Transformation in Dalit Politics and Mayawati

Dalit politics particularly in Uttar Pradesh today revolves around India’s so called Dalit queen Mayawati- a former schoolteacher, who through her hard work, her political understanding and understanding of changeable environment has reached at the top seat in the government.

Before the advent of her mentor Kanshi Ram in political world, Dalit politics was shaped by two dominant strands. The first group belonged to the early Ambedkarites, who found two ways to upward mobility-education and agitation. Ideologically, the group found itself capable of appealing people, but they were politically narrowed. The second group of Dalit leaders found place under paternalistic Congress umbrella and were incorporated by upper castes. This category of leaders saw notable Dalit leaders from Jagjivan Ram to Sushil Kumar Shinde at present.

It was Kanshi Ram who in real sense breathed new life into Dalits through his movement-which had been languishing since Ambedkar’s death- for the emancipation of the ‘untouchables’ of the Hindu caste system. Since the community legendary leader, Ambedkar’s death, the Dalit community was divided into various parties.

Kanshi Ram prompted for the sole purpose of uniting Dalits initially launched an organisation called All India Backward and Minorities Communities Employees Federation (BAMCEF). By that time, he had focussed on all the unprivileged community, but after 1981 Kanshi Ram concentrated on Dalit only and established Dalit Soshit Samaj Sangharsh Samiti, fondly known as DS4.

The DS4 party reached soon to fame through its provocative slogan: “tilak, tarazu aur talwar, inko maro joote char.” This slogan since then reflected his core philosophy of creating a state of permanent caste system hatred and took forward class as their enemy no.1. Kanshi Ram gave slogan for his party DS4 as “Brahmin, thakur, bania chhor; baki sab hain DS4,” which meant except for the Brahmins, thakurs and banias, the rest belong to DS4. In other words, he wanted to say that the latter represent the majority. His goal was clear to set up a society where he wanted the political pyramid to be horizontal rather than vertical.

Kanshi Ram anointed successor Mayawati, who was earlier noted for her colourful and aggressive language, this time in 2007 after realising the present political circumstances came with new political equation of dalit-brahmin coalition and thereby completely wear off her earlier offensive slogan of tilak tarajo aur talwar inko maro joote char (sign of the upper caste, let’s beat them down with our shoes) and instead came with new colourful slogan- Haathi nahin, Ganesh hain, Brahma Vishnu Mahesh hain; the elephant (BSP logo) really the wise Ganesh, the trinity of gods rolled into one.

Following the footsteps of her mentor Kanshi Ram who once attacked the policy of reservation by saying, “reservation is a crutch, useful for a cripple, but a positive handicap for someone who wants to run on his own two feet,” Mayawati has called on reservation on the person’s economic status.

Although she has done some remarkable jobs, but she needs to understand that it’s the work of the leaders, which fetch votes for them. Time has changed and so people as well. More and more people are now on the path of literacy and their political understanding has also augmented in the course of time. However, it cannot be denied that Indian politics more or less revolves around caste politics. But, such percentage of caste-based politics has diminished gradually and expected to go downward further and politicians must realise today their performance would merely bring him or her back into centre of politics again after any election.

Instead of attacking and counter attacking why not politicians set model for the young generations by doing work for the people. Work and performance speak for itself. They do not need to speak unnecessarily.

If Rahul Gandhi eats in paper plate or in gold plate while sitting with Dalit doesn’t require him to follow the same at his home. What he does in public that does matter and not what he does in his home. Mayawati’s allegation upon Rahul Gandhi invariably took a bath using a “special” soap after his visits to Dalit homes, is just a mean politics. What wrong he does if visits houses of Dalits to retrieve Congress’s old vote bank?

What wrong Rahul is doing if he lives and eats with Dalits in various places whether with a purpose to garner their votes or not or to wooing them, as the oppositions are making allegation on him. If Mayawati is afraid of her vote bank is displacing, she must work hard to woo Dalits, rather than taking them (public) as her own property. Instead of uttering unnecessarily the so-called Dalit queen should involve her party in groundwork to broaden its vote bank. After all work speak for itself.