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 Untoucahbles”.
Do you think he would have liked to use an even vaguer term “the 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?”
Before widespread academic use of any technical term, especially a new lable, 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 believes in Liberty, Equality, Fraternity are Dalits.
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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
B) People from Ex-Untouchable communities (including Muslims and Christians)
C) All who are, or were, considered untouchable in South Asian countries (India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka..)
D) Dalits as defined in the Dalit Panthers constitution (This definition include all women, landless and labourers)
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 (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 either A,B,C,D,E,F or G in India?
Or
For political unity (of either of these groups)?
The stalwart “Dalit” intellectuals need to sit together 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 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:
1. Meaning of the word Dalit (Who benefits by widespreaduse of this word?)
3. Ambedkar surname is not given by any Brahmin teacher
4. Why did Dr Ambedkar say, “Gandhi is the greatest enemy of the untouchables?
