New -delhi, October 8 (IANS). The life of Kanshi Ram, who came up from the dusty fields of Punjab and shone on the Horizon of Indian politics, is the story of a star that became the voice of the Dalits. The life of Kanshi Ram, who was born on March 15, 1934 in Khawaspur Village of Ropar district in an ordinary Raidasia Sikh family, is filled with countless stories of collision with the black walls of cabinets discrimination. His father was a farmer who supported the family through hard work. Even in his childhood, Kanshiram saw how the pressure of Upper Castes crushed the Dalits, but to alleviate the equality of Sikhism at home the spark of rebellion in his mind. After completing his Bachelor’s degree, he joined the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) in Pune as a laboratory assistant in 1958. Here, even in the midst of the brilliance of a government work, the newspapers with the ink of casteism opened his eyes. The turning point in his life came when he faced discrimination during his work in Pune. This experience inspired him to raise his voice against social injustice. Influenced by baby Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar’s book ‘Annihilation of Caste’, he decides to lift the Dalits. Initially, he supported the Republican Party of India (RPI), but soon divorced it. In 1971, Kanshiram founded the All India SC, ST-OBC and Minority Employee Federation, which in 1978 became Bamcef (backward and minority communities employee federation). Its purpose was to educate and organize the suppressed parts of society. While his book ‘Chamcha Yug’ exposed the weaknesses of Dalit leadership, he gave political power to Dalits, backward classes and minorities through the establishment of the Bahujan Sama Party (BSP). His book ‘Chamcha Yug’ has made a startling attack on Dalit leaders. In this, he uses the word ‘Chamcha’ for the leaders who, according to him, ignored Dalit interests by jeopardizing with other parties. Kanshi Ram believed that Dalits would have to create their own independent political identity. In the year 1984, Kanshi Ram laid the foundation of the Bahujan Sama Party, whose mantra was – “Vote ours, Raj yours, will not work!” BSP brought Dalits, backward classes and minorities to the threshold of power by uniting them. In 1984, he dispute his first election from Janjgir-Champa breed of Chhattisgarh, although he did not win, but in 1991 he showed his power by winning the Lok Sabha election from Etawah, Uttar Pradesh. In 1996 he became MP of Hoshiarpur, Punjab for the second time. Kanhi Ram brought Mayawati to politics and brought her to power in Uttar Pradesh. In 2001, due to ill health, he declared Mayawati as his successor. He never took a post himself, but instead promoted Mayawati. His foresight made BSP the ruling party in Uttar Pradesh. Kanshi Ram, known by names such as ‘Manyavar’ and ‘Saheb’, became an inspiring personality in Indian politics in the late 20th century. He died on October 9, 2006, but his legacy remains an inspiration for the Dalit and Bahujan community. Kanshi Ram, who raised the flag of Dalit empowerment in Indian politics, was a person who not only fought for social equality but also tried to bring the marginalized parts of society into the mainstream with his organizational skills. —IANS AKS/DKP
KANSHI RAM: True soldier of Bhimrao Ambedkar’s dreams, voice of Dalit consciousness
