The Roll of Dalit intellectuals in the
Social and Economic Development
( Easy was written for
reading at Jallander in intellectual
persons meet on Dated 4-1-2013)
Ladies
and gentlemen,
Jai Bhim, Jai
Gurudev, Jai Bharat.
At
the out set let me express my heartfelt gratitude’s to the organizers of this
important meet to day. It is an important occasion when all have gathered here
to ponder over the problems blocking the roadway to progress of the Dalit Samaj
and to find ways and means to over come man made hurdles in achieving our
goals. The topic chosen it self explains the intensions, concerns and deep
sense of responsibility of the educated Dalit lot to find swiftly the way out.
I am greatly indebted for the efforts of Mr. J.RChouhan, who is solely
responsible for my visit to your city and providing me the opportunity to meet
you all. He won my heart in his very first meeting when we both gathered in DD
studio Jammu to deliver a joint talk on 6th Dec.2012 on the life and mission
of Bharat Ratana Baba Sahib Dr B.R. Ambedkar. I thank Mr. Chouhan from the core
of my heart; he has made arrangements of my transport to your meet as well.
To day’s
topic for discussion as you all know is “The roll of intellectuals for Social
and Economic Development”. So to begin
with first I must define intellect and intellectuals so as their wordly meaning
are made explicitly clear.
As per the English dictionary “Intellect” is
defined as the power or faculty of mind by which one knows or understands as
distinguished from that by which one feels and that by which one wills, the
under standing , the faculty of thinking ,reasoning, understanding and
acquiring knowledge. In common terms it is Budhi,
Budhimata and Akal. Where as an Intellectual is an individual who
engages himself or her self in intellect pursuit, to pursue an effort to
overtake or capture. In the common terms it is known as Bhudhiman, Akalmand, Budhijivi, Mansik, and Boddicwadi.
Normally
an educated person has better intellect development chances but many with out
university and college degrees has done wonders in the world. Every educated
person cannot be an intellectual, he or
she may or may not be an intellectual. Where as a little percentage of
individuals with out any formal education have proved highly intellectuals
doing wonders in spiritual, social, cultural, art, craft, skilled jobs and
economic spheres. A few such highly intellectuals like Guru Ravidas(1414-1532)
Sadguru Kabir Sahib(1398-1518),Nam Dev(1270-1350),Guru Nanak(1469-1539) and his
successors in line of gurugadi , Sant Chokhamela, Sant Savitamali
Sant Sain, Gora, Sadna,
Dhanna,Sheed Bhagat Singh, Udham Singh, Mata Savitribai Phuley,Mata Ramabai
Ambedkar, Jesus Christ, Hazrat Mohd, and many more did wonders by their philosophies,
theories and sermons and heroic pursuits.
But even then education is an important
ingredient to sharpen intellect and help it grow The education in turn is
dependent on economic conditions of the person. Education is said to the Third
Eye of an individual with out which real progress in modern times is not
possible.
Since the Brahminical
dharma or Chaturvarnadharma is rooted
on the un-natural division of its members. The Brahmins also called Bhudevas(gods on the earth) assumed
dominating position in this division. They devised different methods to keep
all other castes under their command by assigning them inferior positions. Chaturvarnadharma Division into Priests
(Brahmins), Rulers and warriors (Khaitrays), Commoners (Vaishyas) and Servants or slaves (Shudras,Asuras ) was proclaimed to be done as per the will of God,
the universe creator. The first three
were also called twice born. The different duties so assigned were attributed as
Godly act. The Shudras or slaves were
assigned the lowest and dirtiest jobs. Service to the other three castes as
slaves duly purchased with out paying any price .The rules made in pre historic
times for then Shudras are still strictly applicable to present day Shudras
,Ati Shudras. These rules received legal sanctions as per Brahminical laws
declaring them to be as per the express will God.
To
keep Shudras permanently under Brahmins authority all their means of progress
were completely choked by their masters.
The right of education, economic pursuits, social justice were denied to
shudras as proclaimed in Dharam
Shasta’s. The Manusmriti or Manaavdharmasastra supposed to be
written first BCE( Before common era) was said to
be as per godly legal authority.
It assigned Shudras (chapter 1:91) duty (service) to other three superior castes
as their Dharma.
Manusmriti
(chapter 1:101) laid down the Priest
eats, wears, and gives what is his own, all
others live through the priest’s mercy, making clear that every thing on earth
belongs to Brahmins. They were declared Bhudevas( Gods on earth)
Manusmriti
(chapter 10:96) If a man of the lower
caste makes money by indulging in superior caste duties, the king should confiscate his wealth and immediately
banish him. This way all efforts of a shudra to earn money were blocked permanently.
Manusmriti
(chapter 8:267) corporal or death penalty
was devised for a shudras for shouting at a ruler, where as superior caste persons were to be let
off only after paying a monetary fine with minimum fine amount for the
priests.
The
basics of economic growth of the Shudras was blocked through Manusmriti (chapter 10:129) which laid that a
shudras shall not own any wealth even if he
has the ability to do so , for a
wealthy servant shall annoy a priest or
Brahmin .
Manusmriti
(chapter 8:416) proclaims that a wife,
a son, a slave (Shudra) owns no
property, whatever they have belongs to the man to whom they belong.
Still more stringent law made legalized
.Manusmriti (chapter 8:417)says A
Brahmin can take over property of a shudras since nothing belongs to him. To
further degrade the position of the Shudras the Bhagwat Geeta another
religiously high placed scripture lays in( Chapter
9:32) a woman ,a Vaishya and a shudras are born out of curse or their past
bad deeds.
Ramacaritamanasa
( Hindi-Geeta Press) writes
Listen o’ Gandharava to what I tell you. I
cannot tolerate an enemy of Brahmins”
Page 737
He who without guile in
thought, word and deed does service to the Brahmins (the very fond Gods on
Earth) wins over Brahma, Siva, Myself(Sri ram) and all other Divinities. Page 737
A
drum, a rustic, a sudra, a beast and a woman all these require beating as their right. Page 855
One can quote hundreds of such partial Brahminical laws sanctioning stringent
punishments for shudras and immunity to Brahmins for similar acts.
If a shudra listens to a religious scripture,his tongue be cut and boiling metal
be put in hear ears.
When
Baba Sahib Dr B.R. Ambedkar was asked to
briefly describe the contents of Hindu scriptures. He is said to have replied
that these books contain primarily two things. One stories of Raja Maharajas,
Kings and warriors and secondly abuses to we poor shudras. Dr Ambedkar
considering Manusmriti a curse for Dalits, so burnt it in full public view in
1927.
My narrations so far are to show how
systematically the basic cannons of progress were blocked for shudras our
for-fathers for centuries.
Now I shall briefly try to explain how the
things changed so that we know the future guide lines for social and economic
development of our people.
With the coming of the Christian missionaries
from end of 16th century it made dramatic change in the life prospects of
Dalits. Although they came with the motto of spreading their religious faith by
converting caste Hindus. They also started Anglo Vernacular Schools. Charter Act 1813 permitted the missionaries to
work in the Indian territories of the East India Company with a view to educate
the masses. Madras Presidency compiled data between 1823-25 there were 12498
schools with 1,88, 000 students with complete control of Brahmins ( 60to75%)
others from khatriyas and Vaishya castes. But teachers wee all
Brahmins. The school books carried reading materials from Vedas, Puranas , Smrities and Epics
In
1837, English was made the language of the administration and in 1844 lower
administrative post were thrown open to the Indian. The missionaries opened
many schools in rural areas also with
permission to all to take admission in these schools. The Christian missionaries
found that caste system in India was the biggest block in spread of education
and their faith. So they started giving stress in spreading education and
speeding the education reforms.
This
gave impetus for Hindu religious reformists also to start schools with Dalit
student intake. Some government aided
schools for the deprived sections of Hindus were also established. But the main
hurdle was due to the facts that all teachers were Brahmins and their religious
orthodoxy prevented them to teach untouchable students. The religious hard
liner parents and students were not ready to accommodate untouchable students
in the schools. In 1931 when government decided to admit Dalit students in all
government aided schools the caste
Hindus withdrew their wards from these aided schools. Even the Congress leaders
with Hindu Religious hard lining attitudes supported Caste Hindu. So despite
all educational efforts in Madras Presidency the percentage of Dalit literacy
beyond primary stage remained less than 1% from 1901 to 1931. In 1905 only Brahmins were teachers who were
committed to orthodox behavior .When Government started aided schools for
Dalits, school inspectors tried to escape entering Since all teachers Dalit Basti schools for
taking examinations for fear of getting polluted. It is on record that a
Brahmin inspector called Dalit students out side the Basti territory and
checked note books fron a height of over ten feet. But now to seek votes all
non Dalit leaders not only come to Dalit houses but even take tea or meals with
them.( Much more such information can be
seen in the book
With
the coming of Christian missionaries and opening schools for all castes, Dalits
got most benefited. School education produced great Dalit Social visionaries
like Mahatama Jyotiba Phuley(1827-1890)and Baba Sahib Bhimrao Ambedkar(1891-1956)
and many more, who took to the Dalit empowerment programmers in a big way. The
education widened their vision and in turn vision of their followers. Many struggles
were launched and won on the social front. With the adoption of Dr B.R. Ambedkar written Constitution for
free India equality of opportunity with equal civil Rights along with their with safeguards mechanism for the deprived sections of the society.
Equality before law was made fundamental right and adult franchise opened flood
gates of denied opportunities for education and economic developments. The results
are apparent.( Much more such information can be
seen in the book “Writing Dalit History and other essays by Yagati Chinna Rao ,Kanishaka
Publishing, Distributors ,Ansari Road Darya Ganj N.Delhi-2)
As regards the poor economic conditions of
the untouchables, although tons of currency, gold, silver and precious stones
are stored in the temple strong safes, but not even a single penny was
available for the Dalit cause. When in 1020 Mohamed Gazni plundered the Somnath
temple in Gujrat a chain of gold weighing 200 mounds ( One
maund is equivalent to 82.286 pounds or
40 seers or 30.70 kilograms) with a bell was found hung in a corner. He
took away 98,300 some say 88,000 misquals ( Bars) of gold out of idols alone 200 silver idols
so heavy that they could not be weighed with out breaking them. Not even
one hundredth of wealth he got
from Somnath temple was possessed by any Indian king. On invading Nagarkot
temple the invader was paid by Brahmins 700,000gold dinars,700 maunds of gold and silver vessels, 200 maunds of pure gold, and 2000maunds of
unpurified silver besides 20 mounds of various jewels, as fine. The present treasuries of the religious
institutions and worship place carry also similar treasuries. Recently treasures worth $20 billion were found in
Padmanabhaswamy temple, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Six vaults piled with gold
and jewels have been discovered in the temple that belonged to Travancore
royalty. There were sacks of diamonds and tonnes of gold coins and jewellery
that were lying untouched for hundreds of years. This makes the temple the
richest in India. The Tirupati temple,
this is the second richest pilgrim located at Andhra Pradesh. More than 60,000
devotees visit this temple every day and treasures of more than Rs 650 crore is
stored in the temple. This brings this temple under the list of richest temples
of India. The Shirdi temple of Saibaba
is the third richest in India. millions of devotees visit it
everyday. The temple has gold and silver jewellery worth approximately Rs 32
crore and silver coins worth more than Rs 6 lakh. The temple gets donations
worth Rs 350 crore every year. Similar riches are held in other Hindu temples
with lacs of priests remain in attendance to deities of the temples.( for more details see “History of
Hindu Imperialism by Swami Dhanma
Theeratha New edition from the Dalit Book Trust Essel Mansion,Arya Samaj
Road N Delhi-5) .
It
is due to sacrifices, suffering and struggles by our illiterate visionary fore
fathers and intellectuals, we are now counted as humans with access to all
human rights under the sun. But the loosing upper castes under command of
Brahmins are more united than the receiving Dalits. Dalits are trying to prove
much more strict religious followers than the original one. This was the same
religion which kept blocked all our progress for centuries and made us slaves.
So far we have deliberated upon historical
factors. Let us now ponder over present day scenarios.
When
Dr Ambedkar cursed his literate followers, he was more than hundred percent
correct. But he had not said any word against illiterates and intellectuals. He
knew that his people one day shall get transformed from illiterates to
literates and literates into intellectuals. Then they shall rise above their personnel
prejudices and gains taking collective community wellbeing more important than individual
progress. Our peoples started treading
on the progressive ladder, may be a small minority in mid Twentieth century .Within
a span of 50-60 years some microscopic
changes have also taken place. Due to the education system in place then
majority had access to government schools which were reasonably well
maintained. All high and low got admission in the same schools. Our people
worked hard with many maintaining themselves on one meal a day, no roof on the
head, no economic support but still produced Dalit persons who became proud
residents of the Rashtrapati Bhawan and Raj Bhawans , crowned the highest seat
of Indian judiciary(CJI) and many other prestigious seats of power as central
Ministers, Chief Ministers of states, vice chancellors and professors of
universities, engineers ,doctors. But alas for the Dalit suppressors it proved bitter pill to
swallow.. High caste people are not prepared to share power with any body else
particularly Dalits. They want to enjoy the fruits of 100% reservation on elite
posts and places as Manu’s Laws despite being in
numerical minority having 15% ( Brahmins—2%; Khatriyas—3% and Vaishyas-10%) in
Indian population figures. But this upper caste Hindus 15% population is having85%
of Indian wealth leaving 52% OBC with 9%, 22.5 % SC& STs with2% and 10.50%
Religious Miniroties with 4% of country wealth.( Source
:- Bhartiya Muleniwasi Sangathan) They are devising new methods and means to keep
occupying permanently the seat of political power, the key to all powers.
Besides using their ever green law of divide and rule, they have presently
monopolized the educational, economic, social and religious system organs.
Again they are the masters of their fate
and denial of rightful place to others. Despite the sharp eyes and teeth of Indian
constitutions to see and test their mischief they are playing their mischief.. As they have
occupied the controlling mechanism. They are busy in devising methods to
dismantle even Baba Sahib’s Constitutional provisions and safe guards for
common masses. Now it is time of the real test of the Dalit intellectuals to
safe guard their collective interests so as not to fall back in the Dark Age of
old religious traps which was
courageously challenged by our elders. But how to do so? For this we shall have to count our short
comings and work harks to over come them. We will have to re- draw our new
progressive road map and devise routes to achieve it. The task is difficult but
a must for our survival.
The biggest monster blocking our progressive
road is our disunity. We Dalits have been divided in to over 4000 caste sub
divisions ( S/C’s; S/T’s and OBC’ s ) each thinking superior to the other. This
devil is surviving on the theory that each caste thinks superior to the next in
line. We shall have to tame this demon and use our collective strength in
occupying the constitutional seat of power by constitutional means. As late Shri
Kanshi Ram said “Jiski jitni Sakhya Bhari us ski utni sanjedari”
meaning the share in power should be judged by the numerical head count. If we
have suffered collectively now we should work hard to capture the seat of power
collectively. This is the golden rule
for the democracy to succeed.
Means of education are being systematically
made to drift away from Dalit hands. We have to put the barriers against this
drift. All our efforts should be to give quality education to our children. Our
first priority should go to get quality education. Health and quality education
to all our children should be our goals. Our teaching fraternity shall have to
come out of their personnel comforts to share their educational expertise and
help our youth to open their THIRED EYE.
Dr Ambedkar was a great supporter of
women education, small family and healthy wife and husband relations. Try to
achieve these ideals. Enhanced school and college fees should not worry us, so
scarify other priorities for education. Those of us who have finances should open
educational institutions may be collectively. Read old Dalit emancipation history, Dalit
emancipators, glories of Dalit heroes, Dalit warriors, social religious and
political men of substance. Then disburse your knowledge among your Dalit
brethren. Many of our Dalits have left the habit of reading, which
is bad for our health. Follow Dr. Ambedkar’s saying “Time is knowledge and
knowledge is money”. School and college academic
study has limited aim of achieving employment. After employment social, history, politica Science, religion, general knowledge,
writing, delivering lectures on general topics should be our aim. Taking part
in TV, radio discussions and attending conferences, debates should be
continued. Purchasing quality books and read them with open mind is an extremely
good habit, we should adopt it.
We
have suffered on account of lack of resources because of denial of money
earning professions. Leaving aside
prejudices of higher castes as it shall continue. We have constitutional rights
to occupy any official chair if we strive hard to qualify for it . So we have to find avenues to achieve our
high goals. Those of us who fail to achieve high goals, should
go far technical trainings in ITI’s and should quickly settle on jobs
befitting to his or her abilities and qualifications. In modern days skilled and unskilled menial
jobs are in great demands as very less persons are there to do these jobs
willingly. Do not hesitate to adopt clean small jobs. The earning means adopted
by our elders to make us occupy high official positions can still be perused by
those who do not qualify to have an office jobs. There are examples where peons working
in District Magistrates offices have educated their sons to be District
Magistrates in their service time. Skilled laborers’ are in great demands so
get engaged less qualified personnel’s in Plumbing, Electric repairing, house
electrification jobs, tailoring, shoe
making, computer maintenance jobs,
typing, drafting, petition writing, carpenters, welders , painters, stamp
venders, tabas, restaurants, tea stalls, daily workers etc. Banking
institutions provide finances and subsidies for such jobs as well. Help our
persons to obtain bank loans to start their self help jobs. Our people should
maintain a list of Dalit officers, employees so as to approach them in times of
need. Maintain a good rapport with them. Call them to our parties, marriages,
and religious functions and honour them suitable in full public view. Our advocates, our Bank Managers, BDO’s. Doctors,
Engineers, Thana Munshies, sepoys , Thanadars, peons, clerks, pharmaceuticals, compounders, and
municipality employees are important persons and can render great helps. We do
not need to support a wrong doers but our legitimate works should not suffer on
account of curtail able delays. Silent help is worth more than making noises
for small things. Frame good opinions about our own employees and workers.
Avail benefits of the scholarship, subsidies, housing schemes, old age and
family pension’s schemes. Dalit employees should try to get such benefits to
deserving Dalit men and women on merits. Do not dispose off properties
unnecessarily reserve them for your coming generations. Be watch full during
admission to different technical and higher studies institutions so as to get
quota as per norms. In case of deliberate scuttling or denials move courts for redresses. Get Court
stays if necessary, do not compromise on your constitutional rights. Dalit
intellectuals should keep a watch on recruitments too. A strong compain should
be launched to get reservation in private sector which controls nears Eight Crores employment potential
against only two Crores under government
schemes and departments.
Dalit
entrepreneurs should establish their own industries and business houses, Give
preference to the Dalit skilled and unskilled personnel’s in employments as per merit.
Once we earn money save it. Do not waste it
in unnecessary parties, dowries, rituals, rites, thirath yatras, worshipping dead, bhandars, jagratas, and
orthodox religion offerings. But Dalit religious and social organizations
engaged in Dalit education and other welfare schemes need be given financial
support. Save by curtailing wastage of money Resort to giving cash, Cash FD’s
in gifts on birthdays, marriages, retirement parties so that the money is not
wasted. Drinking, smoking, gutka chewing and other intoxicants be avoided. Such
dirty habits not only drains your resources but makes you sick too. We have
reached the present stage with the suffering of our elders. They did not have
money still cared for us. Let us always remember their sacrifices and use our intellect
for the progress of coming generations. No family can be classifies as
progressed till it maintains the family progress for at least three generations.
Many of us are still in second generation so do not rest .Every Dalit educated person owes a lot to every other
individual, rich or poor ,educated or illiterate because their mere presence in
the states and country enhances the monetary allotments for their welfare schemes. We should vote all as per our
conscious. But maintain good will with politicians too because present system
gives them lot of powers. Get government
funds utilized for your wellbeing. Adopt constitutional means. Avoid small
irritants. Follow the golden rule “Unity hath strength”. Involving intelligence
rather than emotions or instinct is a great saying follows it. But a word of
causation, we have to maintain good will in the society, honour spirit
of follow feeling, universal brotherhood and adopt peaceful but,
constitutional means to achieve of goals.
Before
winding up discussion I want to quote from Dr Ambedkar saying “The good things
of this earth do not fall from heaven. Every progress has it bill of costs and
only those who pay for it will have that progress”.
Once again I thank you all for providing me am
opportunity to meet you all to listen me with apt attention. I extent my
apologies for any harsh saying which might have hurt any body’s feeling.
Jai Bhim,
Jai Gurudev, Jai Bharat.
Words
3974.
Er. H.R.Phonsa
Dated
4-1-2013 Jammu
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