Reclaiming Dalit Identity: From Sant Ravidas’s Teachings to Contemporary Expressions
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his speech at Varanasi commemorating the 647th birth anniversary of Sant Ravidas,emphasised the creation of an egalitarian society — one driven by ideals of social justice. A society where people from the margins are marching towards the epicentre with great hope for creating a community free from social evils, a society made up by liberated souls. With the unveiling of the statue of Sant Ravidas, Modi talked about how the ills of the caste system are destroying humanity. This transported me to the words of Sant Ravidas, “Jaat-paat ke pher mahi urjhi rahi sab log/ Mannushta ku khat hai, Ravidas jat kar rog” (Everyone is trapped in the caste system/ Ravidas, humanity is being eaten up by the disease called caste).
In his speech, he said that the BJP government has been instrumental in revitalising the teachings of Sant Ravidas as they embody a movement to reclaim history, give voice to underrepresented groups, and change the way politics is framed. The BJP has been successful in transforming the social and cultural reality of the country. The current political dispensation’s policies have been centred around the empowerment of marginalised people. With this approach, the BJP government is attempting to harmonise some facets of its governance model with that of Begumpura, the city without sorrow envisioned by the poet-saint, through the prioritisation of social justice, equality, and development.
