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November 5, 2020 3:30:50 am
Dalit politics in Bihar is in search of a “master key” to open the door of democracy. In a village in south Bihar, an aged Dalit posed a query with this putting metaphor. “Darwaje ki chaabi na jaane kisne gahre taalaab me phenk di, ab hum dhoondhe kaise? (We don’t know who has thrown the key to the door into a deep pond. Now, how do we find it?)” If we search for the reply to his query within the teachings of Dalit renaissance gurus and leaders comparable to Kabir, Ambedkar, Kanshi Ram, we discover that all of them advise that gurus, gyani and leaders might assist the neighborhood and lead it out of darkness.
In this election, Dalits of Bihar, who represent round 16 per cent of its inhabitants, are with out a towering chief like Ram Vilas Paswan. The lack of a charismatic chief could also be a handicap for marginal communities of their battle to achieve social dignity and purchase share within the democratic energy, however generally it might work as a blessing, which can assist them to democratise their very own politics. A politics depending on a chief generally turns into vertical and pyramidical. In its absence, ideology (vani or shabad) might present them the best way.
Paswan was definitely a towering Dalit chief, who emerged in post-1970s Bihar. In this election, Jitan Ram Manjhi of the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) is trying to fill that house, however he has a lengthy solution to go. Chirag Paswan has additionally staked declare to his father’s political legacy. He has gained a specific amount of acceptability among the many Dusadh, one of many main Dalit castes in Bihar, however he nonetheless has to mobilise the assist of over 20 Dalit castes in Bihar. With Dalit leaders vying for the assist of their neighborhood, who’re additionally weighing and judging them as potential leaders, this election is likely to be a essential transitory section within the state’s Dalit politics.
The reminiscences of Dalit struggling and the struggles towards such struggling are one of many vital constituents of the on a regular basis ideology of Dalits in Bihar. Added to it’s the need for a higher and extra dignified current and future. Both will form how they specific their electoral selection on this meeting election. The want for a dignified survival is the primary ideological component of their democratic wishes and might take them past their caste bias, no less than at some moments. Subaltern communities may additionally get allured by varied quick good points and advantages supplied by politicians and political events, however that is a compulsion of their existence.
The unified Dalit vote could also be a fantasy on this election in Bihar. They might transfer horizontally within the absence of tall leaders in direction of political events which may present them house and illustration. In spite of Manjhi’s assist to the NDA, a part of Dalit voters could also be drawn to the RJD and some might select the CPI (ML). It is fascinating to look at that regardless of varied efforts by JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar, in a part of Mahadalit communities and particularly amongst Dalit ladies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi enjoys a lot admiration. Policies comparable to Ujjwala Yojana and Jan Dhan Yojana, through which Rs 500 reached their financial institution accounts, make them consider that Modi is working to offer them a dignified life and alleviate their horrible hardship. Such existential necessities of dignity might make them varied political teams. No doubt, Dalit votes will turn into fragmented however, on this course of, they could additionally attempt and discover new choices for his or her empowerment.
The Bihar meeting election might have varied implications for the long-term Dalit politics within the state. It signifies a transition which can yield a new chief. It may additionally deliver a shift within the nature of Dalit politics, from vertical and pyramidical to horizontal. It may additionally be that Dalit voters in Bihar go on to refuse the notion of 1 charismatic chief. This election might present them a number of political choices to carve out a dignified future.
The author is director, GB Pant Social Science Institute, Allahabad
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