Why Mainstream Media Continue To Boycott Dalits Events....
-
Why Mainstream Media Continue To Boycott Buddhist/Dalits Events And Gatherings
Ravikiran Shinde October 14, 2016 CounterCurrents.org
Dr. Ambedkar in his speech delivered on Oct 13, 1935, in Yewala, in Nashik district had thundered that although he was born as a Hindu, he would not die as one. He advised the Depressed Classes to abandon all agitation for temple-entry privileges; instead, he advised that they should leave Hinduism entirely and embrace another religion.
Vexed by the rampant Caste discrimination rooted in the Hinduism that did not spare even a foreign returned doctorate scholar like him, he fought against the bigotry all his life. Twenty-One years later, On October 14, after studying various other religions he chose Buddhism – an indigenous religion of India that promotes peace and equality and which is based on human compassion than divine power. So influenced was he about the religion that he demolished the caste-based Hindu ideology and gave birth to Indian Constitution based on Liberty Equality Fraternity and justice. The fundamental principles of the Constitution are indeed equality, promoting scientific temper and freedom for all.
This year 14th October marked the 60th Anniversary of the conversion of millions of Dalits lead by Dr. Ambedkar at the historic Nagpur place. The celebrations took place on October 9th as per Lunar Calendar. This was by far the largest religious mass conversion in the history of the modern world without any bloodshed. Unfortunately, Dr. Amebekdar did not live longer and consequently his mass conversion at Mumbai and other places did not materialise. The Censusindia.gov.in website lists Buddhist population at 8 million as per 2011 census. The largest concentration of Buddhism is in Maharashtra (58.3%), where (73.4%) of the total Buddhists in India reside. Karnataka (3.9 lakh), Uttar Pradesh (3.0 lakh), west Bengal (2.4 lakh) and Madhya Pradesh (2.0 lakh) are other states having large Buddhist population. Sikkim (28.1%), Arunachal Pradesh (13.0%) and Mizoram (7.9 %) are top states in terms of having the maximum percentage of Buddhist population. Since most neo-Buddhist were erstwhile Dalits from Maharashtra, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh, the term Dalits and Buddhist is used interchangeably here. Some still maintain their Hindu caste certificate although they practice Buddhism. The confusion and question mark created related to reservations for converted Buddhist meant that people had apprehension reporting themselves as Buddhism. Thus, in reality, the population could be much more in reality.
But Every year millions of Buddhist and Dalits converge to Nagpur from All over India to celebrate the anniversary of Conversion called as Dhamma Chakra -named after Buddhist meaning of revolving the Chakra. According to one estimates, turnover on the sell of books on Ambedkar, Buddha, Phule and other social reformers ranges in Lakhs. Also, there are hundreds of stalls giving educational information, assistance or guidance to Dalit youths. Many organisations participate in order to take part in this philanthropic activity.
Dr. Ambedkar had asked his followers to donate 5% of their income to social cause and uplifting their brothers and sisters from abject poverty and neglect. Today there are more people who follow Dr. Ambedkar’s idea of community services. Pankaj Meshram and his wife Sheetal traveled from USA to participate in the event. While Pankaj works for a private company, Sheetal is a doctor in US. They have been collaborating with local grassroot organizations in India to train, educate and empower Women and also Students from the lower echelon of the society. This includes bicycle donation, computer donation, educational assistance and other activities including self-defense training for Dalit girls. “Nowhere in the world would you see such a crowd that is driven by passion for social work and upliftment of downtrodden. I also liked college students doing street play to raise awareness and it’s a great sign to see youngsters carrying forward the caravan of Babasaheb Ambedkar”, Says Pankaj who along with Sheetal had a stall on Women’s empowerment.
There are many others who have traveld to Nagpur. Mr. Raju Kamble has been pioneer in social work.Among other things, free distribution of Dr. Ambedkar literature to the young students in Engineering and Medical colleges for last fifteen years has been one of his successful ideas.
Vidya Bhushan Rawat, noted journalist also took part in the Deeksha Bhoomi event this year. He wrote “We hope with this positive minds working together will see changes in India for an enlightened India of Babasaheb Ambedkar’s dream. They came in lakhs to pay their tribute to celebrate the Historic Day of Ashoka Vijaya Dashami in Nagpur when the Dhamma Chakra pravartan day celebrations overshadow the Dussera celebrations in the RSS headquarters just miles away. Everywhere you see Dhammachakra, the Buddha and Dr. Ambedkar their literature, music, culture, theater, dance and reverence — everything here to understand what makes Dr. Ambedkar the tallest intellect of India. The people come on their own and their emotions and passion can only be understood if you have sensitivity”
You’d imagine all this positive news would make excellent sound bites for the mainstream media. Isnt it? But not to be. Just like every year, the mainstream Media continued to boycott such historical and mammoth gatherings. You will never see in mainstream media, Print or Electronic Hindi or English, giving any coverage to this grand event attended by millions. Even local Marathi TV channels in Maharashtra covers the Deekshabhoomi event scantily. This year they covered half-a-minute sound bite of the chief minister Devendra Fadanavis, who attended the event at DeekshaBhoomi Nagpur, without elaborating anything about the event. To mark this anniversary, every year, thousands of low caste people willingly convert to Buddhism.
Just few kilometers from Deeksha Bhoomi the RSS does its annual Dussera festival and it’s aired live on many channels or covered extensively but censors Dikshabhoomi. Rediff recently reported that in Gujarat, following the Una Dalit atrocity, hundreds of Dalits have taken a pledge to Buddhism on occasion of the 60th Anniversary of Conversion. Again, the Mainstream media turns a blind eye. (http://www.rediff.com/news/report/three-hundred-dalits-convert-to-buddhism-in-gujarat/20161012.htm)
While Nagpur has DeekshaBhoomi, Mumbai has Chaitya Bhoomi, the place where Dr. Ambedkar was cremated on 6 Dec 1956. Millions of Dalits gather here to pay their homage and yet there is never a media coverage. If anything, this event is reported in the news form of traffic congestion and pollution or inconvenience to the residents living in the vicinity. Again, here too its the books that get sold more than ritualistic material like garlands or incense sticks. Last year on 6th Dec, some youths led by young Poet and Journalist Vaibhav Chhaya started a noble initiative along with groups of his friends – ‘One book, One Pen’. Millions of pens and notebooks were thus donated by each person visiting. They were later distributed to the needy students and schools. The group has replicated his success to Deekshabhomi this year.
Granted, Mainstream media does highlight, to some extent, the atrocities committed on Dalits. Although they do not make to prime time debates, it is at least reported. But positive news or show of strength almost finds no mention in Mainstream media.
In the age of social media, the mainstream media gets completely exposed with its overt bias towards gatherings of Dalits and Buddhists.
-
It may not be unkind to maintain low profile for buddhism there, and especially when and if buddhism would become too famous to be true
. It may be exploited to conflict with other or vice versa, that thwart the harmony in all.If worldly system has a solution to their problem, Buddha would not be reincarnated in India, why the need to trouble troubles. The reason for Buddha Shakyamuni to reincarnate in India then was exactly Hinduism or worldly races can't solve caste system issue. Hinduism ascetic were highest caste in India, commanding highest respect and honour. however, their solution to daily issues of people in India then was staying ascetism in forest places, which was not the way for all. Buddha Shakyamuni was throne to be and the highest caste in India. He renounced his status and materialism to seek and discovered the answer for true equality, happiness and beyond death & rebirth of all beings, which stated that all beings are equally the same as the enlightened one, but owing to their delusion and attachment that prevented them from actualisation.