Dialectic Engagement in a Multicultural Society

Dalits, known and treated as untouchable people in India and in some countries in Asia are the original indigenous people of India. Untouchability was imposed on them by Hindu religion with the arrival of the Aryans in India 3500 years ago. Aryans came into India and colonized the country and have made it their own through multifarious projects of Brahminization. Dalits still remain in virtual colonization in their own country. The subjugation of Dalits has been wrought through many centuries of oppressive scheming, subsuming assimilation and banning of education for Dalits.

The British came and opened up education for Dalits. Among the many who used such opportunity was Dr. B.R. Ambedkar who later became the chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution of post British India. Through affirmative action known as ‘reservation’ Dalits have made inroads into many level playing fields, though grossly inadequate.

The resent cultural resurgence of Dalits in pockets of India has lead to stronger assertion of cultural and political identity. Keeping in line with their cultural history Dalits have deeply respected multiple space of all people in India including their oppressors. They have recognized the differences that exist in Indian society but have struggled hard not to let differences become the foundations of discrimination. Their political assertion has taken them to assert the need for a dialectic democracy in India thus recognizing the space for thesis and counter thesis among indigenous and non-indigenous groups, slowly leading to a transformation of social hegemony into social harmony.

There are very recent efforts to also forge a cultural and political unity among Dalits and other indigenous groups of people, especially in the North Eastern parts. We recognize the need for respecting different cultures within the Indian nation. Without such mutual respect India will cease to be a nation. The Hindutva forces are making an all out effort to make India a nation of one culture, one history and one politics. It will be very interesting to see how Dalits are weaving a path of living together while at the same time recognizing and accepting multiplicity as an essential way of living in India.  We Dalits are also now aspiring to forge unity among the different indigenous communities of the world. It will be a path breaking effort and an unprecedented success when it is achieved.