Ambedkar’s legacy vs rise of self-styled Babas, Brahminical priesthood, Bania corporates

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar is not just a historical figure for the Bahujan Samaj; he is a guiding light, a father figure whose contributions shape their daily lives. Beyond philosophy or politics, Ambedkar’s legacy is rooted in fostering a scientific temperament and a spirit of inquiry. These principles must become integral to our lives and those of our children, especially in an era where superstitious Brahmanical values are being repackaged as Indian culture. Such blind faith makes us vulnerable to exploitation and undermines our well-being. From Buddha to Kabir, Raidas to Nanak, Phule to Periyar, and Ambedkar to Bhagat Singh, India’s great thinkers urged us to question, not accept, what is presented to us.

The rise of self-styled "Babas" reflects a revival of Brahmin-dominated priesthood, backed by Bania-led corporates, reducing other communities to mere spectators in their power games. This caste-class dominance fears the growing assertion of marginalized groups seeking their rightful place in public life. Ambedkar’s thought transcends mere rationalism, guiding us toward humanism rooted in Buddha’s principles of Karuna (compassion) and Maitri (fraternity). He envisioned equality and liberty achieved not through violence but through fraternity—a vision incompatible with Manuwadi prejudice that discriminates based on birth. While Ambedkar rarely used the term "Manuwad," he frequently critiqued Brahmanism as the root of social inequity.

Ambedkar’s humanism is our path to liberation. Yet, the state must also play its role by upholding constitutional values, strengthening directive principles, and bolstering the public sector to ensure equal opportunities for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and backward classes. A secular, neutral state apparatus, free from favoring any faith, is non-negotiable.

Today, the Bahujan Samaj faces multiple assaults. The Mahabodhi Temple in Gaya remains under Brahmanical control; it must be handed over to Buddhists for management. The reservation system is undermined by backdoor entries like lateral recruitment, often favoring Brahmin-Bania elites. The systematic weakening of public sector institutions—banks, railways, airlines—hurts marginalized communities, while the private sector lacks fair representation. Universities and schools are being reshaped to serve dominant caste interests, with curricula sidelining rationalist voices and introducing Brahmanical rituals as "tradition."

This is a moment to unite diverse communities. Our differences are real, but our shared struggles and aspirations are greater. The Constitution, a monumental document of reconciliation, binds us together. Its framers—despite ideological differences—collaborated without compromising their principles. We must do the same, making constitutional values our social and cultural foundation. That would be the truest tribute to Baba Saheb Ambedkar.

#JaiBhim

---

*Human rights defender

Comments

Academics urge Azim Premji University to drop FIR against Student Reading Circle

By A Representative A group of academics and civil society members has issued an open letter to the leadership of Azim Premji University expressing concern over the filing of a police complaint that led to an FIR against a student-run reading circle following a recent incident of violence on campus. The signatories state that they hold the university in high regard for its commitment to constitutional values, critical inquiry and ethical public engagement, and argue that it is precisely because of this reputation that the present development is troubling.

Was Netaji forced to alter face, die in obscurity in USSR in 1975? Was he so meek?

By Rajiv Shah This should sound almost hilarious. Not only did Subhas Chandra Bose not die in a plane crash in Taipei, nor was he the mysterious Gumnami Baba who reportedly passed away on 16 September 1985 in Ayodhya, but we are now told that he actually died in 1975—date unknown—“in oblivion” somewhere in the former Soviet Union. Which city? Moscow? No one seems to know.

Love letters in a lifelong war: Babusha Kohli’s resistance in verse

By Ravi Ranjan* “War does not determine who is right—only who is left.” Bertrand Russell’s words echo hauntingly in our times, and few contemporary Hindi poets embody this truth as profoundly as Babusha Kohli. Emerging from Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, Kohli has carved a unique space in literature by weaving together tenderness, protest, and philosophy across poetry, prose, and cinema. Her work is not merely artistic expression—it is resistance, refuge, and a call for peace.

UAPA action against Telangana activist: Criminalising legitimate democratic activity?

By A Representative The National Investigation Agency's Hyderabad branch has issued notices to more than ten individuals in Telangana in connection with FIR No. RC-04/2025. Those served include activists, former student leaders, civil rights advocates, poets, writers, retired schoolteachers, and local leaders associated with the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Indian National Congress.

Asbestos contamination in children’s products highlights global oversight gaps

By A Representative A commentary published by the International Ban Asbestos Secretariat (IBAS) has drawn attention to the challenges governments face in responding effectively to global public-health risks. In an article written by Laurie Kazan-Allen and published on March 5, 2026, the author examines how the discovery of asbestos contamination in children’s play products has raised questions about regulatory oversight and international product safety. The article opens by reflecting on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that governments in several countries were slow to respond to early warning signs of the crisis. Referring to the experience of the United Kingdom, the author writes that delays in implementing protective measures contributed to “232,112 recorded deaths and over a million people suffering from long Covid.” The commentary uses this example to illustrate what it describes as the dangers of underestimating emerging threats. Attention then turns...

Aligning too closely with U.S., allies, India’s silence on IRIS Dena raises troubling questions

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* The reported sinking of the Iranian ship IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka raises troubling questions about international norms and the credibility of the so-called rule-based order. If indeed the vessel was attacked by the American Navy while returning from a joint exercise in Visakhapatnam, it would represent a serious breach of trust and a violation of the principles that govern such cooperative engagements. Warships participating in these exercises are generally not armed for combat; they are meant to symbolize solidarity and friendship. The incident, therefore, is not only shocking but also deeply ironic.

The kitchen as prison: A feminist elegy for domestic slavery

By Garima Srivastava* Kumar Ambuj stands as one of the most incisive voices in contemporary Hindi poetry. His work, stripped of ornamentation, speaks directly to the lived realities of India’s marginalized—women, the rural poor, and those crushed under invisible forms of violence. His celebrated poem “Women Who Cook” (Khānā Banātī Striyāṃ) is not merely about food preparation; it is a searing indictment of patriarchal domestic structures that reduce women’s existence to endless, unpaid labour.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

India’s foreign policy at crossroads: Cost of silence in the face of aggression

By Venkatesh Narayanan, Sandeep Pandey The widely anticipated yet unprovoked attack on Iran on March 1 by the United States and Israel has drawn sharp criticism from several quarters around the world. Reports indicate that the strikes have resulted in significant civilian casualties, including 165 elementary school girls, 20 female volleyball players, and many other civilians.

Search This Blog