A
Neglected Message from Dr. Ambedkar TO OBCs- Dr. K. Jamanadas
An
article was published recently in Marathi local magazine by Suhas Sonwane based
on daily Loksatta. The following is a gist of it, translated from Marathi.
Mr.
Babasaheb Gawande, the founder president of an Organization of Marathas from
Bombay called "Maratha Mandir" was a close friend of Dr. Ambedkar.
Mr. Gawande asked Dr. Ambedkar, who was then a Law Minister in Nehru Cabinet in
1947, for a message for the Maratha people to be published in the Souvenir of
"Maratha Mandir". Ambedkar declined saying that he had no relation
with the Organization or the Marathas, but on persistent insistence, a message
was given and published in the souvenir on 23rd March 1947. But unfortunately
that special issue is not available in the office of the Organization today.
But it was made available by Shri Vijay Survade recently and was undocumented
till now.
Dr.
Ambedkar said:
"This
principle will apply not only to Marathas but all Backward Castes. If they do
not wish to be under the thumb of others they should concentrate on two things,
one is politics and the other is education."
"One
thing I like to impress on you is that the community can live in peace only
when it has enough moral but indirect pressure over the rulers. Even if a
community is numerically weak, it can keep its pressure over the rulers and
create its dominance as is seen by the example of status of present day
Brahmins in India. It is essential that such a pressure is maintained, as
without it, the aims and policies of the state can not have proper direction,
on which depends the development and progress of the state."
"At
the same time, it must not be forgotten that education is also important. Not
only elementary education but higher education is most essential to keep ahead
in competition of communities in their progress."
"Higher
education, in my opinion, means that education, which can enable you to occupy
the strategically important places in State administration. Brahmins had to
face a lot of opposition and obstacles, but they are overcoming these and
progressing ahead."
"I
can not forget, rather I am sad, that many people do not realize that the Caste
system is existing in India for centuries because of inequality and a wide gulf
of difference in education, and they have forgotten that it is likely to
continue for some centuries to come. This gulf between the education of
Brahmins and non-Brahmins will not end just by primary and secondary education.
The difference in status between these can only be reduced by higher education.
Some non-Brahmins must get highly educated and occupy the strategically
important places, which has remained the monopoly of Brahmins since long. I
think this is the duty of the State. If the Govt. can not do it, institutions
like "Maratha Mandir" must undertake this task."
"I
must emphasize one point here that middle class tries to compare itself with
the highly educated and well placed and well to do community, whereas lower
class all over the world has same fault. The middle class is not as liberal as
upper one, and has no ideology as lower one, which makes it enemy of both the
classes. The middle class Marathas of Maharashtra also have this fault. They
have only two ways out, either to join hands with upper classes and prevent the
lower classes from progress, and the other is to join hands with lower classes
and both together destroy the upper class power coming against the progress of
both. There was a time, they used to be with lower classes, now they seem to be
with the upper class. It is for them to decide which way to go. The future of
not only Indian masses but also their own future depends upon what decision the
Maratha leaders take. As a matter of fact it all should be left to the skill
and wisdom of the leaders of Marathas. But there seems to be a lack of such
wise leadership among the Marathas."
What
he said about Marathas, equally applies to all OBCs, and still holds true after
half a century. Dr. Ambedkar wrote much to educate the OBCs. It is only now
that OBCs are awakening gradually. It must not be forgotten that the future of
this country depends on them.
