THE GREAT DALIT BETRAYALS

                                  THE GREAT DALIT BETRAYALS

SC&ST Dalits are the Indigenous Native People of the Land. They are the Children, Daughters and Sons of the Soil. Their Lives are invariably Tied to the Nature – the Hills Valleys Isolated Distant Islands Animals Birds Lands Mines Water Rivers Sea Fish etc. They are basic food gatherers cultivators and producers. They are the hardworking creative people! They have always been the basic builders of the Nation, and are the producers and creators of wealth in this country. And in addition they keep up the health of the country people and communities. In short they are the basic foundations of the Nation on whose shoulders others stand, and in whose basic creative skilled hands rest the future lives of all the intellectuals, ruling classes and political parties without any exception.



To keep the SC&ST Dalits harnessed in chains, and tied down to the land work and production, particularly food and fodder, the racial colour based caste system had been imposed on the poor helpless SC&ST Dalits.



Remove the SC&ST Dalits, may be from any Situation, any Institution, any Place, any Community and any Society, those Institutions Places and People will Collapse in No Time. That fundamental basic and indispensable are the SC&ST Dalits to the Nation, in the Indian Situation. Yet, this Nation, and the society here had traditionally been suppressing oppressing exploiting victimising harassing dehumanising and betraying the SC&ST Dalits, right from the beginning and throughout the known history of the sub-continent.



In spite of the Historic Massive Oppressions, SC&ST Dalits by whatever Names they were Called or Referred to or Recorded and Mentioned to, were Always Restless and Impatient. At least the thinkers amongst them were. And many of the SC&ST Dalit Activists, also were looking for every opportunity to escape the massive burden, of the invisible unspoken unbroken social slavery of the Indian System.



Rich Fertile Lands, Perennial Rivers, Seasonal Assured Periodic Annual Rains, attracted massive hoards of invaders from across the mountains on the Northern Frontiers, one after the other, in waves or like chains to keep the Indian Society in a flux and fluid. The situation from across the seas in the southern peninsula, was also not that quiet.



The Indian Nation was always in constant turmoil, till the establishment of the Moghul Rule. Most SC&ST Dalits could not breathe themselves free, to liberate themselves in an organised way, in such constantly changing political scenario, from the underlying oppressive social slavery. Yet many found some openings and small opportunism even under such stressful situations, to join either the new conquering forces, or serve the reorganising and regrouping local native indigenous rulers. And they did themselves and SC&ST Dalit Communities proud in many honourable ways. Local and regional histories are full of such achievements examples and creditworthy proud tales. SC&ST Dalits were also basically shrewd intelligent and very wise, as noted by the Madras Regiment Officials, during the inquiry to reorganise the East Indian Company Armies into an unified British Indian Army.



The Depressed Class People, are Hardworking People, with Native Wisdom and Intelligence about the Land People and Area, Capable of Working to Deliver Goods, and Producing Results in Difficult Dangerous Stressful Situations, even Under Great Strain.



There can’t be any Better Glowing Tribute to, or Commendable Recognition of the Loyalty Honesty Hard-Work and Result Oriented Achievements of SC&ST Dalits. And the big references to great warriors like the SC Dalit Army Chief, of the Palanaadu Rulers of Southern Coastal Andhra, and the small SCST Dalit Boy who shamed Shankara, and made him think reflect contemplate debate teach and preach about dwaida and athvaida before he became known as Adhi-Sankara, are noteworthy and the SC&ST Dalits really very proud.



Conversions in Large Numbers, directly and indirectly influenced, took place after the coming of Arab and Muslim Traders, and later the Islamic and Moghul Rulers. The Muslim ways of Life and Trade, also produced a large number of small Trades, Traders, and Jobs. They were paying liberating and humanising, as compared to the oppressive yoke of the traditional Indian cultural economic social System based on Caste Equations within the Country. Hence, large numbers of SC&ST Dalits, moved over to tailoring, leather, brassware and other trades both as labourers and artisans. And the converted Muslim SC&ST Dalits were also learning to read write and recite Koran. They were also listening to the preachings of the Maulvis, think debate and discuss. These were not good signs for all the traditional carefully maintained historic caste system, caste values, caste equations, and the prevailing unequal caste based cultural economic social and political relations. More disturbing were the increasing realisation of SC&ST Dalits, the new sense of Brotherhood and Equality in the Mosque and in the Muslim Society. Hence Akbar and many of his Descendants were to considerable extent, influenced by collaborating local chieftains, and with marriages and marriage alliances with elite girls and women. Akbar and some of his Successors were also religiously weaned away from Islam and Koran, and the Muslim Ways of Life. that helped the social forces to retain most of the SC&ST Dalits under their old oppressive traditional controls and influence.



With the coming of the subsequent powerful and well organised western trading colonisers, large numbers of poor marginalised and discriminated SC&ST Dalits joined the services of the Whitemen as attendants, orderlies, ayahs, maids, caretakers, cooks, butlers, servers, servants, sweepers, cleaners, workers, watchmen, watch and wards and also as sepoys/soldiers. Many went overseas to fight as soldiers or as followers, or as Labourers and Plantation Workers.



Some SC&ST Dalits, after their Assignments and Works Abroad, Returned Back to the Country. But many SC&ST Dalits settled abroad in Ceylon, Burma, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Middle East, Europe, Latin America, Australia and New Zealand. How many of our forefathers had fought honourably and with great valour in the Crimean, first and second World Wars, or in the India-Pakistan, or Indo-Chinese wars.



In the Missionary Church and Colony run Govt Schools many SC&ST Dalits got Good Open Liberal Education. Based on their education, many got jobs in the Church itself or in the Church Schools and other Church Institutions like Libraries, Printing Presses, Hostels, Seminaries etc. Others got jobs, in some European Companies in the Country, like Cotton and Textile Mills, Tea-Estates, Coffee and Rubber Plantations. Some even joined Govt Services in the Army, Railways, P&T, and in Provincial and Central Govts.



Influenced by the colonising Whitemen’s ways of life, many SC&ST Dalits, Converted into Christianity. Some even managed to go abroad for higher Studies. That, even before Baba Saheb Dr Ambedkar. Those were disturbing to traditional SC&ST Dalit exploiters. They were worried about the loss of social control over SC&ST Dalits, and ultimately loosing the SC&ST Dalits, their almost free labour, their creations, their services, and all the more important, rather free opportunities to sexually exploit SC&ST Dalit Women or molest them at the slightest excuse or opportunity.



The Traditional Indian Society and their elites, were particularly much disturbed, by the entry and growth of the SC&ST Dalits in the British Army. The SC&ST Dalits in the British Army were growing-up in stature and rank, with full consciousness dignity and self-respect. A good opportunity came for them in 1857 Sepoy Mutiny. Though the Mutiny was crushed in a systematic manner, the old East-India company rule was replaced by direct British Crown Rule. And the British Govt went into the question of mutiny and how to prevent it or similar problems and unrest. Hence the British decided to leave the Indian Society alone. And not try to reform it anyway, or make it modern. And most of the Christian Missionaries were warned and advised to desist from trying to bring about any social changes. Hence the basic concepts of modernisation, justice, equality, and rule of law for all practical purposes were given up and suffered. All through the British Rule they virtually limped along.



The biggest casualty of the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny was SC&ST Dalits’ Education Employment Growth and Liberation. All SC&ST Dalits were released from the army, and their units demobilised disbanded.



Those were specifically done, to please satisfy and win over others, and not to offend the sentiments of others. In addition the British Govts went the extra mile to please various castes, by organising, and specially raising many caste based battalions. Thus, the caste conscious others, would not have to serve along with, or under any capable and meritorious or senior SC&ST Dalits, one or few ranks above the others. And in spite of the Imperial all powerful Christian British Rule, the SC&ST Dalit Converts to Christianity were not treated honourably by others. That, whatever was the converted Christian SC&ST Dalits’ capabilities responsibilities achievements recognitions education and jobs.



The Christian SC&ST Dalits were all forced to live, either in their old traditional secluded SC&ST Dalit Colonies, as SC&ST Dalits; or in the new, but separate Christian SC&ST Dalit Colonies, only as Christian SC&ST Dalits. In many parts of the Country such Christian SC&ST Dalits were known and addressed as the Church Compound Colony People, or as Christian Colony People. Here the reference to Colony and Colony People, refers to and stands, only for SC&ST Dalits. So particular specific and cruel had been the Indian Society, as if they had thought over them, deliberated, decided and issued a Fatwa. For, this practice and concept both are to specifically segregate SC&ST Dalits, converts or no converts, educated or not educated, employed or not employed, seniors or juniors, officials or not. And, this applies to even top administrators bureaucrats and politicians, including Ministers and Political Party Leaders. There is no escape from that.



Imagine the Numbers of Others, who would have served directly under our Great Leader and Messiah Baba Saheb, the long serving Babu Jagjivan Ram, the then Home Minister of the Country, Sardar Buta Singh, highflying Ram Vilas Paswan, and the emerging powerhouse and SC&ST Dalit Leader, Kumari Mayawathy. Many would have directly benefited, taken many advantages personally for themselves and their families, family members, friends and relatives. Do they, save for some odd honourable exceptions, respect anyone of our leaders under whom they had served and benefited directly? Often, even in our own presence, they make many unpleasant and unsavoury remarks and comments, in the name of being fair honest and neutral. Rascals! I have no better honourable printable word or words for them. That was really sad.



Why are all these things being Written and Recounted? For Two Important Reasons.



First, we are no simple easy pushovers. We have our histories, traditions, reputations, capabilities, contributions, dignity, self-respect, pride, honour and place in the history, and in the making of the Nation. We therefore have our own standing.



Second, we have all along been oppressed, suppressed, denied recognitions, and beggared up all through the history. Not one or two years, but for generations and centuries, nearly over five millenniums. The Crimes of this Country against SC&ST Dalits are Unforgettable and also Unforgivable.



One can blame the Crimes of this Country against SC&ST Dalits it to Religion Rituals Customs, and or the much blamed Degenerated Social Forces, or the so called Caste Distortions. But the Reality that, millions and millions of people, more than 260 million plus today, suffer untold sufferings and deliberate, often calculated injustices, can not be denied. Neither could they be just wished way, or hidden easily. Nor could they be dismissed and set-aside, by someone apologising doing penance or saying simply sorry. One should suffer, see your dear and near ones cry, helplessly die, wither, suffer; or their lives aspirations hopes and even young bodies deliberately trampled upon by the caste forces, molested raped hurt, limbs broken or dismembered, lynched, killed and burnt alive right before you and your eyes! What cruelty? That is the reality and lives of SC&ST Dalits even today in the twentfirst century of the third millennium. Hence, one can not simply wish hope and think that things will change in the near future. And that is the betrayal, a deliberate calculated meticulous pre-planned or historically and socio-culturally programmed great criminal betrayal!



One can dispute the second, but can neither deny nor offer any promises contrary to the realities or different from the promises and happenings of the past. Let us take the recent betrayal of the SC&ST Dalits. The very recent ones. The betrayal of the Constitutional Promises to the SC&ST Dalits. Do this Nation believe or ever believed, or will ever believe in the Rule of Law, Supremacy of the Constitution, and hallowed Values of Justice? These bring in their wake the basic fundamental concept of the Jurisprudence of Crime and Punishment. Does any one feel like, abiding by any of the Principles of the Jurisprudence of Crime and Punishment? If yes, the lamp posts in the Nation will not be adequate to hang all those committing day light murders of SC&ST Dalits in the Country.



The Constitution of India, one of the longest, detailed and noble documents of the World is virtually in taters. Amended more than a hundred times within a span of less than sixty years! That is a sad reality, necessitated due to the distortions, by those who had to uphold and defend the Constitution. Let that be there. After all that are the characteristics of the elites in power here in this Country.



Let us have a Word, about Constitution of India. The Constitution had served us well, for the last near sixty years, in spite of endless unwanted petty minded onslaughts on it. In spite of these, the basic character of the Constitution, and almost all provisions therein remain intact, in spite of the innumerable Amendments, and also many silent violations of the Constitution. As the masses are either ignorant helpless and unconscious, or are afraid of challenging the forces that be, or are selfish and indifferent not to bother, those who violate the Constitution and Rule of Law, merrily do that, almost everywhere in the Country. There are many sore unpleasant eruptions and wounds on the body politics in many parts of the Country.



The Constitution of India, has its roots firmly in the British Rule of Law, their Concept of Justice, and the various Govt of India Acts in the long but deliberate journey of the Nation to Self Rule and Independence. And the Constitution of India was greatly influenced by the American Principle of Due Process of Law; the Liberal Ideologies of the French and German Social and Political Thinkers, and the evolution of the earth shaking great Russian Revolution. The most important Provisions are Justice and Equality to differing Groups of People in the Country.



The long Continuum of Denial of Rights and Equalities to the SC&ST Dalits, and all the evil discriminations against the SC&ST Dalits, and the SC&ST Dalits’ endless search and Quest for Justice Liberty and Equality, and Baba Saheb’s Struggles for a solution to the SC&ST Dalits Dilemma and Problems, had cumulatively and collectively resulted in the Communal Award by British in 1932, to different Communities of its Indian Citizens. That actually is the fountainhead, and also the Basis of many different bold Constitutional Provisions of Equality, Protection from Discrimination, Equal Opportunities etc enshrined in the Constitution. One of the Important Players, Contributors of these Ideals, was none other than the SC&ST Dalit Messiah, Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar. It was he, who actually hammered out, and given a final shape to the Constitution of India in the Constituent Assembly, as Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution. From that exalted position, Baba Saheb piloted steered accommodated defended and expertly fielded the various provisions in the Constitution, to see them passed finally on the 26th of November 1949.



Constitution of India came into effective force from 26th January 1950. Since then, what had been the lots of SC&ST Dalits, Minorities and Backwards in this Country? Less Said, better it will be. There may be many officials, political leaders, and political parties who can count this and that as to be the growth and development of SC&ST Dalits. And there may in fact be many SC&ST Dalits who can concur with them and be happy as having developed. Was that the Dream of Baba Saheb, or millions of the Countrymen who welcomed the Independence, Freedom, the Constitution, and the birth of a massive Republic? As a rice is a measure, of the whole pot of rice being cooked, any one of the following Simple Questions will show the lots and actual situations of the SC&ST Dalits, Minorities and Backwards in this Country –



1. What are the extent of land owning?

2. What are the patterns of houses owned?

3. What are the holdings of resources?

4. What is the ownership of assets?

5. What are the volumes of bank accounts?

6. Where are the concentrations of bank funds?

7. What are the distributions of wealth?

8. Where are the economic powers distributed?

9. What is the Monopoly of Govt Jobs?

10. Where do the bulk of wages and salaries go?

11. Who has the biggest concentration of big salaries and pay packets?

12. Who occupy the best of Power Positions in the Country?



Finally –



Let someone say honestly, as to what are the Share of SC&ST Dalits in Education, Educational Institutions, Govt Jobs, Administrative and Bureaucratic Positions, and amongst the Heads of Departments, Principal Heads of Departments, Executive Directors MDs CMDs, Vice Chancellors, Ambassadors, Secretaries to the Govt of India, and in the States and Union Territories amongst the Chief Secretaries.



Can anyone also explain, the Retirement of SC&ST Dalit Officials at lower positions, the number of SC&ST Dalits forced to take or taking Voluntary Retirements, Chrgesheeted, Suspended without even Charge-Sheets being issued for months together, Terminated or Forcefully Retired or Forced to Retire, and Charge Sheeted or Vigilance Inquiries initiated before they become due for Promotions especially to the Higher Ranks, or before their Retirements from Service?



Similarly can any account be given, about those SC&ST Dalits retired or retiring without any Pensionary or Retirement Benefits?



Can anyone account for any SC&ST Dalits, sponsored for Higher Studies to various Universities in the Country, amongst all those sponsored by Govts for Higher Studies and better Qualifications in the Country and Prestigious Universities and Institutions Abroad?



And does anyone in the Govt or Country have any Account or Data, about the SC&ST Dalit Scholars sent abroad under various Exchange Programmes, and for Assignments with International Bodies like UN etc?



Can anyone consciously honestly and truthfully answer anyone of the above Questions?



If only one can see the benefits accruing, to various different Communities in the Country, we will know, whether at all there was ever here any Rule of Law, or Justice and Fair Play, or did we really give effect to any of the Constitutional Provisions and Guarantees of Equality or any Protection from Discrimination, any Equal Opportunities. And whether any of the Constitutional Provisions for the People were ever implemented? If not, what then are we really? Humans? Or Liars? What is the point in having many noble Constitutional Provisions, if they were only to be or remain interned in the Constitution, to either Sleep or remain Buried for ever?



That is Betrayal. It is a big Betrayal of the Constitution. It is great betrayal of Independence of the Country.



It is Fraudulent Betrayal of Baba Saheb and all that he worked and struggled for. And it is the greatest betrayal of the poor helpless marginalised neglected millions of believing trusting SC&ST Dalits in the Country.