I have titled this post this way, as i see a lot of us Upper castes talking about Caste annihilation and about the aspect of Social Justice of the Amartya Sen kinds “for” the Dalits of ‘India”. But in the process of standing up against this structure of caste we all fail to acknowledge the fact that we are also part of this wretched thing and are a community that is responsible for the caste oppression that happens at TISS and elsewhere in the country, by virtue of being an Upper caste.
Now that i have given a brief history of the reason for this title, i shall try to address some of the questions of caste discrimination, identity politics, dalitisation, the ‘silly debates” that one has about the emancipation of the Dalits and tribes and of course to not forget the a section of us students who keep abusing Hindu gods and goddesses as though they were our own friends.
As an upper caste, we would like to work ‘for’ the emancipation of the most oppressed communities namely the Dalits, but there is a catch in it, we would like to work ‘for’ them without getting ourselves dirty, nor would we like to let go off the powers be it political or power of any other form as that would mean we will have to work ‘with’ them which then hurts our upper caste ego. And this ego is that of the upper caste in me who never wishes or acknowledges the fact that as an upper caste we are also part of the problem. The same goes with Social Justice, would social justice not mean justice for the most oppressed communities? be it on campus or elsewhere.
Many upper castes like myself, think that those who are working around the issue of dalit liberation on campus are presumptuous and assume that they are the only ones who can liberate fellow dalits. Now i ask myself, what right do we even have as upper castes to talk of dalit liberation and who are we to liberate or for that matter lead the liberation. I do not disagree about the support that we as upper castes offer in the process of liberation of the dalits but the discretion and the power to decide if they want this support or not still remains with the dalits.
There are also a section of us upper castes who believe that there is no caste based discrimination that exists on campus. How can we believe it, or even understand it when we have not even understood or for that matter felt caste based oppression that happens on campus. Now let me substantiate this argument with an example at TISS, not that i have heard only one such instance,but there are many such instances. During my 1st semester on campus, a dalit student in class asked for water for an upper caste student who was carrying a bottle and this upper caste student refused and asked him to drink from the coolers placed around the campus, this happened during one of the breaks. But immediately after that another student from an upper caste community asked the same person for water and s/he promptly gave him/her the bottle with water. Now for us upper castes this would ‘just’ mean that s/he did not want to give him/her bottle of water as that is the only way we are programmed to think.
There have been many questions and talks about the politics of identity, dalitisation and the ‘silly” debates about the emancipation of the dalits and tribes and there are many versions to these things. Firstly, i had in a post on another blog written about the politics of identity and mentioned that the politics of identity starts not when one is contesting electoral politics, but it starts right from the time our parents start the process of socialisation and this is definitely defined and structured based on our own caste/class and religion. So when one does not question about this particular kind of socialisation how is that we are able to easily bad mouth people who subscribe to identity politics and call them “the Furtive Messiahs’ without even understanding that we are all part of the politics of identity right from the time we step into this campus. The identity could vary from region, religion, caste and class. Why do we not talk about this politics of identity when we make our friends when we step into this campus? the answer to this question is very simple, we are more comfortable with the people who we think have similar understanding or are just simply speak the same vernacular language which we are most comfortable with. And if this particular thing translates into electing a representative from one’s own community it becomes dirty and divisive.
Now the aspect of dalitisation is a very interesting question to ask oneself, why do we as upper castes only question the dalitisation and not look at the aspect of Sanskritisation that is prevalent both on campus and outside with all the moral policing that one could think of which is conforming to the Dominant religions’ thoughts and principles. If one could Sanskritise then why should one not dalitise ? That is because for us upper castes, a Dalit nation is not only unimaginable but unacceptable as it questions our fundamental existence. Here i would like to say that, a Dalit nation for me means a nation where principles of democracy, justice, equality and fraternity exists in its fundamental form and these principles are applicable equally to all people regardless caste, class, gender and religion.
A lot of us upper castes take offence to the abuses a dalit showers upon the gods and goddesses of the Hindu religion, but at the same time we forget that we are the same upper castes who use the names of lower castes like ‘Bhangi’, ‘Chandala ‘, ‘Chamar’ and many other such names as abuses on others. This is not offensive to us even though these are the very people with whom interact with everyday but an abuse by a dalit on gods and goddesses who just exist in frames and ‘temples’ is taken as offensive. A dalit who believe that its the same irrational religion which is responsible for their situation and position in society is expected to prostrate and conform to these very oppressive gods and goddesses. When Dr Ambedkar’s, who the dalits consider as their father, statues are desecrated by upper castes where did our conscious about being respectful go? And what about all the disrespect that the dalits face day in and day out by us upper castes? If they can bear all this for centuries then why is it that we are not able to accept their rational arguments/ abuses about our own goddesses and gods and accept that the crux of the caste problem lies in the Hindu religion and one cannot annihilate caste when one conforms to the Hindu religion.
These are some things that we as upper castes must think about cause the burden of annihilating caste lies in the hands of the dalits of this nation, and those of us who have acknowledged and accepted our position of power and privilege and are willing to step behind and support them in the process of annihilation. This will lead to a society that is truly democratic, secular, just and equitable.
I would like to end this post with a quote by Dr Ambedkar, “In Hinduism, conscience, reason and independent thinking have no scope for development”
P.S: For any of you who would like to take this discussion forward, disagree to what i have said above, please feel free to stop me and talk, but do come if and only if you are open to arguing and listening to things that are rational and reasonable.
I have this strange doubt …. I am quite impressed with the writing style I am (say 10-11%) aware of the politics & debates going in TISS (Thanks to you & Saurabh’s notes) …
1. I see this great struggle & politics played by Upper castes including my own in understanding Justice… As Justice according to Upper Castes is programmed as “Varna Dharma”, which is assumed to be a reservation-less competing space…. But my major question Can an Upper caste thoroughly “Dalitise” or “Decaste” her/his own self… If yes, Then What exactly is the process of same?
2. I assume that there is a vast difference between Decaste-ing one self & Paulo Frere words on the role of Oppressors to stand on the side of the oppressed & support their struggle…. If upper caste people are supporting the struggle it again counts in to what you call as liberating Dalits which is again questioned as “Who are we to??” but again the question is raised by you as an upper caste representative, Here What is the perspective of the oppressed????
3. I have heard from a few people inside & outside the campus that there is a great struggle to build in an acceptance to the fact that a “Dalit has taken up a job in a Mining Corporation”, My question here is when this same campus applauds for an Upper caste taking up a job in Jharkhand working for a tribal or Dalit community, Buzzes around the fact that a Dalit has taken up a job in Mining corporation, Are we, the upper castes in the name of Dalitisation creating a new form of caste discrimination that seems like decasting to the eyes of oppressed but in turn creating a new script of rules & morals on its own… Why would a Dalit student who is appreciated for taking up a job in a small time firm appreciated over a Dalit woman who wants to explore the insides of a so called corporation & wants to represent the voices in there… Who is defining values here ??? who is dictating norms out here???
Suggestion:
Are we the right people to blog on such things as “Politics of Annihilation of Caste by Upper Castes”… I could not find an authenticity again, but an emotional appeal to the same…. I think when one writes on the ‘politics’ by upper caste it should always involve a Oppressed class’s writing, thoughts & perspective of the same is of vital importance out here… And i think by that way the debate will have enhanced perspectives as well as two sided arguments posed…
I think Rupesh has answered the questions asked by Bhargavi very well. In case of Q.3, I think its a straw man argument & frankly speaking a little personal about a certain ‘Dalit’ girl in TISS who recently took up job in a MNC abroad.
I have many issues with the word ‘Dalit’. My constant thinking & confusion is becoming more & more clear nowadays.
When pseudo-secular minded upper castes generate humility amongst themselves for ‘dalits’, they also create certain assumptions in their mind that ‘dalit’ should continue to get upper caste sympathy, ‘dalit’ should remain in hindu fold. ‘Dalit’ should remain humble. The list also includes>>> ‘Dalit’ should NOT wear sophisticated clothes, s/he should NOT speak fluent English. ‘Dalit’ should NOT work for economic prosperity etc. When any of these are violated, the upper caste ego is hurt because thye have created certain limits for ‘dalit’ in their minds. If a ‘dalit’ gets a highly respected job then doesn’t that prove that they have much more ‘Merit’ than them? If this job was given up by the certain ‘Dalit’ girl wouldn’t the upper castes have taken it up?
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/india-incs-caste-census-finds-st-scs-missing/739803/0
If an upper caste goes for working for tribals or ‘dalits’, it is certainly to be respected, BUT at the same time we can observe that even in that stage they continue to enjoy their caste benefits & privileges. For Example, Dr. Binayak Sen & Arundhati Roy>>>
Binayak Sen was arrested & released, do we have any idea how many tribals & ‘dalits’ have got the same amount of attention & justice??? In fact, many young ambedkarites were arrested after Khairlanji aftermath in Vidarbha & charged under sedition. How many received the attention like Sen?
Ms Arundhati Roy can scream at the top of her tongue, abuse Ambanis but when a ‘dalit’ like Pandharinath Dhavale critiques the unjust system in the same manner he gets arrested & never gets bail.
It may be a disheartening fact that an upper caste will never become ‘de-caste’d. S/he will continue to enjoy these benefits mostly through out their life. But that doesn’t mean Upper caste should not work for marginalized sections. Its just to say that observing poverty & living through poverty are two different things. Similarily observing caste oppression & being exploited because of one’s caste are two different things. Upper caste may never feel how it is to be a backward caste. Here the best thing the ‘secular-upper-caste-born-humans’ can do is to try & spread education & self-dignity & knowledge of state given social securities & privileges to the Scheduled Castes. They should also try & explore the caste system & not ignoring it by terming it as a false consciousness, try & promote inter-caste marriages. Stand up for SCs when they are not able to do so. But Please do not speak on our behalf. Make us speak. We have our own different voice.
Bhargavi Dilipkumar, am not sure if i have the answers to all questions but shall try engaging with them as these are questions that are there in my mind as well.
Can one decaste oneself and become a dalit? i do not think an upper caste can ever become a dalit, but can definitely decaste and for me decasting is acknowledging the fact that i am an oppressor by virtue of being one. This is the process that i have followed for myself which i consider a basic fundamental requirement for one to decaste. Tell me how would one be able to shake off 25 yrs of socialisation of a kind that deeply ingrains in us the idea of caste.
As for me if one interprets paulo and his thoughts about the oppressor taking the side of the oppressed and supporting the struggle, we would then move to a society that is more democratic and just. Here the oppressor (Upper castes) will only take the side of the oppressed (dalits) only after they realise that they are oppressors until when they would not even consider aspects called oppression and humiliation. So decasting does not mean that one is not an oppressor anymore, but decasting would mean that the process is a life-long one where one needs to constantly keep reminding oneself of ones own position of privilege and position.
In terms of the next question of the kind of profession one chooses and the moral valuing that is then placed on the student regardless him/her being a dalit stems from ones own understanding of Justice, equality and fraternity. and this is something that i strongly believe in and for me these things are not what you called ‘Script of rules and morals” but something that has evolved out of the struggle the oppressed communities (Dalits and Tribes) and if you call this “script of rules and morals” then i would say that these are things that are rational with a lot of reason unlike the Manu smriti and other such texts which are fundamentally irrational and unreasonable, And these values are defined in the constitution which was drafted by Dr. Ambedkar.
the other aspect would that of solidarity that one oppressed community lends to other oppressed communities in the process of ones struggle one should always take along people from other oppressed communities and not be part of structures of injustice. (For another answer please do read the 1st question of my previous post, CSR: Frequently asked questions.)
Finally, this reply might also sound to emotional and again written by an upper caste, but only an upper caste will understand the politics that we have to annihilate caste, thanks to our how many ever yrs of socialisation of a particular kind, not from a position of privilege but to get down and let go of the ‘power’ that we think we have as upper castes.
thanks for the questions, this has helped me engage and has further strengthened my resolve of the framework that one needs to work around to annihilate caste being an upper caste. 🙂
i agree with what rupesh had written.
i disagree with sumit on last point. that no one can make ‘you’ speak, and it is pretty right that you have different voice.same time we need to acknowledge those people who are ‘really’ working for people raising voice against discrimination. following your argument even i can say there are lots of hierarchy in ‘Dalit’ class itself so you can speak only for your caste not whole Dalit.