Category Archives: Dr Ambedkar Books

Assertive politics, not identity politics


Written by Nijam Gara

Whenever Uttar Pradesh and/or Bihar go to polls, the media is agog with the term ‘identity politics’. The shrill campaign coverage of mainstream media paints identity politics as being inimical to egalitarian society and destructive to the supposed holy-cow of Indian democracy. A well-known Gandhian has recently written in a National English newspaper that the “U” in Uttar Pradesh stands for ungovernable mainly because it is ridden with the scourge of identity politics. He longs for the glorious past of Uttar Pradesh in an eerie similarity to the ‘Make America great again’ slogan that we are all too familiar with now. Thus he equates the rise of bahujan leaders of Uttar Pradesh with regression of the prospects of the state.

Behan MayawatiThis narrative needs to be dissected to comprehend the ire of such Gandhians and other media pundits. First, how about a counter-narrative? Today, in 2017, almost 70 years after the birth of a nation called India, but more importantly, more than three thousand years after Vedic ‘civilization’ spread over this land, Uttar Pradesh is the only state in the Union of India where a freestanding dalit political party stands a chance at the hustings to rule the state. And Uttar Pradesh is only one of 2 states (the other being Bihar) where OBCs have taken center-stage in ruling unopposed for the past 2 decades. Leaders from the bottom of the Vedic step-ladder such as Mayawathi (dalit), Nitish Kumar, Lalu Prasad and Mulayam Singh Yadav (all OBCs) became forces to reckon with only as a result of assertion of their backward identity. It is only because they raised their banners in the name of their oppressed background that even the National parties today are forced to sing OBC and dalit tune. While it is easy for self-proclaimed political pundits to brush off bahujan parties with the deprecating label of ‘identity politics’, millions of people from all over India that hail from these sections can vouch for the dignity that a Lalu Prasad, a Mayawathi or a Kanshi Ram brought to them by standing up to oppression and bringing them in to the mainstream of political discourse. There is no means to measure the confidence that these leaders and parties instill in the bahujans across the country. In fact, it is a travesty that other states have not seen such an upsurge in bahujan assertion. To put things in historical context, not too long ago, the castes that they represent were banished to menial jobs that savarna hindus would abhor to even dream of, never had the right to own land or even stand next to a savarna but today have risen to rule themselves and the savarnas too.

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Filed under BSP, Dr Ambedkar Books, Mayawati

17th January – Rohith Vemula Shahadat Din


On 17th January Rohith Vemula, a Dalit student from the University of Hyderabad was forced to commit suicide by University administrations.

In the memory of Rohith Vemula, an event is being organized at the University of Hyderabad by his friends and family members where Radhika Vemula, mother of Rohith, Jaan Mohammad, brother of Akhlaq and survivors of Una Dalit Atrocity will be present on 17th January 16, 2017 at 15:30hrs

Rohith Vemula’s mother appeals everyone to join it.

Please spread the information.

Rohith Vemula Shahadath Din

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Filed under Dalit, Dalit History, dalit killing, Dr Ambedkar Books, Dr B R Ambedkar

Project Heartland – Swachh Bharat : Plight and assertion of Valmikis


There have been so many debates on Swacch Bharat Abhiyaan.But to which extent it is working? And what is the situation of the people who actually clean India? This episode follows the story of Kiran bhai, who is fighting for the rights of scavengers. He himself has worked as a sweeper and understands the pain and plight of the scavengers personally. Know more about him and the situation of the scavengers of the region in which Kiran bhai is working.

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Filed under Caste, Caste Discrimination, Dr Ambedkar Books, Dr B R Ambedkar, video

Superstition in India!


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Filed under ambedkar, buddhist, Caste Casteism, Caste Discrimination, Dalit, dalit killing, Dr Ambedkar Books, Free Books, funny India, India, indian buddhism, Slums in India

Caste Discrimination in India


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Filed under ambedkar, Caste Casteism, Caste Discrimination, Casteism, dalit killing, dalits, Dr Ambedkar Books, Free Books, Hindi Books, Mayawati, Photos of Ambedkar, poverty

Saheed Udham Singh


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Filed under ambedkar, buddhist, Caste Casteism, Caste Discrimination, Dalit, dalit killing, Dr Ambedkar Books, Free Books, Hindi Books, indian buddhism, Mayawati, Photos of Ambedkar