Thread by @jaiminism

Yesterday was #LaborDay but none of us recalled some revolutionary thoughts of Bhagat Singh, a freedom fighter who has been appropriated by India's riot/hindutva wing today.

Bhagat believed that caste/casteism degraded the life/dignity of laborer.

Thread.
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The caste system, according to Bhagat Singh, was a system to extract free and cheap labour from the most under-privileged communities.

In ‘Satyagraha and Strike’ (1928), Bhagat ratiocinated that manual scavengers (untouchables) were the real working class:

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Bhagat also believed that all those social reform movements lead by upper-caste were not intended to free the untouchables from the matrix of casteism. Upper-caste positively remember untouchables, only when there's a reaction to be done against communal representation.

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The above tweet is so relevant today. It's also in sync with Ambedkar's thought on caste. Ambedkar believed tht Hindus remember their 'untouchable brothers' only when there's rioting against Muslims

To add to the woes, Bhagat believd tht why untouchables can't wear janeau?

In 'Religion & our freedom struggle' (1928), Bhagat called out Arya Samaj Founder Dayanand Saraswasti: "people also say that we must reform these ills [of untouchability]. Good! Swami abolished untouchability but he could not go beyond four varnas. Discrimination remains!"

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Note that Bhagat's father was heavily influenced by Arya Samaj. Bhagat Singh refuting & debunking Swami, manifests the fierceness and critical consciousness against caste. As caste-ism represents social statism and deteriorates liberty, Bhagat was 'spot on' there.

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Bhagat Singh too favored 'communal awards' for the untouchables, in a positive light. Later on, Ambedkar revolted against Gandhi for the same.

Bhagat, fearing the systemic invisibility-ness of untouchables with time, believed that:

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In context of the above tweet, Bhagat came to a critical realisation that legal framework alone would not solve the issue of untouchables. He asked:

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In 'Problem of Untouchability' (June 1928), Bhagat Singh expressed his idealist thinking by asking the upper-caste to be apologetic. He also ratiocinated the no rituals or purification act was required to treat untouchables as equals.

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Bhagat Singh understood caste and the practice of untouchability and its associated binary of purity-pollution as an integral part of Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma). He asks very crucial question:

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Bhagat Singh ridiculed vedic scriptures and believed that caste justifies ‘usurped power, riches and superiority’.

He reiterates this point again in his 1930 pamphlet, "Why I am an Atheist", where he says:

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I am sure that Bhagat Singh would be called 'Hinduphobic' for his thoughts on caste. If he were on twitter, he would be bullied for his tweets on caste. If he were in UP or MP, chances are that he would be lynched by now.

Ending this thread on a powerful thought by him:

“...meaning of our freedom is not only to liberate ourselves from the clutches of the English [men] but also complete independence, when all people live together harmoniously, liberated from mental slavery”. (Religion and our freedom struggle, 1928).

The End.
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