Dalit encounter with Caste
According to James Massey, Dalits encounter with the caste
has 3500 years of history. Throughout history dalit have been victimized by
caste system. That does not mean that there is no challenges at any point of
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Caste system challenge through their song, myth, literature.
Example
1. Tamil song, Tottom (song) of Pottan(dumb) Theyyam(God). The
content of the song is that, a dialogue between dalit and non dalit and stress
on transformation of a lower caste performer into a divine figure. Theyyam is
performed by a lower caste. When we are wounded blood comes out and we find
inside the same kernel with all humanity, red blood that flows to all.
The word Pottan literally means ‘dumb’ or ‘mute’, and the
performance links both negative senses of the word - a disability that
indicates foolishness.
2. North India, Kabir Das, a dalit Muslim saint sang like this
"Since from one light the whole world declare who is noble and
who is inferior"
3. Ravidas, Dalit Bhakti Saint protected against Caste.
Though i am a cobler caste member, i am respected by Brahmins
because of my spirituality. This Brahmin are aware of my caste.
Literature
1. Slavery, by Jyotirao Phule.
2. Annihilation of Caste by B.R. Ambedkar.
Jyoti Rao Phule: Jotiba Phule (1827–90), the earliest of the modern anticaste
intellectuals. Phule—who, among other things, campaigned for widow remarriage,
girls’ education, and started a school for Untouchables—described how “the
owners of slaves treated the slaves as beasts of burden, raining kicks and
blows on them all the time and starving them”, and how they would “harness the
slaves as bullocks and make them plough the fields in the blazing sun”. Phule
believed that the Shudra and Ati-Shudra would understand slavery better than
anyone else because “they have a direct experience of slavery as compared to
the others who have never experienced it so; the Shudras were conquered and
enslaved by the Brahmins”. Jotiba Phule and his wife Savitri Phule ran school
for Untouchable children in Poona. Jotiba Phule argues that, dalit and present
lower caste(OBC) people are the descendent of Shudras who refused the
domination of Brahmin. Dalits and lower caste came from the same stock of
father and mother.
How Jyotirao Phule Challenge caste system
1. Veda are not divine inspired. It is man made.
2. Creation in the vedas is a myth.
3. Manu smriti is unholy book that prescribed slavery for Shudras
or lower class. Class system is slavery.
Caste system is no inferior to what existed slavery to Europe and America.
Dalits and OBC lcome from the same stock. They are divided,
crooked, perniciuos, fictitious of caste system.
He started an organization called Satyashodak Samay (Truth seeking
Society). He open a school for lower class students.He open wells for Shudras
to draw water. He discourage the lower caste to invite Brahmin for religious
rites.
He argues Caste System is more dangereous than communalism.
Brahminism is the cornerstone or the basic pillar of casteism.
B.R. Ambedkar
How he challenge caste system ideologically and politically.
According to Ambedkar, the ancestor of Shudras and untouchables were
not Shudras and untouchables before the coming of Aryans. Dalit were normal
human beings and enjoy many priveleges, equality and justice. They were made as
Shudras and untouchables but not by birth. This Shudras and untouchables are
the victims of caste system. Caste is marked not merely by inequality but
effected by the system of graded inequality. Caste system is basically blocks
upward social mobility.
Solution of caste: abolition of caste is the only solution for the
marginalisation of lower caste. He propose two things
1. Inter caste marriage
2. Inter-dining
What is abolition of caste: Notional change. Change in perception,
idealogical change with psychological. For him caste is the monster that
crosses your path. He is visioning by saying, we need to promote just society,
a value of liberty and equality, freedom and fraternity.
What he did practically
1. Once he led a group of people to burn Manu Smriti.
2. A place in Maharashtra, called Mahad where a public well is
there in which no lower class and dalit were not aloowed to draw water. He
conduct a conference and led a group of people to take water from the well wnd
drank it. He broke a century traditions in his own time. This gives a great
impetus to the marginalise group.
3. He started Depressed Class organisation for lifting the status
of the lower class.
4. He founded a political party called Republican Party of India
for empowering dalit and lower class politically.
Dalit Panther Movement
It is a social organization to fight against caste discrimination.
It is a social
movement started by Namdeo Dhasal and J.V. Pawar in 29 April, 1972 in Maharashtra. This movement promoted
Dalit socialism and anti Brahminism and anti casteism, and promote Buddhist ideology.
1. This movement emphasize military and revolutionary approach and
attitude.
2. It is called Violent Methods to counter against the atrocities
of the Dalit or lower class group.
Mandal Commission
It was headed by B.P. Mandal, Bihar in 1979, to study social,
economic, education gender community and suggest proper solution for the
bridges backwardness of this section in this arena.
1. According to Mandal commission, caste reminds as a building
bricks of Hindu Social structure.
2. The real triumph of caste system lies not in upholding of
supremacy of Brahmins but in conditioning the consciousness of lower caste
people in accepting their inferior status.
3. In India, caste system has endured for 3000 years even today
they appeared no symptoms of its early demise.
4. The commission proposed that the caste based reservation should
be given socially, economically, education to breaker community.
5. Mandal Commission affirms the needs of reservation because the
power caste are the victims of three care system. Their backwardness is the
outcomes of the caste inequalities. Reservation is in fact anti caste
endurance.
Dalit encounter from this Mandal commission.
The Dalit becomes more last and ignorant of their duties.
Dalit Identity Politics
Dalit political assertion is manifested in forming Dalit
politically party all over India. Eg. BSP in UP, VCK in Kerala (Viduthalai
Chiruthalaiigal Katchi), RPI in Maharashtra. Dalit politics is anti caste
encounter. Till 1980s dalits were considered as vote banks. They argued that
they need for vote but not for leaders. They are neglected because of their
caste identity. Dalit political assertion is anti caste assertion. It is anti
vote back tactics of dominant parties.
Dalit Womanism
It was a challenge to Indian Feminism movement which was initiated
and led by Upper caste women. Dakit feminists arguments is that Indian Feminism
emphasise gender issue or focus on women gender dimension of women oprression.
Indian feminism generally focusthat women are oppressed because of their
gender, this understanding come up and the Dalit women says that, we are
oppressed not because of gender but because of caste dimension of women
oppression. Women are oppressed not because of gender but because of caste.
Ruth Manorama, argues Dalit women are thrice alienated and
oppressed on the basis of gender, caste and class. She also argues that this
women are dalit among Dalit. These poor Dalit women are not oppressed by only
upper class but by Dalit men also.
Bhama, to be born into untouchable caste ( Dalit community) is the
most misfortune for Dalit women. Four the Dalit women, her primary identity is
dalitness. A Dalit women is address as Dalit than women. This dalitness is the
root cause of Dalit discrimination.
Dalit women discrimination of gender is the inter play of caste and
class.
1. Indian feminism rarely address the issues of Dalit women.
2. The Indian feminism does not consider caste dimension.
Current Movement for Dalit
1. The Bhim Army started by Chandra Sekhar Azqdnin UP?
2. The Bhim Sena started by Shyam Sunder in Karnataka.
3. Rashtriya Dwlit Adhikar Manch.
4. Una Dalit Atyachar Ladat Samiti.
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