Other than the rise of the right-wing Hindutva ideology in the recent past, one of the interesting trends in Indian politics is the deepening bond of Dalit leadership and Islamists. Though there is nothing new or wrong in two or more groups joining hands to achieve common political objectives, the Dalit leaders are digging the grave their own graves by colluding with the Islamists. The reasons are as follows:
- Ideologically, it is against the ideas and ideals of Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar whose work is the ultimate source of inspiration for Dalits in modern India.
- Practically, it is against the safety, welfare and development of Dalits.
In this article, I prove the first point, i.e., the idea of Dalit-Muslim unity is not only different but also antagonistic to the thoughts of Dr Ambedkar on Islam and Muslims.
In his brilliant book titled “Pakistan or the Partition of India”, Ambedkar argues in favour of the Partition with a complete transfer of populations so that Pakistan becomes a homogenous Muslim population, while Hindustan becomes a non-Muslim (mainly Hindu) population. The central argument was that even if Hindus and Muslims are somehow made to live in one country, as one people, bound by a single constitution; a system thus formed will eventually be disrupted from within. To support his argument, he insists:
“How the Muslim mind will work and by what factors it is likely to be swayed will be clear if the fundamental tenets of Islam which dominate Muslim politics …are taken into consideration.“
Dr Ambedkar mentions the following fundamental political tenets of Islam (He also mentions, as evidence, the anti-Hindu activities and speeches of the Islamists of his times, which were based on these doctrines.):
“… In a country which is not under Muslim rule, wherever there is a conflict between Muslim law and the law of the land, a Muslim will be justified in obeying the Muslim law and defying the law of the land.”
“The world is divided into two camps, Dar-ul-Islam (abode of Islam) and Dar-ul-Harb (abode of war). A country is Dar-ul-Islam when it is ruled by Muslims. A country is Dar-ul-Harb when Muslims only reside in it but are not rulers of it … India, if not exclusively under Muslim rule, is a Dar-ul-Harb and the Musalmans according to the tenets of Islam are justified in proclaiming a Jihad.”
“Islam does not recognize territorial affinities. Its affinities are social and religious and therefore extraterritorial. This is the basis of Pan-Islamism. It is this which leads every Musalman in India to say that he is a Muslim first and Indian afterwards.”
Today, there seems to be a total lack of both idealism and realism in the Dalit leadership when they completely ignore these basics of Islam as explained by Dr Ambedkar. It is impossible for any sane person to believe that these political leaders are not aware of the simple truths that the above mentioned political doctrines of Islam are :
— clearly, regularly and sufficiently expressed by their Islamist collaborators. The most out-standing expression being the open display of anti-Kafir hatred and violence during the recent anti-CAA riots. Read : https://www.opindia.com/2019/12/worst-of-2019-anti-caa-protest-riots-anti-hindu-visuals/amp/
— applicable to the (so-called) lower caste Hindus as well as they apply to the (so-called) upper castes.
All members of the SC/ST/OBC communities, whom these leaders claim to represent, must ask themselves a simple question: Why did Ambedkar not collude with the Islamists of his times, even though he was so frustrated with the attachment of the upper-caste Hindus of his times with the caste-system and other social evils?
The following words of Ambedkar about Islam make his views absolutely clear:
“The brotherhood of Islam is not the universal brotherhood of man. It is brotherhood of Muslims for Muslims only. There is a fraternity but its benefit is confined to those within that corporation. For those who are outside the corporation, there is nothing but contempt and enmity. The allegiance of a Muslim does not rest on his domicile in the country which is his but on the faith to which he belongs. To the Muslim ibi bene ibi patria is unthinkable. Wherever there is the rule of Islam, there is his own country. In other words, Islam can never allow a true Muslim to adopt India as his motherland and regard a Hindu as his kith and kin.”
(Emphasis added, ibi bene ibi patria means “here our life is good, so here is our fatherland”)
However, not everyone was as rational as Ambedkar. One of his own followers, Jogendra Nath Mandal, colluded with the Muslim League and joined Pakistan cabinet. He was assured by the Islamists that the new Muslim-majority country will be a safe haven for Muslims and Dalits, away from the tyranny of a Brahminical rule. That this ignorant leader’s decision proved to be a horrible tragedy for lakhs of Dalit men, women and children should not surprise anyone.
If we are serious about carrying on the legacy of Babasaheb, we must ensure that the people who lead us or claim to be our leaders should never fool us into treading a path which is, in essence, the same as that of Jogendra Nath. If we do so, and abandon the path of Dr Bhimrao, shouting “Jai Bhim-Jai MIM” while pretending to be his followers, we are destined to be doomed.
