Week 8- Aishwarya Ramkumar
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 of pride and hope. However, for the newer generation of Dalits, these statues and memorials are not a symbol of reverence but that of segregation. They believe that an inclusive polity would be one with a focus on environmental and social capital, and not just cater to Dalit capital. I agree with this view, as it will allow for collective consciousness. While it is true that the funds directed towards these sites can be directed towards education and other factors to ensure well being, statues and memorials that are representative of the sentiments of the oppressed and are a source of collective identity demand their own reverence. Even though there have been attempts by the Samajwadi Party to undo these sites, public opinion is likely to allow these memorials to live through.
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 of pride and hope. However, for the newer generation of Dalits, these statues and memorials are not a symbol of reverence but that of segregation. They believe that an inclusive polity would be one with a focus on environmental and social capital, and not just cater to Dalit capital. I agree with this view, as it will allow for collective consciousness. While it is true that the funds directed towards these sites can be directed towards education and other factors to ensure well being, statues and memorials that are representative of the sentiments of the oppressed and are a source of collective identity demand their own reverence. Even though there have been attempts by the Samajwadi Party to undo these sites, public opinion is likely to allow these memorials to live through.
Comments
Post a Comment