http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Dalits_see_Obama_path_worthy_of_emulation/rssarticleshow/3679392.cms
Dalits see Obama path worthy of emulation 6 Nov 2008, 0427 hrs IST, Nandita Sengupta,TNN NEW DELHI: With Barack Obama as its first Afro-American President, the USA is celebrating the triumph of diversity at the highest level. But for India, the race to equality has still some miles to go. Nonetheless, Dalit scholars see Obama's path worthy of emulation for Dalit politicians. Columnist Chandrabhan Prasad points out that unlike many Indian politicians, throughout the campaign Obama never used the "identity" card. "He did not talk about his identity as a black American. He just charted out policies that will benefit all Americans, especially the poor. Since blacks make up a sizeable section of the poor, they will automatically benefit. But he hasn't appealed to blacks as a single community," he said. Prasad believes that Dalit leader Mayawati must stop harping on the 'I'm a Dalit's beti' line if she wants to make it any further. D Shyam Babu of Rajiv Gandhi Foundation feels that community-based politicians often get lost in the maze of identity politics. "But identity need not be diluted. This is when character comes in. Obama displayed the temperament to represent a major political party." That is the difference, feels human rights activist Anandraj Teltumbde, between the US and India as well. "A major political party has nominated him for presidency. With a similar win, Mayawati will carry the burden of the ruling class agenda as she does even now." Prasad believes that Obama's win is revolutionary because it will raise the self-esteem of the ordinary Afro-American. "That apart there will be tremendous moral pressure on India's caste order. And confidence among Dalits will certainly get a healthy fillip," he says. Babu cautions against reading too much into the US election result. "Had Obama lost, would we have said the US is full of racism?" he queries. That is Teltumbde's opinion as well. For Whites it may be atonement for the racial past but he wonders what the future holds for common blacks in the US? "Will his presidency gloss over the deep entrenched racial prejudice and damage the cause of the blacks?," he asks. That concern is palpable. Says Teltumbde, "Downtrodden people like Dalits and blacks have to understand that such victories just represent certain advances in their development. Unless their movement is alive, there is a high probability that their cause could be undermined by such personal victories."
