DALITS, RATIONALIZATION AND BEYOND

In India, Dalits (Scheduled Castes and tribes) are socially and economically oppressed, culturally subjugated, and politically marginalized lies at the core of a considerable body of sociological literature. The Dalits are an integral part of our social and cultural fabric. Their role in an age of science and high-tech assumes greater significance than ever before. They are too precious to be dispensed with. Their exploitation at the hands of the feudal forces causes us to pause and reflect. They need second look today. A dispassionate analysis of Dalits' lifestyle makes it imperative that the social, cultural, economic, and political dimensions to their age-old problems be taken into consideration. BSP has also succeeded in the politicisation of Dalit community in U.P. Against the backdrop of these given facts it may be mentioned here that the Dalit community has been impacted upon by reciprocal determinism that is politics and economics reinforcing each other. Dalit assertion is a multifaceted phenomenon--cultural, economic, political. So, it is not the economic factor alone which is deciding as has been said by Karl Marx. There is a positive or linear correlation between politics and economics. Politics is the cause, and its effect is economics and vice-versa. Reciprocal determinism assumes that politics and material aspects coupled together and re-inforcing each other are most important sources of motivation of Dalits and their empowerment. Reciprocal determinism is the outcome of the process of rationalization as it is an alternative strategic measure for the empowerment of Dalits. Politics has now become, particularly in the context of Dalits, a necessary condition or key for economic upliftment as in a conservative society like ours as traditional high caste elites are not prepared to delegate their authority to Dalits. Unification of all the high castes against the lower castes on the issue of reservation is a clear reflection of it. Political mobilization has also overcome economic differentiation as far as voting is concerned though rivalry and factionalism remain.