June Delhi:
Dalit Phobia: Why Do They Hate Us?; published by Vitasta Publishing Private
Limited, New Delhi, has been released by the former Governor of UP and the
Chairman of Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) Commission, Dr Suraj
Bhan. The first Dalit columnist, Chandra Bhan Prasad, is the author of this
book. During the book release, experts like Prof. Vinod Kumar of Delhi
University, Shri Krishna Anand, a senior bureaucrat and scholar of Buddhist
studies, Mr David Devdas, journalist, and scholars from Jawaharlal Nehru
University (JNU), Delhi University (DU) and Jamia Millia, and people from NGOs
and media were present.
On this occasion,
Chandra Bhan cited works of Dr Ambedkar, the messiah of Dalits and Scheduled
Castes and Scheduled Tribes; and then, the former Governor congratulated the
author for his book on Dalits and said: The condition of Dalits in our country
is still pathetic and requires immediate attention.
The Dalit columnist,
Chandra Bhan, echoed his sentiments for reservation in the private sector, where
the chief executives and doyen of industries have refused to share such
sentiments. He said: After coming to power, Dr Manmohan Singh-led UPA
government launched a debate on Dalits; rights to affirmative actions (known as
reservations in India) in private-sector jobs. The private sector reacted
sharply and differed with the stand taken by the government. In any democratic
set-up, differences of opinion and dissents do take place. The private sector
has every right to differ and even oppose the government move. But there must be
some civility in the arguments made despite differences. The private sector
appeared to have lost a sense of balance and turned abusive. He also explained
why a sense of Dalit Phobia is still seen among the majority of upper caste
people in the country.
Various studies have
been made about the status of Dalits in India. Based on empirical findings and
field research, most studies have established that 60 years of planned
development has failed to give Dalits a life of dignity. While there may be
differences within the Varna Order on caste lines, members of the Chaturvarna
Order share the same disdain for a Dalit who is an outcaste and also an
untouchable despite an Untouchability Act. This often gets transformed into
hate. A CEO of an MNC, an editor of a newspaper, a film-maker and a fisherman at
Nagapattinam demonstrate the same hate sense in dealing with the Dalits. Why is
this so? Chandra Bhan tries to give us psychoanalysis of the Chaturvarna members
hate sense. It is in this sense that this book is unique.
The author delves
into history to argue that this hate-Dalit is the result of a phobia or fear in
the Chaturvarna Order that Dalits may challenge the Vedic Order and demand their
share or equality.
The Dalit columnist
argues that members of this Chaturvarna Order are sick and the sickness has a
hereditary character. Otherwise, how can almost all behave in a similar fashion
through generations? He says this disease is passed on from one generation to
another and prescribes a therapy called Dalit Therapy.
During the discussion, Mr David Devdas, Prof. Vinod Kumar, Shri Krishna Anand,
and academicians and scholars from JNU, DU and Jamia Millia also shared their
viewpoints.
Presented in the form
of a brilliant satire, Chandra Bhan prescribes isolation and exposure as cure
for Dalit Phobia.
A must-book for anyone trying to know about Dalits in this country and the
failure of the leadership to bring this huge mass of population into the
mainstream.