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Book Review
TAMIL
The Dalit question
S. VISWANATHAN
DALITH PIRACHINAI MUNNOKKIA PATHAI: D. Raja; Translated from the English original Dalit Question —The Way Forward by N. Muthumogan; New Century Book House (P) Limited, 41-B, SIDCO Industrial Estate, Ambathur, Chennai-600098. Rs. 35.
THE DALIT question is perhaps as old as Hindu society. It has its origin in the birth-based, graded caste system that was put in place thousands of years ago. The system, sanctified by Vedic texts, divided the society into four caste-class groups (Chathurvarnas). A section of the society was excluded from this stratification to do odd jobs for the others. These segregated people are the Dalits. They have been discriminated against, denied access to education, natural resources, public facilities and places of worship, forced to work free or for low wages under degrading conditions, and subjected to social oppression and economic exploitation. Besides they have to face brutal attacks, physical and verbal, their women are raped and their houses burnt, by the people of higher castes often with state connivance.
Historians, sociologists and political thinkers across the globe have studied the plight of these victims of prejudice and its implications for the society at large. Raja looks at Dalit issues from a Marxist perspective. He shows how the social, national, and working class movements could not do much to end social oppression and economic inequality. The deep divide in society, he notes, has only helped the landlord-bourgeoisie classes to continue their exploitation. He agrees with B.R. Ambedkar’s perception that a classless society is impossible without a casteless society and stresses the need to intensify class struggles of the toiling people “in a comprehensive way” against both social oppression and economic discrimination. Translated by Muthumohan the booklet is eminently readable.
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