Literary Aajtak Delhi 2024 Day 3: The largest literature meeting Today is the third day of the ‘Sahitya Aajtak 2024′ programme. On the third day too, big personalities expressed their views from the platform of Sahitya Aaj Tak. In the same cycle, in the session ’75 Times of the Constitution: 2- Dalit Literature, Society and Constitution’, the guests debated in depth about Dalits, the Constitution and the situation in the country.
Mohan Das Naimishrai, author of Dalit lineage and autobiography ‘Apne-Apne Pinjre’, Dalit writer and professor at Delhi University, Sheoraj Singh Bechain and writer and translator, for the session ’75 Times of the Constitution: 2- Literature, society and Constitution’. Founder and Editor-in-Chief of ‘Ambedkarnama’. Dr. Ratan Lal, Associate Professor of History at Hindu College, University of Delhi, shared the stage. Senior Partner Jai Prakash Pandey coordinated the program and discussions.
‘Who is in their respective cages’?
Mohan Das Naimishrai, while answering this question, said that ‘Apne-Apne Pinjre’, the first Dalit autobiography in Hindi, was published in 1995. Until 1995, the Dalit community lived in a cage society. Even when India became independent, many people did not have faith in the Constitution drafted by Baba Saheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar. When the Constitution was being drafted, many people raised objections. Even after independence, many people opposed the Constitution.
Dalits are not stupid, they are resourceful: Sheoraj Singh is restless
Sheoraj Singh Bechain said that there were two ideas, one was the traditional law-idea and the other was the modern idea. Society was governed by old values and the law was based on modern values. In society, traditional values continue to fight with our constitutional values. The idea that Dalits are not worthy is wrong. On one hand you say that we have come here after acquiring two thousand five hundred years of values, two thousand five hundred years of education and two thousand five hundred years of knowledge system and on the other hand you say that you (Dalits) have come here since 50 years ago. My question is: is the slow learner ineligible or the fast learner ineligible? After acquiring the 2,500-year-old system of knowledge, one passes with the same number of marks as Dalit, SC and ST children pass. He’s not stupid, he’s clever. They are deprived of resources, they study in dilapidated schools, there are no means to find employment.
If you don’t fix any part of the nation, you won’t be able to compete with the United States, Japan, and Canada. Education has the lowest budget and there is also discrimination in that. If a child studies with a monthly fee of Rs 20,000 and the child studying in a government school has an annual fee of Rs 10,000, how will he progress?
What is the threat to the Indian Constitution?
Dr. Ratan Lal said: What is the threat to the Indian Constitution? From Pakistan-Bangladesh? No. The Indian Republic emerged from the Indian Constitution, thanks to the Indian Republic a middle class of Dalits was created. Dalit is a political coup. When the Constitution came into effect, who was the first to protest? There was no opposition within Parliament, an article was published outside Parliament saying that the Constitution was not in accordance with the Indian temperament. So what constitution was he trying to implement? Simple Manusmriti. There were many differences between Jawahar Lal Nehru and Ambeder, but both agreed on the construction of a modern republic.
All the symbols made in Parliament came from Buddha and Ashoka, but what was the need to bring in Sengol? This is not just a change of symbols, it is a change of value system. There will be no announcement of abolition of the Constitution, its provisions will be gradually abolished.
Sheoraj Singh’s Restless Poem: Freedom Is Still Incomplete
freedom is still incomplete
Understand that this is true dear
eat some pieces of the premises
Don’t jump, dear!
Yesterday was white oppression.
Now our own people are suffering
Whatever they say, the country is not built
of Bhim Rao’s dreams
Why only a branch, why only one flower?
Sara oh change your attention dear
freedom is still incomplete
Understand that this is true dear
whose blood is in the kitchen
That bus is hot today.
The condition of the dogs changed.
Dalit life is worse
do not speak coldly about tax rights
fire of change dear
freedom is still incomplete
Understand that this is true dear
Why do you think you are a virgin sister?
Why is the mind of parents restless?
I got unemployment after studying.
Why is the fruit of hard work useless?
don’t talk about my sorrow
Consider it yours, dear.
freedom is still incomplete
This is true, please understand dear.
