A
Tribute To Kanshiramji
By Vidya Bhushan Rawat
10 October, 2006
Countercurrents.org
BSP's founder President Mr Kanshi Ram died last night
out of a heart attack. He was 72. Kanshi Ram's death had been ailing
for the past two years and was confined to bed at BSP president Mayawati's
house.
If India's politics has grown through a radical change with Dalit becoming
the mainstream political force, the one man who made is possible was
Kanshi Ram. He worked diligently and religiously to develop a cadre
who could bring the party to National mainstream and ultimately to the
power in Uttar-Pradesh. In the Indian political scenario, the gap left
by Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar was difficult to fill. Ambedkar was a giant,
a man of great character and quintessentially an ideologue. Kanshiram
was a great mobiliser, he understood the issue of self respect and participation
of the communities. Those close to him always remember how he worked
hard to build up BAMSEF and DS-4. He would cycle down to streets and
town, sleep on the floor and converse with the activists. Kanshi Ram
understood very well how communities under represented in our Parliamentry
system crave for representtion. If in Uttar-Pradesh, communities like
Pals ( Shephards), Nishads ( fishermen), Rajbhars have developed highly
political thoughts, it is because of the BSP and its strength. Ofcourse,
for the Jatavs and Chamars in Uttar-Pradesh, BSP became a 'mission ka
kaam'. No other community or political party in India till date can
claim such loyal supporters such as BSP, where the workers would go
at their own and bring other people to the polling booths. Dalits in
Uttar-Pradesh along with most backward communities are today thoroughly
politicised, a matter of envy for the South Indian part where the NGOs
are working in large number yet they do not enjoy that political power,
social dignity as in Uttar-Pradesh.
Therefore, Kanshiram in true
sense was a revolutionary who changed the political equations and gave
new dimensions to Dalit politics in India in general and UP in particular.
Whatever may be his draw backs, Kanshiram revived the strong Ambedkarite
sense of dignity, self respect in the masses who had once upon a time
became vote bank of the upper caste leadership of different political
parties. Kanshiram changed the perception. " Jiski jitni Sankhya
Bhari, uski utni bhagidari' and with the concept of Bahujan Samaj, Kanshiram
went beyond Ambedkar in political stretagy. He was not confined to Dalits
but spread to most backward communities as well as Muslims in India.
For the first time, we saw a rainbow coalition of the Bahujan Samaj
emerging in the north that shook the power structure.
His was a sharp mind. In the initial phase he knew it well that people
would always question him as what was the mass base of the party. Yet,
BSP would contest all the seats. He remarked once : We may not win all
the seats but we are in a position to change the equations and responsible
for some one else's defeat'. That stretagy resulted in Congress Party
grounded in different elections in Uttar-Pradesh. No talk of developmental
drama would take away people from Kanshiram. The parties like BJP would
talk of ultra nationalism and Hindutva while Congress talked about secularism
but were ultimately decimated in Uttar-Pradesh. Dalit-bahujans of Uttar-Pradesh
remained loyal to him. In Kanshiram's UP, Dalit representation became
the main issue. It was the struggle between the Manuwadi parties and
Dalit representative parties. Ultimately people chose BSP. Today, BSP
is growing stronger and stronger in the state and all set to stage a
come back. Kanshraim would have been happy to see return of his party.
Alas he is no more.
Kanshiram's death is a big blow to the Dalit movement. He was icon whom
the Dalits of the country looked for guidance. He was down to earth
and lived for the society. He kept his words. He life was an example
for many other political leaders who amassed huge wealth and are involved
in family business and red tapism. Family for Kanshiram was the Dalit
samaj. Though in his last days, the issue of his health and confinement
was challenge by his family yet one should know that Kanshiram virtually
was a man for his society. He rarely talked about his family. Such example
are very rare in Indian politics.
Life of Kanshiramji will always remind the people of India and particularly
the Dalits to struggle for their democratic rights by bringing together
all the marginalised forces of the country and have their government
at the centre. Kanshi ram dreamt of a Dalit prime minister leading the
country. One hope that his dream would come true one day. Yes we all
need such thinkers and stretagist, honest man who considered the society
as their 'parivar' . That Bahujan Samaj has to claim the rightful place
in the polity and society of the country and lead it to next century.
It is not utopian to say that the next century would be the century
of Dalits, the followers of Ambedkar. This dream will definitely be
realised and one person who could rightully claim to have changed the
entire system and brought us close to realising Baba Saheb dream would
always be Kanshiram.
For the Dalits all over the country, it is time to rededicate themselves
to the cause of Dalit Bahujan Alliance which was perceived by Kanshiram.
This Dalit Bahujan Alliance should be led by the Dalits, the follower
of Baba Saheb. Ofcourse, there are many contradictions with some of
the lathi weilding backward communities who hit the Dalits yet Dalits
are in a position to lead the movement and provide a philosophical,
cultural leadership to all. India's battle is not just a political battle.
It is a fight against the brahmanical socio-cultural values and the
Dalits vision is an answer to that. A vision which challenge the sancitity
of religion, dogmas, text books and even Gods. No religion has the power
to challenge Gods and the books allegedly written by the Gods. It is
only the Dalit vision which can rightfully claim to challenge the authority
of Gods and Godsons. One hope that in this holy months, which is already
being celebrated all over the country as a mark of Dr Ambedkar's conversion,
all the followers of Baba Saheb will rededicate themselves to socio
cultural empowerment of Dalits in the country. Kanshiramji may not be
here physically but his life would always remain a source of inspiration
for millions of people who saw him build an organisation and a movement
that ultimately changed destiniy of 170 million Dalits in India.
Visit my blog at www.manukhsi.blogspot.com
For information on the issues,
movements and priorities of Scavenger community in India please log
on to www.swachchakar.blogspot.com
Contribute your article on
freedom, humanism and human rights towww.manuski.com
For Social action, land rights,
right to food and hunger issues support Social Development Foundation
at www.thesdf.org
Leave
A Comment
&
Share Your Insights