http://www.khabrein.info/news/A_true_inheritor_of_Ambedkars_mission_1290445690/A true inheritor of Ambedkar's mission
22 November, 2010Share
By Vidya Bhushan Rawat
The passing away of veteran Ambedkarite Bhagwan Das is closure of a
great chapter in the contemporary Dalit movement. A close associate of
Baba Saheb Ambedkar, Bhagwan Das in every sense of life lived a life
of true follower of Baba Saheb. I had opportunities to meet on several
occasions and would vouch that I remained highly impressed and in awe
with his simplicity and the library of knowledge that he had on
Ambedkar's work and writing. He was not a rebel rouser but proved
through his meticulous writings that he was much more concerned and
his views were immensely important to the growth of Ambedkarite
movement. Those narratives and documented work on the life and mission
of Ambedkar are inalienable part of the Dalit movement.
It was a great opportunity for me to have heard his counseling on
various occasions. For me, just an association with Dr Ambedkar made
him a legend in my eyes. But that was not enough; his association with
people's movement particularly with those who believed in Ambedkarite
perspective gave him credibility. He has tremendous knowledge about
different caste and their issues. I can say that after Dr Ambedkar, he
was the most read person in the community who spoke on the
contemporary issues with great passion and with a command and
conviction of ideas. Though, he was the most respected Ambedkarite of
his time, one does not know why the politicians claiming Ambedkar's
legacy kept away from him.
It is ironical that the tallest ambedkarite became victim of his caste
identity. Though, he was most concerned about the schedule castes yet
he often spoke about the marginalization of 'Bhangis'. Yet, just usage
of the term Bhangi made him unpopular among many of his own folks who
started using Balmiki which according to Bhagwan Dasji was a term
cleverly used to Hinduise the community. His book ' Main Bhangi Hoon',
became popular among people yet the community leaders never ever
thought of involving him in their issues. I had put this question to
him many times as why there is a perception that Balmikis did not join
hand with Baba Saheb Ambedkar. But, Bhagwan Das ji was very clear
about this and said that the myth that the Balmikis not being part of
Ambedkarite movement was absolutely an attempt to divide Ambedkar's
struggle. . He referred to Baba Saheb and his support to the cause of
scavengers in Punjab. According to him, it was the Bhangis who invited
Baba Saheb to Punjab. But because of politicization of castes, many
among his caste felt otherwise. Similarly, the other communities who
felt that he was not from them alienated him. It was most tragic thing
that I felt and that Bhagwan Dasji knew but Ambedkarism and Buddhism
were his two commitments and he never dithered from that.
The 1990s were turbulent years in contemporary Indian political
history. The forces of Hindutva were gaining ground with growing
assertion of Dalits and backward communities. The Mandal commission
report and its aftermath show how the Indian middle classes and caste
Hindus did every dirty trick to thwart the implementation of the
report. It also showed how the struggle for implementation of Mandal
Commission Report was more carried forward by the Dalits and not by
the so-called other backward communities for whom the entire exercise
was meant. They bore the brunt of the contempt and violence of these
reactionary forces. It was also a period of ascendancy of the Bahujan
Samaj Party and its politics. They were becoming a force to reckon
with yet Bhagwan Das and many other veteran Ambedkarites kept away
from it. One does not know whether they kept away from it or were
unwanted in the BSP kind of politics. He always focused to develop an
enlightened Dalit community which can respond to the upper caste lies
and manipulations through knowledge and arguments. He would go to
different parts of the country particularly in organizations like
Samta Sainik Dal to strengthen the movement.
It was tragic that the person who was an embodiment of a true
Ambedkarite did not get the respect that he deserved. It is an
undeniable fact that Bhagwan Das was perhaps the tallest Ambedkarite
in the post Ambedkar era. The amount of work that he contributed to
explore Ambedkar and his writings is unparallel. He was a living
encyclopedia of Ambedkarite perspective on various contemporary
issues. I can say without any doubt in my mind that whenever I had any
doubt about anything about Baba Saheb's writing and work, I would
first speak to him and try to find the factual position. He had
numerous anecdotes about Baba Saheb Ambedkar and how he got influenced
with his life and action. Each time, I visited him; I would just
listen to his arguments and narratives. With his personal warmth, each
narrative was important and that is why I felt that I should record
his views and one day I went with my camera to record his views on
contemporary issues. It was a seer pleasure to listen his enlightened
views.
It was always a sense of deep enlightenment to have met Bhagwan Dasji.
A man who saw and worked with Ambedkar was so simple in his personal
life. I was fortunate enough to have met him so many times and in our
small association he too developed respect of the work that I was
doing and hence was always available for the seminars and conferences
that we organized on contemporary issues related to Dalits and
marginalized. In those days, I was regular in these meetings and
listening to him always gave a great pleasure. Anyone, who heard him
for one or two hours, could never say that his grasp over the subject
was not increased. His understanding of Indian caste system was
tremendous. A widely traveled person, Bhagwan Dasji would inform you
about the caste and sub caste issues with impeccable knowledge on the
issue. That also showed that he was not just a book worm but a widely
accessible person to people who understood their feelings and issues.
There was no difference in his personal life and beliefs. I knew many
veteran Ambedkarites for whom Ambedkarism was just a political thought
but Bhagwan Dasji proved through his life and mission how one can live
a life of true Ambedkarite. It is difficult to see that kind of warmth
that he possessed when we become machines without emotions and
solidarity. As a young activist, I learnt from him so many things that
it is difficult to narrate but every time when I would visit him, the
first thing he would ask me to relax or take a cup of tea of coffee
prepared by him. He would bring himself the tea and ask me to first
have it and then discuss any other thing. He would inquire how am
coming from a far away place to meet him and he always encouraged my
deep sense of commitment to Ambedkarite thought.
Bhagwan Das was the first person who brought the issue untouchables (
I am using his term only as he refused to use the word Dalit) or
Scheduled Castes at the international forums, at the United Nations
and at various international human rights forums. Today, the Dalit
issues have got international recognition and many may claim to have
done it but the ground work for it was done by Bhagwan Das when there
were not many civil society organizations working for human rights of
the Dalits.
It is equally important to know that these Dalit rights organizations
never felt to honor him or take his guidance on the issues of the
Dalits in contemporary India. Of course, last year a Hindi literary
journal devoted to Ambedkarite philosophy carried a special issue on
him. It is tragic that a man of his stature remained a person non
grata in his own community because he embraced Buddhism and was a true
Ambedkarite. He was concerned about the manual scavenging practices in
our society and was worried about their conditions and isolation with
in the Dalit movement yet he never really supported the sub-caste
identities. For him, being Ambedkarite was the most important part of
a person life and that is where I felt that he was far above than many
of his contemporaries. I understood the politics going in the name of
Dalit Bahujan and had his own reservation about them. There were very
few like him who could speak of conviction despite the emotional
feelings of many. His commitment was to Baba Saheb Ambedkar's thought
and he traveled to nook and corner of the country to spread the
message of Dr Ambedkar in true sense.
Today, when the media has been highlighting the 'Dalit issues' and
some of them have given some 'space' to new 'Dalit' 'movement', yet
the harsh reality is that none ever thought to approach him to speak
on the contemporary issues. Was it because he did not have JNU tag
which our media wants? Was it because he equally condemned the
globalization and knew the international instruments of human rights
much better and hence would not speak the language of the corporate
media for the sake of appearing in their programme? It is shocking
that none in the mainstream media thought of writing about the man who
was undoubtedly the tallest Ambedkarite amongst us. Like Baba Saheb he
reminded us the power of knowledge and self change.
That cultural change in self made Bhagwan Das is much bigger than
others but alas our political class, self proclaimed messiahs and
so-called international activists would have taken a few things from
him for the benefit of masses. He never resorted to rhetoric which are
the hall mark of today's literature and politics. He shined through
his knowledge, his humility and his convictions. Whether corporatised
brahmanical media remember him or not, Bhagwan Das remain am icon for
all those who have not compromised on their basic principals and
adhered to original philosophy of Baba Saheb Ambedkar of enlightenment
through passion and participation. Like Baba Saheb Ambedkar, he left
with a rich legacy of enormous material on Ambedkarism, Caste
particularly related to Scheduled castes and on Buddhism. Generations
will benefit from his work on caste and religion in India particularly
those who are the most marginalized and how Dr Ambedkar fought his
battle against the status quoits forces. As we grow and face so many
challenges of caste, class, imperialism and communalism, Bhagwan
Dasji's writings will be the guide for us to understand Baba Saheb
Ambedkar and how Ambedkar could have responded to current crisis. We
remain indebted to him for his path breaking work on Baba Saheb
Ambedkar and his unquestionable integrity to strengthen an Ambedkarite
India where each one of us can live with equality, dignity and self
esteem.
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