Redefining Dalits

For the years the term 'Dalit' has been a politically incorrect term and an epistemic violence to denote a particular community to address. They have been morally and socially discriminated in the society for the ages. They always regard themselves to be the otherized group in the society. From every aspect, they have been ignored and disregarded by the so called 'upper castes'. They have been psychologically and mentally tortured in the society. If we see sociologically, they feel themselves an exile in the community. The temples, wells have been restricted zones for them to use. Several medias and newspapers frequently mention such issues in the different volumes. In the name of touchability and untouchability, various clashes have been taking places in our society.

            In the recent years, the government and several NGOs and INGOs are focusing the issues about Dalits. They highly prioritize the opportunity for them in most of the sectors whether it is job opportunities are concerned or any political appointments are concerned. Those are so much so highlighted that they are only mostly getting much more chances in various sectors. The state laws also have discouraged about untouchabilities and therefore, those who belong to the mentioned group, they get high precedence to get a strong attention. They have been so much encouraged that few years back they hesitated themselves to be called to Dalits, but they, now, proudly announce themselves to be the Dalits. To hide their identity as Dalits, they used to keep their surnames as of the upper castes. Due to the high concentration of the government, they have been trying to get their previous identity as Dalits. They happily mention their surname as denoting Dalits.

            The state authority has so much so encouraged them that the non-dalits have been ignored and they have been challenged to compete with the Dalits. Not only that, in every sector, the quota system has been introduced with high priority and even those underprivileged community people are brought forward with a lot of facilities and chances in every field. In the government vacancies also only for the limited seats, the non-dalits can compete. It has created a great gap between two groups–Dalits and non-dalits. Though there have always the gap between them but now the gap can be felt in another way.

            On those days, they were socially ignored and now they are brought forward. The state ignored and prioritized those who had had skill and talent to run the administration and state policies. It does not mean that the Dalits don't have caliber to run the state. It indicates that the non-dalits need some more time to wait for their chance to compete and come in the main stream. Though they are coming in power but not as much as they have to. For the state formation and transformation, the highly qualified manpower is required. That should be brought forward in free competition and all should be given equal opportunities. Either it is the matter of vacancy or political appointee. It is obvious that they (Dalits) were ignored and they needed a strong concentration for the state to bring them forward.

            First the political incorrect term Dalit should be redefined and it should be made aware for everyone regarding their status in the society and their identity should be restated. Their social existence should be restructured. Socially they should be re-identified. That obviously will bring a balance between all the castes living in the society. To think about any caste and prioritize is itself a wrong practice because all have equal right in the state to play a role for the advancement of the society. No matter who they are, they can equally contribute for the state and therefore, they should be given equal chances to increase and grow in the society. Needless to say that equally behaved, the society can run and develop rapidly.

            In the present context, the term Dalit has to be re-considered because whatever we have the mentality regarding their status, that is being changed day by day. In real sense the dalits are those who are deprived of the fundamental rights in a state. So far as the existing dalits are concerned, they are getting the high priority from the state and other institutions as well as NGOs and INGOs. So, they should reconsidered whether they are dalits or not. If we observer minutely, we can find some other group emerging in the society as dalits. They are political party cadres who are highly dedicated towards parties and don't get any chance from the parties. Those who are in upper level, they get high chance to reach and gain outcome whereas the low level cadres are completely deprived of their needs and rights. Similarly, those women who are struggling in their family and in their name other privileged women are getting chances. Therefore, the ignored women are the real dalits. They cannot raise their voice nor their voice can be in reality heard. We cannot ignore those social workers and motivators who work in the society but they are forced to be confined in a small circle. They can never be noticed by the state affairs. Their contributions can be overlooked. Everyone knows that those social workers work very honestly for the society but their presence can be ignored by the state affair.

            Overall in the present context, in the identity seeking state for the dalits, the non-dalits can be taken as the real dalits because they have been completely ignored by the state to bring in the main stream for the shake their involvement in the nation building affairs. They are kept away from getting the opportunities and even chances to do anything for the nation. Other dalits are getting high priority in the state to come in the power and act for the nation. The non-dalits are in the state of searching their real identity in the society and the state. They have made the real dalits in the existing condition. They need to be given proper attention and consideration. The state has to realize their significance for the state affair and involve them wherever they are highly required. It doesn't mean that the dalits should be ignored, it means the new dalits should not be borne in the society. They have to be brought and considered equally and given chance in the same way in every aspect. Otherwise the moment will come when the non-dalits will come in the street demanding their rights and their security for the future. That moment will surely be a shameful time for everyone whoever is in power will be forced to reconsider about them.