Depiction of upper castes as oppressors
By Justice Markandey Katju
I read the article ‘The compassionate revolution of Saint Stan Swamy‘ by Shaj Mohan and Divya Dwivedi published in thewire.in.
While I condemn the arrest of Stan Swamy, in my opinion the above article is a subtle way to divide the Indian people on caste lines, and thus it is part of the divide and rule policy of our enemies ( first of the British rulers, and after 1947 of our crafty politicians who polarise society ), so as to prevent formation of a united front under which the Indian people can launch a historical struggle for creation of a just social and political order under which the people can get decent lives.
In the above article repeatedly upper castes have been attacked. Thus it is mentioned “India is divided into the ruling oppressive upper caste minority of less than 10% or less, and the vast majority who had been living under slavery and discrimination for millennia”.
And again “Today, events like the commemoration of Bhima Koregaon challenge the feeling of absolute dominance enjoyed by the upper caste minority “.
The whole article is full of such pejoratives, diatribes, vituperation, and invectives.against the upper castes.
Now three things must be mentioned in this connection.
Firstly, the vast majority of upper caste people are also oppressed. They are living in poverty, and suffering the same problems like huge unemployment, appalling child malnourishment, lack of proper healthcare and good education, skyrocketing prices, etc which lower castes are suffering from. No doubt in the state apparatus, corporate sector, academia, professions etc there are less of dalits and more of upper castes and OBCs, but these altogether would be hardly 1 or 2% of India’s huge population.
So to say that upper castes are oppressors is just not true. While it is true that most upper caste people look down on dalits, the fact is that perhaps 95% upper caste people are themselves oppressed by the socio-economic system.
Secondly, it must be realised that to get genuine economic and social emancipation the Indian people must unite, and launch a historical people’s struggle under modern minded leaders. The lower castes must unite with the enlightened sections of the upper castes in this people’s struggle, and not stand alone, nor regard all upper caste people as their enemies.
In this connection see my article criticising Arundhati Roy who attacked Brahmins and Brahminism ( instead of attacking the caste system )l
See also my article on Periyar, whom I regard a British agent ( since he attacked a specific caste, the Brahmins )
For this reason I am strongly against caste based organisations, like BAPSA ( Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students Association ) which only divides people on caste lines.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birsa_Ambedkar_Phule_Students%27_Association
Thirdly, it is not true that dalits have been ‘slaves’ for millennia. I have pointed out in the article below that the social status of dalits went down after the advent of the British into India, and the destruction of our handicraft industry
https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2019/04/05/opinion-myth-dalits-disrespected-india.html
I regret to say that articles like the one published in thewire.in only serve to play into the hands of our enemies, and harm the people by inciting caste hatred.
(Justice Markandey Katju is former Chairman, Press Council of India and former Judge, Supreme Court of India.)
