VAGUE TERMS
Dr Ambedkar did not like using words and terms
(especially labels) with vague meanings
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SCHEDULED CLASSESS (SC), THE
DEPRESSED CLASSES AND EXTERIOR CLASSES (EC).
It was Mr. Mullan, Chief Superintendent of Assam
(not Dr. Ambedkar) who suggested the term Exterior Classes (EC).
Although EC is not the ideal term either, Dr.
Ambedkar agreed that EC is nevertheless still a better term than Depressed Classes
but EC CANNOT be used as a replacement for SC because EC
defines the position of untouchables who are WITHIN the Hindu fold but OUTSIDE
Hindu SOCIETY (eg SCs who are Buddhists or Sikhs). ECs (the depressed classes
within the Hindu fold) are SCs but not all SCs are EC.
UNLIKE THE WORD “DALIT”, BOTH SC & EC ARE
ACCURATLEY DEFINED.
Although he used it, Dr Ambedkar was even reluctant
to use what he called a “vague tem”, i.e., “the Depressed Classes” instead of
“the Untouchables”.
Do you think he would have liked to use an even
vaguer term, “Dalits”, often used by the “Dalit” academia to also refer to
untouchables of other countries?
“Dalit” is also (but not often), used to refer to
anyone who is or may be oppressed, mentally and emotionally broken to pieces,
depressed, or grounded (including the tribals, Muslims, Christians).
I suggest that Ambedkarites ask the propagators of
the Dalit Indentity, ‘Who EXACTLY are being labelled as the Dalits by them?”
Before widespread academic use of any technical
term, especially a new label, the academia/intellectual diaspora
should (as they usually do) collectively define the label. Not clearly defining
labels amounts to nothing less than intellectual dishonesty.
Today popular Indian academics like Prof Gopal Guru
from South India says anyone can ADOPT the Dalit Indentity. Paraphrasing his
definition of Dalit.. Anyone (that includes Brahmins) who believe in Liberty,
Equality, Fraternity are Dalits.
THREE QUESTIONS FOR THE DALIT
INTELLECTUALS TO ANSWER FOR THE SATISFACTION OF THOSE WHO ARE BEING LABELLED AS
DALIT:
QUESTION 1
Which one of the following groups are you referring to when using the
word ‘Dalits’?
A) The SCs (Scheduled Classes/Castes)
B) People from Ex-Untouchable communities
(including Muslims and Christians)
C) All who are, or were, considered untouchable in
South Asian countries including India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and others.
D) Dalits as defined in the Dalit Panthers
constitution (This definition include all women, landless and labourers too)
E) The Exterior Classes; i.e. untouchables within
the Hindu-fold (but socially outside mainstream Hindu society). These are the
untouchables who see themselves as Hindus. They are those untouchables who have
no objection to being labelled as Gandhi’s Harijans.
F) Dalits as defined by Prof Gopal Guru
Or
G) Some other group of people (Please specify)
QUESTION 2
For the benefit of which community, is the word
Dalit primarily being popularised?
a) For The Academic Community
b) For ONE of the groups A/B/C/D/E/F/G in Q1? If
yes, which one??
c) Both a and b
QUESTION 3
What are you hoping to achieve by popularising the
word Dalit?
Is it..
a) For the upliftment, development and social unity
of one of these groups in Q1 (A,B,C,D,E,F or G)?
Or
b) For political unity of ONE of these groups?
______________________
The stalwart “Dalit” intellectuals need to sit
together, decide amongst themselves and give the Ambedkarites A CLEAR OFFICIAL
INDICATION OF WHICH ONE OF THESE GROUPS OF PEOPLE ARE THEY EXACTLY REFERRING
TO AS DALITS?
Until then, all (especially Ambedkarites) should
AVOID using the word “Dalit”. This vague word causes confusion in the SC
community and brings much harm to the Ambedkarite mission on various levels.
ALSO READ:
Meaning of the word Dalit (Who
benefits by widespread use of this word?)
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