WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT OF SC&ST DALITS WITHIN AND OUTSIDE*

WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT OF SC&ST DALITS WITHIN AND OUTSIDE*

N Manohara Prasad**



Dear Friends, here I am not going to discuss something new, but only talk what you and I, and in fact all others know very well, but have failed to take serious note of, and make some in depth analysis. Therefore, all I want to Discuss now with you, are the daily facts of life that you and I experience, and had come across all through our lives. Mind you, these we will continue to experience in the days to come.



SC&ST Dalits as We all know, are the most Marginalised Neglected and Exploited Society in this Nation, perhaps the Whole World today. We come the last in Education, Landholding, Industries, Other Assets, Riches, Wealth, Leadership, etc. In fact, We have been always exploited, that too historically over the ages, generations after generations. The Fear today is that this woeful Lot of ours will continue for ages to come. That too when it is a big fact and irrefutable reality that, We are the Society next to the evil brahmins, who have the largest numbers of Professionals and Other Experts like – Advocates, Doctors, Engineers, Govt & PSU Employees, Officials, IAS IPS IFS and Indian Foreign Service Officers. Yet Ours’ are the most illiterate, ignorant, superstitious, religious, exploited, suppressed, oppressed and marginalized Communities, even today. That, after nearly sixty years after Independence; and in spite of many Special Constitutional Provisions, Legal Measures to Safe Guard us and our Interests, as well as Promote our Education Development Growth and Welfare.



Compare our Lots with the Development of the Nation, Growth of the brahmins and other DCHs, and the multifaceted spectacular Developments of some Backward Classes! Why then are We relatively more Backward? The Answer is not that others had not helped us more or not helped us at all at Crucial Moments, but because We never thought about these any time! We never bothered about our brothers and sisters, beyond the immediate Families. Definitely, not at all about the Community and Society! On the other hand We are so Selfish that We not only tend to Corner most of the Benefits for ourselves, but also re very active often times in Blocking the benefits from flowing to others! We have not even taken our Times off, to Rest Pause and Consolidate. We are individually Proud and Arrogant to be at a Distant from others of our own Communities. We don’t hesitate to cheat, rob, tell lies, and mislead our Friends and neighbours, and at times our own benefactors.



Sadly, We see these days many cases of our SC&ST Dalit Friends biting the Hands that Feed or Fed them. Net Result, We are not only still Weak, Dependant and are easy Targets of Attack and Discrimination, but find ourselves friendless and succour less when in Trouble or t times of need, or after Retirement. For, Good Things in Life Occur, not out of Individual Efforts, but as a Result of Group Activities! And We still have not formed Productive and Development Groups around us anywhere!



We have Chosen as Topic today and for Discussion here, Welfare and Development of SC&ST Dalits within and outside. Within and Outside of What? WITHIN AND OUTSIDE OF ANY UNIT, We may like to Take. For Example, One Can Take the Institution of Marriage, Family, School, College, University, Office, Govt, Politics, Village, Town, City, Metropolis, State, Country, and what not – even Abroad. We must examine and explore the Conditions and Status of SC&ST Dalits therein. Often we find them a Prison, where We are Trapped in and still Exploited. In fact We are getting increasingly more Exploited.



In India here, as Baba Saheb Dr Ambedkar had said, there is No Society. People are not Homogenous. So it is in most other Countries. But here, the People are not even Heterogeneous. Take the People in any Part of the Country. They invariably are all highly Split, presenting a badly Fractured Grouping of Communities. What is worse is that they are all sadly fossilised, in their own stupid Thoughts and unreasonable Deeds. Thus We live today in abnormal Times, and amidst irrational Communities. This is not a Strange Phenomenon of Today, but sadly that had been so historically for many millenniums. The only Difference had been the SC Dalits! Yes We had been, an uniquely different Society with one Goal one Aim and one Target. Yes, We had been! Perhaps No More, in many Parts of the Country. We had allowed ourselves to be sold by many of our half educated selfish petty individuals, who had been allowed to Claim themselves as our Local Satraps.



We had presented a Strange Picture of Unity and Solidarity, amidst all Scenes of Split Fractures Confusion and Mayhem in the Country! We were with, practically one Leader, our Messiah, though then suffering and strangely enough groaning under almost the same uniquely multiple problems, all over the Country. We had one Goal one Aim and one Target. That is Liberation, Freedom and Escape from others Yokes of Slavery, unimaginable Exploitation, Unspeakable Oppression, and Unreasonable Suppression. We were driven by that strong urge then! Sadly, not anymore!



For our Liberation, and to Escape Rural Oppression and the Feudal Land Lords, We had from time immemorial emigrated – migrated out. We had adopted all types of strange, even unhygienic dangerous and risky new Professions; and embraced alien but humane Faiths that came with the Conquerors and New Rulers. Thus We are today Found in Tea Coffee Banana Rubber Sugar Plantations; or Tin and Oil Mining abroad in near and far off Lands like Ceylon Burma Indonesia Malaysia Mauritius Madagascar Surinam Cuba, Ivory Coast, Gold Coast, and even England France Germany Denmark Holland and so on. Or we have become willing Leather Workers for the Greeks Romans Muslims and British, or voluntary Sweepers with the European Armies in their Homes and Factories. And We in massive Numbers turned out to be Muslims and Christians. And much before that as Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains.



We and our illiterate but Conscious Forefathers, always wanted and were looking for Opportunities and Avenues to throw out the Yokes of brahmanic Social Slavery, and the (DCHs) Dominant caste hindus’ unspeakable inhuman criminal Feudal Oppressions. They were for all practical purposes more wise realistic and very shrewd. All that had now Gone. We appear to have sold our Conscience and Pledged our Liberties and Independence to become today voluntary Slaves of even Fascist and Fundamentalist Forces. And what is more Dangerous is the Fact that We are badly Divided amongst ourselves on lots of Imaginary Lines!



MARRIAGES



As We had found, here everything is unrealistic and abnormal. Here, today Marriages are also abnormal. Here our educated and well employed, best placed, better groomed, good mannered, well built, decently behaved Sons and Daughters, Sisters and Brothers are today virtually grabbed by others, our Oppressors. The Same Thing Happens with our Leaders and Rich People. That, not for mating procreation and making a Family; but for other materialistic Reasons. They take place today, only because others, to be specific our otherwise arrogant unreasonable Oppressors, want to avoid Dowry for their Daughters, or ensure better Future for their Children! So they hesitate not, and shamelessly swindle away our family benefits, take out our advantages, end our dreams, and rob our Community Development. Thus, they want to put all possible hurdles in our Growth and Social Welfare. They are out to Rob the better Lives of not only our Families and other Children, but are determined to block the Potential Marriage Alliances of our Communities Prospective Girls and Boys of Marriageable Age.



SOME CASE STUDIES



Dear Friends, here I dare to list out as Example some Case Studies. They are only Samples. And I had deliberately picked up, the Cases of some well-known personalities, so that you can identify them and empathise with them. That I do, only for a better understanding, and drive home forcibly in your minds, what I want to Tell you are Problems now- a-days! There are no other Intentions. Definitely not to Insult, or Spill the Beans or Family Details about some VIP, or someone otherwise important. And what I am going to Say or all Open Knowledge, and are easily verifiable. Here I now go, and narrate some details of a Few Sample Cases –



1. Mr Selvaraj IAS(TN) Retd, hails from a Poor SC Dalit of Pallar Community in deep Southern Tamil Nadu. It is worthwhile for all those interested in the Development of SC&ST Dalits, to Note that Pallar Community of Tamil Nadu, was perhaps the First One to Wake Up to the never ending and ongoing Atrocities against SC&ST Dalits. They built up the necessary guts to physically Fight the DCHs(Dominant caste hindus) deliberate Atrocities and wanton Violences against SC&ST Dalits. And most importantly, it is the Second One, in Raising Village Funds for many Social Purposes for Common Good including Supporting and financing Emerging Good Community and Local Leaders, and to fight Community Cases in Courts etc.



In the pre-Independence Days’ erstwhile Untouchable Community of Nadars of Tamil Nadu began Financing their Community Individuals to establish Petty Shops, Provision Shops, and all Types of Start Small Businesses. And the Pallars began the Practice of Creating Community Funds in most Villages, and in the Towns and Cities where they had migrated.



Mr Selva Raj was a pretty Senior Officer in Tamil Nadu. He held many crucial and important Positions like Chairman, Port Trust of Madras. He remained a Bachelor for long. By various means he amassed huge Wealth and many Properties. He also helped many of his own Family Members to Develop in Services Businesses and Lives. Suddenly one Lady IAS Officer of Tamil Nadu, a Spinster hooked him up and Married him just only for a few Months, and walked out of His Life, with someone else and half of his Wealth



2. Mr Subramani comes from the once Powerful SC Dalit Basin, Kolar Gold Fields of the erstwhile Mysore State. With Great effort and struggles he completed his BE in Mechanical Engineering from the College of Engineering, Guindy, Madras, University of Madras. Ultimately through All India Engineering Services Exam, he entered the then newly created IRSSE – Indian Railways Service of Signal Engineers, and rose up to the Rank of CSTE – Chief Signal and Telecommunication Engineer. Sadly, he lost his Wife. They had Two Sons, and No Daughter. He Carefully Brought up his Children, and Educated them well. His Second Son did his BE from Anna University, Madras, and is now in America doing his Masters in Business Administration. His First Son also is also a BE in Mining, from the College of Engineering Guindy, Madras, Anna University, and did his MBA from Bombay. In the end, he was picked up by Tatas during the Campus Interview, with a heavy Pay Packet. Mr Subramaniam was virtually in Cloud Nine. They lived comfortably in Anna Nagar, a VIP Colony in Madras



The Two Sons of Mr Subramani, their School Friends and other Boys used to Play in the Streets around. There was a School drop out amongst them, who lived with his Parents and younger Sister in a Rented House in the Area. That Boy at times took home his Friends. Carefully he cultivated friendship between his young Sister and Subramani’s stupid first Son. And the Girl quickly hooked him up and he fell flat for her completely. He forced his father to arrange the Marriage with that useless DCH Girl, herself a drop out. After the Marriage, she quietly moved into the Family, and then created a Rift to move out into a big rented out building, and brought her brother and parents to live with her. She carefully kept Mr Subramani out of the Family. She did not allow her husband – Mr Subramaniyam’s Son to attend or care or even visit Mr Subramani, when he had a big Heart Problem, and had to undergo By-Pass Surgery. Mr Subramani, on hiss Return from the Hospital also, after his By-Pass Heart Surgery, had to manage his food with the help of his Orderly and Servants. Meanwhile, she coaxed her husband to arrange a Job, for her good-for-nothing brother in some BPO Company. Her Parents subsequently moved out to her Brother’s Place, and started the practice of coming now and then to live in her place quite often



Mr Subramani’s Second Son went Abroad for his Master’s Study. Soon after that, She forced her Husband to Patch up with his Father. She then coaxed her husband to ask Mr Subramani to build, or allow them to build an Accommodation separately for their own personal use, in the Open Terrace on the Top of Mr Subramani’s Residence. And she then, quietly Moved into that First Floor Accommodation, with the Ulterior Motive and Ultimate Idea of taking over, the entire Complex after Mr Subramani, with the Second Son being away in America, and unlikely to comeback ever to India, for Living in Madras. Thus, these days Mr Subramani Lives in the Ground Floor, getting his Meals cooked by Servants. He Shares his Food with Friends, and She Lives comfortably in the First Floor, with her henpecked husband firmly under control in her tightly clenched fist. She is now very happy with a domesticated husband, own house, child and a Dog, with her Parents coming to Stay with her Quite Often. And all the while, poor old Mr Subramaniam lives alone in the Ground Floor, taking good care and Guard of her First Floor Flat. In addition he Walks daily her heavy Dog. And, I had not seen any day or even on a single Occasion, either She or her Husband, visiting him with or sending any Food – not even some cooked Vegetables or any side-dish or any other Eatables to him as a Special Item. All the while Mr Subramani takes full care of everything. Poor Old Man! Even in case of an Heart Attack – day or night, there is no one to take care of him, call for a Doctor or rush him to an Hospital, or even to any near-by Nursing Home



3. Mr P Venkatachalam and Mrs Jyothi Venkatachalam of Egmore, Madras was a well-known Couple then. Theirs was a Great SC Dalit Family, in the whole of South then, and Madras Presidency. They were known for PV Sauce, Pickles and Condiments. They reportedly owned Ships and Traded across the Seas. They were very Rich, and Reportedly owned large Properties in Madras City. The Venkatachalams were so Important that Mrs Jyothi Venkatachalam was invited more than Once to become the Health Minister in the State of Madras



The Venkatachalams had Two Sons and One Daughter. Sadly all the three Children were picked up by other rich families from DCH Communities, and all the Businesses and Properties of Venkatachalams were conveniently and easily Swallowed by others, who deliberately married the three Children. And now, no one Remembers anyone of their Children, or even Perhaps the Names of Venkatachalams and their Trademark Business of PV Sauce& Condiments



4. Sardar Buta Singh, a SC Dalit from Punjab, is a Senior Politician. Once he was known for helping SC&ST Dalits even out of the Way. That, reportedly till Mrs Indira Gandhi pulled him up for that. He Started his Political Activism perhaps as an Akali and or a Communist. And he slowly grew up to become a MP, then into Congress to become a Deputy Minister and ultimately Reached the Heights of his Political Career, in Rajiv Gandhi’s Govt, and became the full Home Minister of India. He had reportedly accumulated large Wealth and Riches. He has Three Children – Two Sons, followed by a Beautiful Daughter. But all of them are useless, and could never make any mark in spite all the Support, almost blind unquestioned backing of their Powerful Father



The Children of Sardar Buta Singh are lost to the Community, as they had all married into DCH Families. His Sons picked up wrong Friends in Sports Fields, and Cricket Grounds. The First Boy ultimately married the Sister of a small time Ranji Cricketer, from a very poor Family belonging to some Business Community of Refugees from West Punjab of Pakistan. The Second Son similarly married across SC&ST Dalit Circles. He Perhaps was a little sensible that he married a good looking Daughter of a Pilot from the Air Force, perhaps in the middle Rank of Wing Commander. And she belongs to a brahmin family



To add to the embarrassment of Sardar, and to Crown all the Problems created by his Sons, his Daughter married a Crook. Shamefully he was a Clerk, dismissed by her Father, from his own personal Residential Office. He then went on to work as a Counter Salesman in a nearby Video Parlour. And he comes from a very poor dirty cheap brahmin family, and he is a very greedy crooked fellow. Now all the Wealth and Riches of the great Sardar Buta Singh, former Home Minister of India from a SC Dalit Origin, is in the Greedy Hands of all other cheap caste hindus and their families and friends



Not Satisfied with all these, both his two Sons, Daughter, Son-in-Law, Daughters-in-Law, and their other Relatives Friends and other Hangers-on descended on the Bihar Raj Bhavan in Patna, when Sardar Buta Singh was Sworn in as the Governor of Bihar. And they sold his Name Office and Powers, that ultimately his Name was Tarnished beyond Repair. This Case may Raise many Questions. But the Fact Remains, that the Process of Marriages were definitely not Managed Properly, from the very beginning. This is a Great Lesson for us in the SC&ST Dalit Communities



5. Mr G Venkatswamy, a SC Dalit Labour Leader of Hyderabad in the erstwhile Nizam State became an important AITUC Leader and Politician of Andhra Pradesh. He served successively as a MLA, Minister in the Govt of AP, MP and Minister in the Govt of India. He became a Cabinet Minister for Rural Development, and also Textiles. He has Two Sons and Daughters. Both his Sons are married to brahmin girls from shrewd cunning brahmin families



Mr Venkatswamy was encouraged into Business perhaps by XXXX the then Minister of State for Industries under Mrs Gandhi. He Took the Agency of getting stocking and selling Asbestos Sheets. Slowly he started Manufacturing Distributing Stocking and Selling them all over the Country. This Business now is being Managed by his Second Son, a Doctor by Education, but a Business Man for all Practical Purposes. Mr Venkatswamy’s Family is now Worth nearly hundred Crores. All of these are now in the hands of the brahmins



In the End, I will like to Caution and Warn you! Don’t Go Away Feeling that, the Problems in Marriages take place only when others Grab our Educated Boys and Girls, for their Stupid Children who are Failures. The Problems also arise, when our Boys and Girls go Astray, or We Allow them to Slip out. You must Recognise here a Dangerous Development, or Phenomenon! That is, many of our Boys, and at times Girls also are on the lookout for, and they Seek fair skinned, talkative Girls. And they easily fall for, and go abegging behind arrogant Girls of brahmin and other DCH Communities.



These Problems arise when our Boys and Girls Strangely and Stupidly seek out Girls and Boys of brahmin and other DCH Communities, to satisfy an unsubstantiated Complex or a sort of Ego. Sadly they land up with only mischievous loose Girls and wayward Boys of other Communities. These end up in big mess, and in any case a Great and Total Loss for our Communities. The same thing Happens with our Senior Officials, Party Leaders, Political Bigwigs, and Political Executives in the Govts. For, We Fail to Keep Watch on them, a Critical Eye or Question them in Time.



FAMILY



Family is like a Pair of Animal Drawn Cart. There must be good Coordination, if not Perfect Understanding between the Two. If not, the Cart will go one way or the other, but not Straight to Reach the Destination or Destinations. So is the Case with the Family. Families are like the Twin Draft Cart, but with a Clear Difference or Distinction. They are generally without a separate Driver to Guide and Control. They have multiple Goals and many Targets! If there are Differences between the Man and Wife, Problems Crop Up. Sometimes the Homes Cease to be the Secure Place it ought to be, and turns out to be an hell on earth, whatever is the Reason or whoever be the Cause.



The Underlying Reasons for Problems in our Families may be –



1) Non-Cooperation between Couples

2) Ego and Arrogance with one or the other, or both

3) Cultural Mismatches and Differences between the Married Couples

4) Natural Differences in Upbringing of the Couples in their Parental Homes

5) Undisciplined Behaviour on the Part of One or Both, and not being Amenable to Reason or inability to think Rationally or even Logically

6) Now Worried about Neighbours’ Opinions, and Ridicules by others in the Surroundings



The Net Result of Problems in our Families is –



1. One becomes Unwanted within the Family, but for Money and Earnings or Bank Balances

2. Man and Wife not in Talking Terms for Days Together, or Weeks Months and even Years

3. Politics or Problems in the Bed Room or in the Bed itself

4. Wife does not Answer properly, or even allow the Man to Touch her

5. Taking Sides with the Children, and allowing them to Play Politics between the Man and Wife, thus Spoiling Peace in the Family and Ultimately the Future and Lives of the Children themselves

6. the Woman Speaks about the Problems within the Family to everyone – Tom Dick and Harry, also Marie Jane and Jill

7. the Woman Confides and Shares her Family Matters with almost everyone – the neighbours, friends, visitors to the home, and even in Market Places, rendering the Husband, Children, Family and Herself into a big Laughing Stock

8. Man Comes to know about the Problems and even Basic Information about Wife and the Children, sadly from Friends Neighbours and Others

9. the Woman becomes the Wife of everyone else other than the Man, that she can Share Secrets with others and Criticise or Complain about the Man in the House, his Parents Siblings and other Relations, and also about the Children



These Problems rightly may not be new. And in fact, these may also exist in other Communities. But We need not be Worried about them. For the others who had been always exploiting us and creating many Problems for Us are neither our Concern or of our Interest!



SOME CASE STUDIES



Before I start with the Case Studies, let me tell you Two Stories – one from this Country, and another from Abroad. Friends, let me make it Clear that though I pick up these Stories and Case Examples, all of them Stand for both erring Men and Women. You can always replace the Man in them with a Woman, and substitute the Man in the Place of Woman. I implore you to Collect many such Stories and Case Studies for Reference and Examination in Future!



Now let us examine the Two Stories! First, the Story from within this Country –



1. There lived once a bully. He used to regularly go into a nearby forest to waylay and Rob Passers by and Travellers. He sincerely supported his parents brothers sisters wife children and other members of his Family with the loot! Once he waylaid an old individual. When he tried to rob hi the old man said that what he was doing was evil and sin. He replied that he had to do that to support and maintain his family. The old man asked as to whether his family members and his own wife will share his sin, and would ever partake the wages of his sins. Taken aback by this type of Question, the bully Replied – Why not? After all I am Robbing the Travellers and Passers-by to feed and maintain them. Therefore they will share my sins and the wages of the sins if ever any! The old man said that he doubts it, and advised him to ask his family members. Concerned, the bully went home, gave his loot to his Family Members, and asked them silently – I am robbing people to Feed You all. If that is sin, and there are any Wages for the Sin ever, will you all share them with me? For that, all his Family Members including his Wife said – Why should We Share your Sin? Feeding us is your Duty and Responsibility! Therefore our Role ends there. And we are not concerned how you provide for us. If you commit Sins to feed us, that is yours, and We are not concerned. Upset with that type of reply, the bully left his practice of Robbing others. And so the story goes on further …



2. And now the Story from Abroad. Once there lived a poor Villager with his terrible Woman. She harassed him no end! The poor Villager earned his lively wood by Collecting Wood in the Forest. One evening he came home after a full hard day in the Forest cutting the Trees for Fire Wood, with his Axe in hand and a bundle of Wood for the Family. He was dead tired. His wife, instead of talking nicely to him, or taking care of him, or feeding him anything warm to eat or drink, asked him to go out in the backyard and Chop the Fire Wood! It was already late, and was getting Dark, and it was Cold outside. However he went out into the backyard, and tried to Chop the Wood. He missed the Wood and injured himself. His wife was not bothered, but on the other hand, shouted at him to hurry and get the Chopped Wood for the Fire. The poor injured was dejected and lost his heart. He was hurt in the mind also. He went out of the backyard, and left the house and went away. He Roamed many Villages and Towns. After Roaming many days weeks and months, he wanted to see his wife



The Wood cutter returned home to see his wife. That, after some years since he left the Village. As he reached his Village many People asked him as to where he had been, and told him how they missed him all those years. He was very touched by their Kind Words. He felt that his wife would be very sad, and would definitely go wild with joy on seeing him return home! So he hurried Home, and went in with full of Expectations and Love! The moment he entered the House, there was his Wife very stiff and indifferent as usual. On seeing him enter, she shouted at him, even before he could sit, and asked him – Why have you taken all the time? Where are the Chopped Woods I asked for the Fire? Go into the backyard and get them! – She yelled at him. Shocked, he went out into the backyard for the last time, and into the World, never to Return back!



What are the Lessons from these Stories? Friends what do We learn and Understand from them?



Many of these Problems arise, when our Boys, and sometimes our Girls Marry brahmin and other arrogant DCH Girls or Boys, as the case may be. But many more similar or other types of Problems in the Families arise, even in arranged Marriages within the SC&ST Dalit Circles. That is due to Cultural Mismatches and Family Differences, or Problems in the Childhood or in the way they are Groomed Up, or the happenings in their Family Circles.



There are many such interesting Examples, which are Perfect Case Studies.



COMMUNITY



DISCRIMINATIONS



ATROCITIES



DISASTERS AND CALAMITIES – Natural or Man Made; or Carnages, Attacks Pogroms and other Violences

– N Manohara Prasad**



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* A Draft Note of Discussion in Bangalore University, Gnaana Bharathi, Dr Ambedkar Centre, Bangalore, by Mr N Manohara Prasad



**Mr N Manohara Prasad, was the First Director of Dr Ambedkar Foundation, New Delhi, Established by Govt of India in 1992, as Part of Dr Ambedkar Centenary 1991-92, Celebrated during the Years of 1990-93 under Mr VP Singh PM and Mr Ram Vilas Paswan Labour and Welfare Minister, GoI 1990-91; Mr Chandrasekhar, Caretaker PM and Suman, Minister of State for Labour and Welfare, GoI 1991-92; Mr Narasimha Rao, PM and Mr Sita Ram Kesari, Welfare Minister, GoI 1992-96