Q. With reference to the Dalit Panthers in the post-independent India, consider the following statement.
1. It was formed by B.R Ambedkar.
2. The failure of the constitutional safeguards for lower caste people was a cause behind its set up.
3. The unsuccessfulness of the political parties supporting the cause of the Dalit people was a reason for its establishment.
4. It was a non-militant organization who applied only peaceful means for asserting its demand.
How many statements given above are correct?
Exp) Option b is the correct answer
In Post-Independence India, the Indian society has seen rise of a number of popular movements like Chipko movement, etc. One of the most prominent advocating equality and justice was Dalit Panther movement. Its details are
Statement 1 is incorrect. Dalit Panthers was a Dalit organization that was formed in Maharashtra in 1972. It was formed by the first-generation Dalit graduates, especially those living in city slums began to assert themselves from various platforms.
Statement 2 is correct. It was established because despite constitutional guarantees of equality and justice like abolition of untouchability etc., the legal mechanisms proved inadequate to stop the economic and social oppression of Dalits. They continued to face the social discrimination and violence. For example, denial of access to common source of drinking water etc. Therefore, the organization was fighting for the effective implementation of reservations and other such policies of social justice was one of their prominent demands.
Statement 3 is correct. Another reason for its formation was that the political parties supported by the Dalits, like the Republican Party of India, were not successful in electoral politics. These parties always remained marginal; had to ally with some other party in order to win elections and faced constant splits.
Statement 4 is incorrect. It was a militant organisation of the Dalit youth. The Dalit Panthers resorted to mass action for assertion of Dalits’ rights.
