Author – Sunny Tawar

On 25th November 1949, while submitting the draft of India’s Constitution, Bharat Ratna Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar said that “I am of the opinion that in believing that we are a nation we are cherishing a great delusion. How can people divided into several thousands of castes be a nation? The sooner we realize that we are not as yet a nation in the social and psychological sense of the word, the better for us. For then only we shall realize the necessity of becoming a nation and seriously think of way and means of realizing the goal. The castes are anti-national in the first place because they bring about separation in social life. They are anti-national also because they generate jealousy and antipathy between caste and caste.” [Source]

Crimes against Dalits has been increased by 6% from 2009 to 2018 with over 3.91 lakh atrocities being reported, at the same time gaps in the implementation of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989 and the 1995 rules framed under it remained, according to a report by the National Crime Records Bureau. Also, in the year 2019, the atrocities on SC/STs have been increased by 11.46 percent according to the National Crime Records Bureau report.

Crimes Against Scheduled Castes [Source]

Without the Annihilation of Caste, India cannot be a complete nation Dr. Ambedkar might be worried and more concerned about this fact as well that even after India’s independence, the situation of SC/STs will be remained as before as such due to the existence of caste system because he thought that the power of political and capitalists is being transferred from Britishers to the caste Hindus which might be more severe and drastically for the welfare and security of Dalits, Adivasis, and women. If we talk about the resignation speech of Dr. Ambedkar which was given by him on 10th October, 1951 he clearly states that “From my early childhood I have dedicated myself to the upliftment of the Scheduled Castes among whom I was born. It is not that there were no temptations in my way. If I had considered my own interests, I could have been anything I wanted to be and if I had joined the Congress I would have reached to the highest place in that organization. But as I said, I had dedicated myself to the upliftment of the Scheduled Castes and I have followed the adage which says that it is better to be narrow-minded if you wish to be enthusiastic about a cause which you wish to accomplish. You can, therefore, well imagine what pain it has caused me to see that the cause of the Scheduled Castes has been relegated to the limbo of nothing.” [Source – Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Writings and Speeches, Vol. 14, Part-II, Page No. 1321]

Also, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar said in his resignation letter on 10th October 1951 while complaining about the condition of Scheduled Castes in India, he said that “What is the position of the Scheduled Castes today? So far as I see, it is the same as before. The same old tyranny, the same old oppression, the same old discrimination which existed before, exists now, and perhaps in the worst form. I can refer to hundreds of cases where people from the Scheduled Castes round about Delhi and adjoining places have come to me with their tales of woes against the Caste Hindus and against the Police who have refused to register their complaints and render them any help. I have been wondering whether there is any other parallel in the world to the condition of the Scheduled Castes in India. I cannot find any. And yet why is no relief granted to the Scheduled Castes? Compare the concern the Government shows over safeguarding the Muslims. The Prime Minister’s whole time and attention are devoted to the protection of the Muslims. I yield to none, not even to the Prime Minister, in my desire to give the Muslims of India the utmost protection wherever and whenever they stand in need of it. But what I want to know is, are the Muslims the only people who need protection? Are the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, and the Indian Christians not in need of protection? What concern has he shown for these communities? So far as I know, none and yet these are the communities which need far more care and attention than the Muslims.” [Source – Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Writings and Speeches, Vol. 14, Part-II, Page No. 1320]

As India reported 10 cases of rape of Dalit women daily on an average as per NCRB data of 2019. This is also one of the biggest shame for the country and as a nation as well that still in the 21st century, the women’s from deprived sections of the society are being targeted and raped not only to keep them in their place but also to suppress them in a way to show that how caste dominance acts in India. In the same report, NCRB clearly states that India is not a place for Dalits and tribal girls as crimes against women have been increased by more than 7.3 percent which includes 4 lakh cases registered in 2019 as compared to 3,78,236 cases in the year 2018.

This is also one of the facts that we are still not yet a nation, until and unless the caste system exists in India. Ambedkar’s thoughts were completely based on equality and casteless society which Buddhism also has and that’s why Dr. Ambedkar converted to Buddhism and also asked his more than 3.5 lakhs followers (almost 20 years before Ambedkar actually converted) so as to embrace Buddhism which will give them freedom from caste atrocities and other social evils as well. He addressed the Mahars, a section of the community considered untouchable in Mumbai, apprising them of his decision to convert. In a lengthy yet heavily influential speech, Dr. Ambedkar urged:

“Religion is for man and not man for religion. For getting human treatment, convert yourselves. Convert for getting organized. Convert for becoming strong. Convert for securing equality. Convert for getting liberty.”

The first step towards being a nation is to eradicate the caste system in India and to eradicate caste system, understanding and conversion to Buddhism is a must for the upcoming generation of the 21st century and also to read and implement Dr. Ambedkar’s thoughts and writings of ‘The Annihilation of Caste’ (which was not delivered at Jat Pat Todak Mandal in the year 1936) in their social forms and personal lifestyle so that the caste atrocities and rapes of Dalits and tribal women’s could even be decreased in the upcoming years. It is a need of the hour to work on both aspects simultaneously. Only then, we will be able to achieve a nation which Dr. B.R. Ambedkar dreamed of-‘A Buddhist Nation’.

The author is an Assistant Professor, Member (SC/ST Cell), Department of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering and Technology, Central University of Haryana, Email: – sunnytoor7771@gmail.com