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11/17/2005:

"Dalits in Gujarat"

Q: As one of the pioneers of the Dalit movement in Gujarat and one of the few surviving leaders of the Gujarat Dalit Panthers, how do you account for the relative weakness of the movement in the state today?

A: Not only is the movement weak and fractured, it has actually rapidly declined over the years, because of the role of Hindutva forces as well Gandhians and the Congress, all of whom represent different faces of 'upper' caste hegemony. Another cause is petty politicking among Dalit leaders. Yet another factor is the role of many NGOs, who, by pumping in money in the name of Dalit welfare, have caused a widespread de-politicisation of educated Dalit youth associated with them and who, otherwise, could have been in the forefront of radical Dalit politics.
zmag.org