The reality show and a reality check

Maharashtra takes pride in being one of the most industrialised and socially vibrant states that has a tradition of saints and reformers.

Maharashtra takes pride in being one of the most industrialised and socially vibrant states that has a tradition of saints and reformers. It is also the land where historic agitations pioneered a change in the lives of millions across the country. These included the opening up of a private well for untouchables by Mahatma Phule; the opening up of a school for girls by Phule and his wife Savitribai; the pioneering of 50 per cent reservations for Dalits by Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj; the public bonfire of Manusmriti the code of Manu which spells out the caste stratification and satyagrahas for demanding access to a water source in Mahad and for entry to the famous Kalaram temple in Nashik. Post-independence, the state has witnessed the socially deprived hitting the streets on issues like the Khairlanji massacre in which four members of a Dalit family were killed.

Political parties in the state are currently preparing for the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly elections, which are likely to see some fresh alignments 8212; with Narayan Rane and Raj Thackeray breaking away from the Shiv Sena; the BSP set to storm the state; and ambitious leaders from various communities planning strategic moves. At such a crucial juncture, Athawale wanted to participate in a reality show on a TV channel and remain cut off for three months from the rest of the world. When rejected, he alleged caste bias and his followers were out on the streets.

Athawale8217;s version of politics runs contrary to the tradition of social revolt he claims to represent, as the current agitation has nothing to do with the welfare of the Dalits. Many believe that the quota system has benefitted some Dalits climb the socio-economic ladder and similar affirmative action is required in the private sector. There are talented Dalits who get no opportunity to show their skills in areas controlled by the private sector and some even have to change their surnames to hide their caste identification.

Athawale is known to the country for his entertaining interventions in the Lok Sabha debates, through his instantly composed verses. He commands the largest faction of the Republican Party of India RPI and is known in Maharashtra as one of the few politicians who can take pride in knowing at least a dozen persons in most of the villages by their first names. He is also known to have rushed to remote villages at odd hours on information of injustice being committed against Dalits. But it is felt that his priorities have changed.

It may have something to do with his Lok Sabha constituency 8212; Pandharpur in Solapur district 8212; being wiped off the map after the recent delimitation exercise, pushing him into a possible political wilderness. There are options like Solapur and Shirdi, but these are with the Congress and Athawale happens to be a loyalist of NCP chief Sharad Pawar.

For Athawale, the change has been phenomenal. In his initial days, he ran errands for the then Dalit leaders at their peak, like Namdeo Dhasal, but his emergence as an important state-level Dalit leader came during the Namantar movement, the agitation by Dalits to demand renaming of Marathwada University after Dr B R Ambedkar. Subsequently, Pawar spotted his organisational skills and he became a Pawar supporter.

As a result, Pawar also got the backing of the largest RPI faction. In return, Athawale was made a minister in the state Cabinet in 1990 and was helped in Lok Sabha polls in 1998, 1999 and 2004.

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Now, all parties are gearing up for the forthcoming polls, the atrocities on Dalits have increased with the number of cases going up from 689 to 742 over the past three years, and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati is all set to storm Maharashtra. At such a time, the fact that Athawale is protesting over being left out of a reality show may not go down well with his constituency.