Literature | साहित्‍य

Dalit Theatre is a kaleidoscope of Ambedkarite ideology that has maintained its elegance and charm with myriad colours, forms and shapes. It has made the revolt against exploitation complete. It has kept pace with the changing times, proved itself and expanded its relevance

Unlike the Dalits, the OBCs were not victims of untouchability. Hence, the possibility of ideological divergence between the two communities on the issue of religion cannot be ruled out. Read Kamlesh Verma’s analysis

There are several intersections between Ambedkar and Marx. However, Ambedkar had also pointed out several aspects of Marxism that were inapplicable in the Indian context. Although Ambedkar’s writings appear India-centric at first glance, the ideas they contain are actually universal

Russell’s influence on Ambedkar amounted to pushing Ambedkar to develop and work out his own pragmatist philosophy of reform and activism. Ambedkar was taken by Russell’s ethos of activism, but he worried about how Russell’s Western critique of violence tied into many of the Hindu ideologies that he saw as oppressive and quietistic, especially as they ignore or implicate caste-based social arrangements

Ambedkar considered women’s education essential for a society’s development. In Pakistan, when Malala Yousafzai asserted her right to education, the Taliban shot her. Somehow, she survived. Kanwal Bharti dedicates this poem to her

Ramvilas Sharma couldn’t distinguish between Kabir and Tulsi’s efforts to awaken the masses due to his aristocratic literary perspective. However, Rajendra Prasad Singh saw enough difference between the two. From an OBC literary perspective, Tulsidas stands with the exploiters. Tulsidas is a patron of the Varnashram culture while Kabir is a patron of the Shraman culture

It is clear that until every section of society does not get due representation in the media, the one-sided, solicitous and unbalanced dissemination of information will continue. It was to counter this imbalance that Ambedkar wanted Dalits to have their own media outlets. He believed that only Dalit journalism could battle injustice faced by Dalits

Apart from the myth of Mahishasur, the areas that need in-depth research are Sambhushok, the Gondi religion, and Asur or Shraman or matriarchal and tantric or Lokayat philosophies. This would be the search for the beginning and the end of Bahujan society and its original structure, with the aim of getting a complete picture of the brahmanical or Aryan schemes. This research would also expose the schemes that continue today. Not only would it give us a historical picture of the beginning and the end, it would also bring together all sections of Bahujan society and the progressive and pro-freedom groups, to put an end to the brahmanical hypocrisy

There are many similarities between Ambedkar and Kabir. Both were staunch opponents of Brahmanism and both opened the doors to growth and progress for the deprived. Both faced almost the same kind of challenges in their lives. Kanwal Bharti writes on what this means for the present

Forward Press is both a website and a publisher of books on issues pertaining to Dalits, Adivasis and Other Backward Classes. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for updates