Jayakrishnan Vu
Post News Network
You may not agree with a lot of things he says, but there is no ignoring his intellectual competence and his passion for the marginalised sections of Indian society. Meet Kancha Ilaiah, former political science professor of Osmania University in Hyderabad and author of some controversial books on Indian sociology that invited the wrath of the rightwing, such as ‘Buffalo Nationalism’, ‘God as Political Philosopher’, ‘A Hollow Shell’ and others. The maverick writer, born into a shepherd’s family in Telangana, studied in state-run Telugu medium schools but is now considered one of the foremost English writers writing on the lives of India’s dalits and adivasis. We catch up with him on the sidelines of the Kalinga Literary Festival for a chat. Excerpts…
OP: Can you delineate the arguments of your most controversial book Buffalo Nationalism?
KI : When I first wrote the book, no publisher was willing to publish the book owing to its content. I was contrasting the ‘ugly’ image that the buffalo is associated with in our society compared to the venerable status that the cow enjoys. Research has shown that the buffalo is the more useful animal; it gives more milk than a cow does, and does more physical labour than the latter. Cow worship reveals the racial stereotypes prevalent in Indian society and the fascination for the fairer colour. Cow worship is also a negation of the concept of production. The real producers are being sidelined. I challenged the cornerstone of the caste structure that has been denying real producers their legitimate due. The rightwing fiercely criticised me for my open stand on the issue.
OP : What is your opinion of Prime Minister Modi?
KI : Much before Modi’s emergence on the national scene, I predicted that the rightwing will use a backward caste muscle man such as Modi to ride to power. Currently, the RSS is a divided group, with factions led by Mohan Bhagwat, Modi and others leading the fray. Very soon, there can be a dalit group emerging within the right wing. Now, Modi who earlier used to quote Vivekananda has cleverly embraced Buddha, and has abandoned Gandhi as he found no currency for Gandhi in the West, especially after Obama’s comment on India’s status in the right to practise one’s religion in the country.
OP: How do you look at Buddha’s legacy?
KI : Buddha was the real emancipator India had ever seen. He staged a rebellion of the ruling Kshatriyas against the ritual monopoly of the priest class, and the latter still despise him for this reason. He envisioned a caste-less egalitarian modern society for the first time in the world. Unfortunately, it was later cleverly sabotaged by the priests.
OP: How will emancipation of dalits come about?
KI : I firmly believe real emancipation of the dalits lies in English education. If they were given proper English education, they will be able to produce stalwarts like Ambedkar. Dalits should draw inspiration from the life of Ambedkar. With the rise of an educated social class and an active political class, their miseries will come to an end.
u What are your views of the reservation system? Should we continue with it?
l I don’t believe in the concept of merit; dalits are weaker due to their historical disadvantage that has denied them English education. If they are given the same quality of English education, then after some decades, we may not require reservation system in India.