Relation of Caste and Conversion in India

( Tathāgata Buddha and Dr.B.R.Ambedkar )

The history of caste system and convertion is evident since ancient times, the rulers used to patronize religions to give a pace in convertion of their citizens. Before the arrival of Vedic or Sanatan religion, Indian subcontinent was cradle of Shramana traditions, the Jain, Ajivak, Buddhism, etc were part of mainstream society, but with time they got declined.

Convertion is very important in a caste oriented society, where identities based on occupation are imposed to create a premanent labour class to serve Oppressor Castes. The convertion of oppressed castes can be traced in ancient Indian history, as an example, in Theragatha verse 12:2 (poems in Khuddaka Nikaya of Sutta Pitaka), there’s mention of Sunitā, the scavenger, who also became ‘arahant’ ( one who has gained insight into the true nature of existence and has achieved spiritual enlightenment ) after coming under fold of Buddhism. There are mentions of caste system and the treatment of untouchables, the Chandalas, in the travellogues of Fa Xian and Xuanzang. Fa-Xian mentions in his text, ‘A Record of the Buddhist Kingdoms‘ about Chandalas and described their living conditions and how after convertion into Buddhism they were even admitted to the ranks of priesthood. So Buddhism played an eminent role in upliftment of outcastes or the people who were not part of the Chaturvarna.

( A Record of the Buddhist Kingdoms by Fa Xian )

Though after the downfall of Buddhism, many other movement and few religions emerged in India. Sikhism was founded by Guru Nanak Dev, which was based on monotheism, justice and abolition of caste system. One of the first caste based incidence in Sikh history is about Bhai Lalo, who was carpenter by caste and was discriminated by local zamindar, Malik Bhago and upper castes of his village. Sikhism contains the verses and teachings of Ravidas, Kabir, Sadhna, Namdev, Pipa, etc who were one of the proponents of anti-caste ideology in medeival India. Apart from that all of the Panj Pyares, belonged to Shudra and Ati Shudra communities which proves Sikhism since it’s inception was a very egalitarian faith. Similar role were played by Islam and Christianity in India particularly in Southern part where it helps in emancipation of oppressed communities.

Even after such egaletarian movements caste remained in society. During, 18-19th century when British started promoting education for oppressed sections, gave them seats in legislative assemblies and recruited in armies, an educated class started forming in India. Iyothee Thass, a Paraiyar activist, promoted Buddhism in Tamil Nadu with the help of Col. H.S. Olcott, a Buddhist modernist and founder of Theosophical Society, later Sri Lankan Buddhist revivalist, Angarika Dharmapala also joined them. Though it has lesser effect due to no mass understanding and lack of leadership. Also, in later phases we saw Ad Dharm movement in Punjab by a Ghadarite leader – Babu Mangu Ram Mugowalia, Adi Hindu movement in Central India by Swami Achootanand and Adi Dravida movement in Tamil Nadu by Rettamalai Srinivasan but still caste remained intact. These movements focused on claiming indigenous identity and consciousness. Still the issue of caste and the idea of anti-caste ideology was not much influencial until E.V.R Periyar and Dr.B.R. Ambedkar came into picture.

The duo of Periyar-Ambedkar tried to form a pan-India anti caste consciouness and became quite successful. E.V.R Periyar’s anti-Brahminism movement and Self Respect Movement was an eye opener for oppressed communities and Dr.Ambedkar’s struggle in Mahad Satyagraha, Kalaram temple entry movement, Round Table Conference and Poona Pact, not only helped in social upliftment but also emancipated us on economic and educational levels. Though being a person of distinct ideologies both parted their ways, Periyar’s notion of Brahminism was based on Aryan-Dravidian ideology that is why he beleived only way to get rid from this is Dravida Nadu, a seperate nation for Dravidians.

But Dr.Ambedkar’s viewpoint was different as he knew that caste is not homogenous in India and also it’s hard to bring them under single state. This is why he chose convertion as his weapon and announced about it at Yeola Conference in 1935. He studied extensively about different religions and came at conclusion with Buddhism. Babasaheb converted into Buddhism on 14 Oct., 1956 at Deekshaboomi, Nagpur (Maharashtra) and converted over four lakh people into Buddhism at Chandrapur on 16 Oct., 1956. Dr.Ambedkar wanted Scheduled Castes to chose his path and make India a Prabuddha Bharat as mentioned in Writings & Speeches of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar – Vol. 17 (Part – 1, Pg.- 450). Though after that many small scale convertions happened, also literature and movements, e.g, Dalit Panthers of India and Bahujan movement of Saheb Kanshi Ram brought the anti-caste consciousness but the question still remained unanswered why caste still have a stronghold in society and why the Scheduled Castes are still under Hindu fold?

Here comes the point of intersection of caste and religion. Caste plays an eminent role in unification of people same as religion. Since, ancient times people chose religion and faiths which their communities or their leaders chose. When Ashoka chose his path to spread Buddhism in world people beleived in him because he was a leader or an emperor. In past, the Pashtuns, Acehnese, Kashmiris, etc all converted into Islam after their leaders chose the religion. This is why the religious convertion always been limited till few castes or tribes who had their own leaders. Mahars of Maharashtra and Chamars of Central India were the one who followed the footsteps of Babasaheb more than any other community because at initial period the Mahars accepted Dr.Ambedkar as their leader and Chamars in Central India chose Kanshi Ram as their leader who was proponent of Babasaheb’s ideology. The annihilation of caste and Brahminism is either individual or community based, so the individual level understanding is among member of every caste but community level understanding is still only among few castes.

Also, Chamars being one of the most populated caste in India have various divisions among them, as there are Ravidassias in Punjab who formed new religion based on the legacy of Ad Dharm movement, which was founded in 1920s much before Babasaheb’ decision for convertion. So it becomes hard for Punjabi Chamars to leave their beleif overnight which is itself based on the teachings of Guru Ravidas, an anti-caste reformer. Same situation is faced by Scheduled Caste converts of Islam and Christianity in South India where some of them have adopted a non-Brahminical path even before the birth of Dr.B.R. Ambedkar. Also, there is a lack of funding and teachings by Buddhist organizations on the line of Christian missionaries. SCs had heavyweight leaders, Ram Vilas Paswan, Babu Jagjivan Ram, etc but they never utilized their power for social emancipation of people.

So, caste and the perfect religion for them will always be a question for Scheduled Castes, if they will remain devoid of a national or state level leader who can actually profess the teaching of Babasaheb and fullfil his dream of Prabuddha Bharat they can’t be freed from the chains of Brahminism.

Why can’t Dalits declare themselves as upper caste ?

Why can’t we declare ourselves as an astronaut and our home as ‘Jupiter’?

Ans – Because neither we are astronaut nor our home is on Jupiter.

Dalits are not upper caste neither lower caste, they are lowest among lower castes. Lower castes are majoritarily comsists of the OBC communities who these days flaunt their newly got Kshatriya identity and oppress Dalits in villages where they dominate. The political use of ‘Dalit’ word geared up after 1972 when ‘Dalit Panthers’, a Scheduled Caste militia got established after being infulenced by ‘Black Panthers’ of U.S. Dalit is a Marathi word means, people who are oppressed & lack resources. So, now all of us can understand about the meaning of this word and why it was used for certain people.

Though now scenario have been changed after decades and many OBC & upper castes are also in very harsh conditions. But the question is do ‘Dalit’ word can be used for them? Completely no because they are poor not oppressed neither they stand low in social hierarchy as Dalits.

Let me take you to rural India, here two poor families lived a poor Brahmin and a poor Chamar now every body used to treat Brahmin family like one among them, they used to invite his family in marriages and deaths, even rich landlord’s children used to do ‘pranam’ or wish the Brahmin guy and were always supportive to his family in the times of needs. Now, Chamar’s family was also very poor but he never received such love from the rich or even middle class of village (except people of his own caste). He was from Chamar caste but used to do a farm labour so his work was also not polluting but still people maintained a distance from him and never used to call in any ceremonies. So we all can see here two poors but different treatment why? It’s clearly evident, it’s because of his caste people discriminate and segregate them.

Now, suddenly Chamar migrated to city and opened his own business of leather tanning. He changed his name Jai Ram to Jai Singh (Ram surname mostly used among Dalits in North India) and started living a life similar to upper castes. He became rich and built a mansion in his village. He thought everything is going to change now, the society will treat him well and respect him. Finally, his son took charge of factory and he started living in his village. But now people used to laugh when they see name plate as ‘Jai Singh’ and make his fun that Chamar is thinking by adding Singh as surname he will become a Rajput. Later, the ignorance turned into enmity and people who used to discriminate him were now eager to suppress him because of the rise of a Dalit infront of an upper caste was not tolerable. He opened a grocery shop in his home and kept products at very reasonable prices. But inspite of having everything his business was totally ignored by village people and the monopoly of Baniya shopkeeper continued. He also brought some land for farming but local Rajput landlords started grabbing his land & he was killed. And all these crimes happened just because of caste how can a Chamar showoff land like we landlord’s and how can he wear like us, sport his moustache and ride a SUV?

So this is what happens when a Dalit try to assert and behave like upper castes. Upper castes themselves don’t tolerate this so it is going to result in murders and caste shaming. Many Dalits hide their caste by upper caste surnames but when gets accidentally exposed people make fun of them. So a normal surname change can kill we Dalits because it will hurt upper caste’s hierarchy.

Dalit is a permanent identity and we can’t change it. Upper castes have to accept Dalits as they are not by making them uppee caste jusy because it will help them in abolition of reservation.

Tale of two Buddhist sites of Jharkhand – Itkhori and Kolhua Hill

The Buddhist inscriptions and arts are found in few excavations in Hazaribagh and Chatra districts of state under the supervision of Bulu Imam, the Convenor of Hazaribagh Chapter of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage. He mentions about the book, Buddha ‘Light of Asia’, written by Sir Edwin Arnold in 1879.

In the 6th book of the poem, Arnold writes:
“Thou, who would see where dawned the Light at last,/North-westwards (this is the direction from Itkhori to Bodh Gaya) from the/“Thousand Gardens” (Hazaribagh) go…/On the green hills where those twin streamlets spring,/Nilajan and Mohana; follow them,/Winding beneath broad-leaved mahua-trees,/Till on the plain the shining sisters (rivers) meet/In Phalgu’s bed, flowing by rocky banks/To Gaya and the red Barabar hills…/Uruvela (old name of Bodh Gaya site) named in ancient days” https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/art/deciphering-the-past/article23840307.ece

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Relics of Buddha found at Itkhori

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Kolhua Hill (Akash Lochan), Chatra District

Tradition has it that Gautama’s mother’s sister, Prajapati Gautami came looking for him during his period of meditation. When she could not find him, she said “Iti khoi”, in Pali, meaning “I have lost him”. It is said that Iti khoi became Itkhori. Many hundreds of sculptures have been found here and 700 such pieces are kept in a simple site museum which has been made.
Similar to that Akash Lochan (Kolhua Hill) is the place known for the place where Buddha shaved his head after being Boddhisattva. But unfortunately both of the sites are captured by Hindus.

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Itkhori now known for Bhadrakali Temple of Hindus and also there is a 1008 small idols of Buddha carved in an elongated structure same as Stupa. But this stupa is now considered as Shivlinga by Hindus. Same as above Kolhua Hill is now known for Kauleshwari Temple of Hindus. But actually the site hails it’s history not only from Buddhista but also Jains. It have many Jain arts, stone carvings and caves of Parasnath and Shitalnatha. Even the place is also dubbed as Bhaddilpur the birthplace of Jain tirthakara, Shitalnatha. http://www.jainsamaj.org/content.php?url=Jharkhand_Kolhua_Pahad_Digambar_Jain_Tirth

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Jain caves and wall edicts..

Buddhist and Jains sites should be freed from Hindu mahant and priests and also we should claim it. http://www.cpreecenvis.nic.in/Database/Kolhuahills_2564.aspx

The Shudra rulers of India

Rulers from maternal side lower caste descendents

• Sir Sayajirao Gaekwad III – He was former ruler of Baroda State. His biological father, Kashirao Bhikajirao Dada Sahib Gaekwad was from cadet branch descends from a morganatic marriage of the first Raja of Baroda. Pilajirao Gaekwad was married to a lower caste women and Sayaji’s family descended from the child of that marriage. Sayajirao was known as a great reformer, known for building Baroda State into modern state and patronizing people, e.g – Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Sri Aurobindo, etc.
• Mahapadma Nanda – Though he was Kshatriya by his father’s lineage but his mother was a Shudra from barber community. He was son of Mahanandin, king of Shishunaga Dynasty.
• Shrimant Jayajirao Scindia – He was also an adopted son of Tarabai, the widow of Jankojirao Scindia II. Jayajirao’s family was also descended from a morganatic marriage of Scindia rulers.

Disputed origins 

• Chandragupta Maurya – Founder of Maurya Empire and one of the greatest emperors in Indian history. Though there are various disputes about his lineage. According to Hindu Puranas he belongs to lower caste family, Jain texts says, he belongs to a family of peacock rearers, Buddhist texts Digha Nikaya mentions that he belongs to Moriyas of Pippalivan (a Shakya Kshatriya), Greek and Latin writers describes him of humble origin and Sanskrit drama Mudrarakshasa as Mauryaputra or the son of Mura (Shudra woman). Buddhist texts are most earlier but it may have late interpolations may be after Emperor Ashoka, who became Buddhist but Chandragupta was a Jain. Many castes like Kushwahas (Koeris), Dalits, Rajputs, Koli, etc claims their lineage from Mauryas.
• Maharaja Ranjit Singh – Founder of Sikh Empire. He is mostly claimed as Sikh of Jatt origin but have diputes related to his clan. Some even claimed is a Warraich Jatt some from other Jatt clans. But originally Ranjit Singh belonged to Sandhwalia Jatts. But many historians beleive that he belonged to Sansi (Dalit) caste. Ranjit Singh was also claimed as Bhatti Rajput but if we see the genealogy of Sansis, they also originate from Bhattis who became nomad after their defeat from Muslim rulers. Sandhwalias are Jats of Sansi origin and they lived in a place called Raja Sansi. So it’s highly probable that Maharaja was of Sansi origin.
• Raja Phani Mukut Rai – He was founder of “Nagvanshi kingdom of Chotanagpur”. Though it’s beleived that he was son of Pundrika Naga and adopted by Madra Munda, a tribal chief of Jharkhand. But the story is said mostly a myth and defuncted by many historians. The only source of his lineage is Nagvanshavali, which was converted into an abstract by the Rakhal Das Haldar (former manager of Chota Nagpur Raj) which is based on beleifs. It’s highly probable that he was also from the Munda tribe.

Rulers from direct untouchable’s descendents

• Avanti Varman – The founder of Utpal Dynasty of Kashmir. In Ain-i-Akbari by Abu Fazl (pg.400) it is mentioned that he was from Chamar caste.
• Raja Chintamoni Dhoba – Ruler of Dhalbhum and established capital at Ambikanagar (W.B).
• Raja Mayurdhwaj – Former ruler of Shravasti. His genealogy can be traced through writings of Alexander Cunningham, based on the traditional accounts of Tharu Rajas of Gonda.
• Raja Suheldev – Ruler of Shravasti and was son of Raja Mayurdhwaj. He defeated and killed the Ghaznavid general Ghazi Salar Masud in conquest of Bahraich. He is mentioned in the 17th cen. Persian-language historical romance ‘Mirat-i-Masudi’. Amish Tripathi wrote a novel, Suhaldev and the Battle of Bahraich based on him. Though Suheldev’s lineage is claimed by many castes, e.g – Rajbhars & Pasis of U.P, Bais Rajputs, some claims him as Nagvanshi,etc.
• Raja Dal Dev – He was ruler of Rae Bareli region and had capital at Dalmau, which was named after him.
• Raja Satan Pasi – Ruled around the regions of Unnao-Sitapur and had capital at Satankot (Bangarmau). He fought war bravely against Jai Chand and Alha-Udal in which Bijli Pasi died. Later he fought in Battle of Bahraich against Ghazi Salar Sahu, brother in law of Ghaznavi and became successful. He was killed in an uprising at Jaunpur.
• Raja Bijli Pasi – The bravest king of Pasi Dynasty who ruled Central U.P. He fought war against Rajput king, Jai Chand and Alha & Udal (military generals of Chandel kings) in which he got martyred. Bijli Pasi’s former capital was at Bijnor and later at Natvagarh.
• Lakhan Pasi – He was the ruler of Central U.P and founded the capital city, Lucknow which was named after him ‘Lakhanpur’.
• Raja Jas – A Pasi chieftain and founder of Jasnaul which after the Muslim conquest of the region, came to be known as Bara Banki (in U.P).

Rulers from direct tribal/adivasi descendents

• Yalamber – The founder of Kirat Kingdom in Nepal around 800BC. Kiratas are also mentioned in Hindu epic, Mahabharata as Maleccha tribes.
• Eklavya – A Nishada prince and son of Vyatraj Hiranyadhanus, the king of Nishadas. He was also commander-in-chief of Jarasandha’s army.
• Rao Poonja Bhil – Raja of Bhomat (hilly tract of Mewar) and fought in Battle of Haldighati with Maharana Pratap with his 400 archers.
• Raja Kotiya Bhil – He was ruler of Akelgarh (Kota) and after his death in war Kota was founded and named after him.
• Raja Bunda Singh Meena – First ruler of Bundi and named the area as “Bunda-Ka-Nal”.
• Raja Jaita Meena – Ruler of Bundi and was son of Bunda Meena. Later, he got defeated by Hada Rajputs. Jaita Meena also constructed Jait Sagar in Bundi.
• Rao Bada Meena – Raja of Naen (Nayan) and built of fort which was destroyed by Kacchwaha Rajputs & Mughals.
• Raja Alan Singh Chanda – First ruler of Dhundhar (Jaipur region). He built the first structure of Amer Fort which was earlier known as Khogong and then built Aasawari Devi Temple in Jaipur. He was overthrown by Kacchwaha Rajputs with the help of Dhola Rai, a Rajput orphan raised by Chanda Meenas themselves.
• Raja Asha Bhil – He was ruler of Ashaval, present day Ahmedabad and the hillock near Astodia Darwaja was known as ‘Asha Bhil-no-Tekro’. He was defeated by Chalukya king, Karna.
• Raja Manohar Bhil – He was ruler of Manohar Thana and also built a fort their. Later his son, Chakrasen Bhil also ruled the area.
• Raja Bansiya Bhil – He was founder and ruler of Banswada (Rajasthan).
• Raja Jaitsi Parmar Bhil – He was former ruler of Arbuda (Mount Abu) and belongs to Parmar clan.
• Raja Vishwasu Bhil – A tribal ruler of Odisha and he was the person who kept Jagannathpuri’s Neelmadhav statue as their kin god and later the idol was placed at Jagannath Temple.
• Raja Mandalik – He was the ruler of Idar (Sabarkantha). He patronized the Guhilot dynasty or the first founder of Mewar by placing Guhaditya in his Idar kingdom. Guhaditya lived in the palace of raja and rode with Bhil boys. Raja Mandlik gave some land and forest to him, later he became the king of the Idar. Later, the 4th Guhilot raja Nagaditya fought war against Bhils but got defeated and Bhils regained power in the area.
• Raja Niladhwaj – Founder of Khen dynasty in Assam. His son Shukaldhwaj and Nilambar the kingdom and expanded in till Mymensingh and undivided Kamrup. Last king was defeated by Alauddin Hussain Shah, the Sultan of Bengal. They belonged to tribal Koch caste of Bengal.
• Maharaja Biswa Singha – Founder and first ruler of Koch Dynasty (undivided) after the fall of Kamarup Kingdom. He defeated Baro-Bhuyans and ruled the area making it a buffer state to Kingdom of Gaur and Ahoms.
• Maharaja Nara Narayana – Second ruler of Koch Dynasty and son of Biswa Singha. He captured whole North East defeating Ahoms, Jaintia, Tippera and Kachari rulers. He was overthrown by Sultan of Bengal, Suleiman Karrani. He gave Srimanta Sankardeva, the first royal patronage to Ekasarana Dharma.
• Chilarai – He was step-son of Biswa Singha and commander-in-chief of Koch Dynasty. Under his control kingdom reached to it’s zenith, he was the first ruler who used guirella warfare and built destroyed portions of Kamakhya Temple.
• Maharaja Laxmi Narayan – He was founder of Koch Behar kingdom after the split of Koch Dynasty. Laxmi Narayan was son of Nara Narayan and ruled Cooch Behar State. Maharani Gayatri Devi was daughter of Maharaja Jitendra Narayan of the kingdom and she was married to Sawai Man Singh II of Jaipur State.
• Maharaja Raghudeva – He was ruler of Koch Hajo dynasty, an eastern split of Koch Dynasty. He was adopted son of Chilarai and Raghu’s som Parikshit Narayan later ruled the state and the kingdom was defeated by Islam Khan I and Amil of Sylhet, Muhammad Zaman Karori of Tehran.
• Raja Chandra Narayan – He established Bijni kingdom and was son of Koch Hajo ruler, Parikshit Narayan.
• Malharrao Holkar I – He was commander of Maratha Empire under Peshwas and founder of Holkar Dynasty. He belonged Dhangar caste and his descendents ruled Indore State.
• Raja Jadurai – He was founder of Garha-Mandala kingdom of Gonds after disposing Kalachuris.
• Sangram Shah – He was 48th ruler of Gond Dynasty (Garha-Mandala) and conquered half of the Central India including 52 forts. He also built Chouragarh Fort at Narshinghpur.
• Dalpat Shah – He was 49th ruler of the Garha-Mandala Gond dynasty and was husband of Chandel Rajput princess, Rani Durgawati who fought against Mughals after his death.
• Raja Jatba – Founder of Deogarh Gond Dynasty.
• Raja Bakht Buland Shah – He was ruler of Deogarh Gond Dynasty and founded the city of Nagpur. He got converted into Islam but married among Gonds.
• Raja Khandkya Ballal Shah – Ruler of Chanda Gond Dynasty, who later shifted his capital at Chandrapur from Ballarpur. He also built Anchaleshwar Temple, Chandapur Fort and Chandrapur Mahakali Temple.
• Narsingh Rai – The founder of Kherla Gond Dynasty.
• Maharaja Medini Ray – The 13th ruler of Chero Dynasty who captured Bihar, Jharkhand & some part of U.P. Chero Dynasty was founded by Nagvanshi tribal king, Ghughulia. Medini Ray also built Palamu Fort and fought war against Mughal general, Daud Khan. Cheros aslo fought wars against Mughal generals, Shaista Khan, Man Singh, Khawas Khan, Nagvanshis of Navratangarh and also against Ujjainiya Rajputs.
• Nareshchandra Singh – Raja of Sarangarh State (Chattisgarh) and former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh.
• Maha Manikya – He was founder of Kingdom of Tripura and belongs to indigenous Tripuri tribe.

The fall of Bahujan Samaj Party in Punjab

It’s amusing that the founder of Bahujan Samaj Party, Saheb Kanshi Ram belongs to Ropar (Punjab) but party have no strong foothold in his own state. There are many reason of BSP’s decline in Punjab.

Dalits in Punjab form 32% of the total population of state which is highest in India by percentage. But the problem is Dalits are not united or never attempted to get united. Dalits here are Dera attendees who visit different deras, e.g – Saccha Sauda, Nirankari, Radhasaomi, Ravidassiya, etc. And another majority are Dalit Sikhs and in all of them only Ravidassiya Dera followers supported mission of Saheb Kashi Ram unlike Dalit Sikhs who identifies themselves more as a Sikh than Dalit which naturally led to their alignment with Akali Dal. Then comes Dalits of Jalandhar & surrounding regions who were led by Master Gurbanta Singh’s clan and were loyal Congress voters. Rest of the Dera goers supported whom their headmen directed to support. So in this way Dalit’s identity and vote always remained scattered in Punjab.

Punjab’s demography was also different Punjab have very least no. of OBC and Minorities. Punjab itself is minority dominated state but they were Sikhs who were rich and not oppressed. Muslims standed at mere 1.93% and Christian standed at 1.26% population of the state which was alot lesser to form a govt. And these two minorities were core voter of Congress and another largest minority was Hindus but majority among them were upper caste Khatri, Brahmin,etc who were not the target of BSP. OBCs in Punjab are among least in India and they also were not interested in such aligments because of casteism in Hindu Punjabis is more than between the OBCs and Dalits of U.P.

Now, comes leadership of BSP in Punjab it was given to Avtar Singh Karimpuri, Rachpal Raju, Jasvir Singh Garhi, etc. They were very unknown to Dalit masses and BSP leadership mainly looked after Chamar leaders from Punjab (Ravidassiya, Ad Dharmis & Ramdasias) and who were mainly from Doab where BSP had most presence. It’s weak leadership and strategy kept BSP always sidelined and finally it’s struggling to even survive there.

Kanshi Ram himself was more aligned or we may say busy with Uttar Pradesh and he didn’t wanted to loose the state which was called ‘Gateway to Parliament’. And it proved with time, BSP won 21 seats from U.P in 2009 Lok Sabha elections and 206/403 seats in 2007 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections making it an absolute majority, the highest in their mandate till date.

BSP still don’t have student unions or gave any affiliation to such unions which brings vote of youths in states and young leaders come out from them who work full time for party. This may helped BSP in Punjab where Dalits are socio-economically strong than other states and it may attracted alot of youths.

These were the reasons BSP never able to create a strong impact in Punjab.

Why Scheduled Castes are majoritarily backward ?

Dalits in India are socio-economically backward which is different than poorness. Poor people can be uplifted because India have many schemes like BPL quota which gives commodities at subsidised rates, MANREGA for poor labours, unemployment allowance, housing colonies for poors, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan,etc but upliftment of socially backward people is a challenge and it targets hegemony of upper caste society.

Dalits are called backward among backwards they are not like OBC community who are backward but socially they are not treated as untouchable, they have alot of landholdings in many regions and a section among their society always have been part of elite class. They were not segregated in rural settings of India nor any atrocity happens against them.

Here are few cases of atrocity agsint SC/ST happened in Jan., Feb. & March months of 2020 –

Bihar: 5 Dalits Injured in Firing by Members of Dominant Caste Groups, Two Arrested

Nagaur Case: Neither First Nor Last Dalit Atrocity Incident In Rajasthan

Covid-19: Dalit family in Haryana attacked for allegedly not following PM’s call to turn off lights

Maharashtra woman elopes with Dalit man, her kin behead his teen brother | Aurangabad News – Times of India

Nine arrested for assault

Honour killing: Dalit youth burnt to death in UP

Gujarat: Dalit armyman rides mare on wedding day; pelted with stones in police presence

These cases are the one who got limelight and reported by police. Alot of complaints never get registered neither and also there is a rise of atrocity against SC/ST since BJP govt. came into power.[1],[2],[3],[4]

In Bihar, between 1976–2001 around 90 caste killings and massacres happened in state. In which 80 killings happened against Dalits and only 10 against upper castes. Over 2000 Dalits were killed in Bihar massacres police were helping landholding caste’s private militias like Ranveer Sena of Bhumihars, Kuer Sena of Rajputs, Lorik Sena of Yadavs and Bhoomi Sena of Kurmis.These senas have strong support from their caste politicians like C.P Verma, former Janata Party’s M.P of Arrah demanded legalisation of such caste senas in 1998 Lok Sabha elections. Even landholding Ashraf Muslims of Bihar also allied with Sunlight Sena of Rajputs to kill the Dalits on the name of fight against Naxalites.[5],[6]

Massacres, Anti-caste riots and killings like Kilvenmani, Karamchedu, Melavalavu, Ramabai, Muthanga, Khairlanji, Mirchpur, Dharmapuri, Marakkanam, Saharanpur, Bhima Koregaon, etc are one of the biggest in Indian history after independence. So we can imagine how deep rooted casteism and anti-lower caste feelings are in people. These killings are signs of upper caste dominance which they don’t want to loose after assertion of Dalits.

Land reforms too in India is totally failed and 5% of Indians owns 32% farmlands according to 2011 socio-economic census of India.[7] Dalits are biggest landless community of India who hold only 9% land of India but have population share of 16–18% in India and those who own are majoritarily small or marginal farmers. This landlessness takes away their legal, official and constitutional validity as the Indian. Cases are more shocking in states itth Dalit population like Punjab which forms Dalits as 32% of their total population but only own 3.5% of the state’s farm land.[8][9]

Even reservation also not helped Dalits because of deep rooted casteism in India and discrimination in govt. organisations. Most of the Group A & B jobs are posted to upper castes and forward OBCs despite of their less population. Most OBC, SC & ST are in Group D services even promotion is being denied as per their reservation of 22% for SC/ST and 27% for Non-Creamy OBC.[10]

Dalits also face institutional murders like cases of Dr.Payal Tadvi of BYL Nair Hospital (Mumbai), Rohith Vemula of HCU, Dilip Saroj of Allahabad University, Balmukund Bharti of AIIMS, Dr.Jasprit Singh of GMCH, Manish Kumar of IIT-Roorkee,etc. And surprising is in most case culprits get our of bars inspite of having alot of proofs because institutions don’t want to ruin their image and try to manipulate the investigations.[11][12]

Most of sanitation workers and manual scavengers in India are Dalits. They are systematically forced into this service and escape is non-existent in most cases.[13] Over 50 people die in India every year due to manual scavengering and 282 people died in just 4 years but govt. is unable to do anything no major step taken by them.[14]

So, Dalits are backward in India due to alot of reasons and main being casteism prevailing in society. People are always against rise of this section even minorities of India dislike us. But still an educated middle class have been formed in these years and the growth is happening but at a very slow rate. Exploitation of Dalits is alot in rural regions but they are taking education, asserting and fighting against upper class hegemony.