Dalit Literature and Cultutre

20141297 Abhinav Singh                                                                                      DALIT ARCHITECTURE In this week's summary I would discuss Dalit architecture in reference to the biggest Dalit politician Mayawati. One underlying similarity between all the stints of Mayawati as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh was her undying desire to build memorial parks and statues throughout the state. The statues, stupas and memorial parks of Dalit leaders like Kanshi Ram, Ambedkar and Buddha are built with the only purpose of arousing a collective political consciousness amongst the Dalit community. By using public spaces Mayawati has aimed to inject into the general public spaces of Lucknow, her party’s heritage a...

Summary        The readings discuss the value of the statues in our country, with respect to the ones built by Mayawati as they received a nation-wide critique. Political symbols play a major part in a way a nation is depicted, it is safe to say that as a nation we are symbolically driven, for instance we pray to multiple structures of gods on a daily basis. However, there are certain marginalised communities belonging to different religions for example- Muslims, that do not get represented symbolically and those belonging to the bottom the caste structure. The interesting part about this article is that these statues built by Mayawati represent Dalits, a place for them to visit and a statue of their leader Ambedkar.        Symbols play a major role, both religious and political…well they both are intertwined. Political parties and social organisations use symbols to appeal to people on a more private level. The British began th...

Dalit Architecture After reading the pieces by Nicholas Jous & Sinha, it can be said that the occupying of public spaces by Dalit heroes through statues or by representing their ideology through structures can be deemed as a necessary move for their representation  otherwise is meagre in public spheres due to dominant castes. However, it can be understood through the articles that the real purpose and intent behind incorporating those structures had not been achieved. For most non Dalit respondents it was simply another touristy park and did not help them at all in learning about Dalit heritage. They are least bothered about it just like how they react to all other spheres of their existence. Even in school textbooks, we did not have much emphasis on Ambedkar and his ideology. The inner angst of savarnas towards this move was depicted  in the article, one of which is by voting out Mayawati in her next election after she built the statues and parks on Dalit herita...

Aastha Bhardwaj Reflection Paper 7 28th April, 2020 Dalit Achitecture Readings  In his article “Learning the use of symbolic means: Dalits, Ambedkar statutes and the state in Uttar Pradesh” Nicolas Jaul zeroes in on what meaning can be attached to political symbols, doing so in light of the increasing number of statues of B.R. Ambedkar in India. One of the main focal points that comes across is how within the Dalit communities in UP, these statues stand as a means of empowerment and a symbol for acceptance while also bearing the emblem of the Dalit struggle. One of the major contentions of the political party in Uttar Pradesh, namely BSP’s ( Bahujan Samajwadi Party) has been to build memorial parks and statues of Kanshi Ram, Ambedkar and Buddha across the entire state since their establishment as the party in power. Whether or not it has had the underlying intention of a vote bank is certainly an important narrative however it is also important to note that it has def...

The image of a statue, surrounded by a vast landscape that is built out of expensive marble and granite, has a very different reflection upon people. Reflecting upon the piece by Amit Sinha and Rajat Kant, I believe that the vast gardens and towering statues do very little to the cultural wealth of the state and its people, I would further claim that the money could have been better utilised in social upliftment programs of the state. The scale and the rigidity around the architecture shows the true intentions of the state. Yet, there cannot be an absolute critique of the same, as there is nothing inherently criminal in trying to create a landmark that the masses can associate with. In Mayawati's o wn words, she is trying to simply state the identity that has only been suppressed over the years.  'Ambedkar’s relentless and bitter struggle against Gandhi on the question of the recognition of the ‘Untouchables’ as a separate minority left its mark on their collective destin...

During this week we looked at readings pertaining to Ambedkar and also the correlation of COVID to these readings. The article that I found particularly interesting was Anand Teltumbde's open letter and our discussion about it in class. He talks about how the police entered his house in Goa when him and his family were in Bombay and took videos of the entire house. He is also called 'Mayavi Ambedkarite' and Mayavi in Hindu mythology means demonic. No only that, he has also been called a Maoist because his brother is a Maoist. He was also illegally arrested in Pune even though he was protected by the Supreme Court. The recent arrest of Anand Teltumbde has come at a very well planned time as we discussed in class. he is over 60 years old and as we are aware, COVID 19 has the most dangerous impact on the elderly. to arrest Anand Teltumbde when the entire country is on lockdown and put him in the deadly conditions of the prison where he can be exposed to conditions that lead t...

Powers of visual imagery: Ambedkar Statues and Dalit Monuments              The two readings prescribed for this week were meant to initiate a dialogue about the politics of statues, monuments, and other public buildings. There's politics in the location of the structures, the materials used to make it, and of course the very subject of the structures. It was extremely interesting to read about Mayawati's work in UP, specifically Lucknow where she built several public parks and monuments honouring Ambedkar and other Dalit social leaders. The second reading on understanding the symbolism of the image and politics of Ambedkar statues in UP only confirmed what the intentions behind placing statues even are.                Mayawati emerged as a cult figure in UP, a revolutionary in respect of being a Dalit Woman Chief Minister of India's largest state. She went on a rampage building several public parks, massiv...

Symbolism of Leaders Symbols play an undisputable part in the politicization of the masses. The author references O’Birens work on identifying the efficacy Gandhi’s use of Hindu symbols in uniting the lower-class Hindu masses against the British. However, the use of symbols may alienate those unable to relate the symbols, as was the case with Muslim independence workers. I find the paper’s analysis on how Ambedkar is symbolized in particular quite fascinating. Examining the popular Ambedkar statutes across India, a few key markers seem universal- his three piece suit, the pens in his front pocket and the constitution; his suit a challenge to the class that Dalits are conceived to belong to, the pen a marker of education and the constitution a marker of secular principles above all else.   However, the hindu right has time again attempted to co-opt dalit empowerment, by identifying Ambedkar as a “hindu”, by applying tilak, garlands and incense at celebrations. When not trying...

Summary 8/10 Maitrey Singh Learning the Use of Symbolic Means: Dalits, Ambedkar Statues and the State in Uttar Pradesh This article is written by a French national, who as anthropologist in Paris and his work mainly focuses on Dalit emancipation and he did his PhD research on the same in Uttar Pradesh. The introduction was essential to understand the deep rooted knowledge of the writer about the situations of Dalits in India. The Article focuses on the importance of Dr. Ambedkar’s Statues and what message do they impart and how are they sometimes understood under the light of criticism.   Dr. Ambedkar was always against the idea of having a statue of his own, but BSP Leader Mayawati going against his wishes erected a statue in Uttar Pradesh. The statue signified the three important elements which Ambedkar thought are very necessary for the Dalits to achieve equality in the society, which are, Education, Organisation and Struggle. A lot of people who were against the ideol...

Week 8 Nicolas Jaul in “Learning the use of symbolic means: Dalits, Ambedkar statutes and the state in Uttar Pradesh addresses the issue of political symbols and what they stand for. He tries to explain the rationale behind the increasing number of statutes of Ambedkar in India. He remarks that the B.R. Ambedkar statute is an emphasis on the Dalit movement. Where there is poverty and illiteracy, these statutes continue to promote ideals of citizenship where otherwise the state has failed to do the same. Nicholas Jaul also points out how the state and the society have emulated each other. The state first installs statutes of Ambedkar and the villages are motivated to install their statutes of Ambedkar. This also throws light on the fact that this is how symbolic skills are learnt, adapted and used to empower. These statutes empower the Dalits to fight for their rights and to claim a spot in the society. Nicholas also traces the timeline of the erection of these statues in UP throug...

Dalit Symbolism in Architecture  Statutes of Ambedkar to the Dalit community is a call to - "Educate, Organise, Struggle". There are three dimensions to understand Dalits relationship with states - iconography, meaning and stakes involved and Dalit struggles for imposing their symbols in public space. The spurt of Ambedkar statute in villages is part of a significant movement of national recognition of an Untouchable Leader. He is often disregarded by intellectuals trying to define indigenous for he supported western symbols of suit and tie. But for Dalit villagers it was symbolic of  excellence and statesmanship. These statues allowed for a conversation about Ambedkar's truth in Congress , how he was mistreated. His statues always has him with a pen and constitution and in a suit. This is a subliminal message to his Dalit brothers and sisters to stride for education and sophistication. These statues allow Dalits to reclaim public places. These statutes have also...

Week 8 summary of Nicolas Jaoul – “learning the use of symbolic means: Dalits, Ambedkar statues and the State in Uttar Pradesh” The main point that comes through in N. Jaoul’s paper “learning the use of symbolic means: Dalits, Ambedkar statues and the state in Uttar Pradesh” is that Dalit sections of the society feel accepted among the wider society by way of seeing their struggles finding a spotlight and without any doubt Ambedkar stands as a strong icon or symbol of Dalit struggle. Ambedkar has always stood for Dalit aspirations of equality as citizens by way of democracy, so to see this powerful symbol in public space and be embraced for what it stands for by everyone gives them hope of acceptance and a renewed aspiration of equality. Not only does the use of Ambedkar as a symbol make Dalit feel accepted but it also empowers them to assert their existence against oppression and discrimination. Jaoul has tried to uncover the interaction and relationship of the Dalits with the State...

DALIT ARCHITECTURE While Ambedkar himself was clear in his view of not being celebrated through the construction of statues and monuments, his admirers clearly disregarded this and, his own state of  Maharashtra was the first one to erect a statue in his honor. BSP CM Mayavati even constructed a memorial for him and other Dalit leaders in Uttar Pradesh. Over time, his statue became a symbol of Dalit resistance and gained political traction. Those who opposed Ambedkar and his ideology were critical of his statue and it's western attire, claiming that this depicted the remnants of British influence on him. While many are critical of Mayavati's move of building memorials to commemorate Dalit leaders stating that it is a waste of public funding and quoting engagement in corrupt practices, this must be viewed from another perspective. For many Dalits, these memorial parks serve as reminders of those who fought for social elevation, economic opportunities and are therefor a sign...

DALIT LITERATURE AND CULTURE READING SUMMARY DALIT ARCHITECTURE Sirgapoor Sahil Reddy 20161245 One feature that highlights every Bahujan Samajwadi Party’s (BSP) government that have come into power since 1995 has been the campaign to build memorial parks and statues throughout the state, which has in fact been pursued with great impetus thereafter in 1997, 2002 and 2007 when they formed the governments in Uttar Pradesh. The statues, stupas and memorial parks of Dalit leaders like Kanshi Ram, Ambedkar and Buddha have been built with the sole purpose of arousing a collective political consciousness amongst the Dalit community. By using public spaces Mayawati has aimed to inject into the public spaces of Lucknow, her party’s heritage and Dalit culture. Through these structures Mayawati is not only asserting the Dalit identity but also s fabricating heritage by updating the past, i.e. ‘anachronistically reading back from the present qualities we want to see in past icons. ...

Reading Ambedkar in the Time of COVID-19 Awanish Kumar in his article explains the importance of reading and understanding the teachings of Baba Saheb during these unprecedented times. In his article, he emphasizes on the importance of “social endosmosis”. Advocating social endosmosis means to encourage interaction between varied social groups to promote a sense of fraternity within the Indian population and therefore becoming a nation is in its true sense. He argues that what the citizens of India lack is a sense of togetherness and that’s because we do not have a “shared concern” as a nation. Today the Indian society is not only divided on communal lines but also on caste lines. There are thousands of castes in India within the Hindu religion and major factors of productions and bureaucratic offices are held by the upper caste, which makes them the ruling class. This ruling class is not in touch with the other groups they rule. Caste plays a special rule as it segregates people...

SEEKING BEGUMPURA BY GAIL OMVEDUT Seeking Begumpura is an outstanding account of various literary figures combined like Jyotiba Phule, Ramabai, Ambedkar and Kabir. The idealistic image of an India which is Independent of caste or class and follow the five values mentioned in the constitution of a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic which seems far from true in the contemporary times, look possible.   Jyotiba Phule’s biography, his involvement in female education and a feminist figure. His theory comparing Aryans and Avatar of Vishnu with invaders as they were motivated by wealth and pished Indian into the drudges of Slavery is not only astounding but an eye-opener. Ramabai, who was also a contemporary known for her Brahamin-istic scholarly abilities as ‘Pandita’ was a liberal radical who was unfazed by popular opinion. Therefore, she converted to Christianity and remained a feminist activist. She left behind her ‘Mukti-Sadans’ which were meant to make...

UNTOUCHABLE TO DALIT This week I would be summarizing a chapter from Untouchable to Dalit. Just like the black women were compared to the lower-class women in India in Feminist theory, similarly the Dalit movement in India is compared with the American Black Panthers and Dalit literature. Certain similarities can be seen like the word Black, in order to embrace their culture with pride while drawing the sardonic tone to it, gave themselves the word the Marathi word ‘Dalit’. It showcased their unity, acceptance to their culture.  Even in the press, in The 1970s, Dalits gained popularity and were called Dalit Panthers. Dalit writers and poets also identified themselves with the Black literature and movement, therefore, they were greatly interested in their literature and culture. Janardhan Waghmare wrote on the similarities between Blacks and Dalits and the torturous treatment was given to them by their own country. There is also a comparison drawn in the Book between ...

Aastha Bhardwaj Reflection Paper 6 24th April , 2020 On Ambedkar Jayanti  We’re faced with blatant ironies in our weekly lives perhaps more often than we’d like to, and the biggest one that arose out of this situation has been the arrest of Anand Teltumbde along with Gautam Navlakha on Ambedkar Jayanti which falls on 14th of April. The arrest which was garbed as one against an anti-national would be better looked at through the lens of the inherent caste bias in our society whose abolition the very day is considered to be a celebration of. The caste and class divide is so clearly reflected in how the reactions of the upper caste came about as to those of the lower castes. While the former celebrated the arrest considering it a step forward in building nationalistic sentiments, the latter deemed it as an action that took us way back, in perhaps the little progress that was made over the years, and rightfully so. How deep rooted the caste struggle is comes out in Awanish ...

Summary 7/10 Maitrey Singh Reading Ambedkar in The Time of Covid - 19 The Article by Awanish Kumar tries to throw light on the conditions and consequences of the Covid 19 Lockdown. It starts by talking about the hundreds of poor migrant workers who had to walk hundreds of kilometeres to their hometown and how the society is negligent of this situation. The article then questions the policy maker about how they forget one strata of the society. To answer this question the author puts emphasis on social reforms and Ambedkar’s Annihilation of caste to achieve this. The author then focuses on the problems of social isolation and social nausea as a byproduct of social distancing. The author then elaborates on this by talking about social stratification and how all the castes function individually and the idea of caste is Inward looking and hence giving rise to self motivated interests without any consideration for others.   The Solution to this problem is to achieve social effi...

Anand Teltumde was booked under the UAPA for allegedly fomenting violence during the Bhima Koregaon event. After reading his open letter and a few other articles I have concluded that there is a list of things that make people Deshdrohis and Deshbhakts. We are living through un-precedented times, a global pandemic. While the nation is in lock-down , it is strange to see how the country is treating its citizens and what this differential treatment is based on. Awanish Kumars article helped me identify the sheer lack of empathy that both politicians and upper-class people have for two categories of citizens; the lower class/ caste and intellectuals that analyse and criticize government policies. If one belongs to the latter category then despite the fact that prisoners are being “freed”, (are we really free? well freedom of speech is definitely a myth) citizens like Anand Teltumde are jailed. On one hand, as thousands of Migrant workers walk home, with no food or water. On the oth...

Awanish Kumar in “Reading Ambedkar in the Time of COVID-19 Has highlighted the lack of empathy towards the poorest sections of the society. The government has shown its incompetency again by announcing this unplanned lock down. As a result the migrant workers faced many difficulties including walking back hopelessly to their towns. The writer explains two concepts that is social isolation and social nausea. He adds that the corona induced social distancing does not address these two aspects. Since each class only cares about their self-interest they start existing in isolation, as a result they have hostility towards the other classes. This is met by lack of empathy. The labouring class become the socially isolated class. The only way the lack of communication can be broken is by social endosmosis. Social endosmosis takes place when a person born in the oppressed class achieves mobility into the privileged class. Once social endosmosis takes place, only can the goal of democracy be m...

Ambedkar Jayanti, also known as, Bhim Jayanti, isn't a celebration of Ambedkar, it isn't a celebration of his identity, nor is it some commemoration of his work, it is, in my opinion, a piecemeal day. It has a little bit of something for everyone to relate to, the Dalits get a day commemorating, quite possibly, their biggest hero, the government gets to celebrate a founding father of the nation, and everyone else gets something in the middle. The empty gesture is only further personified, when we take a look at what happened around April 14th this year. Anand Teltumbde penned an open letter to the people of India, just before his bail was finally rejected, and he surrendered. He is an academician, a loving father, and a passionate leader. Yet, the Government is ready to take any measure possible to silence any dissent. Even in these troubling times, while a Pandemic is tearing through countries, and many jails are letting convicts out on bail or into protective custody owing...

AMBEDKAR JAYANTI Irony has never shown itself in a better facet than on this Ambedkar Jayanti of 2020. The arrest of Anand Teltumde, ignorance of the Supreme Court towards the same, he is being booked under the UAPA meanwhile serious criminals are being let go. The so-called lines by the Prime Minister do not seem to make sense after all. Is dissent really acceptable by this right-wing government? The answer seems to be negative. Another irony is that 14 th April is also the Tamil New Year which is a mark of celebration for the upper caste in temples and street is all that is given to the lower caste. Further in “Reading Ambedkar in the Time of COVID-19”, while Ambedkar believed the caste system was the biggest error towards a united India, the arrests and new subtle tactics towards alienating the lower caste by arresting the one actually trying to unite the country. There is divided empathy towards the upper classes and antipathy for the lower class especially the migratio...

We are all aware that Ambedkar had a big hand in the struggle to unveil the evils of casteism. But, despite this struggle by him and many other Dalit leaders we see no change in the scenario today or perhaps it has worsened. The year 2020 has not been easy on any of us but most definitely has had a worse impact on the poor and marginalized. The privileged may not realize the implications of using words like “social distancing” but the marginalized do because they experienced it, being socially distanced and isolated. The lockdown has had a drastic effect on the informal sector, driving daily wage earners into unemployment and their families into poverty with nothing left to eat. How were daily wage workers who live off of their daily wages and have absolutely no savings to be capable of storing groceries for their families during this lockdown expected to survive? The society is shaped in such a manner that it has left this section vulnerable to not only the spread of Covid-19 but a...

20141297 Abhinav Singh                                                                              AMBEDKAR JAYANTI Ambedkar Jayanti falls on 14th April and this year we celebrated 129th birth anniversary of Father of our constitution and the greatest Dalit activist. But the celebrations were cut short by the arrests of  Anand Teltumbde and Gautam Navlakha, which is ironical in nature as the world celebrated the birth anniversary of one of the greatest icons of Dalit rights his grand-daughter's husband Anand who is also a profound civil and Dalit right activist was arrested. Anand Teltumbde has been accused of plotting an assassination of prime minister Modi, but the true crime he has been arrested for his speaking against the fascist regime and fighting fo...

                                                         Weekly Summary – Week 7                                                                                                                                 ...

ON AMBEDKAR JAYANTI It’s either an unfortunate on ironic coincidence to the Indian Tamils that Ambedkar Jayanti falls on the exact same date as the Tamil New Year. The irony lies not in the celebration of the New Year itself, but in the upper caste appropriation of the Tamil New Year. On 14 th of April every year, the Brahmins in Tamil Nadu embolden their homes and temples with abundant ritual purity, while the lower castes take to the streets in celebration of a new year and a old-time hero. At the same time, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic throws some necessary light on the selective display of care and empathy.  In his piece titled ‘Reading Ambedkar in the Time of COVID-19’, Awanish Kumar recollects Ambekdar’s assertion that the caste system in India precludes the formation of an Indian public. What is called the ‘antagonism of castes’ is such that the interests of the upper lower castes are constantly at war with each other. This caste-class antagonism in the Indian...

After reading the article “Reading Ambedkar during Covid”, few points really struck me. For instance, in our juris class today we were discussing Prof. Baxi’s article on law and state regulated capitalism. One of his arguments was that the rule of law is structured in a way to enable capitalism. After reading the piece on Ambedkar, it’s clear that class and caste go hand in hand in India. Instances of police brutality on poor and leeways for the rich class during the lockdown clearly shows how this rule of law favours the elite and is not equal for all. The dominant elite Brahmin’s opposition to any social welfare laws and schemes not just during Covid but in general times also shows the existing social nausea. The point on re-socialization with help of public education system too would have not gained much change in my opinion simply because of the nausea created within households through comments and satires on the lower castes and other religions. On the other hand, private e...

AN IRONIC AMBEDKAR JAYANTI Ambedkar Jayanti is a day marked to celebrate B.R. Ambedkar and his ideas of anti-discrimination, equality, and feminism. He is credited for bestowing upon us, our constitution and fighting for the equal status of those belonging to the so-called subordinate castes. This Ambedkar Jayanti was rather antithetic as it witnessed an event so unfortunate and against the very core of Ambedkar's beliefs. The arrest of Anand Teltumde and lack of any protection offered by the SC depicts a rather sad state of affairs. Him being booked under the UAPA depicts how threatened the government is of those who dissent and raise their voices against oppression. Further, this Ambedkar Jayanti also witnessed a nationwide lockdown owing to Covid 19. This pandemic has thrown light on the caste-class division rather effectively. While those migrant workers seeking to return to their hometowns were criticized and labeled uneducated and careless, those individuals returning to...

From Icon to Convict- Anti-caste Resistance  In light of Teltumbde's arrest, ironically enough on Ambedkar Jayanti, the attitudes of the State towards Lower caste emancipatory movements must be re-examined. The conflation of the Brahmanical Hindu ideology with the "Indian" consciousness has led to increasingly violent state reactions to anti-caste movements and leaders. A bare reading of Teltumbde's letter is a painful visual of the extents to which the Hindu Right is willing to go to, to get rid of those that disturb existing power-structures. A protest that celebrates Lower-caste emancipation from their upper-caste oppressors is targetted by violent elements with a view of painting its organisers and members as violent "anti-nationals",- the evidence for which is a copy of the Communist Manifesto, an image of Ambedkar and trumped-up charges of Maoist links. When the interested party loose power in Maharashtra, the investigation is transferred back i...

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s 129th birthday witnessed countless workers, majority from SC/STs and OBCs crossing borders on foot in dire conditions, when whole of India was in state of a lock-down. They were sprayed upon like non-livings beings, in an attempt to ‘sanitize’ them and once again we could see the practice of untouchability re-surfacing. Even during a pandemic, Indians (government authorities and a large number of consenting population) fell back in the trap of the caste system and did not refrain from debasing other human beings.   Ambedkar as a Feminist  Ambedkar was a man ahead of his time and his ideals are testament to the same. He always envisioned a free and equal India, with no caste discrimination and no sexism. He tried approaching the problem of empowerment through changing the script that surrounds women in society, for this script perpetuates discrimination and weakens them. By burning old Hindu texts, Ambedkar wanted to do away with the dis-e...

DALIT LITERATURE AND CULTURE READING SUMMARIES AMBEDKAR JAYANTI Sirgapoor Sahil Reddy 20161245 BA LLB Section A 14 th April 2020 marked the 129 th birth anniversary of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, the father of the anti-caste discrimination movement in India. There were two other important news pieces that emerged on Ambedkar Jayanti this year. The first was the arrest of Anand Teltumbde and the other was the coming together of thousands of Migrant workers at Bandra station, in order to get home due to the Coronavirus situation. Both these incidents are purely indicative of how, despite Ambedkar’s several efforts, the lower castes are still oppressed in the country. Most of the migrant workers who collected at the Bandra Station were part of India’s most vulnerable workforce that mainly comprises of untouchables. These workers have been forced to walk home from metropolis cities like Delhi and Mumbai, been made to face the wrath of disinfectants on arriving in Uttar Pradesh and h...

Ambedkar Jayanti, 14th April 2020 The world around is beginning to acknowledge the revolutionary vision of Babasaheb Ambedkar as a champion of equality and human rights. Primrose Hall in London becomes Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Museum. The small town of Burnaby proclaims 14th April to be Dr. Ambedkar Day of Equality. As an academic scholar, he made Dalits a universal subject of History. As a legal luminary, he envisioned a Constitution that was reflective of a fair and just society; where graded inequality was relegated as history. As an icon, he was so much more. More than having drafted the Constitution and written academic literature rigorously, invoking Ambedkar’s name is akin to invoking a name that shakes the foundation of inequality in India. Although not advocating for Hero-worship, Ambedkar stands as the hope for millions: he ceases to simply be a ‘political figure’ and becomes then a symbol of resistance. The most common statue across villages in India is that of Ambedkar; ins...