Why Are Dalits Getting Their Hands Dirty for a Hindu Nation?
By Bhanwar Meghwanshi
(To mark Ambedkar Jayanti, this issue of the PUCL Bulletin will focus on some of the core passions which animated Dr. Ambedkar. Among the critical questions are the question of ensuring a life of equality and dignity for those at the bottom of the socio-economic order, namely the Dalit community. Noted writer and activist Bhanwar Meghwanshi has written the editorial focusing on the directions for the Dalit community, which can take forward Dr. Ambedkar’s philosophy.)
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar had clearly told his followers to fight against both capitalism and Brahminism. He also warned them to never allow a Hindu Raj at any cost. Yet, we see Dalits actively participating in the frenzy to build a Hindu nation. Even while knowing that the current political project of Hindutva will do them no good, a significant number of Dalits have joined the RSS and BJP, searching for their identity within these spaces.
The core ideology of the Hindu Rashtra is to establish India as a Hindu-centric cultural and religious nation, governed not by the democratic Constitution but by mythological scriptures—which have no place for equality, justice, or fraternity. Given this, it is only natural to question: why is the Dalit community—historically marginalized within Hindu society—aligning itself with such a self-destructive concept?
The answer to this question is complex. The emergence of a Dalit middle class with political, social, and religious aspirations has opened the doors for right-wing groups like the RSS and BJP. A section of educated, financially stable, urban Dalits now sees no harm in partnering with RSS and BJP.
In such a critical time when questions are being raised on the strategies and successes of Dalit Bahujan politics and they are being accused of fighting unnecessary and unwanted battles with secular parties and not communal parties, instead of cooperating with them, it is only natural that questions will arise from within the Dalit community on anything done or said in the name of Baba Saheb Ambedkar, and these questions have already begun.
It is a well-known fact that the Hindu system of Chaturvarna places Dalits below the Shudras, as Pancham Varna or “untouchables.” Texts like Manusmriti gave religious legitimacy to this discrimination, which resulted in centuries of social exclusion, economic exploitation, and cultural humiliation of the Dalit community. Despite this, Hindu organizations claim that the establishment of a Hindu Rashtra will unite all Hindus, including Dalits. This claim of Hindutva supporters is like an attractive proposition for Dalits that they will get a respectable status in the framework of Hindutva, but can this dream ever become a reality?
This promise of unity within the Hindutva framework appears to be an attractive proposal for some Dalits, as it suggests they might gain a respectable status in a Hindu nation. But can this dream ever be a reality?
For example, RSS and its affiliated organizations organize various programs in the name of social harmony, in which efforts are made to include Dalits through symbolic steps like temple entry, participation in religious rituals, and mass feasts. But this is tokenism, nothing more than that, because Hindutva needs Dalits only and only to serve its purpose—treating the religious minorities of the country as second-class citizens, creating riots and spreading hatred. Otherwise, even in serious cases of caste discrimination, exploitation, injustice, and atrocities, Hindu organizations never stand in favor of Dalits. They are against the constitutional measures of protection made for Dalits. They openly resist affirmative action policies like reservations. Yet, the increasing attraction of Hindutva among the new generation of Dalits is alarming.
BJP, a political party supporting the concept of Hindu Rashtra, has made active efforts in the last few decades to include the Dalit community in its vote bank under the strategy formulated by the RSS. This strategy has been particularly effective in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, and Maharashtra, where the Dalit population is considerable. The BJP has promoted some Dalit sub-castes and certain Dalit leaders, such as Ramnath Kovind, Arjun Meghwal, etc., even if only for show. Such an experiment has been done from Gram Panchayats to Vidhan Sabhas and Parliament. This has given rise to a new political class in the Dalit community, which does not use the language of Dr. Ambedkar but uses the vocabulary of Savarkar-Golwalkar’s ideology.
Additionally, Dalits have been reminded that government welfare schemes like the Ujjwala Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, Mudra Loans, free ration, and pensions have benefited them. Hindu nationalist groups also argue that a Hindu Rashtra would end the so-called “appeasement” of minorities (Muslims and Christians) and ensure better resource distribution among all Hindus, including Dalits. Some Dalits find this flawed logic convincing, believing it might improve their social and economic status.
Due to symbolic politics, the construction of huge memorials at places associated with Dr. Ambedkar is also a part of this thinking that Ambedkar should be removed from books and installed everywhere as a lifeless statue, the places associated with him, his statues should be made so big that Baba Saheb’s thoughts become dwarfed, people stop reading Ambedkar and start worshipping him, the thoughtful Ambedkar is a threat to the thinking of Hindutva, the Ambedkar statue does not create any problem for them. The result of this is that RSS BJP is trying to swallow and digest Dr. Ambedkar completely. The Dr. Ambedkar whom RSS opposed at every step during his lifetime when he was alive, is now being falsely presented as part of their ideology.
It is a very contradictory irony that the Hindu religion from which Dr. Ambedkar was disappointed and left and became a Buddhist and even declared Hindutva a danger to democracy, is being completely swallowed by Hindu organizations and is being used for their own benefit. Today, an organized effort is being made to establish Ambedkar as a supporter of Hindu Rashtra and an enemy of Islam and the Muslim community. Selected portions of Dr. Ambedkar’s writings and speeches are being presented by cutting them out of context, so that he appears anti-Muslim. Using his book *Thoughts on Pakistan* as a shield, Hindutva supporters are spewing venom against the left and Islam. It is being shown that Dr. Ambedkar was a supporter of Hindu Rashtra and a well-wisher of RSS and Savarkar.
Every day, lies are being served as truth from the RSS factory of lies. Such stories have been fabricated which include Ambedkar going to the RSS branch and praising the RSS and RSS pracharak Dattopant Thengadi working as an election agent in his election. The lies of the RSS are increasing day by day. It has started saying that Dr. Ambedkar wanted to make the national flag saffron instead of the tricolor and Sanskrit the national language, whereas such things are not found anywhere in the writings and speeches of Dr. Ambedkar. But when the same lie is repeated again and again, it starts sounding like the truth. The RSS is relentless in manufacturing such falsehoods.
Now let us come to today’s perspective, where Dalit politics seems to have been marginalized. It has almost run away from fighting the potential threat of Hindu Rashtra; either fighting those parties which have nothing to do with the power establishment or Dalit parties are busy in mutual conflict. The Dalit community is looking at the role of their parties in politics with critical eyes and is constantly rejecting what the political parties do. The Dalit community is losing faith in its own leaders, and Dalit political parties are becoming increasingly irrelevant. The new generation of Dalit leaders is shifting towards communal parties, and this is a betrayal of Dr. Ambedkar’s dream of political equality and hence a matter of concern. If we look at the last two tenures of BJP, it has only weakened the SC ST Prevention of Atrocities Act. The way an attempt has been made to end reservation through privatization and contractual appointments and lateral entry is not hidden from anyone.
Caste discrimination and humiliation against Dalit students in higher education institutions has increased so much that Dalit students are being forced to commit suicide. Brahmanism has returned openly, Manu Smriti is being taught, yagyas are being performed in universities. Instead of eradicating caste, it is being reestablished. Religious events have increased so much, that questions of basic rights are getting buried under them. Even scientific thinking and rational thinking is now landing people in jail. Limiting oneself to organizing Maha Kumbh and uncritically glorifying it and public honouring of rapist godmen is degrading constitutional morality.
Today, instead of the Constitution, the draft of the Rishi Constitution of the Hindu Nation is the topic of discussion. The era of Manu Smriti seems to be returning. Dr. Ambedkar had advised to be cautious of Brahmanism and Hindu Raj. Today, his followers have failed to sense the real danger and are moving towards becoming a part of the suicidal project of Hindu Rashtra. This situation will be most harmful for the Dalits.
Today, Dalits are being used to spread hatred, incite violence, and lynch Muslims and Christians. But soon, they will lose all rights and be reduced to mere servants in this Hindu Rashtra.
It is surprising that the same unequal religious system of Hinduism that dehumanized Dalits, created the inhumane caste system, made the Dalits untouchable and reduced them to a condition worse than slaves, is now the one for which Dalits and backward classes are bent on getting their hands dirty. Hands dirty for the Hindu nation! Is this anything less than suicide?
The time has come for the Dalits to recognize who their friends are and protect this constitutional democracy by creating unity among all the oppressed communities. Otherwise the future will be dark for everyone.
(Bhanwar Meghwanshi is a noted writer and activist. He is also the President of the PUCL Rajasthan. This article was translated from Hindi by Kavita Srivastava.)