CRISIS OF DALIT LEADERSHIP

The Untouchables, from time immemorial, have been socially and economically oppressed, culturally subjugated and politically marginalized. However, in recent times they have begun to assert themselves and have launched socio-cultural and political movements aimed at ushering in a new social order based on the principles of equality and liberty. Even though many untouchables, as a consequence, have reached at the position of power and prominence, particularly in the political arena, a vast majority of them continue to suffer discrimination, poverty and humiliation, and are often targets of inhuman atrocities. Quite a few researches, books and essays covering this topic of crisis of untouchables leadership have been published in recent years, but they lack the genuine efforts to seek truth. Untouchables perceive their politicians (MLAs, MPs, bureaucrats, social organizations) as their savior, who will liberate them from the shackles of bondage and deprivation. The book is an attempt to seek the following key issues pertaining to political culture of the untouchable leaders; including MLAs, MPs and bureaucrats: • What are their set of values and expectations? • Do they adhere and are true to the Ambedkarian teachings of action to which they have vowed? • Do their untouchable brethren trust them and how are they paying back to their community? • Do the upper caste politicians and bureaucrats treat them with contempt and try to suppress them? • Lastly, the most important question, has the untouchable leadership failed? These basic questions and more have been examined in a lucid style in this enriching book.