrator having the report of their development not only on paper but in reality too. Infact many laws are made but still not performed then what is the use of that. With the increase in population and number of unemployed people the difference has taken shape of demon.so untill and unless efforts are not made to improve the condition in reality not on the paper,how can one think to heal this gap.
With the news that Mayawati took almost 90 crore to renovate her private
mansion I hope the dalits of UP realize that she is not the answer to the
dalits problems.
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