December 06, 2006

Dr Ambedkar , champion of the Dalits (untouchables) and creator of the Indian Constitution, died 50 years ago on Thursday. There are tensions as the day approaches.

The anniversary of his conversion to Buddhism a little earlier this year was marked by further mass conversions by Dalits seeking to escape the Hindu caste system. Gandhi is not a popular figure among the dalits because of his rejection of Ambedkar's proposals on dalit representation. Fourteenth child of a dalit familt, Ambedkar achieved a glittering academic career in the US and UK. Also a champion of female equality, he resigned as India's first Minister of Law when his Women's Rights Bill was rejected: he remains an influential figurehead for progressive causes as well as having iconic status among the dalits.

posted by Plegmund 17 years ago
  • Great post! I'd not heard of this guy. He sounds like a real hero. I'll be watching the news on Thursday.
  • I notice the WWRN article touched on certain states requiring certification before conversion away from Hinduism is allowed. I'd read this is actually even more restrictive than presented there, and has become a rallying point for Hindu nationalists.
  • Yes, in fact I believe anti-conversion laws are actually spreading and becoming tougher .
  • *levels his lance, charges* That this situation still exists is a huge blotch on India's claim to fair and equitable treatment of its citizens. Whether they're called Untouchables or Dalits, these unfortunate individuals, tribes, and communities can still be treated in an inhumane fashion by the ignorant. And there are still, unfortunately, many ignorant folk in India. Hinduvata, as currently advocated by the JBP, is despicable in being used to continue the oppression of Dalits.
  • Every time Pleggy posts something I get a little education. Thank you sensei! From the Wikipedia article on Ghandi: In 1932, through the campaigning of the Dalit leader B. R. Ambedkar, the government granted untouchables separate electorates under the new constitution. In protest, Gandhi embarked on a six-day fast in September 1932, successfully forcing the government to adopt a more equitable arrangement via negotiations mediated by the Dalit cricketer turned political leader Palwankar Baloo. This began a new campaign by Gandhi to improve the lives of the untouchables, whom he named Harijans, the children of God. On May 8, 1933 Gandhi began a 21-day fast of self-purification to help the Harijan movement. A bit confusing to me what his intentions actually were. More on India's caste system.
  • Rage indeed. Why does this kind of thing have to be?