India Waits For Its Mubarak Moment
By Vidya Bhushan Rawat
After the 18th day protest Egyptian despot Husni Mubarak was forced to
leave. Ofcourse, he ensured everything for him. Perhaps, he might have
seen the writing on the wall but was just arranging like his bank
accounts, financial deals and other things. As I write this, report of
Swiss Bank freezing his accounts and British Government also willing
to follow the same, would not be providing a great future to him. More
importantly, the Egyptian people have owned this revolution which is
truly being claimed 21st centuries French Revolution. That is why as
an armed forces commander, Mubarak might have survived several
attempts on his life and was a tough fighter but this fight became his
waterloo and he had to leave Cairo. Like any other dictator or power
politicians of today, he had enough time to wait for his people's
patience in the hope that they would return their home and he would
again lord over them proved false. Hence his efforts to frighten
people with tanks or with flying jet over their heads could not break
the conviction of the people who were unanimous in one point agenda
that if Egypt has to survive as a dignified nation then Mubarak has to
go.
Clearly, Mubarak was still weighing on his threat of an Islamic take
over if he steps down. We all know most of these ruling lords in the
Middle East have the blessings of western government and serving their
interest. The only thing they have to pretend is wear a secular cap
and do anything that violates the fundamental rights of the people.
You have to look secular to kill your own people. These despots knew
the weakness of the western governments and hence used the very frame
work so that they can get huge arms and funds. It was like made for
each other syndrome. Today, we all may decry Mubarak and call him a
villain but as former British Prime Minister Tony Blair mentioned in
an interview yesterday that Mubarak brought stability to Egypt and was
the key western ally in bringing stability in the region. One can
clearly understand what does he meant by stability, clearly good
relations with Israel is called stability by the western world.
The army has taken over in Egypt. It has suspended the constitution
and dismissed the Ministry as well as the Parliament till the next
government take over. Mubarak is still in Sharm-el-Sheikh and is
calculating his future plans. There are however, reports that he might
escape to Saudi Arabia or elsewhere which are heaven for all the
despots. Mubarak also knows well that he can not live in the West as
it will target him and his wealth. Though it clear that life would be
tough for him and the pressure on Egyptian army would be under
tremendous pressure from its people to show result and hand over the
country to a democratic government.
After Mubarak's departure, Egyptians thronged the street, celebrated
whole night but they also knew it well that the time ahead was more
crucial and tougher. It is easier to fight against an enemy but the
situation does not remain the same all the time. After Mubarak's
departure they have to take things in their hands and do it otherwise
they can not blame on others. Hence, we saw people came in large
number to clean the streets and do the menial work like construction
and wall cleaning and were joined by the families. It is called
ownership of a revolution and one can find very few examples like this
when people still wanting to know what next. They do not end up with
waiting for a messiah. The biggest danger in such revolution is the
control of a few who may not have the same ideas as people and they
mould people's opinion according to their fancies and political
ideologies. For people who suffered with tyrants, the most important
thing is how to get dignity of work, right to make free political
choices and freedom of expression and thought. Of-course, right to
work will not work unless the employment situation changes and
corruption is fought with.
Most of our friends are discussing here in India as can a revolution
be possible in India which is suffering more than Egypt does. Many of
us think that at least Egypt does not suffer from chronic hunger and
poverty that is clearly visible in India. They did not put their
people on sale for years. They did not suffer from the brutality of
caste system and untouchability as we suffer here for the past three
thousand years. Yet, we are called a democracy and hailed as world's
'biggest' democracy.
The Americans, British and other give our example to the world as how
India survived and is progressing with 9% growth. They give our
examples how India had a 'Muslim' president, 'Sikh' prime minister,
'Dalit' women as Lok Sabha speaker and now, a 'woman' as President of
India, a 'Dalit' Chief Justice of India and so on. All, these,
according to them, show, how India has graduated from a British colony
to a vibrant 'plural' and 'multi cultural' democracy. So, India does
not need a change as what will people need after getting 'so-much' of
freedom. We all know how British Prime Minister David Cameroon has
admitted failure of 'multiculturalism' in their own country because
rather than strengthening the cause it seems a license to every one to
defend their 'deeds' in the name. India is worst off as here the
ruling elite is much crafty and best suited to use these 'modern'
terms. Hence 'secularism' is suited to help them retain in power in a
very similar way as the rhetoric of Hindu Nationalism. The rise of
Dalit assertion is growingly becoming victim of same brahmanical
syndrome. Rather then providing an alternative module, it wants to ape
them and use them to demolish their structure. The fact is it has
become a tool in their structure. That is why despite Uttar-Pradesh
and Tamilnadu experiences might seem to give community an identity and
make 'Indian' 'democracy' vibrant but does not help people at the
village whose daily struggle for dignity and life continues and where
an administration is ready to make everything 'comfortable' and
'beautiful' for the 'most powerful' person of the states even at the
cost of the poor who might hail from the same castes which these
leaders belong to. Yet, no tears are shed for the poor as we are
dividing our energy between our leaders and hope that leaders will
change India.
To understand India, we will have to analyse the minds of India's
ruling caste structure and how it has created such ghettoes which
helps it retain its domination. Brahmanism, India is biggest disease
does not survive because of Brahmins only. It is a contiguous disease
and fast spreading across the spectrum. The forces which were supposed
to demolish it are today suffering from it and hence the fight against
the brahmanical democracy in India remained unsuccessful so far. The
best part of the brahmanical strategy is to divide people in the
layers of identities so we think these identities help us but at the
end it helps the brahmanical minds. It is these identities which they
befool people world over. All these Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian,
Dalit leaders we mention represent the people just because of their
birth. One can easily ask a question as how many of the community's
people really feel for them. Brahmanism worked through these symbolic
gestures. Now the monster of other identities is threatening the very
basic of the identity we created. So, every where, these upper caste
thugs now create multiple identities among Dalits-Bahujans-Adivasis.
Because of lack of communication among the communities and any further
initiative, smaller contradictions of our village lives are becoming
the big one. For political purposes, these contradictions are being
used by each one of us as in 'democracy', it's the umber game. If
Mushhahars, Balmikis, Doms, Kols, Banzaras, Kanjars, Khatiqes, have no
number then damn care for them. They don't exist. Do not approach
them. This has resulted in the biggest caste conflict in the region
which may not look violent but which threatens to destroy the basic
preamble of Dalit movement in India. Just keeping away from these
issues and not speaking on them will not help that at the ground
level. It is true about other communities in each states whether
Andhra or Kerala, Tamilnadu or Maharastra. Any voices of dissent or
assertion from these communities are fiercely blamed to be fed by the
'opposition' camp or agent of the 'upper castes', despite known fact
that all the political parties of Dalit-Bahujan communities have
compromised on the basic principles of Baba Saheb Ambedkar and EVR
Periyar.
The Egyptian tyrant's brutalities forced his own country men and his
own co-religionists to throw him away from their land but can it
happen here in India. Can we speak against our own tyrants who do not
have time to see the problems of people? Can we speak against our
brahmanical democratic tyrants who are using democratic way to grab
power yet have no time for people? Democracy has boosted the morale of
the powerful anti democrats in the country. There can be nothing
better than making the powerful more powerful and the poor more
marginalized. The violence by the powerful unleashed against their own
people is not debated. Instead, we are divided in groups of political
identities. Hence, when the question of our rights violation comes, it
is deafening silence and according to our suitability. How will there
be a revolution when we are critiquing according to our convenience.
Our political parties are divided between individuals and their
families. We like to abuse others while are highly intolerant about
our own selves. We do not want to hear anything about our political
leaders. I do not call the differences between different groups
'ideological' as it has no face value in India. Your ideology is your
caste in this country and those who were supposed to demolish it also
use it for their own tiny purpose and hence getting defeated every
moment. They may say that they are demolishing Brahmanism but fact is
they are becoming the extension of Brahmanism and nothing more. Often
a slogan is raised as how our 85% population is victimized by the
brahmanical oppression and how we want these 85% should be united. Is
it possible? If yes, then what attempts have been made? Is the
discrimination of these the same? Is it true? Leave alone the 85%, 17%
Scheduled Castes are not the same and every where new questions and
identities are emerging. Can we be happy with such a situation when
the oppressed people have been put to fight against each others? The
issue of quota with in quota will finish whatever coming together of
the Dalits. We all know how these brahmanical thugs have cheated and
betrayed the Dalit-Bahujan-Adivasis of India. But the issue is now
much bigger than mere quota. The cultural changes have not taken place
and majority of us despite claiming Ambedkarite still follow the same
brahmanical values. Just by saying that you do not like Hindu Gods
does not mean you have become Ambedkarite as it is one of the toughest
things to be. One has to be courageous and deeply committed to the
cause and believing in sacrificing for the sake of the community. One
who believe there is no 'third party' intervention in our life and we
are the makers of our world. An Ambedkarite is the one who can not
live in the past and victim hood all the time but has to provide
alternative of this disgusting module. Yes, for that caste identities
will not work, its annihilation is the precondition. Caste is a
brahmanical game and will never strengthen the coming together of
Dalit-Bahujan. It is destroying their coming togetherness and
ultimately strengthening the neo Brahmins and their brahmanical
backers.
The divisions are happening because we are just obsessed with identity
politics and ideology has some where taken a back stage. If you are an
Ambedkarite, you can not really compromise with brahmanical, casteist,
communalist and corporatised anti women thugs of our society where
individual is supreme and has right to dissent.
A 21st century India can only grow and develop on these wider
principles of Equality, Liberty and Fraternity. It needs a cultural
renaissance which Ambedkar could have done had he lived several years
more. The later generations have not only compromised with his basic
principles but completely drifted away from the communities he aspired
to work. With out a cultural revolution, Indian democracy will be just
identity politics which is most suitable to the brahmanical agenda in
India. Unless, we go in the communities and raise the issue of their
common concern, the threat to their livelihood, the looting of their
land and resources, more political participation and representation in
power, in assemblies and parliament, nothing is going to change. In
Egypt, people rose up against the despot for a common cause. They
wanted a good life for themselves and can not be happy with the palace
of Mubarak. Can we really fight a common cause in India ? Well, Indian
democracy is the biggest threat to its poor. It betrayed them from the
very beginning. It created dumb leaders. It legitimized killing of
people in Delhi in 1984 and Gujarat in 2002. It legitimized commercial
land grabbing by the corporate. It does not allow a revolution. It is
creating rebels. People want justice. Justice can only come when the
political parties take up the cause. At the moment they are unanimous
in two things. One to destroy and demolish any dissent to their
activities and secondly in acquiring wealth and living a high life.
Well, we will only fight that our leader is better corrupt then yours
but that will not solve the problem.
Our political class continues to make mistake. Political leaders have
gained through exploiting all shorts of issues but hopefully the
silent revolution started by Ambedkar will ultimately wake us all
against notoriety of the political class. The Adivasi revolt or the
Dalit assertions are part of revolt against Indian structure.
Hopefully, the backward communities, the farmers, the agrarian
workers, all will wake up and join hand to demolish this brahmanical
supremacy. Remember, annihilation of caste is annihilation of
Brahmanism and Hindutva. Are we ready for it? There was one Mubarak
against whom all Egyptian had one opinion that they must get rid of
him, it worked and brought them together. Here in 'democratic' India
we have worst than Mubarak and they exist in each caste and political
sphere that a common man is confused. If I participate in somebody
else's movement, what will happen to 'my' leader? And hence there
seems to be no common ground between those who are oppressed or who
aspire to fight. In the politics of Jugad, they just feel 'enemy's
enemy is a friend ignoring the grave new reality that caste forces are
more than powerful as ever and most of the leaders we idolize are
accessed by our enemies more than us. My friends are writing
everything accept the important one as how to bring together these
victims of brahmanical deception. Is there any magical wand to resolve
this crisis? There is everything for a revolution here but there are
so many Mubaraks in our society that it looks difficult that India
will have its 'Mubarak' day soon as it would the elimination of
varnashram dharma and none seems to be interested in its annihilation
as those we believe fighting against it have got their own world in it
and therefore denying us the Mubarak day.
http://countercurrents.org/rawat170211.htm
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