Dalit ideologue and academic Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd has called for a unification of Dalit-Bahujan-socialist-egalitarian-Left forces and women to uphold nationalism.
He was here on Saturday to release a book, Modi-fy Cheyyappedathathu, Sangh Parivar Fascisathinethire 100 Poets and 25 Artistes , edited by Nadeer.
Mr. Ilaiah said that Dalits, Bahujans, backward classes, and tribal people were the true custodians of Indian nationalism. Throughout history, it was these people who participated in productive jobs and defended the country from enemies. It was the Adivasis who discovered the country’s food culture; it was the Dalits who discovered the ancient leather technology, and the Mahars who defended the country from enemies. In the entire history of Indian nationalism, no leader’s father was a soldier, but Ambedkar’s father was one who defended the nation. Now, the Dalit-Bahujans are called anti-nationals.
Mr. Ilaiah said that the Left should join hands with Dalit-Bahujan nationalism. “We would form a unified force. In Telangana, a new movement has come out, it is called Dalit-Bahujan-Left Front,” he added.
Communism and Ambedkarism had many characteristics in common. Ambedkar wanted abolition of caste. Marx wanted abolition of class. “My friends in the Left did not understand for long that caste is in the blood of everybody, class is outside the body. Class can be abolished, but caste cannot be abolished. Therefore, Ambedkarism is more relevant now than ever,” he pointed out. Marx and Ambedkar would have sat on the same platform, with Gouri Lankesh.
The dignity of labour and women’s freedom too should be highlighted, he observed.
Gujarat model flayed
Mr. Ilaiah came down heavily on the Gujarat model, saying that there was a clear conflict between that and the Kerala model. Gujarat model cannot be compared with the Kerala model. “Kerala has the best practices in the country. Kerala with multiple food cultures and resistance to cow worship, has become a model for the country,” he said. You go to any restaurant in Kerala, any kind of food will be available. You go to Gujarat, nothing is available except, dal and vegetables, he added.
Mr. Ilaiah said that the ruling party at the Centre was claiming that the greatest game was Yoga, and we need to promote vegetarianism. “Can you fight China and Pakistan, whose soldiers eat every meat, with Yoga and vegetarianism? If Yoga and vegetarianism are going to occupy India, China is going to occupy India tomorrow,” he added.
