K Armstrong, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Tamil Nadu president, was hacked to death by a six-member gang near his residence on Friday, July 5. Unlike other political murders, this has associations with his identity. Brutal political murder of K Armstrong reveals how death and violence are everyday affairs for Dalit-Bahujans.
“Death and violence follow Dalits as the wheels follow bullocks in bullock cart”.
Often dominant caste groups and ideologies have used violence to suppress the political aspirations and representation of lower caste individuals, maintaining their own dominance and influence. Right from birth Dalit-Bahujans are exposed to caste atrocities and violence. Throughout the life they live in this anxiety and fear about their caste identity and linked hostility and hate towards them. Caste-based violence creates a climate of fear and insecurity among marginalized communities.
When they choose to attend school which caste hindus don’t expect, they become more vulnerable to violence. Their progress comes as a challenge to the pride of caste hindus. When they earn more than caste hindus become foes. Despite all this and hardships when they get educated and end up earning a livelihood of dignity and respect, vulnerability to violence increases after a point it becomes that even acts of living a dignified life can invite death. At last when a Dalit could bear this violences at various phases of life and when someone decides to pay back to his/her/their community, it comes as an invitation to death. When they decide to be a political and social voice for their community, death is always round the corner for them. Ambedkarite/Buddhist assertion, Resistance to caste order and Brahmanism is what infuriates caste Hindus. When Dalits rise higher from what's considered normal for them it comes as a shock to people.
However what leads to this audacity among peoples to commit violence against Dalits the answer is religious sanctions and Hindu social order that guides the social conduct of people. It is this religious and social subordination that permeates the economic and political sphere which invites violence towards Dalits.
Such violence and ill treatment to Dalits receive immunity from religious texts, here I have noted down some of the punishments prescribed in ‘Manusmriti’ the holy law book of Hindus.
A once born man (a Shudra), who insults a twice born man with gross invective, shall have his tongue cut out: for he is of low origin. (Manu VIII.270)
If he mentions the names and castes (Jati) of the (twice-born) with contumely an iron nail, ten lingers long, shall be thrust red hot into his mouth. (Ibid.VIII.271)
If he arrogantly teaches Brahmans their duty, the King shall cause hot oil to be poured into his mouth and into his ears. (Ibid.VIII.272)
For mutual abuse by a Brahmana and a Kshatriya a fine must be imposed by a discerning (King), on the Brahmana the lowest amercement, but on the Kshatriya the middle most. (Ibid. VIII.276)
With whatever limb a man of a low caste does hurt to (a man of three) highest (castes) even that limb shall be cut off; that is the teaching of Manu. (Ibid.VIII.279)
He (low caste man) who raises his hand or a stick, shall have his hand cut off; he who in anger kicks with his foot, shall have his foot cut off. (Ibid.Vlll.280)
A low caste man who tries to place himself on the same seat with a man of a high caste, shall be branded on his hip and be banished, or (the King) shall cause his buttock to be gashed. (Ibid VIII.281)
If out of arrogance he spits (on a superior) the King shall cause both his lips to be cut off, if he urinates (on him), the penis; if he breaks wind (against him) the anus. (Ibid VIII.282)
If he lays hold of the hair (of a superior), let the (King) unhesitatingly cut off his hands, likewise (if he takes him by the feet) the beard, the neck or the scrotum. (Ibid VIII.283)
This subordination linked Dalit identity is what rules the minds of caste Hindus and even makes them vulnerable to atrocities from other groups as well.
When Dalit-Bahujans refuse to remain neglected in Socio-political sphere, violence comes as a method to silence them. Violence has always been the weapon of keeping the religious philosophy and social order of caste. Therefore Caste-based violence has a close link to political power struggles.
There is this consistent anxiety among political voices of Dalits that they may not get up the next morning. Political voices like K Armstrong have been seen as a threat to dominant politics which tends to mask the Ambedkarite Buddhist assertion and resistance to social order, leaders like Armstrong are hard to appropriate and hence most vulnerable to violence. Such violence does not only affect family, political affiliations or ideology but it’s a loss of community that can not be compensated. It’s a loss of political resources and leadership. My condolences to the whole community and I hope nature gives strength to sir Armstrong’s family to bear this up.
Jai bhim💙
Jatin Mathur, a social anthropologist and Sociology Master’s student at Delhi School of Economics, DU. Author of personal development blog named The odd angle. Passionate about advocacy and public speaking. To contact him email- Jatin.mathur003@gmail.com
His blog link- https://teamoddangle.blogspot.com/2022/06/discrimination-diaries-stories-of.html
