Brahminism is the poison which has spoiled Hinduism. You will succeed in saving Hinduism if you will kill Brahminism. There should be no opposition to this reform from any quarter. It should be welcomed even by the Arya Samajists, because this is merely an application of their own doctrine of guna-karma.– Dr Babasaheb B R Ambedkar in his speech for The 1936 Annual Conference of the Jat-Pat-Todak Mandal of Lahore available at http://www.ambedkar.org/ambcd/02.Annihilation%20of%20Caste.htm#s01
Since the resurgence of caste based identity politics, Dr Ambedkar and Dalit card have become sensitive issues at national level. Despite the hard- fought struggle of Babasaheb and direction he has given for the caste eradication, we are still grappling with the caste based discriminations and atrocities. The primary reason for the same is a political ploy to use downtrodden communities for political ends. Recently, the issue of administrative disciplinary action against the Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle (APSC) in IIT-Madras and Rahul Gandhi turning to Ambedkar birth memorial are similar attempts to mask great nationalist reformers like Babasaheb with communist garb of class divisions or Congress’ way of vote bank politics.
Nobody can and should support ban on any student outfit for criticising government policies; definitely not, if the students are talking about caste based discrimination in education sector. What has happened in case of APSC is that neither is there any ban from government nor the notice issued for criticising the Prime Minister, as propagated by the group and secular media/intellectuals. Using institutional space and symbols without prior permission certainly amounts to indiscipline for which academic institution has every right to question the students. More importantly, Ministry of Human Resource Development had asked the institution to take cognisance of the complaint filed by other students of the same campus, who equally have the right to be heard.
The educational campuses are inflicted with the wide range of ‘red’ ideology that has used forums such as APSC to propagate anti-Hindu and anti-Bharat divisive ideology, which Dr Ambedkar would have never approved. The pet projects of Aryan invasion, inciting hatred, breaking democratic norms of discourse for political gains and then misrepresenting facts through media is the ultra-communist strategy, which is perfectly used in this case. Mentors like Arundhati Roy can happily use these forums to propagate anti-India ideology. There can be debate and discussion about whether Babasaheb adhered to all tenets of Hindutva or not, but the other things that needs to be paid attention to is that he also declared that he was a confirmed enemy of the communists, and it is something which his sincere followers should not forget.
Rahul Gandhi approaching Babasaheb’s birthplace is another farce. Dr Ambedkar was one person who was never in the Congress fold and openly criticised the tallest leader like Gandhi and Nehru, whenever he disagreed with them.
For long , Congress has always misused national icons. Appropriating anti-Brahminism movement was part of that strategy. No Indian would believe that a person who took ten years to understand his party will rightly address the complex issue of caste based discrimination and untouchability.
There are historical issues. There are issues of caste divisions. Dr Ambedkar wanted to save Hinduism and ultimately the inner core of Bharat. His struggle for dignity was based on fraternity and not enmity. Till date pseudo –Ambedkarite interpretations have not helped us in eradicating the caste differences.
All Indians, irrespective of their caste and religion have common heritage. Hence, instead of following the path of divisive ideologies, we need to establish a process of dialogue to create an atmosphere of social harmony and learn to march together as a nation.
