Visits to two places in Delhi revealed a strong undercurrent which can be felt, but not seen; simply because the so called mainstream will neither accept, nor talk about it.
The first was the World Book Fair in Delhi.
Among the very many stalls of publishers, societies, authors, what surprises; is the crowd thronging the stalls having literature of Dr. Ambedkar, Phule, Periyar, Bhagat Singh et al. These stalls are having what is commonly called DBA (Dalit Bahujan Adivasi) literature. Having got used to sparse interest towards such stalls in similar exhibitions earlier, the crowds and the brisk purchases being made there, was an eye opener.
The message of Dr. Ambedkar was "Educate, Agitate, Organise". What can be seen now is that his advice of 'Educate' has started showing results. The youth among the DBA has got educated in huge numbers. They have focussed on the rational and scientific thoughts of Phule, Ambedkar, Periyar instead of romantic and imaginary thoughts dished out by the so called mainstream. Slowly and steadily India has seen a rise in the number of the educated & enlightened DBA all over, in all states, more so in the Ambedkarite segments, who are fuelled by the self respect accorded by his philosophy.
In sheer numbers, the educated and enlightened DBA, seem to outnumber the entire population of the so called mainstream, which consists mainly of members from 15% of the elite upper caste population.This 'mainstream' survives on a binding force of hereditary privileges, and always seeks to keep all narratives within its fold. Any and every movement in society is sought to be appropriated by this group, which has representatives of different hues, from Left to Right, from enforcer to agitator, from soft to hard... a system of mix and match exists where the appropriate representative takes over and tells the affected- 'Bhai logo ab aap ghar jao, mai sab dekh leta hoon'!(Hindi) Loosely meaning, return home my brothers, for I have arrived to fight your battles for you.
The second visit was to Shaheen Bagh.
It's the location of an unprecedented sit-in movement, in India, with predominantly Muslim women (many with children) occupying an arterial road for the last 25 days. They are protesting against the CAA-NRC combination. The energy was immense and infectious. The participants were well aware of the provisions of the CAA, and had an astonishing level of determination. The power of citizens dawns gradually upon you, as one moves and talks to the members of the crowd.
The three traps of Pad, Paisha & Pratishtha (Marathi) loosely meaning High post, Money & Fame, usually employed by the system to defuse any confrontation, if force doesnt work, does not seem to be deployable here. And the same seems to be the case in all anti CAA-NRC protests. Force by itself is not proving to be a deterrent, and the protests have become pan-India.
The reason for the three traps not working, appears to be hidden in the composition of the protesting groups. Minorities, Muslims and DBA are in high numbers, and the initiative is not being yielded to the members of the 'mainstream', as is wont, in similar cases hitherto. There appears to be a surge of distrust towards the media, Govt., and other institutions. As such there is no negotiator or representative who appears to be acceptable by the protestors.
A distinction is being made here between Minorities and Muslim, terms which are generally taken to mean the same. The largest minority in India are the women. The attitude of the 'mainstream' has ranged from very patronising to demeaning towards women. Caste based society has striven to keep caste purity intact by controlling women. Even today they don't have complete control over their mind and body. Successful and ideal women portrayed by literature, films, media etc are predominantly either those who are servile to the men in their lives, or those who appear to demean their womanhood and act as men.
The presence of larger numbers of women, than men, in protests from Assam to Shaheen Bagh does indicate something. Women have greater patience, greater love & concern for their home & hearth, and greater resilience. They reacted with alacrity when the question of the future of their children, security of their home & families, in fact their locus itself; arose. They seem to have abandoned the role of the traditional Sati Savitri and accepted the role of the modern Savitribai who fought doggedly for womens' education and succeeded.
As such the 'mainstream' is flabbergasted and having failed to defuse the agitation by use of force or diversion by employing tactics like the JNU attack, it seems to be clutching at straws. What appears to be in the offing; is that a few more attempts to use force or to divert attention will be employed. If the emerging new mainstream of the majority of Indians; digs its heels in, then yielding to it, will be the only option available.
India is awakening to the participation of this vast majority, who were hitherto never actively involved in the process of nation building.
The first was the World Book Fair in Delhi.
Among the very many stalls of publishers, societies, authors, what surprises; is the crowd thronging the stalls having literature of Dr. Ambedkar, Phule, Periyar, Bhagat Singh et al. These stalls are having what is commonly called DBA (Dalit Bahujan Adivasi) literature. Having got used to sparse interest towards such stalls in similar exhibitions earlier, the crowds and the brisk purchases being made there, was an eye opener.
The message of Dr. Ambedkar was "Educate, Agitate, Organise". What can be seen now is that his advice of 'Educate' has started showing results. The youth among the DBA has got educated in huge numbers. They have focussed on the rational and scientific thoughts of Phule, Ambedkar, Periyar instead of romantic and imaginary thoughts dished out by the so called mainstream. Slowly and steadily India has seen a rise in the number of the educated & enlightened DBA all over, in all states, more so in the Ambedkarite segments, who are fuelled by the self respect accorded by his philosophy.
In sheer numbers, the educated and enlightened DBA, seem to outnumber the entire population of the so called mainstream, which consists mainly of members from 15% of the elite upper caste population.This 'mainstream' survives on a binding force of hereditary privileges, and always seeks to keep all narratives within its fold. Any and every movement in society is sought to be appropriated by this group, which has representatives of different hues, from Left to Right, from enforcer to agitator, from soft to hard... a system of mix and match exists where the appropriate representative takes over and tells the affected- 'Bhai logo ab aap ghar jao, mai sab dekh leta hoon'!(Hindi) Loosely meaning, return home my brothers, for I have arrived to fight your battles for you.
The second visit was to Shaheen Bagh.
It's the location of an unprecedented sit-in movement, in India, with predominantly Muslim women (many with children) occupying an arterial road for the last 25 days. They are protesting against the CAA-NRC combination. The energy was immense and infectious. The participants were well aware of the provisions of the CAA, and had an astonishing level of determination. The power of citizens dawns gradually upon you, as one moves and talks to the members of the crowd.
The three traps of Pad, Paisha & Pratishtha (Marathi) loosely meaning High post, Money & Fame, usually employed by the system to defuse any confrontation, if force doesnt work, does not seem to be deployable here. And the same seems to be the case in all anti CAA-NRC protests. Force by itself is not proving to be a deterrent, and the protests have become pan-India.
The reason for the three traps not working, appears to be hidden in the composition of the protesting groups. Minorities, Muslims and DBA are in high numbers, and the initiative is not being yielded to the members of the 'mainstream', as is wont, in similar cases hitherto. There appears to be a surge of distrust towards the media, Govt., and other institutions. As such there is no negotiator or representative who appears to be acceptable by the protestors.
A distinction is being made here between Minorities and Muslim, terms which are generally taken to mean the same. The largest minority in India are the women. The attitude of the 'mainstream' has ranged from very patronising to demeaning towards women. Caste based society has striven to keep caste purity intact by controlling women. Even today they don't have complete control over their mind and body. Successful and ideal women portrayed by literature, films, media etc are predominantly either those who are servile to the men in their lives, or those who appear to demean their womanhood and act as men.
The presence of larger numbers of women, than men, in protests from Assam to Shaheen Bagh does indicate something. Women have greater patience, greater love & concern for their home & hearth, and greater resilience. They reacted with alacrity when the question of the future of their children, security of their home & families, in fact their locus itself; arose. They seem to have abandoned the role of the traditional Sati Savitri and accepted the role of the modern Savitribai who fought doggedly for womens' education and succeeded.
As such the 'mainstream' is flabbergasted and having failed to defuse the agitation by use of force or diversion by employing tactics like the JNU attack, it seems to be clutching at straws. What appears to be in the offing; is that a few more attempts to use force or to divert attention will be employed. If the emerging new mainstream of the majority of Indians; digs its heels in, then yielding to it, will be the only option available.
India is awakening to the participation of this vast majority, who were hitherto never actively involved in the process of nation building.
