Ambedkar , Gandhi and the Political Opportunism of Congress

Maharashtra is a land of reformers and revolutionaries. The social reformers in Maharashtra were pioneers of various social and political movements. Maharashtra has also laid the foundation of Dalit literary movement which then moved to Southern India. Also reformers like Jyotiba Phule, Maharshi Karve, Karmavir Bhaurao Patil who were pioneers of Women's education and were against the Brahmanical dominance of the society.

 Dr B R Ambedkar is a central figure whenever we talk about the movements of Dalit emancipation in India. He has not only eradicated the untouchability  from its root and branch but also created a political awareness among the Depressed classes. He formed political parties to gave a representation to Dalits and underprivileged sections of society. In this article we are going to explain the condition of Dalit Movement in Maharashtra after Babasaheb's Mahaparinirvana.

During the freedom movement of India , there were many parallel social and religious movements which were carrying out in different parts of India. The Indian National Congress under the leadership Gandhiji took up the issue of Dalits whom he called Harijans. He was of the thought that Untouchability is not sanctioned by Vedas and we should eradicate it to unite people to fought for a common cause of Independence from British rule.

Before Gandhi Mahatma Jyotirao Phule from Maharashtra had laid a movement against the untouchability and the equal rights for all Shudras. He also founded Satyashodhak Samaj( Truthseeker society). After Phule  Rajashree Shahuji Maharaj carried forward this movement. He introduced the policy of reservation in educational institutions. After Shahuji Babasaheb took up this movement. He himself belongs to a Dalit caste. He always considered Phule and Shahu his Gurus.

Ambedkar always wanted to form a united movement of all Shudra castes. After returning from London he became active in social and political movements.  He became successful in uniting various Dalit castes. He says that if we want out rights we should have our political representation. In initial days he took up the issue of equal rights for Untouchables. 

His first Satyagrah was for the right of drinking water from public pond in Mahad. He went their with his supporters and drank water as a symbol of breaking the caste and religious rules. He also burned there a religious scripture "Manumsmriti" . After this he demands for temple entry for Dalits . Kalaram Mandir Satyagraha which was for temple entry of Dalits had highlighted ambedkar in the eyes of Upper caste orthodox peoples.

On the one side Gandhi was touring the India as a Harijan tour to make aware people about the eradication of untouchability,  on the other hand Ambedkar was demanding separate electorate for untouchables.  Hi presented his demand in second Round table conference. British had accepted the demand for separate electorate for Depressed classes. But Gandhiji was totally against this move. He took up the fast unto death and became successful in persuading Ambedkar to give the demand for separate electorate. The agreement between Gandhi and Ambedkar was known as Puna Pact.

Ambedkar tried to reform within the Hinduism. But he came to the conclusion that the religion which regard its fellow members as untouchables and denied them the basic human rights is no longer to be followed.  That's why in 1935 at Yewla (Nasik) he declared that even though he born as a Hindu he will not die as a Hindu. 

During the 1930s there was a communist wave. Many youths were being attracted towards communists parties and their organizations. Ambedkar also decided to organize a party for the youth of backward classes. Hence he formed  "Independent Labour Party" in 1936. This was a  political organization which focuses primarily on social Equality and political representation of Depressed classes. In 1937 Bombay election the Labour Party won 13 out of 15 reserved seats.

Babasaheb was the chairman of Drafting Committee of Constitution. He was also the first Law Minister of Independent India. As a law minister Ambedkar tried to make various reform within the Hindu fold. Hence he introduced the Hindu code Bill which contains various laws regarding intercaste marriage and inheritance rights of Hindu women. But when Ambedkar introduced Bill in parliament opposition parties started to oppose the Bill and due to this Ambedkar had to resign from the post of Law Minister.

 Ambedkar lost 1952 General election due to bad tactics of Congress. Babasaheb accepted Buddhism in 1956 at Nagpur and after few months he breathed his last  at his residence in Delhi.

Ambedkar had to fight on two fronts. One against the British for obtaining rights for Dalits and second against the Indian National Congress who was opposing  Ambedkar and trying to stop him. Thats why Ambedkar wanted to start a strong political organization. He then dissolved Schedule Caste Federation and worked for the foundation of Republican Party of India. But didn't get enough time for that.

The post Modi era has seen an increase in the caste based violence in different parts of India. The Una incident of 2016, Bhima Koregaon violence, Institutional Killing of scholar Rohith Vemula and recent Hathras Gang rape and murder case are some of the incidents of caste related violence in India.

Various parties had formed in post Independent India which claim to be the followers of Babasaheb's ideology. But what we have seen in nothing but the appropriation of Babasaheb's name for their undue advantage. Congress party which claim to be the party of secular ideology had also used Babasaheb's name to obtain votes. But the same party had refused to give Bharatratna to Ambedkar for 30 years. It was during the  Congress-NCP government in Maharashtra in 2006 that horrifying Khairlanji incident happened.

Post Independent India has seen various Dalit chief Ministers. During early 2000s these was increase in the popularity of Bahujan Samaj Party in Maharashtra.  Mayawati the supremo of BSP claimed the legacy the Maharashtra's Bahujan leaders like Mahatma Phule, Shahuji Majaraj, and Ambedkar. Congress made Sushilkumar Shinde as a CM  by removing Maratha Vilasrao Deshmukh. But even after winning the election next year Maratha Vilasrao Deshmukh was renominated as a Chief Minister. This is how Congress had use Dalit leaders mere to obtain the votes. 

In September 2021 Congress  made Charanjit singh Channi as a first Dalit chief Minister of Punjab. Election are due next year , hope he will not be the next Sushilkumar Shinde.