Dalit Politics: Babasaheb Ambedkar and Babu Kanshi Ram

Dalit Politics: Babasaheb Ambedkar and Babu Kanshi Ram

There is a saying in Urdu – ‘Kuffar Toota Khuda Khuda Karke, It is fully true with regard to the Dalit Politics in India. At the dawn of Independence of India in 1947, Dalits; the marginalized sections of the society have had no say in the polity of India. In the decades preceding Independence, Babasaheb Ambedkar in liaison and cooperation with the leaders like; Periyar Ramsamy Naicker, Babu Mangoo Ram Muguwalia among others fought for the rights of the

depressed classes in the caste ridden Hindu society, now called in general parlance Dalits or Scheduled Castes and Tribes both with the British Rulers and also with the Caste hierarchies led by Mahatma Gandhi and others. The onerous task of making the Constitution of India fell on Babasaheb Ambedkar. Ambedkar was a visionary leader with a potent agenda. He left no stone unturned in exploring and identifying the right roadmap for India in its ‘Tryst with destiny’ and empower ‘We the people of India’ to embark on the journey to make India an inclusive society on the cardinal principles of secularism and democracy and to secure to all its citizens ‘Justice, Liberty, Equality and promote among them all Fraternity’. He made the edifice of secular democracy with the cement of the dictum of ‘One Vote – One Value’ breaking the barriers of discrimination on the basis of caste, creed and gender. These provisions set the agenda and paved the way to empower and uplift Dalits and other marginalized sections of the society including the women folk. The political situation has come full circle with positive outcomes. It is a matter of satisfaction that now no one in India can afford to ignore and sideline the depressed classes that is Dalits or Scheduled Castes and Tribes. The tyranny has broken – Kuffar Toota Khuda Khuda Karke.

In spite of the fact that Ambedkar dedicated and devoted his entire life in the service of India; initiating the schemes and plans for its economic development, reforming the Indian society, writing of the Constitution of India and  much more, he did not get his due from his high caste contemporaries and political and socio-cultural outfits run by them. Babasaheb Ambedkar was politically isolated and vilified, willfully, in his life time. But his mission and legacy was so potent that it could not be put under the carpet long. He rose from the ashes life a phoenix. The things have come to such a pass that no leader or party can afford to forget Ambedkar. Everyone is falling on each other to relate and own him. The process is on and many more things are yet to happen to achieve and fulfill the lofty vision of one of the greatest sons of India, Babasaheb Ambedkar.

Even after two decades of Ambedkar’s Parinirvana in 1956, no one recognized him and gave his due in the Indian polity and society. But it was not to be. Babu Kanshi Ram came on the socio-political firmament in early 1970s. He not only resurrected Babasaheb Ambedkar and his legacy but also brought the marginalized sections of the society; Dalits and OBCs in the political count as ‘Bahujans’

through various outfits like BAMCFE, DS4 and finally BSP and made BSP a political force to reckon with. Ambedkar was an intellectual and moral force with mass following but did not know how sail in the sullen political waters and convert his mass following into a sound political movement. Kanshi Ram was a pragmatic leader with political and social message. He filled the vacuum and took the caravan of Ambedkar to its logical heights particularly in the largest state in India, UP and also other parts of India. His protégé, Kumari Mayawati famously known as Behnji became the CM of UP for the record four tenures. But Kanshi Ram left the scene too soon in 2006 due to prolonged and disabling paralytic attack. His followers in the BSP headed by Behn Mayawati could not hold the fort in the absence of towering personality of Babu Kanshi Ram. But Kanshi Ram with his vision and untiring efforts and total selfless dedication had already done the job in awakening the masses with the cries of –

Vote Hamara; Raj Tuhara, Nahin Chalega Nahin Chalega

And

Jis Ki Jitni Sankhiya Bhari; Utni Uski Bhaghedari

Kanshi Ram proved himself as the true flag bearer of Babasaheb Ambedkar  to carry forward his mission and legacy with a pragmatic approach and left an indelible mark on the politics of India. Like the delayed and late recognition of his icon, Babasaheb Ambedkar, Kanshi Ram, after two decades of his demise, has resurfaced on the political scene with an added momentum. On his birth anniversary,

March 15, he became ‘Everybody’s Political Icon’ as termed by the Hindustan Times on March 16 in its Editorial. Congress Party leader and LoP in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi has demanded Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award of India for Babu Kanshi Ram. Samaj Party leader, Akhilesh Yadav quickly followed suit. AAP, through a Resolution by the Punjab Legislative Assembly, has endorsed the demand to honour Babu Kanshi Ram. BSP headed by Kumari Mayawati and many more Dalit outfits had already registered their wish and demand for Bharat Ratna to the worthy leader. Now the ball is in the court of the ruling BJP to decide and deliver. It may not be an easy decision for BJP due to obvious reasons of ‘Manuwadi Mindset’ which yet to be completely shed in the echelons of socio-political spheres of public life in India. It would not be out of place to rake up the proposal of declaring, April 14, birthday of Babasaheb Ambedkar, as International Day of Equality under the aegis of UN. The proposal which was made in June, 2015, is lying unattended for the last more than a decade in the cup-boards of PMO (Now Sewa Teerath) and MEA despite regular soft reminders not only to the GOI but also to the BJP and RSS. My gut-feelings tell me that though Bharat Ratna to Babu Kanshi Ram is a fair and justifiable demand yet it has to pass and defeat many on the way. The Hindustan Times Editorial referred to in the preceding lines has rightly concluded, “Just like Ambedkar, Kanshi Ram was a political philosopher which envisaged a radical overhaul of Indian society by advocating power to the bahujan samaj (an alliance of the non-upper caste communities). The big question is whether any of the political parties chasing Kanshi Ram’s legacy embrace this provocative but anti-caste vision of democracy. Or, will it be like in case of Ambedkar – more of a symbolic embrace than an endorsement of the person’s radical political agenda.” I put it in a poetic jargon –

Meri Sada Ko Dabana To Khair Mumkin Hai

Magar Nai Awam Ki Awaj Kaun Rokega?