Call to address Dalits’ plight instead of installing Ambedkar’s statues

Writers and progressive thinkers of Hassan have taken serious exception to people’s representatives who give more importance to installing statues of B.R. Ambedkar rather than addressing the plight of Dalits in the district.

Home Minister G. Parameshwar, Minister for Animal Husbandry A. Manju and legislators H.D. Revanna, H.K. Kumaraswamy took part in the unveiling of a bronze statue of Ambedkar at Gorur near here on Saturday.

S.N. Mallappa, a senior Dalit Sangharsha Samiti leader, said: “Installing statues of Ambedkar is a strategy to woo voters. Last time A.Manju installed a statue in Arakalgudu town and with that succeeded to woo Dalits. I am shocked none of the speakers in the programme made a reference to Sigaranahalli, where Dalits have been denied social justice. What’s the point in having statues of Ambedkar, when these people do not want to implement his thoughts.”

Dalits of Sigaranahalli have demanded entry into the temple and a community hall in the village, which has been opposed by the ‘upper castes’. Several meetings by the district administration have failed to resolve the issue.

A Dalit woman was also assaulted in the village recently.

Writer Banu Mushtaq said that installing Ambedkar’s statues would not serve any purpose, unless his ideologies are being understood by the people.

“The culture of installing statues does not help people understand what he did for the country. The younger generation should be made to know him ideologically,” she said.

Dharmesh, district secretary of CPM, pointed out, “installing Ambedkar’s statue is easier than implementing his thoughts. The politicians eyeing on votes prefer installing statues for providing social justice guaranteed by the constitution for the deprived sections. The government’s objective should be to ensure democratic, secular republic. I am worried politicians of the district are not concerned about the real plight of Dalits.”

These people opposed the idea of installing many more statues of Ambedkar as it might attract controversies if someone to dishonour them. The administration would have to provide security to these statues as well, they added.

What’s the point in having statues of Ambedkar, when these people do not want to implement his thoughts, ask writers