Why Mirchpurs happen in a 'civil' society -Jagmati Sangwan

-TheTribune.com

The violence is symptomatic of a deep-rooted malady. To cure it, one needs to understand its roots, dynamics and interlinkages in the present context

* A Dalit athlete is thrashed and his leg fractured. His fault? He has defeated athletes from the upper caste.
* A young girl and a police officer, deputed to protect her, are murdered in broad daylight. Why? Because she married a Dalit.
* Many lives are lost after Dalit localities in Gohana, Mirchpur, and more, are set ablaze by members of the upper caste.

The question is: Why such violent incidents are on the rise, especially at a time when tall claims of progress are being made? The reasons often cited for this appear to be trivial prima facie. For instance, someone from a Scheduled Caste has offended some high up of an upper caste. But, actually, the scenario is symptomatic of some deep-rooted chronic malady at the level of our society. For curing it, we need to understand its dynamics and interlinkages in the present context.

As far as its roots are concerned, we need to bring in a development model adopted after independence in the country. One of the popular slogans of our freedom movement “Dhan aur dharti bant ke rahegi, raat andheri kat ke rahegi” was envisaged to be transformed into practice, majorly through drastic steps like land reforms, Hindu Code Bill, etc. This was, of course, along with  interventions in relation to the Dalits and women.

We know pretty well the tooth and nail opposition to the Hindu Code Bill led by  the Hindu Mahasabha, and others forced the then Law Minister Babasaheb Ambedkar (moving spirit behind the Bill) to resign. The concern expressed by Dr Ambedkar in this regard has ironically proved true that we are entering the life of contradictions on January 26, 1950, when there will be equality in politics but inequality in socio-economic sphere.

How long will this contradiction continue?

Please click here to read more.