We expected them to speak about us, the dalits, the untouchables. Because, for us, speaking about Babasaheb without speaking about us, is meaningless. We thought they will speak about the attacks on us. We wanted them to speak about people who still shamelessly call us dogs. We hoped that they will talk about things that will help in the education of our children, jobs for us and an improvement in our overall life. For us, Ambedkar is a struggle and we thought that there will be a talk of our struggles in the parliament. Glued to the TV, we watched and watched and watched. Good thing is, everybody said Ambedkar is a great man, we respect him. But only very few talked about us. We naturally are surprised, how can Babasaheb be great and there be nothing about us in the discussion?

We thought parliament will come out strongly in support of us and whatever small benefits that we have, thanks to the Constitution. We wanted that to happen as we are afraid from many of the statements being made by many people these days about some support given to us by the Constitution.

A judge of Gujarat High Court had recently commented that 'reservations and corruption' are two things that are destroying the country. According to him, both these things have to be immediately stopped for the country to grow. He is a judge, who became a judge by taking oath on the Constitution. He promised to follow the Constitution and also see that it is not violated and is implemented. How can he say that? The parliament is still talking about the greatness of Ambedkar and here is a judge who says reservations = corruption, that are harming the country! The parliament is silent about such people. Why did we vote for these people, if not to bravely say, 'you judge, you are wrong. This is not what our Constitution says. Do what the Constitution asks you. And do not talk like that'. But these MPs did not say any of this. Somehow, Gujarat is bringing fears to all of us. What with the man who they sent as the prime minister and now these kind of words from judges.

Yes, it is true that 15 percent reservation is given to dalits in education and jobs. But where are they given? Only in government schools, colleges and universities. Jobs are also reserved in government and public sector. Today, all of us know (of course all those who can see, hear and perceive) that everywhere government schools, colleges are becoming less and less. Private schools and colleges are growing very fast. Many public sector factories are closed and there are no government jobs as there is a ban on employment. Private sector is growing in IT and other services very fast. Is there reservation in private schools, colleges, or industries? Nothing. So where are reservations available to give us education and jobs?

Government statistics itself tell us that even when 15 percent reservation is given, only around 10 percent are there in higher education. Even in jobs, many posts for dalits and other backward castes are not filled. There are huge number of backlog posts and they are not filled. Many dalits who are found in government jobs are sweepers, cleaners and doing such other jobs. There are only very few officers and top ranks from dalits. These facts are not at all discussed. Even the parliament now did not discuss these things.

Without discussion, the truth of reservations will not come out. And it will seem that it is a great sacrifice done by the upper-castes to the dalits. Some think that it is theirs which they are giving it to dalits as donation. This itself is wrong. It is of all the people. If opportunities are not available, all of us should come together and ask for more. Till recently, dalits are not allowed anything. Only a few were enjoying. Reservations forced them to share and they are crying. One thing should be remembered: the society, resources, knowledge and all such things belong to all and all of us should share them. We should not say, because of you, I am not getting education or job. If there was a proper discussion in the parliament, we wanted all these things to come up. We wanted the many ignorant people who are brainwashed by few mischievous people to understand the truth. These mischievous people are very clever you see, they are afraid that if these are debated and truth comes out, people will come together, which is dangerous for them. So they did not allow any debate to happen on these lines. They do not like reservations, but do not want to appear as opposed to reservations. A debate would have exposed them.

We thought a debate in the parliament will be able to openly point fingers at those who shamelessly called and think dalits as dogs. To call dogs itself is a big wrong. And above it, another minister has this to say that calling dogs is not that big a crime, as even dogs are respected. If such is the way, by calling each other dog, that respect is shown, then it is better for these colleagues to continue doing so. Let their friends too join, if it pleases them. But not for us. We fought against the British, when they wrote that 'Indians, dogs are not allowed'. Yes, it is true, for those who had never fought against the British, it is difficult to know what it means to have self-respect and fight for it. If there was a proper debate, we hoped that these people would be exposed. We wanted the parliament to expose these people, who are faking love and respect for Babasaheb. We wanted the parliament to criticise them and show them their place.

When the parliament did not say anything against them, naturally the upper-caste 'lords' of our villages and bastis are very happy and became even more brave. They are now sure that they can do whatever they want, nothing can stop them. They can beat us, rape us, throw away us from our homes and fields and even kill us. Thanks to these kinds of people, it is easy to kill than to live!

Inside the newspapers, you will find that attacks on dalits have increased now. It is from government reports that they tell us these facts. According to them, attacks and atrocities against dalits increased by nearly 19 percent in the recent year. More than one lakh cases are pending trial and among them who were tried, only 28 percent saw punishments given. All this means, you can do whatever you want on the dalits as, one, there is no possibility of a case registered on you; two, if there is a case also, there is no guarantee that it will come to trial in the court immediately and three, even if it is tried, out of 100, 72 times, you can walk free! This is what we have seen in all those cases in Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, where many dalits were killed, but no one was punished in the trials that went on and on for years. This is the situation in our country and we thought parliament will talk all about this. Nothing had happened.

During the British rule, Ambedkar had once said that due to 'brahminical imperialism', all dalits, including himself do not have a homeland. Today there are once again such attempts to deny dalits their cherished homeland. This should not be allowed to happen. Babasaheb got very angry on these kind of pseudo people (yes pseudo people, because people are expected to show humanity and concern for others) and desisted them in his lifetime.

Babasaheb wanted our country to be a real democracy – political, social and economic. Otherwise he said the country will be in a great danger. It is not social and economic aspects of democracy alone that are under threat today, even the political aspect of it too is facing serious threats. A real homage to Babasaheb Ambedkar will be to fight for realising real democracy in our country, with all its aspects.