Sant Ravidas’s birth anniversary: Imagination of Begumpura still relevant in our caste-ridden society

Ravidas pioneered socialism, envisioning societal justness done his conception of Begumpura (city without sorrow), agelong earlier the planetary socialist question gained traction successful the post-Marxian era. His teachings inspired leaders similar B R Ambedkar, Ram Manohar Lohia, and Kanshi Ram who aimed to abolish the caste system, and furthered his imaginativeness of economical equality and societal justice.

Begumpura’s Utopia

Ravidas extrapolated the conception of Begumpura done galore couplets. For him, Begumpura is simply a metropolis devoid of suffering: “Begampura Sahar ko naao, dukhu-andoohu nahi tahi thaao”. In his imagination, everyone successful this utopic satellite considers themselves arsenic a portion of a family. In this prosperous place, each are equal. “Ravidas, the liberated cobbler, declares: Those who dwell present are my friends.”

His imagination of an egalitarian nine is encapsulated successful this verse: “Aisa chahun raj main, jahan mile saban ko ann, Chhot-bado sab sam base, Raidas rahe prasann” (I tendency a kingdom wherever everyone gets food, wherever mediocre and affluent unrecorded unneurotic successful harmony, and Ravidas remains happy.) His teachings of humbleness and simplicity successful beingness springiness a telephone for introspection. In a consumption-driven satellite wherever the meaning of beingness is tied to its symbolic value, his words springiness america important lessons. “Main rukhi-sukhi khaaun, auran ki bhookh mitaun. Koi pairon na dukhi paasa, sab sukhi basal Raidaasa” (I devour simple, adust food, but I strive to fulfill the hunger of others. May nary one’s feet stumble successful pain; whitethorn everyone unrecorded happily, says Ravidas)

The words of Ravidas powerfully align with socialist principles, which emphasise economical equality, corporate welfare, and compassion for the underprivileged. He besides captures the analyzable powerfulness relations successful nine and questions subjugation. “Paradhinata paap hai, jaan lehu re meet. Raidas daas paradhin saun, kaun karaihai preet”. (Subjugation is simply a sin; recognize this, my friend. No 1 loves those who are subjugated)

He adds, “Parādhīn kā dīn kyā, parādhīn bedīn. Raidas parādhīn ko sab hī samajh hīn.” (What religion does the enslaved have? Slavery is seen arsenic faithless. Oh Ravidas! Everyone considers the slavery arsenic insignificant)

Both Ravidas and Marx advocated for a nine without exploitative structures. Marx envisioned a classless, stateless nine with adjacent presumption for all, portion Ravidas’s Begumpura imagined a utopia escaped of hierarchy. Marx viewed capitalism arsenic the oppressor, Ravidas recovered the evil successful the caste system.

Ravidas’s legacy: Ambedkar and Kanshi Ram

Ravidas was spiritual and poetic; Ambedkar was centred connected law reform. Both fought against caste-based oppression to make an egalitarian society. In Ambedkar’s words, “Political ideology cannot past unless determination lies astatine the basal of it societal democracy, which means a mode of beingness that recognises liberty, equality, and fraternity.” Ambedkar’s imaginativeness of societal ideology is the modern, realistic mentation of Ravidas’s Begumpura.

Begampura’s spiritual and poetic essence recovered a applicable signifier successful Ambedkar, who utilized the instrumentality to dismantle caste oppression, ensuring economical and governmental rights for Dalits and marginalised groups. Ambedkar besides dedicated his publication The Untouchables to Ravidas, on with Nandnar and Chokhamela.

Kanshi Ram, the laminitis of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), aimed to uplift the marginalised community. Originally from Punjab, helium besides belongs to the cobbler caste of Ravidas. His authorities was centred successful Uttar Pradesh, the birthplace of the Sant.

Following the way of Ravidas, helium believed that wealthiness and resources should beryllium redistributed to execute economical justice. His celebrated slogan, “Jiski jitni sankhya bhari, utni uski hissedari” emphasises proportional representation, portion “Jo zameen sarkari hai, woh zameen hamari hai”, asserts rightful ownership of authorities land. Kanshi Ram besides renovated Ravidas’s temple successful 1995. His slogan, “Vote se lenge CM-PM, Aarakshan se SP-DM,” captures his content successful utilizing votes and reservations to unafraid opportunities for the marginalised.

In modern India, wherever caste favoritism and economical inequalities signifier the polity, Ravidas’s teachings stay highly relevant. His Begumpura could beryllium considered a exemplary for an alternate imaginativeness wherever the marginalised could find an emancipatory abstraction beyond mundane oppression and vulnerabilities.

The writer is simply a PhD probe student astatine Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai.