Congress and Left parties only consider their benefit and not of Dalits
Ratan Sharda
Rohith Vemula’s spectre has risen again. Now, to haunt the Left Liberal and the Urban Naxals. A tragedy is a tragedy. There cannot be any pre-condition or shades to mourning the sad end to a promising life.
However, death of Rohith was converted into a macabre political game. Urban Naxals, ably assisted by well known ‘Liberal’ faces and media extracted maximum mileage, using Dalit card that it was not. I, too, was on the receiving end of bellowing anchors and shouting brigade. But, I stuck to my stand boldly to be condemned by ‘sensitive souls’.
Would tragedy have been less tragic if Rohith was not a Dalit? Any young person ending his or her own life is a blot on any civilised society; whether he is a Dalit or a Brahmin. Being a Brahmin and economically weak doesn’t disqualify a person from being mourned.
Parts of suicide note letter indicated a troubled soul, depressed with too many thoughts. Thoughts about him self and about the society. The cut out portions hinted at his troubled association with his associates. The letter clearly gave hint that his colleagues were aware that he needed psychological help. But, they let him suffer all this to exploit his emotions. Were his friends in organisations like the Ambedkar Student’s Association (ASA) and the Student’s Federation of India ( SFI ) not responsible to take care of his emotional help?
I have been involved with student organisation in my college days. I worked during most difficult times during the Emergency with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), including being in jail with most hardened professional Section 302 accused. I have been in touch with today’s youth in ABVP and other social organisations. I have not heard of any suicide in these groups due to student union skirmishes or competition. Such is the bonding. This seemed to be missing in case of Rohith’s organisation.
A research scholar who was suspended with Rohith is quoted in an interview as saying, “If Dalit organisations develop, then Left organisations cannot do politics on Dalit and Tribal issues. They want Dalit organisations to always be dependent on them.” He went on to add, “Although they need Dalit support, Left parties only consider their benefit and not the welfare of Dalit organisations. In Kerala, Dalit students are being attacked by Left party students. Students protesting on the Rohith Vemula issue are being beaten up because they do not want Dalit students to be anything on their own.”
Another student who was general secretary of the Hyderabad University claimed in another interview that five lines that were critical of SFI and ASA were struck off from the suicide note of ‘Dalit’ scholar Rohith Vemula and demanded CBI enquiry about who did it. He went on to say, “ASA, SFI – everything and everything exist for their own sake ….. To get power, to become famous or to be important in between boundaries and to think we are up to changing system (sic!).” He alleged that “SFI and ASA exploited Vemula when he was alive and are now again encashing him on his death for their opportunistic political agenda and divisive ideology and not for the cause of the poor and downtrodden.” Nothing could be more damning than these two statements from the ex-colleagues of SFI and ASA.
Then, we had the spectacle of Vemula’s father claiming he was not Dalit (so his son could not be) but politicians and traders of tragedy claim that Rohith was. So, mother (who was Dalit) was paraded to extract maximum mileage but father was pushed behind curtains by both, the media and Urban Naxals.
Entire episode showed the sick mentality of Left liberals to exploit every crack in the society to break it further by banging at the cracks.
What we saw after the University appointed commission report on TV and media—the defence of the Left brigade—was cringe worthy. They faulted every person and agency who declared, after much enquiry, that Vemula was not a Dalit. Why? Because, it killed the narrative of breaking India forces. They knew about it from day one, but this expose left them no option but to attack those who proved their lies. It was in line with the habit of entire Left lobby of all shades to laud judiciary and legal agencies if their judgements and reports go their way; but to criticise them if their views go against their narrative. No chit is good enough, even if it comes from Supreme Court appointed committee if it goes against their agenda.
Will Left lobby learn its lessons? I doubt it. Their success in marketing this tragedy, like many others since last three years; and their success in marketing India as a disaster destination will keep them on their toes to look out for more opportunities. After all, there are people from so-called Think Tanks making their lives worth all this fear mongering.
So, who is worried? Our agencies do not take such liars to task, whether in society, politics or media. So, such lobbies have run amok in the name of Freedom of Speech that has turned out to be Freedom to Abuse.
War of ideologies is also a war of perception. For the Left groups it is a war of survival. Their backs are to the walls. They will act desperately like a cat entrapped. They know that their days are numbered. Skill of the nationalist forces is in catching them with their pants down and show their horrid nakedness boldly to the world. Ideological rhetoric of the Left, on retreat around the world is losing its sheen. But, has ruling party come up with a compulsive narrative with clarity of ideas?
Let Rohith’s tragedy be a lesson to all the leaders of the society. There are deep fissures, there is deep pain. We need to address it honestly and try to reach out urgently. Untruths and exploitation of marginalised members of the society with false narrative will not serve any purpose–—let Left remember it.
