The power and vibrance of Deekshabhoomi cannot be described in words. However, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar is just known as the leader of the deprived classes and this is the greatest disservice done to his legacy.
We are not informed about his contributions as an economist, a visionary diplomat, an anthropologist, or even a foreign policy expert, Guru Prakash Paswan said in his Chitnavis Centre speech on Sunday at a Manthan event in Nagpur on the topic of Modern India and the Neo-Dalit community.
During the discussion, Paswan stated that the icons of Dalit community have been forgotten over time. These icons have given the community its identity and have made significant contributions to society since the struggle for independence.
Paswan also stated that for any issue, constructive and solution-oriented positive constructive dialogue is required. He stated that reservation is one of the issues, but that there are multiple layers to the Dalit discourse, and that perversion will occur over time, but that no one will be held responsible.
Speaking on the Hijab row in Karnataka recently, Paswan said protestors of the Burqa ban had been protesting with a picture of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, without even reading his thoughts on the subject. He said that Dr Ambedkar had said “Burqa clad women walking on streets is one of the most hideous sights”.
Paswan said this means the people are not informed enough to take a stand on the issue.
Guru Prakash Paswan also stated that the Dalit discourse receives insufficient attention. Everyone has always kept it to a reservation debate. No one, however, considers how the new Dalit and Dalit women are expressing themselves. The problems are now different, and they must be addressed in a different way.
The questions must be why has there never been a Dalit cabinet secretary or a Dalit foreign secretary till now.
Paswan emphasised that the Dalits today do not require sympathy, but rather empathy. A renaissance is urgently required. Some individuals, institutions, and businesses with vested interests are polluting the debate. Today, the country requires a Dalit-led Dalit discourse as well as a female-led feminist discourse. It’s important to acknowledge both the positives and the negatives.
