With the death
of Babasaheb on 6th dec 1956 there became a vacuum in Dalit leadership. Dalit movement became directionless without
any able leader. Maharashtra which was the starting point of Dalit rights
movement became weakened after the death of Babasaheb.
In this article
we will try to see the condition and developments in Dalit movement after Babasaheb's. We will also try to see what was the reason behind the collapse of
Republican Party in Maharashtra
After
Babasaheb's death there was a question among the workers of Dalit movement
about the leadership. There was a wave of suspicion among the Dalit about
Babasaheb's wife Savita Ambedkar. There were rumours that she had killed him.
Hence Savita Ambedkar was unable to take the responsibility of Dalit movement.
Then there was Babasaheb's son Yashwantrao Ambedkar. But he was already busy
with the work of Bauddh Mahasabha. He had decided to be away from politics as
he was busy with the task of Buddh Mahasabha
Hence after 6th
December the Dalit movement got divided into two section. One who regards
Savita Ambedkar as their leader and another which wanted Yashwantrao Ambedkar as a leader. There was
also a third group which was trying to take the advantage of this family fights
Foundation of RPI
Ambedkar wanted
a create a strong political front against the Congress. That why he had take many steps to form the
Republican party of India. But in his last he didn’t get time to work for the
formation of a strong political party.
After 1957
General elections these was a popular demand for the formation of Republican
Party. Hence it was decided that the new party would be founded on the 3rd
October. Dadasaheb Gaikwad arranged meeting of all MLAs of Scheduled caste
federation and it was decided the instead of Scheduled Caste Federation the new
party with the name Republican Party of India will be formed. B.C. kamble had taken the responsibility for
drafting the Constitution of the new party.
On 2 October
1957 a meeting was organized at the Dolara near Nagpur and it was decided that
the Schedule caste Federation have to be dissolved before the formation of
Republican party of India. On 3rd October the Republican party of India was
established on the same place where Babasaheb took the Diksha of Budhha Dhamma
one year ago.
N Sivaran became
the first President of newly formed
Republican party. But the party became the home of constant conflict among the
members on various issues. Some started raising the issue of religous
conversion. They were also saying that
the Republican party has became an anti-hindu and it works only for Dalits.
On 9th December
B.C. Kamble raised the issue of sudden death of Babasaheb and demanded an
investigation to it in Loksabha. 35 MPs did walkout from the Loksabha on the
same issue. But the government did not respond and rejected the idea of any
investigation into the death of Ambedkar. B.C Kamble had become alone on this
demand and hence again the Republican
got divided.
On 3rd October
1958 the annual session of Republican party was organized. The new party
president was to decided in that meeting. But the party had already divided
into two groups. One group with Awale-Kamble as leaders and another with
Gaikwad-Khobragade as their leaders.
These two groups
started conducting their sessions separately but within the Republican party.
Yashwantrao Ambedkar was very worried about the collapse of Babasaheb's party
and wanted to unite the two halves. He made a committee of six members for this
purpose.
Although
Yashwantrao Ambedkar efforts brought some success in uniting two fractions but
if did not long last. But against the
demand for implementation of Constitution was being made. B. C Kamble had also
given deadline of one week for this. But then again the two faction started
organizing their separate session with the same name of Republican Party of
India. This factionalism has became a consistent enemy for our Dalit movement.
Today also we dalit has never came as a united front. Our own leaders are busy
fighting with themselves
There was a
constant debate among the Dalit leaders of that time about the Political
Reservation for SC/STs. The Central government have to take the survey of SCs
and STs after every 10 years and should declare Reservation in accordance to
it. But some Dalits leaders thought that Political Reservation is on no use to
Dalits as the representatives which are being sent are more true to their party
and to the people. That’s why the demand for terminating Political reservation
was being made. But the government shown no interest to it as this demand was
only being made from Maharashtra not from other states.
Before
Mahaparinirvan Babasaheb had declared that he wanted to make a "Baudhyamay
Bharat" . This had triggered many people. In order counter this wave of
mass conversion of Dalit the Government had declared that the new converts will
not get benefits of Schedule caste and they have to remain Hindu or Sikh in
order to get benefits. Government also amended Article 341 to give effect to it. Yashwantrao
Ambedkar along with many socialists and Dalit leader reached Delhi and persuade
the government to undo this decision
Rise of Dalit
panther
Due to
factionalism in Republican party and increase in the caste violence on the Dalit Youth felt the necessity of forming
a violent and revolutionary organization. They were inspired from the Black
Panther movement of USA. On 9th July ,1972 Dalit Panther was established with
Raja Dhale, Namdeo Dhasal, JV Pawar as its
founding members.
Ramdas Athawle
and Gangaghar Gade were also part of Dalit Panther movement. Panthers attracted
too much popularity within short span of time. It was basically a organization
of Mahar and buddhist youths with the
blend of Ambedkarism and Marxism.
Marathwada
University movement
Due to Babasaheb
works for education in Marathavada region the dalits youths wanted the
university to be named after Babasaheb. CM
Vasantdada Patil had promised to rename the university till July 1978.
As the promise was not being fulfilled Jogendra Kawade a panther leader started
a long march from Nagpur. It took 18 days to complete the distance of 480km.
This was first time in India that any
such long march was conducted.
After 1978 the
movement took a violent turn. Many dalit villages were attacked. The Shivsena
was on forefront for opposing this demand for renaming. Many dalits youths had
sacrificed their lives. Finally on 14th Jan 1994 the Marathwada University was
renamed as Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University. Even after so many
sacrifices the word Marathwada was kept.
Today the Dalits
movement in Maharashtra is more divided than before. The Ramdas Athawale has
his separate party and continues to jump from one party to another. In 2019
elections Prakash Ambedkar's Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi had got huge support and
fetched 41 lakhs votes which is 14% vote share. What we need today is a united
front of all Dalit-Bahujan parties if we want to fight against the fascist
forces.
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