EDITOR’S NOTE: The following article is from a series of Questions answered by Shekhar Bodhakar
Human rights activists need to remember that liberty, equality, fraternity (LEF) and social justice, the ideals of Ambedkarism IS IMPOSSIBLE to achieve in a caste-based society and EDUCATE AGITATE ORGANIZE is the formula (not the aim) to achieve these ideals in a jaatiless (casteless) and just society.
Babasaheb Dr Ambedkar clearly states that he has not borrowed this formula from any revolution but from the teachings of the great Buddha himself, adding ‘social justice’ to the principles of Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.
What is RIGHT Education?
RIGHT Education is education that leads to your DESIRED GOALS. It does not mean literacy or gaining knowledge about facts which has nothing to do with your goal. These goals vary according to the individual. The goal of Dr Ambedkar was to transform Indian society into a society where there is social justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. If your education is not directed towards that goal (providing that is your goal), then that education, no matter how useful in other matters, is not RIGHT education for THAT SPECIFIC GOAL. It may be the right education to achieve other personal goals.
Keeping this goal in mind, Dr Ambedkar said educate, agitate, organise.
Not EDUCATED means can’t read about how you were pushed into caste slavery, so won’t get agitated to annihilate caste. RIGHT education leads to RIGHT kind of internal agitation.
Not AGITATED enough means you won’t be motivated enough to get organised so as to fight for annihilation of caste.
Not ORGANISED to exterminate caste means allowing the next generation to be brainwashed into believing they belong to a caste, not realizing that the BEST SLAVE IS HE WHO THINK HE’S FREE.
So, in whose benefit is it that you don’t get educated? It all starts with RIGHT education.
CAUSE OF CONCERN TO AMBEDKARITES:
THERE IS CONTINUING AND COMPOUNDING CONFUSION, EVEN AMONGST SOME EDUCATED, ELITE LEADERS OF THE AMBEDKARITE SOCIAL MOVEMENT AS TO THE CORRECT ORDER OF THE FORMULA.
Dr B R Ambedkar said, “Educate, Agitate and Organize”. He did not say “Educate, Organize Agitate.” Why is there this confusion?
Kindly read the following words of Dr Babasaheb which he said, amidst the rousing welcome and thunderous cheers of 70,000 persons, on 9th July, 1942 in the All India Depressed Classes Conference at Mohan Park in Nagpur presided over by the President-elect Mr N Sivaraj from Madras and get the confusion removed once and for all. PLEASE:
“My final words of advice to you is educate, agitate and organize; have faith in yourself. With justice on our side, I do not see how we can lose our battle. The battle to me is a matter of joy. The battle is in the fullest sense spiritual. There is nothing material or social in it. For ours is a battle, not for wealth or for power. It is a battle for freedom. It is a battle for the reclamation of human personality.”
AS AN EXAMPLE:
Through his Writings and Speeches, Ambedkar the great EDUCATES us with the facts of our glorifying and golden past and compares with the pitiable life of present by highlighting the systematic injustice done to us by the casteist anti-human forces and urges us to redeem the lost past in order to lead an honourable life.
Then our minds get awakened and start AGITATING to regain the golden past or at least to lead a dignified life with equality at par with other Indians and reluctantly, we ORGANIZE ourselves and establish a forum or association or movement or a political party to pursue the goal and then retain the goal so achieved.
Hence, let us not commit the blunder again and again and always bear the correct order in mind: EDUCATE, AGITATE AND ORGANIZE
This liberating formula, you must act on at a personal level before educating the masses. Remember at all times that the goal is Social Justice for all, enjoying liberty, equality, fraternity which is not possible without annihilation of Jaati/caste identities.
ALSO READ:
- What is Ambedkarism and which facts will completely change your views about Dr Ambedkar in a positive way?
- What was Dr. B.R Ambedkar’s message? Educate Organise Agitate or Educate Agitate and Organise?
Author of this article Shekhar Bodhakar is a London based Anti-Caste activist. He is the Composer of Buddhatāla and has also worked as Head of Mathematics department in a London college in the past. You can reach him at: globalambedkarites@gmail.com
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this article are the personal views of the author and not necessarily the views of “Voice of Dissent”.
