01-04-2021 The Asian Independent

www.theasianindependent.co.uk
NEWS
01-04-2021 to 15-04-2021
23
Be critical and self-introspecting for
progress of Ambedkarite movement
Jai Bhim, Jai Bheem, Jay Bhim, Bhim Salam, Neela Zindabad, Ek Number, Babasaheb Zindabad, Neel
Salaam, We are because he was etc are the comments one would observe in an online social media post,
on or about Ambedkar, with lot of likes and comment when posted by a noted person with following.
Ambedkarites have become excessively
emotional about Ambedkar, a
demi-God now, and are unable to handle
criticism, critique, false news, partial
information with facts, truth and in parliamentary
language. They mostly
counter with a slogan or a war cry. One
of the root cause for this is their reading
and learning is limited, it is limited to
few books about Ambedkar and rarely
they have read what is written by
Ambedkar, rarer is that they don’t venture
to read other schools of thoughts
like Nehru. They have fallen into a trap
to be Anti-Hindu, Anti-BJP but not pro
to logics, truth, facts etc which are the
foundation of Ambedkar’s writing. This
has stagnated them up to 1956, as post-
1956 Ambedkar’s view on issues will be
unavailable, hence these followers are
unable to comprehend and reply.
Try asking them, if what would
Ambedkar’s views be on Liberation –
globalisation and privatisation, his
views on Demonetisation, his views on
formation and relationship with
Bangladesh, (he had contested from a
seat which later became part of East
Pakistan, present-day Bangladesh). The
events that happened post-Ambedkar,
we need to have Amedbakritie ideological
answers, but with limited reading
learning knowledge this falls short and
followers end up in slogans and war cry.
They also limit themselves to emotional
content. It is tough to find his followers
commenting on contemporary politics,
international relationships, economics
etc with Ambedkarite perspective, a
sound logical argument. So-called
Mainstream media has already limited
their invite to the followers to few dates
in the calendar and when an
atrocity/incident happens. Social media
gives space, which can be pushed to further
the agenda, but the followers are
falling short, to build a narrative, to
argue, to flood the internet with ideology
and are leaving a vacuum for future
generations.
Social media for many followers
seems limited to Facebook, which
rarely lets a post go beyond a circle of
people and thrives on emotions more
than intellect. Twitter and Quora are
places where followers seem to be missing.
The reach and quality of content on
these platforms is different from
Facebook. Quora answers and Twitter
are filled with saffron brigade often
with false n half information gathering
huge outreach thus influencing the discourse
of the nation. It is here the social
media war is actually fought and the
warriors are missing, the ones who are
present have only weapons like a war
cry and slogans.
Through the journey of being part of
a book book “Contesting
Marginalisations: Conversations on
Ambedkarism and Social Justice” along
with Mr V B Rawat, I had an opportunity
to meet and shoot some of the interviewees.
It was a direct learning experience,
followed by off the record conversations.
I could sense the disconnect the
followers had with reality and truth. I
have also live witnessed speeches of
good Ambedkarite orators at various
instances and find them filled with rhetoric
content often repeated, repacked
and localised to the audience. They
offered nothing new or intellect. Post the
speech ask any attendee about the content,
the answer would be, the speech
was good, excellent. They have forgotten
the content, lost in that oratory skill
and style. The interviews Rawat conducts
are not limited to ‘branded’
Ambedkarites but also people who are in
the line of thought of the philosophy and
are taking it ahead. A lot of intellectual
wealth has been unearthed through this,
and has time and again shocked me.
Bagwan Das, had an opportunity to
meet Babasaheb in person before his
conversion to Buddhism, and also asked
him “I come from Himachal Pradesh.
We have a Buddhist community there
and we know. I as a member of the
untouchable community, know, that I
cannot enter a Buddhist Vihara…”
Ambedkar took his time to reply, and it
was simple “it won’t happen now”. In
another interview, we come across
details Savita Ambedkar (Sharda
Kabir), the most neglected ‘Ambedkar’
by the followers of Ambedkar. I keep
wondering, how people who talk of
equality, not give equal space to Savita
Ambedkar? Her photos are missing, no
songs are written on her, her birth or
death anniversary is neglected, whereas
Ramabai gets the whole space to herself.
Why are these followers being partial
while talking of equality and women
empowerment, education, against discrimination?
Are these followers being
casteist while demanding the
Annihilation of caste?
Surwade gave us amazing insights on
the relationship of Savita and
Babasaheb Ambedkar, while we all
respect Ramabai for her role, we have
collectively denied Savita her right.
When asked about the controversies and
narratives built over Babasaheb’s death
and role of Savita in his death, his concluding
remarks were “…We were ultimately
deceiving Babasaheb. We are
Vivek Sakpal
trying to tell as if Dr Ambedkar was
fool. They had a love affair for over a
year. She was Babasaheb’s love…”
I discovered Basasaheb had set up a
tobacco trading company, also a stock
trading/brokering firm, he was one of
the richest lawyers in that era, his clientele
were high profile individuals, could
be understood with the property he
earned and later donated to the trust. He
had the finest collection of pens which
could cost in lakhs today. I tried to discover
the person behind the philosophy,
and it constantly hits me when followers
depict him in different shade. All I can
do is beg them to read, read Ambedkar
and beyond. A lot is also said about
Jawaharlal Nehru by these followers,
and it pains to read the comments on
one of Babasahebs good friend. Very
few have written on their bonding and
friendship, their post parliament talks in
either’s residence over tea. Both were
Barrister and hence their intellect had a
different layer of bonding. I am yet to
discover Ambedkar’s relationship with
Jinnah, if you are aware of it do enlighten
me.
While many followers of Ambedkar
comment and brand Anand Patwardhan
with different labels, it was surprising
for me to read Patwardhan elaborating
“…it is true that in the decade of the
1930’s Dr. Ambedkar spent several
months living, writing and studying at
our family farm home in Ahmednagar,
but this again is a chapter of history that
has been irretrievably lost.”
In another interview, M C Raj, I got
to know about Proportional
Representation, Ambedkar’s view post-
Independence on Separate Electorates
or Poona Pact, and the Schedule Caste
federation had passed a resolution on
21st August, 1955 at 4 p. m. at Jairaj
House, Colaba, Bombay.
Resolution No. 6: This meeting of
the Working Committee is of the opinion
that the provision for the reservation
of seats for the Scheduled Castes in
Parliament, in State Assemblies, in
Municipalities and District and Local
Boards be done away with immediately
even before the next election”. Moved
by: Shri A. G. Pawar and Seconded by:
Shri A. Ratnam. This resolution was
carried unanimously.
I had the privilege to spend a couple
of days of my childhood at Jairaj House,
a place where Babasaheb lived as a
Member of Parliament, he didn’t prefer
his residence Rajgruha in Dadar
towards the end days. The reason for
this that I received was off the record
conversation, but to summarise it I
would say, Babasaheb was a man of
principles and values and somewhere he
was hurt inside.
While a lot has to be read and discovered,
followers should not limit
themselves to slogans and few words,
often repeated. Its time they evolve to
the year they are in. During my travels
across India, I noticed that non-
Maharashtra followers of Ambedkar,
look upon the Marathi to show them the
path. It could be due to historical reasons
of Phule Shahu and Ambedkar
belonging to Maharashtra, but also
because they have not been exposed
enough to Bhima Bhoi, Periyaar, Bhagat
Singh, Birsa Munda and numerous others
who are now confined to the followers’
constructs.
The Maharashtrian followers are
unaware of this expectation, from them,
from across India and now many are
busy finding replacement logics in
Buddhism. If 786 is considered holy in
Islam, they say let’s have 358 as a holy
number in Buddhism… explained with
logic, trishalan/tripitak, five noble truths
and eightfold path. Some have tried to
counter Babasaheb’s conversion with
installing Ganpati in their
homes/cars/doors etc and going further
to observe fasting, have satyanarayan
puja etc. They are free to reconvert to
Hindu fold and enjoy the benefits of a
caste society, but then they should stop
pretending to be Buddhists during a
marriage ceremony and death.
Very soon, April will begin, and we
will have social media flooded with
Ambedkar’s quotes, images and glorification.
The movement has come to a
standstill, these acts of celebration or
observance of Babasaheb’s birthday
seem a ritual. No new idea is brought in,
no strategy is built, no resolution is
passed. With economic prosperity, the
mode and methods of celebration have
upgraded, leaving the intellectual vacuum
as it was.
A simple question ponders over my
mind. If Ambedkar was alive today,
how would he react to these
actions/comments/posts.
(vivek.sakpal@gmail.com)