Yesterday was Babasaheb Ambedkar’s 125th birth anniversary which was observed with due respect all over the country. There are several communities demanding inheritance of his legacy which can have diverse implications. The recent suicide of Rohit Vermula on the Hyderabad Central University campus has caused a spate of controversy. The question is if the Indian state and society are aware that Dalits are oppressed more than they were six decades ago when the country adopted the Ambedkar Constitution based on equality. Discrimination in government structures and educational institutions is still very high. Caste hierarchy still predominates in contradiction to Ambedkar’s principles of democracy. Dalits have themselves taken advantage of it. On the other hand, programmes for the uplift of Dalits are more talk than action. Negotiations for quotas have vitiated the political ambience. Caste has become more powerful as a result of the exploitation of it by political parties. The State does little to wipe out discrimination in political and academic fields. Whereas there may be something to be said in favour of special reservation for Dalits in the electoral battle, such quotas at the academic level only lower educational standards.
For long the Congress associated itself with the ideals of Ambedkar who was inducted into Prime Minister Nehru’s cabinet. But with the politicisation of Dalits which was Babasaheb’s contribution, other parties also now seek their support. Ambedkar’s legacy comes out loud and clear. Caste inequality has been rendered historically invalid and Indian society has to accept the reality.