Week 8_ Parnika Jain

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 throughout the years. Mayawati’s tribute by erecting a statute on Ambedkar (and also Kanshi Ram) – the Dalit heroes helped with this movement of empowerment. She also named parks and universities after the “non-upper caste” personalities. She also engaged in the redistribution of lands. This paved the way for a new political change. Thus these things have helped them overcome the differences that stopped them earlier from reaching equality

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