Thursday, 15 November 2018
B R Ambedkar: India and Communism – Countercurrents
https://countercurrents.org/2018/08/b-r-ambedkar-india-and-communism/
Dr. Ambedkar and Politics of Caste Identity
Dr.
Ambedkar and Politics of Caste Identity
-SR
Darapuri I.P.S.(Retd) and Organiser, Jan Manch
Dr. Ambedkar is said to be the father
of Dalit politics because he was the first person to fight for the political
rights of Dalits. He was the person who during the Round Table Conferences
(1930-32), called in connection with the framing of future constitution of
India, got the Dalits (Depressed
Classes) recognised as a minority distinct from the Hindus and got the right to
separate electorate just like Muslims, Sikhs and Anglo Indians. On the
announcement of “Communal Representation Award” in 1932, whereby the Depressed
Classes also got a right to separate electorate, Mahatma Gandhi declared to resort to fast unto
death under the plea that it will break the Hindu society whereas he had no
objection to the similar right given to Sikhs and Muslims. At last under great
pressure and to save Gandhi’s life Dr. Ambedkar had to sign the Poona Pact
whereby he had to sacrifice Dalit’s right to independent politics and agree to
joint electorate with reserved seats.
As per decision taken in the Round
Table Conference a new law named Government of India Act-1935 was enacted which
came into force in 1936. Under this Act the first election was declared to be
held in 1937. In order to participate in this election Dr. Ambedkar established
Independent Labour Party in August, 1936 which contested election on 17 seats
in Bombay Presidency and won 15 seats. After this on 19th July, 1942
he formed another party known as All India Scheduled Castes Federation (AISCF).
This party contested election held in 1946 and 1952 but lost them under the adverse
impact of Poona Pact. As a result of it Dr. Ambedkar himself lost the election
in 1952 and 1954. At last Dr. Ambedkar dissolved AISCF on 14th
October, 1956 at Nagpur and announced the formation of Republican Party of
India (RPI). He himself drafted the constitution of this party. In reality this
party came into existence on 3 October, 1957 after his death on 6th
December, 1956. According to these details Dr. Ambedkar established three
political parties during his life time. Out of these only RPI has survived but
badly fragmented.
In the present context it is to be
seen whether through these parties pursued the caste politics or politics based
on issues of different classes. It requires an in-depth analysis of agendas of
these parties established by Dr. Ambedkar.
Let us first of all see the agenda of
Independent Labour Party. Dr. Ambedkar
while enunciating the aims and objectives of this party had said,” Having
regard to the fact that the present was no time for parties communally
organised, he had in agreement with the wishes of the friends broadened the
name and the programme of the party so as to permit political co-operation between
other classes and the Depressed Classes. The nucleus of the party would still
be the 15 members of the Depressed Classes. But the members of the other
classes were free to join the party.” The manifesto of the Party included
solution to the problems of landless, poor farmers, tenants and labourers, to
re-establish old and set up new industries, consolidation of small land
holdings, expansion of technical education, state management of industries, to stop
exploitation of tenants by landlords
and expulsion there from, laws for the protection of workers, to punish every
type of orthodoxy and reaction, expansion of education with donations, to
re-plan village housing for cleanliness
in order to change their mind set and establish library, hall and cinema
house. The Party mainly emphasised on the welfare of workers and farmers. The
main effort of the Party was to educate the people in democratic methods, to
put correct ideology before them and to organise them through political
actions. Thus it is clear that party’s politics was not based on caste lines
rather it was based on common issues and Dalits were at the centre of this
party. It was opposition party in Congress government of Bombay Presidency.
During this period the party got many useful laws enacted. Due to opposition by
this Party the Industrial Dispute Bill could not be passed.
Now let us have a look at the aims,
objectives and agenda of AISCF established in 1942. By establishing this party
Dr. Ambedkar had aimed at creating a balance between Congress and Socialist
Parties. The main issues of its manifesto were: All the Indians are entitled to
equality, in favour of political, religious and economic equality for all
Indians, state responsibility to keep all Indians free from want and fear, to
protect liberty, equality and fraternity, freedom from exploitation of man by man,
class by class and nation by nation and duty of the state to protect democratic
system and under economic programme: nationalization of insurance, compulsory
insurance for all government employees and prohibition. Although under the
adverse effect of Poona Pact this party could not show much electoral victories
but still party agenda and peoples movements like land movements made the
Untouchables to organise under one flag which instilled confidence in Dalits.
From the programme of the AISCF it is clear that although Dalits were at the
centre of the party but instead of caste politics the party pursued broad
agenda based politics.
As mentioned
earlier keeping in view the changed circumstances and needs of the people Dr.
Ambedkar announced the formation of a new political party named “Republican
Party of India’ (RPI) on 14th October, 1956 at Nagpur. He himself
drafted its constitution. In establishing this party his objective was to have
a party whose aims and objectives should be in accordance with the promises
made in our constitution and to pursue their fulfilment. He did not want to it to
be a party of the Untouchables only because a party formed in the name a caste
and class cannot win power as at the most it can become a pressure group only.
The main objectives behind the formation of RPI were: (1) The inequalities
should be removed from the society so that there is no privileged and deprived
section, (2) There should be two party system: one in power and one in opposition. (3)
Equality before law and equal protection of law, (4) To establish moral values
in society, (5) Equal treatment with minorities, (6) To develop a feeling of
humanity which has been lacking in Indian society.
“In the preamble of the constitution
of the party the main aims and objectives mentioned are: To realise liberty,
equality and fraternity. The party programme was very broad. Dr. Ambedkar’s
main idea behind formation of this party was to bring minorities, poor Muslims,
poor Christians, poor and low caste Sikhs and poor class untouchables, backward
class people, aborigines and all those people who want end of exploitation,
justice and progress under one flag and protect their constitutional rights by
confronting the capitalists.” (Dalit Politics and Organisations by Bhagwan
Das).
RPI was officially established in 1957
after the parinirvaan of Babasaheb. The party contested General Elections of
1957 and 1962. In addition to Maharashtra RPI won many seats in other parts of
India. In 1957 it won 12 Lok Sabha and 29 State Assembly seats. In 1962 it won
3 Lok Sabha and 20 State Assembly seats. In 1967 it won 1 Lok Sabha and 22
State Assembly seats. It also launched struggle for land distribution,
reservation in services, minimum wages, reservation for neo-Buddhists. Persons
from Muslims, Sikhs and Jains also joined the party. Among them Rajinder Singh
Sparrow from Punjab, Dr. Abbas Malik from Delhi, Rahat Molayi, Dr. Chhedi Lal
Saathi and Nasir Ahmad from Uttar Pradesh,S.H.Ghosh from West Bengal, Rao Bahadur N. Shivraj (Madras) wee prominent persons. The
Party launched a nationwide land movement from 6th December, 1964 to
February, 1965 and more than 3 lacs of people courted arrests. The Congress
government under this pressure had to accept land distribution and all other
demands. During this period RPI emerged as a strong party of Dalits, Muslims
and Backward Classes but after 1962 the party started disintegrating. Its main
reason was that by this time RPI had become a threat to the then ruling
Congress Party. The main weakness of this party was that its membership was
mostly confined to Maharas in Maharashtra and Chamars in Uttar Pradesh. The
Congress leaders started exploiting this weakness to break it. To begin with
they enticed Dadasaheb Gayakvad and made him a Member of the Rajya Sabha. On
this point the party broke into two groups: Dadsaheb Gayakvad Group and
B.D.Khobragade Group. After this the party fragmented into groups after the
name of its leader. At present the party is divided into many factions who have
become totally ineffective. Although these faction use the name of RPI but they
have nothing to do with its agenda. Now and then they enter into alliances with
different politic parties and gain a little sometime.
After the
downfall of RPI, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) came up in northern India which
promised to fulful
From the above analysis one thing
becomes clear that Dr. Ambedkar never favoured politics of Identity because it
strengthens casteism. It indirectly strengthens Hindutva. Dr. Ambedkar had
aimed at destroying caste and make Indian society a castless and classless
society. Whichever parties were formed by Dr. Ambedkar they were not caste
parties because their aims, objectives and agendas were broad. It is true that
Dalits were at their centre but their programmes were broad and case neutral.
They were for the upliftment of all the poor classes. So long as RPI followed
the principle of never making an alliance with orthodox Hindutva parties and
stuck to its radical agenda it succeeded in uniting Dalits, Workers and
Minorities. So long there was internal democracy in the party and it struggled
for people’s issues, it flourished. But as soon as it fell into the trap of
politics of individualism and casteism it declined.
Hence, if the present fragmented Dalit
politics is to rescued and revived it has to come out of caste politics and
adopt issue based politics. It will have to free itself from the clutches of
selfish caste leaders. Dalits should know that caste politics gives sanction to
hero worship and dictatorship. In caste politics individuals become primary and
issues become secondary. The experience so far has proved that caste politics
gives rise to caste confrontation and caste rivalry which is an obstacle in the
unity of the castes. That is why many small sub-castes of Dalits have joined
hands with BJP in reaction against bigger sub-castes which is a big danger for
unity of Dalits. Hence in the face of this danger it is necessary that Dalits should
revaluate their political parties and political leaders. They should get rid
themselves of these divisive forces and adopt a pro-people, progressive and
issue based politics. In fact our country now does not need casteist political
parties but a united anti-caste alliance. Otherwise castes will get
strengthened which nurtures politics of religion which is the biggest danger
for democracy.
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