BV - May 2015 Yr 2 Issue 6 E
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There have been lot of discussion on<br />
Arundhati Roy's 'introduction' to 'Annihilation<br />
of Caste', a historical document produced by<br />
Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar which should have<br />
been introduced in our school text books as<br />
well as made part of syllabus in Universities<br />
in India. I am of the firm opinion that let this<br />
book be introduced to our students without<br />
any introduction or edition or deletion by any<br />
one. Let the students develop their critical<br />
thinking to understand the dynamics of caste<br />
and how it has sought to be defended in the<br />
name of traditions and religion by high and<br />
mighty who we 'worship'.<br />
The issue is not whether she can write on<br />
Ambedkar or not. No one can stop anyone to<br />
write on a public figure and his or her work. A<br />
few of them said that none had brought this<br />
great work to international people and hence<br />
if Navayana is doing so we should<br />
complement him. It is wrong to say that the<br />
work has not been published. Of course, the<br />
debate of annihilation of caste actually<br />
remains within the confines of 'converted'.<br />
Fact is that Dalits do not need this debate as<br />
it has to go to the so called dwijas whose<br />
arrogance will destroy India as a civilized<br />
nation. In an award giving ceremony just a<br />
few days back when I referred the name of Dr.<br />
Ambedkar to push my idea of 'constitutional<br />
morality' and there were loud cries against me<br />
for being 'casteist'. Such is the aversion as if<br />
Dr. Ambedkar discovered caste. Gandhi<br />
remains biggest patronizer here with the<br />
arrogant simplicity of the Gandhians.<br />
Like any other community and intelligentsia,<br />
Ambedkarite or those claiming to be, are also<br />
of different varieties and hence reaction to her<br />
book and article cannot be said to be the only<br />
Ambedkarite position, as it is a huge world<br />
and opinions differ here too. Definitely those<br />
who feel hurt at her patronizing attitude too<br />
are young Ambedkarites and have their issues<br />
which have some very valid points and<br />
definitely need discussion. The reaction of the<br />
Ambedkarites is very much democratic as<br />
they have a right to boycott any ceremony or<br />
book which definitely the Maoists would not<br />
have allowed in Chhattishgarh if<br />
uncomfortable questions were raised about<br />
their ideology and perception.<br />
It is not that some upper castes have written<br />
about Dr Ambedkar or on caste for the first<br />
time. There were many who participated in his<br />
movements in Mahad too but yes really never<br />
claimed their brahmanical lineage. Yes, there<br />
Dissent is the Essence of Ambedkarism<br />
- Vidya Bhushan Rawat<br />
are serious questions but we must also<br />
understand the fact that the movement has<br />
grown much from the rhetoric of our own<br />
voice and identity to ideology now. Hundreds<br />
of those who claim Dr. Ambedkar by virtue of<br />
their birth are in Hindutva while equal<br />
numbers of those who do not have the 'caste'<br />
as a factor to embrace Ambedkar and came to<br />
him just with the idea of liberation are with<br />
the movement. Definitely Dr Ambedkar is not<br />
just an ideologue but an emancipator and<br />
liberator of the community and central to<br />
Dalit identity.<br />
There were leaders like Jagjivan Ram who<br />
remained with power structure and had more<br />
in relations with upper castes than the Dalits.<br />
There are great soldiers of Ambedkarite<br />
movement such as Bhadant Anand<br />
Kautshlyayan who came to Ambedkar and<br />
Buddhism because they knew brahmanism is<br />
a disease and hence they left it. It was he who<br />
had translated huge work of Baba Saheb<br />
Ambedkar into Hindi for common masses.<br />
Though their number is very low, yet they<br />
remain as an important part of Ambedkar's<br />
movement in spreading Buddhism to common<br />
masses.<br />
Ambedakarites are now making solidarity with<br />
other like-minded revolutionaries. They know<br />
all those revolutionaries are part of their<br />
movement which Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar<br />
was the central figure. Hence, March 23rd is<br />
celebrated by a huge number of Dalits all over<br />
the country in their own way to remember<br />
Bhagat Singh and his ideas about a casteless<br />
secular India. For years Ambedkarite<br />
organizations have been organizing the<br />
birthday celebrations of Rahul Sankrityayan<br />
whose contribution to Buddhism in India is<br />
extraordinarily underrated by 'experts'. And<br />
these legends have been part of Ambedkarite<br />
discourse for long. There are numerous others<br />
who have been working silently in the<br />
movement and have left their identities which<br />
they have inherited by birth. Actually, such<br />
variety of Ambedkar's movement is much<br />
more visible at the ground with common<br />
masses than those who claim to be educated.<br />
Young scholars are now challenging the<br />
status quo and brilliantly articulating their<br />
views. Definitely they do not want to be<br />
'favored' or patronized. It is the self-respect<br />
and dignity aspect that appeals to them. They<br />
want to create a niche for them<br />
independently. Hundreds of them are now<br />
published, becoming international and are<br />
● Year – 2 ● <strong>Issue</strong> – 6 ● <strong>May</strong> <strong>2015</strong> ● Buddhist Voice ● www.buddhistvoice.com ● Email: indian.buddhistvoice@gmail.com 36
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