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Dalit Movements

Dalit Movements

Section titled “Dalit Movements”

2020-04-27 15:28:20

Factors that Led to Dalit Consciousness

Section titled “Factors that Led to Dalit Consciousness”
  • Constant hared and discrimination from various centuries that has been generated. D labourers have been exploited, their lives have been degenerated and have been excluded from mainstream society.
  • These movt had roots in the Vedic period ex various Shramana sects. Gave a socio-religious sanction to the movt.
  • Introduction of English and Western Education which brought them towards ideas of equality, justice, liberty.
  • D were favoured during British policy of divide and rule. BR policy of classifying caste helped mass mobilisation among them.
  • Better communication network provided for linking of D from different geographical locations.
  • New opportunities since 19th century gave them an opportunity for upwards economic mobility.
  • Social reform movt of Jyotiba Phule and Sri Narayan Guru.
  • Bhimrao Ambedkars actions and his movts for Dalit upliftment.

Dalit Panthers

Section titled “Dalit Panthers”
  • Started in early 1970s in Maharashtra. Party formed in 1972.
  • Precursor
    • Youth movt were picking up ex formation of Yuva Kranti Dal in 1967.
    • D youth questioned the post Ambedkar leadership of Republican party of India.
    • D literature blossmed such as magazines.
  • Inspired by the Black panther Party which supported it and wrote about it in the US Black Panther Newspaper.
  • Founded by JV Pawar and Namdeo Dhasal calling the movt as radical departure from earlied D movts.
  • Reasons for their emergence
    • Many offshoots of Ambedkarite movts emerged having different ideas.
    • Constitutional provision were only but theoretical in nature
    • Political consiousness among D groups sent them towards Parliamentarianism.
    • Militant insurgency movt was gaining popularity ex Che Guevara, Fidel Castro in Cuba.
  • Focused on Economic and Social Justice. Its mem were Working class people
  • Most mem were SC or Buddhists. Leaders were literary figures.
  • Published their journal Sadhana. They called for boycotting 25th indepedence day as Kala Swatantra Din/ Black Independence Day.
  • Tried to link their struggle w/ other opressed people of their world.
  • Leftist in their ideology but not Marxist who wanted Amedkarite methods for socio-politcal change
  • Criticism
    • lacked proper channeling of anger to achieve their goal
    • Reflected TV mentality, neglected economic foundation.
    • Showed lack of clarity.
    • Militancy remained confined to their speaches and writings did not manifest into actions.
    • Clash among the ideas of Ambedkar who forbade violent actions and those of Ambedkarites who wanted more militancy.

Kashiram’s Movt Bahujan Samaj Party BSP

Section titled “Kashiram’s Movt Bahujan Samaj Party BSP”
  • KR quit his job at DRDO and estd SC, ST, OBC and minorities mployees welfare Association in 1971.
  • In 1973 he estd Backwar and Minority Communities Employees Federation BAMCEF in 1976.
  • In 1980 he created a show named Ambedkar Mela.
  • 1981 He started Dalit Soshit Samaj Sangharsh Samiti DS4
  • 1984 BSP was founded as a full fledged political party.
  • Identified all SC, ST, OBC and Religious minorities as Bahujans.
  • Gave impetus to Dalit politics but he Identified them only on Basis of caste and community.
  • Idealised Ambedkar as a strategist.
  • KR approves of his sole ideology that political power of his party could solve all dalit problems. Hardly cared for democracy.
  • Did not have a manifesto and wanted to maximise power by nay means.
  • Wanted to replicate Ambedkars movt of 1920s.

Untouchability Offences Act 1955

Section titled “Untouchability Offences Act 1955”
  • To spell out Article 17 of constitution.
  • Penalises manifestation of untouchability in any form
  • Provides penalties for the offences like preventing use of public spaces viz temples etc
  • Prevents Enforcement of social disabilities.

Dalit movements

  1. Discuss the factors that led to the growth of Dalit consciousness and mention the major movements aimed at their empowerment. [2010, 30m]

  2. “In exercising its exclusive power, the Parliament additionally enacted the Untouchability (Offences) Act in 1955.” Comment. [2008, 20m]

  3. “Dalit Movements for empowerment in independent India have essentially been for carving out political space through electoral politics.” Discuss. [2014, 10m]

  4. Analyse various trends in Dalit Movements in various parts of post-independent India. [2018, 20 Marks]