Why Dalits betray Left
November 21, 2010 1:57:57 PM
Chandrabhan Prasad
The Left have always been against a Class-based society
When did a top Communist official in India refer to Dr BR Ambedkar in
the same eloquent manner as US President Barack Obama did in his
recent visit to India? Born in 1961, and thousands of miles away from
India, Obama is 41 years younger than the communist movement in India.
I am using this metaphor only to showcase as to why Dalits don't trust
the Left. In the popular imagery of the Left intelligentsia, Dalits
are held as accused for betraying the Communist Revolution. By
tradition, the Left intellectuals have made fun of, and continue
ridiculing Dalit intellectuals.
For record's sake, let me put the hard truth in place — that a much
greater number of non-Dalit Communists may have sacrificed their lives
and careers than Dalits for India's transformation. But, the much
harder truth is also that while Left activists are prepared to die for
Dalits, they refuse to acknowledge Caste as India's main problem.
This great disconnect between the two minds — Dalit and Left — is born
out of the fundamental error the Left made in understanding India.
Between a Caste to a Class-based society, all Dalits would prefer the
latter over the former. Since Class-based society is not based on
birth, all have opportunities to rise in the lives. In a Caste-based
society, the position of an individual is determined in the womb
itself. Dalits pretty well know what their rank would be in a
Caste-based society.
Dalits, therefore, for centuries have been resisting Caste. The Left
movement, after its birth circa 1920, decided to fight Class-based
society when Classes were not even properly formed. Instead of joining
Dalits in their battle against Caste system, the Left started making
fun of all those who fought Caste.
The Leftist forces are still in denial mode. Now, they are making fun
of globalisation — a socio-economic engine which places all societies,
including India, on the World watch list. World over, top universities
are offering research opportunities to study and examine India's
horrible Caste Order. This has made Indians abroad defensive. Some
even feel shamed whenever the issue of Caste is raised. But, the Left
is fighting globalisation — a task fit for the Sangh Parivar.
Thanks to globalisation, the foreign multinational companies brought
into India the idea of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). While
Indian industry is, with few exceptions, still hostile to the idea of
CSR, the debate has begun. While Dalits are asking the Government and
India Inc to integrate the community into their higher paying
workforce and businesses, the Left is fighting the industry
players-both Indians and foreign.
Further, globalisation has brought the idea of market economy — an
idea which confronts the very essence of the Caste Order. In the
market-based economy, worldly goods become markers of social
existence. If you don't have worldly goods such Refrigerators, TV
Sets, Washing Machines, Bikes or Cars, Cell phones, to name a few, you
stand nowhere in society. To access these worldly goods, even Dwijas
or the twice born, are prepared to lower their occupational arrogance
and take up jobs which were despised for ages. Now, being a Brahmin is
a burden if you don't possess material markers.
Right from 1891, when British India launched Census, most Castes
approached the Government claiming for a higher Caste status. A
hundred year later, post 1990, a great number of Castes are
approaching the Government of India claiming a lower Caste status. The
Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is full with
petitions by so many Castes demanding Untouchable status.
Why is this happening now and not before, or ever in the known history
of India where lower Caste or the outcast status looked so charming?
'Unemployment and Mandal' has caused this phenomenon, one can argue.
Was there no unemployment before 1990? Was there no reservation before
1990?
Sure, a Government employment guarantees better wages and secured
income, but why should the son of a landlord apply for a sweeper's job
in Uttar Pradesh? Why should Brahmins from Bihar, Odisha and
Uttarakhand clean toilets in shopping malls? Why should Rajputs from
the Gangetic belt pick up jobs of security guards where they have to
salute people so many times in a day? Rajputs are known for demanding
Salams and not vice versa.
Just one single factor is causing cracks in India's Caste Order — the
great Rupee Chase game. Worldly goods are acquired by money alone.
Since the point of references have changed — from birth-based social
status to market-based material status, the great game of chasing
money has began. But ask any Left intellectual or even a village level
Left activist what they think of the Market Economy? You will find the
answer as to why Dalits continue 'betraying' the Left.
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