Tikait
Episode & Socially and Politically adroit Mayawatiji
Caste: The
Weapons of Mass Hatred
Tame The
Violence Within
By
Praful
Sakya
‘What is in the mind
and quite common in private conversation when uttered publicly, more often than
not, creates furor in the caste sensitive
T |
he net resultant of any derogatory
remarks with reference to caste, which are common in private conversations
amongst the personal groups of the
communities, but when publicly uttered creates tensions and thus spreads pangs
of hatreds and exchange of derogatory remarks against each other, sometimes
verbal clashes even turned into violent attack that leave a few dead or dump the
area in curfew mode that cripples the economic activities with destruction of
public and private properties . What is the worst effect of these kinds of
things it perpetuates caste-hatred amongst the inter-caste in a country where
the so called Uppercaste boast of its cultural diversity, mutual respect and
the amicable existence of various ethnical groups. It punctures all the tall
claims of human rights, protection of the rights of the Underclass and the extreme
ill-effect: it damages the intercommunity relationships, fairly, beyond repair.
No
one could have expected the drama over the issue of the caste derogatory
remarks made with reference to the Utter Pradesh Chief Minster Mayawatiji, by
the Uppercaste leader of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Mahendra Singh Tikait, followed
by his arrest, would bring to the fore so much intercommunity negativity. Mr.
Tikait was charged with making a derogatory reference to Mayawatiji at a
farmers’ rally in Bijnor on Sunday 30, March 08. A case was filed under the
Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The county
witnessed a furor of high magnitude. What was more discouraging the way opposition
parties, predominately Uppercaste dominated, behaved and tried to ferment caste
prejudices was quite exceptional. No one rose above the caste and religion and condemned
Mr. Tikait for his remarks; instead dousing the fire of caste hatred they
preferred to put oil of prejudicial-inflammatory property. What can be more
damaging to the evolution of a caste-prejudiced free society of equality
leaning than this? What should have been the right thing to do was not
exercised. It made the state plunged into politicization of issue that should
never have been politicized. It exemplifies the level of deterioration of the
politics (of personal nature) and use of the caste, have reached.
The
opposition parties exhibited their anti Underclass mentality by supporting Mr.
Tikait. It was the congress who in recently concluded two day Sate Pradesh
Congress Convention held in Kanpur in the month of March deliberated on the
issues concerning the plight of the underclass and precarious condition under
which they are livening, very overtly without any justification held Mayawatiji
responsible for it, this time too kept strategic mum on the issue. The Man,
Digvijay Singh (Who was at the fore front of attacking Mayawatiji over the
alleged corrupt practices in her government and tried to project his party and
himself as the true social-improviser of first order) who in his 10 years of
rule in Madhya Pradesh, alleged involvement in the corruption almost brought
the state on the brink of administrative collapse, neither had a track record
of good administration nor masterminded any substantial changes in the lives of
underclass, did not come out open in condemning the issue.
Chairman
of the National Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Commission Buta Singh who
was initially did not show any interest (Might be he was asked to do so and his
affiliation are known to the country), how come all of sudden after five days
of incident woke up and talked about the possible legal fall out of the remarks
of Mr. Tikait. Its credit goes to Mayawatiji had she not demanded his
resignation he could never have shown such an agility in making the statement. Here
also the Lady of CM stature did not get the support of the Commission so
easily. She had forcefully demanded for it. The socially, politically and economically
feeble underclass should from this event learn a lesson that the commission is
not for them, if CM is straggling so much then they should calculate their worth
before demanding for their legitimate rights. This event exemplifies the
efficacy of the commission and on whose behest it acts.
Mayawatiji
said that in all likelihood Mr. Singh had been asked to keep mum by the
Congress. Stating that the party’s view on the SC/ST Act displayed its anti-Underclass
mentality, she said the manner in which the Congress, the BJP and their
supporting parties supported Mr. Tikait showed that they wanted to prevent the
implementation of the SC/ST Act. But she, as a head of state and responsible
administrator made it clear that that the SC/ST Act would be strictly
implemented in Uttar Pradesh, but at the same time it would be ensured that the
Act was not misused. What else one would expect from a lady who had wrested
power from the Uppercaste by wining the confidence of all the segments of the
society and caste groups? The message is loud and clear: she is there for all,
all inclusiveness and developing amicable relations amongst the various groups
of the society is motto of her governance and her every action indicts her cent
per cent commitment.
''Mayawati
can't hope to get a majority next time even if she tries. Whenever there is a
majority government, Mayawati shows an attitude. When there is a coalition
government, we get lathicharged at court,'' said Ajit Singh, President,
Rashtriya Lok Dal. This too shows the caste superiority attitude of the Ajit Singh,
who should have first condemned the incident but he has his political interest
that restraining him from doing it. It is the duty of the government to control
rousing mob, it has nothing to do with the targeting any of the specific group
of the society. Has it happens regularly that the caste group that the Ajit
Singh has in his mind is routinely victim of any excesses? The Uppercaste have
an attitude that whenever Mayawatiji takes any stern actions (for which she is
known for) the Uppercaste leaders misled the caste groups that she is against
them. But their real cause of worry is that the Mayawatiji is day in day out
winning the confidence of all the sections of the society and that really
jeopardizes the electoral success of these leaders. Mayawati’s rival, the
Samajwadi Party, has supported Mr. Tikait and the Centre appears to be going
soft. The ire of all opposition parties is on the issue of the way Mayawatiji
had handled the issue and made Mr. Tikait surrender but their justification
does not support their claim.
As
a political opponent (Try to be more responsible) they should learn a lesson or
two from her by the fact that the way she showed an exceptional courage to go
against the rousing mob and book a man who is threatening the unity of country.
It has nothing to do with the caste. As a head of state she left everything
behind. She is there to govern the state as per the guidelines of the
constitutions. She did not bother for her votes support if she goes a little
harsh to tame the mob which was went into temporary mode of frenzy. When she
acted she was quite confidant that the people will understand and support her action
as the people do not wish to indulge in cheap things like making derogatory
remarks with reference to caste and take political mileage out of it. They are
for the Unity of the Nation. And the social and political adroitness that
Mayawatiji exhibited will go a long way to ensure the unity of the nation
intact.
The
event was exhibition of typical caste-prejudicial mindset of an Uppercaste BKU
leader Mr. Tikait who is just one or two step above the ladder of caste order
compared to Mayawatiji. We need a social-psychologist who would only have told
us what’s demonic satisfaction is there in making such remarks and kind of
pleasures that one would draw from it. Unfortunately it is quite a common
phenomenon that it gives immense pleasure to some one who is above the other in
caste order to make derogatory remarks with reference to caste. After the
independence due to social mobility there have been number of positive changes happing
in the Indian society. People no longer practice, though halfheartedly,
Untouchability. And the economic benefits that some could managed to get from
the underclass are still hit where its hurts more and that is derogatory
remarks with reference to caste, at will,
from the so called Uppercaste, and god knows why we should not talk about those
who are still socially and economically feeble.
Mayawatiji
did not want to exercise the power but she was forced to do so by the Tikait
supports, she with no intention of any bad feeling towards him but only to
uphold the principalities of rule of the soil made sure that the law should be
enacted. It was not a personal fight but it was question of the pride of the
all underclass that necessitate the action. She had no intention of belittling
any one but only to ensure that the law and administrative willingness is there
to protect the rights of the underclass and establish the cordial relationship
amongst the all caste-groups of the society. She did not wish risking the
positive image of government and made Mr. Tikait eat his words.
The
man who was at the forefront of protecting the rights of the Kisan indulges in
such a cheap act, what can be more shameful thing than this. He has been
president of Bharatiya Kisan Union. He has led a number of mass movements
against the state and central governments in
The
caste which does not goes is called Caste (Jati jo nahi jati who hi kahalti hai
Jati). Well, it is not the real question whether Jati goes or not the real
culprit is those who take refuge in making derogatory remarks with reference to
caste, and hence keep its perpetuation. It is entirely in the hands of the
Uppercaste that they should refrain themselves from doing such an act that
would jeopardize the unity of this nation in which we all have so much pride. If
one visits any of the village in
Gyan ka Kya hai Pariman?
Namo Buddhay! Namo Dhamay! Namo
Sanghay!
Praful Sakya (econfab@gmail.com)