Babasaheb, you are betrayed

Gandhiji, I have no homeland, said Babasaheb Ambedkar during 1930s when India was struggling to have freedom from Brithish. Babasaheb further says, how can I call this land my own homeland and this religion my own, wherein we are treated worse than cats and dogs, wherein we cannot get water to drink? No self-respecting Untouchable worth the name will be proud of this land. The injustice and sufferings inflicted upon us by this land are so enormous that if knowingly or unknowingly we fall a prey to disloyalty to this country, the responsibility for that act would be solely hers. In other instance, Babasaheb reiterate same thing with deeper meaning, Man has a body as well as a mind. He needs physical as well as mental freedom. Mere physical freedom is of no use. Freedom of the mind is of prime importance. Really speaking, what is meant to a man by physical freedom? It means he is free to act according to his own free will. A prisoner is unchained and is set free. What is the principle underlying this? The principle is, he should be free to act according to his free will, and he should be able to make the maximum use of the abilities he possesses. But what is the use of such freedom of a man whose mind is not free? The freedom of mind is the real freedom. In other words, Ambedkar’s struggle is not merely freedom for land. His struggle is for freedom from clutches of all kinds of slavery and oppression. Its freedom for human liberation. Today, the country is witnessing everything whatever Ambedkar had said.

 Babasaheb was fully aware that, the Hinduism never leave its core philosophy, however it contradicts with Indian constitution. Ironically, the hard Hindu, soft Hindu, progressive Hindu, Left Hindu successfully manage, co-opted and accommodate Hinduism in democracy. The principle of Indian Constitution is a biggest challenge to Indian Society. His positions on many issues were ethically embedded and morally sound. The citizens, leaders, academicians, political parties and his opponents cannot escape from it. Astonishingly, all of them are accepting him today, it may be for their self-interest, may be for their vote bank politics or for other genuine reason. Today, truth prevails, one may not agree to the fact, Ambedkar is indispensable. The question of Nation and Nationalism, unity of the country, danger of Hinduism, democracy, reservation, equality, annihilation of caste, women liberation, democratic socialism, equal distribution of resources, education and so on are genuine demand today, raised by Ambedkar. His warning on Hinduism is a super example. In his analysis, it is Hinduism has created all the problems. To him, a people and their Religion must be judged by social standards based on social ethics. No other standard would have any meaning if religion is held to be a necessary good for the well-being of the people. Who is responsible for this calamity? Unfortunately, by default all are Hindu today, except other religious minorities.

Ambedkar is politicized, he is politicized by his all opponents, and he is politicized by stooge. It is also fact that, Ambedkar is looked as Dalit leader. He is stigmatized and ghettoized as caste leader. Ambedkar’s important issue was caste discrimination. Dalit constitutes, twenty percent of total percent of the population face caste violence and suffering on the everyday basis. But it never is a national and international issue. Let us interrogate the current issue; Rohith Vemula incident exposed the Brahminical conspiracy in the higher educational institutions. The hooligan nationalism has killed the spirit the Rohith issue. The person of JNU has responded very seriously when it comes to anti-national or freedom of speech, but strangely, we did not find the crowd in Rohith case. This comparison is not to show the narrow casteist mindset, but one cannot deny the reality appeared. Political organizations can do politics on Rohith, but not justice for/ of Rohith. Rohith is no more today; it lives on rhetoric but not on concrete.  Brahminism has entrenched such way that upper caste lives in ambiguity in the cause of Dalit. Because caste is deeply intrinsic to the Indian life. That reflects in the struggle too. Therefore, the suffering of Dalit remains enclosed to Dalit. Their fight feel themselves as genuine, however it is a fight against inhumanity. So, anyone can join in it.

The self-proclaimed progressive left has disregarded Ambedkar’s core idea. The left has been alleging that Ambedkar is liberal democratic constitutionalist. The point raised by left has to be interrogated by raising counter question. Last one century of left in India, no where they have criticized Hindu religion. They do not see Hindu religion as a major threat to bring communism. Who is responsible for fascist Hindutva today? Had it been raised by left ever in their political discourse. There is no hope in future that the left would have stand to destroy Hinduism. In this context, who is real liberal, left or Ambedkar? To put it differently, who uphold Hinduism to create binary of communalism and secularism? To justify, this argument, how can a left activist worship Hindu God as right wings perform? Is this secular and communist practice. The answer lies on understanding of Indian society and it problem.  

Ambedkar strongly believed that constitution as a normative document, which will bring qualitative change in the society.  However, there are limitations in the constitution. Let us question the praxis of left and right by asking how do they regard Indian constitution as a guiding principle? According to left, constitution is a liberal bourgeoisie document and right says, it is violent constitution, which prohibits all religious performances. In way both are having a kind of totalitarian vision or they easily okay with the praxis of Hinduism. Constitution is document that provides a framework to work within the periphery for seeking social justice.

Babasaheb Ambedkar you are great in so many ways that is the truth in contemporary India. Your importance is presence every sphere of life. You are real the savior, mission, revolutionary, vision, path, and destiny. What could be the India today, if you have not played a key role in your life? I believe that people of this country is realizing your struggle, as time passes. You will be long live, because you have fought for freedom of human, not freedom of land.