Teachers' Day
Bahujan
Intellectuals’ Initiative (An
Overview)
For Emancipation, Empowerment and Enlightenment
Bahujan
Intellectuals’ Initiative is a dedicated campaign for the Emancipation,
Empowerment and Enlightenment of the Bahujan Samaj. This endeavour of the
organic intellectuals of the Samaj intends to facilitate and intensify the
on-going Bahujan movement in its entirety including political empowerment
paradigm. The social transformation and economic emancipation remain the
immediate ideological contours of Bahujan Intellectuals’ Initiative for
endurable cultural change in the society.
Bringing
together of Bahujan intellectuals and transforming them into a conscious
capable Bahujan Class of intellectuals guided by the immortal principles of
Ambedkarism & pay back to the society is the agenda of the initiative. Our present
positions and private standings in our lives are the results of our
forefathers’ struggle and their unmatched and untold sacrifices. Whatever we
owe personally is in direct proportion to our debt of the community that must
be paid back by all of us in whatever form possible. It is our firm resolve to
hand over better prospectus and viable social environment for our posterity and
free them from the historical bondage of servitude in our own life time.
In
the Educational-Agitational-Organisational framework, the initiative further
intends to strengthen the socio-economic off-shoots of the society ushering an
era of enlightened culture with democratic political institutions guided by the
humanitarian ideology of Ambedkarism and epitomised by Indian constitution.
Formation of the Bahujan Samaj and annihilating the graded caste hierarchy
manufactured by the Brahmins for their own class interest and against the vast
Bahujan humanity and transforming it into an egalitarian and enlightened
society, with outcastes’ stewardship, is the natural and logical course of
action and strategical objective of the initiative and permanent themes for the
campaign. Autonomous, independent, dynamic and vibrant Bahujan movement is the
only righteous course of action for ossifying and consolidating permanent
structure of unity and strength of Bahujan Samaj discarding all clutches,
treating brahamanical pretentions of right, left or centrist orientation with
the disdain they deserve.
It
is our firm conviction that political consciousness determines the social
standing of the community. Political indifference had played havoc with the
Bahujan Samajs’ humanitarian and compassionate propensities. A community bereft
of political acumen makes no sense in democracy and in India, where numerical
preponderance of Bahujan Samaj makes it the natural claimant of political power
with significant bearing on over all development of the community. As a
principal and principled representative of Bahujan Samaj political aspirations,
the Bahujan Samaj Party (hereinafter referred to as “Party”) has led to
significant contribution in enriching India’s democracy which otherwise deny
social realities and therefore, with all humility we intend to ossify the
ideological coherence with it and with the utmost understanding reiterates that
we shall be guided, led & funded by the
Bahujan Samajs’ ideology, organisation and leadership alone.
With
no organisational aspirations immediately, the BII single-mindedly intends to
accelerate ideological consolidation of the Bahujan Samaj with methodological
symmetry and conceptual clarity by reinforcing Bahujan paradigm of social
reality in India. However, it will not shy away from the responsibility if
circumstances so demand in future. Hundreds of Bahujan revolutionaries
sacrificed their lives to bring this movement of dignity and self-respect where
it is seen today, and we remain indebted to them all for their contribution to
the social goal. However, to maintain the historical continuity of the movement
it is our unbounded conviction to reiterate our profound organic allegiance and
commitment to the Phule-Ambedkar Kanshiram ideology.
‘Entire destiny
of a country depends upon its intellectual class’ Dr. Ambedkar
‘First
Lady’ Teacher of India: Savitribai Phule—Bio-Sketch
At
a time when even the shadow of untouchables was considered impure, when the
people were unwilling to offer water to thirsty untouchables, Savitribai Phule
and Mahamanav Jotiba Phule opened the well in their house for the use of
untouchables. It was a challenge thrown at the Brahmins to change their mindset
towards untouchables. (But even after almost 200 years, dalit (untouchables)
still strive for water rights.)
They
took initiative to give education to downtrodden, thinking that education is
necessary for the restoration of social and cultural values. Savitribai Phule
started Mahila Seva Mandal in 1852, which worked for raising women’s
consciousness about their human rights, dignity of life and other social
issues. She went on to organise a successful barbers strike in Mumbai and Pune
against the prevailing practice of shaving of widows’ heads. She also played a
vital role in the Satya Shodhak Samaj movement started by her husband Jotiba Phule.
During
the 1876 to 1898 famines, Savitribai Phule worked courageously with her husband
and suggested many new ways to overcome the difficult time. They started
distributing free food at many locations. She died while she was nursing a
plague- affected child as she got infected while serving the affected people.
Rationally
thinking people will definitely question, how could it be possible that the
name of such a legend (Savitribai Phule) is omitted from the history books,
when names like Jhansi ki Rani; Lakshmibai and names of wives and
‘girl-friends’ of Gandhi-Nehru family are given in history books?
Women
of the Indian society are not aware of the greatness of Savitribai Phule, who
dared to pursue the noble profession of teaching in the ‘Dark Age’. The time
when women were mere objects-to-be-used, education for women was considered no
less than a punishable crime; she dared to speak against the unpardonable
boundaries imposed on women in Indian society, she ignited millions lives, for
which today’s women and everyone should be grateful to her. Isn’t it enough for
us to celebrate ‘Teachers’ Day’ on Savitribai Phule’s birthday? Celebrating
‘Teachers’s Day’ on Savitribai Phule’s birthday will be a good attempt on
Government’s part for women’s empowerment or at-least to show it’s concern for
women’s social status.
“Savitribai
Phule (1831-97), struggled and suffered with her revolutionary husband in an
equal measure, but remains obscured due to casteist and sexist negligence.
Apart from her identity as Jotirao Phule’s wife, she is little known even in
academia. Modern India’s first woman teacher, a radical exponent of mass and
female education, a champion of women’s liberation, a pioneer of engaged
poetry, a courageous mass leader who took on the forces of caste and patriarchy
certainly had her independent identity and contribution. It is indeed a measure
of the ruthlessness of elite-controlled knowledge-production that a figure as
important as Savitribai Phule fails to find any mention in the history of
modern India. Her life and struggle deserves to be appreciated by a wider
spectrum, and made known to non-Marathi people as well.”
Historians, who
are ought to be free from fear, sincere, open minded, open hearted, truth
seeker and also have courage to show the truth at any cost. But it’s
unfortunate that historians have shown distorted picture and did not show the
truth to the people. As a result of this, almost everyone confuses history with
fiction & historians have made people blind, deaf & dumb and have
disabled people from thinking rationally. I have always wondered why the
‘Teachers’ Day’ in India is not celebrated on the birthday of Savitribai Phule,
the lady who started first ever school for the downtrodden and was first lady
teacher of India?
PROGRESS REPORT 2014
BII has taken up several initiatives to act as an organic part of the
on-going Bahujan movement in the country. As an ideological campaign for the
Emancipation,Empowerment and Enlightenment of the Bahujan Samaj, BII has
constantly engaged in ideological consolidation and creating awareness about
the Bahujan revolutionaries ever since its inception, the initiative is engaged
in transforming the Bahujan intellectuals into a class of intellectuals that
can become the mind and mentor of the struggle.
Besides monthly informal brainstorming sessions of the BII core group,
many public programmes were organised by the Bahujan Intellectuals’ Initiative
(BII). The core programmes include:
15th June 2014 BII organised its first broad
based public programme at India international Centre New Delhi.The programme
was attended by 70 delegates from different states of the country including
Haryana, Rajasthan UP, HP, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh etc.
26th July was celebrated as Social
democracy day by the BII. The programme was organised in Indian Social
Institute Lodi road. Forty delegates from the NCR participated in the
programme. The contribution of Shahuji Maharaj was highlighted and it was
decided upon to organise a National meet of Bahujan intellectuals on 6
September, 2014.
6th September 2014 around 200 delegates from 20
states participated in the day long deliberations highlighting the role of
intellectuals in formation of Bahujan Samaj.
Twenty-Five people spoke on the issue and everyone showed keenness to be
part of the initiative in its future endeavour. It was a closed door programme
and only limited no. of delegates were called keeping in mind the ideological
coherence. Many participants reached a day before and stayed back. It was a
hugely successful event to have formal and informal interaction amongst Bahujan
Intellectuals. The programme was organised at India Islamic Cultural Centre,
New Delhi.
24th September is the day when a substantial
part of Bahujan Samaj was disfranchised through POONA-PACT. A programme was
organised at Dr. Ambedkar Mahaparinirwan Bhoomi, 26 Alipur road to mark the
occasion. The BII resolved to develop the brigde among co-sufferes of the
Bahujan Samaj and develop socio-cultural roots. The number of participants was
very encouraging as all friends came along with their family members.
9thOctober is the important day in
Bahujan Calendar as Bahujan Nayak Kanshiram Parinirwan Diwas. The day was
marked as pay back to society day and BII team met at Bahujan Prerna Sthal,
Gurudwara Rakabganj New Delhi where magnificent monuments are being developed
and dedicated to the Bahujan revolutionaries.
Bahujan Intellectuals’ Initiative (BII) is strongly
determined to ceaselessly consolidate the Bahujan Vision and Mission for all
times to come.
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