Modi's Ambedkar Obsession, A Masterstroke or A Misadventure

 

Reflections:-----------

Modi's Ambedkar Obsession, 

A Masterstroke or A Misadventure  

Modi is chanting "Jai Bhim, Jai Bhim" now a days. A section of Hindus, the Savarn group see it as shift from "Jai Shree Ram to Jai Bhim". They have distanced themselves from Modi alleging him of abandoning their concern (the concern of his core voters) for Ambedkarites, and shifting away from BJP's policy of "Ek hain To Nek hain" ( If we are united, we are safe). Since the UGC Equity Regulations were notified, the Savarna people have raised their security concern regarding higher education of their children. They find that the equity regulations can be misused and the lives of their children may be spoiled to the extent of false atrocity cases and blackmail. Although the slogan "Ek hain To Nek hain" was popularized by Yogi ji and all policies are considered to be the policies of BJP and RSS yet the Savarna group are now left disillusioned with RSS, BJP, Modi and the whole leadership. A series of events was responsible for this state of affairs.

The Background

Starting with the UGC Roll Back controversy that started on 13 January 26 when UGC regulations were notified. Savarna group found that the regulations were capable of misuse against Savarna students and the regulations portrayed them as the oppressors and SC, ST and OBC as the oppressed. Insecurity was big concern because SC and ST people were already weaponized with SC ST Act which could be used against the Savarna students even in case of implied discrimination and Savarna students would land in jail and their education career and lives would be spoiled. On the other hands, by the way if  reverse discrimination cases (discrimination against Savarna students by SC ST students) were reported, Savarna students were given no measures or no right to complain against such discriminations. UGC regulations had no measures against reverse discrimination.

Soon a series of UGC Roll Back movements and campaigns started against the government. None from BJP cadre or administration commented on it. To add fuel to fire, an IAS officer belonging to reserve category (SC or ST) from Madhya Pradesh made a public comment that reservation must continue till a Brahmin comes and requests to him to marry his daughter to his son. No action was taken against him by Mohan Yadav, the CM of MP. However, in response to PIL's Supreme Court stayed the UGC regulations 0n 29 Jan 26 and hearing on this case was postponed to be heard on 17 April 26.

The Savarna Group ( Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishy communities) have always been the core voters of BJP and have worked selflessly without expecting for any reward for BJP and RSS. UGC regulations have come as a shock to their devotion to BJP and RSS. Mohan Bhagwat, the RSS Chief too disappointed the Sawarn people very badly when he made a comment that RSS is not the sole contractor of Hindus ( RSS ne Hinduon ka theka le rakha hai kya? ) while answering a question from Ajit Bharti. On the other hand, a video was viral on social media in which Modi is seen saying " People who suffered  discrimination for thousands of years would take revenge if they come to power." The Hindu Sammelans (Hindu Summits) were found crowd less in UP. 

At present, the stage is all set. What appears to Savarna people is that Modi, BJP and RSS are ignoring them. They give importance to Ambedkarites. This is what is implied by all that Modi, BJP and RSS are doing. No comments are being made only actions speak if you read them. It is intentional or temporary phase cannot be said but it appears that a change has come over in Modi, BJP and RSS. A silence too is maintained on this matter. Nothing conclusive can be said. Modi is master of keeping his strategy secret. We can only make guesses. 

Now the question is "Why this change?" If it is a new strategy, what is to follow then? Again, we can make guesses or check the pros and cons of this strategy. But before we move forward, we must have knowledge of some important backgrounds. 

What is Ambedkarism?

As it is well known BR Ambedkar, the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of our constitution, was critical of castes in India. He wrote a book "Annihilation of Caste". He, in the beginning claimed that Brahmins created castes but later he himself refuted his claim saying that a Brahmin cannot impose caste on such a big society. However, all Ambedkarites blame that Brahmins created caste by Manusmriti and thus anti Brahmin attitude in Ambrdkarites is found a general observation. There is big literature from Ambedkar against Hinduism. However, at one place, in his book "Waiting for a Visa" he admits that Hindus have reformed themselves regarding untouchability but he had to face a lot of humiliation regarding untouchability in Doultabad from Muslims because according to them, he had touched the water of a pond and made it unholy. He had to leave that place. He admitted that Muslims have unchangeable temperament. They would never accept reforms.

When he was 65 years old, he embraced Buddhism with his 500000 followers at Deeksha Bhumi Nagpur. He made his followers to take 22 vows that were against the gods and goddesses of Hinduism but just after it, barely one and a half months later, he passed away. Thus, these 22 vows appear to be the source of anti Brahmin attitude of Ambedkarites. 

Did Ambedkar embrace Buddhism or he created a new religion that had the roots of anti-Brahmin Attitude. 

Buddhism is very compatible religion with Hinduism. Buddhism has respect for Hindu Gods and Goddesses and some are common for both. 

But 22 vows included by Ambedkar, actually makes it a completely different religion. In fact, with a view to annihilate castes, his 22 vows take a stand against gods and goddesses of Hinduism. Thus, it is better to say that Ambedkar created a new religion against Hinduism. Later Kanshiram and Mayavati called Brahmans Manuwadi. Their thinking is that Brahmins wrote Manusmriti and thus made castes, higher castes and lower castes.

Tilak Taraju aur Talwar

Criticism against Manuwad reached another height during Kashnshi Ram and Mayawati. The slogan 'tilak taraju aur talwar inko m... j... ch..' ( Hit Brahman, Kshatriya and a vaishy with f... sh.. h...) was publicly chanted during Mayawati regime. it is still chanted by so called dafali gang (tambourine gang) in universities like JNU Delhi ( these incidents took place and may take place again) . This attitude still continues with Ambekarites. They believe that Brahmin created castes. However, Mayavati has distanced herself with this attitude. She once became the CM of UP because Brahmins supported her. 

Did Brahmin Create Castes?

The corpus of Hindu scriptures stands as the most extensive and diverse body of religious literature in human history. But nowhere in this ocean of religious literature can one find evidence that Brahmin created Castes. The claim that Brahmin created castes is based on the thinking that Hindu scriptures are imaginary and created by Brahmins. But same claim is applicable to all religions. God is imaginary and human creation. Godmen have no proof of God so some people may say that godmen have befooled the world. What Hindu scriptures say is that Castes emerged as a structured outcome of occupational specialization, guided by human aptitude, individual preference, and the continuity of family traditions. 

What may be the reason behind BJP's tilt towards Ambedkarism?

During BJP's tenure recently and after Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad became MP, anti Brahmin attitude has seen new heights. Waman Meshram from BAMCEF too has added to intensity of this movement. The primary target is Brahmin and all keep mum on it. No party opposes Brahman bashing.  Although it has subsided recently yet the movements in support of UGC Equity regulations have sometimes became violent. Perhaps, BJP takes it oppressed people demanding social justice and such people to be increasing group of future.

Conclusion Drawn by BJP and RSS  for Decrease in number of Seats in 2024 Elections 

Perhaps BJP and RSS concluded that the reason behind the seats that were decreased in 2024 elections was that reserve category people felt insecure and voted against BJP because Rahul Gandhi spread rumour that BJP wanted more than 400 seats because they wanted to end reservation by making amendments in the constitution. Before election Modi gave slogan "Abki bar 400 par." This time BJP will cross 400 seats. Rahul Gandhi made a plea that if Modi got 400 seats, he would amend constitution and end reservation. RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat too made a public comment that the time has come that we should think of ending reservation. BJP thinks that the reserve category became against BJP and seats reduced.

SC ST Act made More Severe

SC ST Act {THE SCHEDULED CASTES AND THE SCHEDULED TRIBES (PREVENTION OF ATROCITIES) ACT, 1989} was made more severe by 2016 Amendment) with more grounds to charge the offender with this act. It was in response to the conclusion that 1989 Act has failed and there was a provision as per 2018 SC Judgement that it was mandatary for police to make enquiries before charging the offender with Atrocity Act 1989. BJP made amendments in Atrocity Act 1989 to revert the decision of Supreme Court and made it more severe. A compensation ranging from Rs. 60000 to 100000 (depending upon crime) is paid to the victim of atrocity (25 % to 50% on FIR and remaining later upon conviction). 

However, 14.78 percent cases were found false and conviction rate is limited to 39.2 percent. Social media is full of stories of blackmail and false cases of atrocity and it has created a great terror among the Sawarna people and UGC Equity regulations have actually triggered this fear to greater level that the Savarna students may become victim to false Atrocity cases and land in jail or become a victim of blackmail.

Supreme Court stayed UGC Equity Regulations on 29 Jan 2025 saying that they were capable of misuse. It came as a great relief to Sawarna people. However, movements and campaigns against UGC have got momentum and Savarna people have decided to run movements until UGC is rolled back.

Savarna People feel insecure regarding the Higher Education of their Children

The SC ST Act and UGC regulations have triggered a sense of insecurity in the Savarna  People regarding the education of their children. Everybody wants that university and college campuses must be free from dirty politics but they fear that UGC equity regulations will inject dirty politics and blackmail in the colleges and universities because they are capable of misuse as SC said and it has triggered the fear of misuse. 

The BJP's and RSS Mathematics

As of now, nothing is clear but RSS and Modi's tilt towards Ambedkarism is seen as attempt to woo SC ST and OBC people and bring then together at one platform. Besides wooing the women by Women Reservation Bill that fell on 17 April 2026 is also an attempt to bring women in favour of BJP. SC ST, OBC and women reservation make sense that they can lead BJP to victory in elections.  

However, there is the other side of the coin as well. Ambedkarites have been voting for their own people like Mayavati but it appears that Modi ji is trying to divert this vote bank in his favour. How much successful Modi proves himself the time will tell because there are people in Dalit community who don't favour Ambedkarism. 

It appears that the core voters Tilak Taraju and Talwar are not happy with Modi but silent. How many of them would support Modi only time can reveal.

Hinduist Image is Dented 

There is no doubt that Hinduist image of Modi BJP and RSS is dented. After UGC, the statements by Mohan Bhagwat and Modi's silence on the issue has eroded the trust that was built in Savarna Hindus, the core voters of BJP. Chanting "Jay Bhim Jay Bhim" and statement by Modi that if the oppressed comes to power, he would take revenge has too eroded trust of Savarna people. 

The 22 vows of Ambedkar would certainly create rift between Hinduism and Ambedkarism. There doesn't appear any midway. Modi, BJP and RSS appear to be caught between the two.

RSS has Never Supported Aggressive Hinduism

If you examine the history of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, it shows that aggressive Hinduism has not been its core characteristic. Historically, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has not placed significant emphasis on ghar wapsi concerning Muslims or Christians. It prefers Nationalists Muslims/Christians. It considers Muslims/Christians as converts whose system of worship has changed, and holds that they can be fully accepted within the national framework of the country.

But during the 2002 Gujarat riots, the response of sections of the media and the Indian National Congress portrayed Narendra Modi as an aggressive Hindu leader intending to harm Muslims. However, it gave him traction to rise in the national politics also because Hindus were dissatisfied with what they perceived as Muslims appeasement policies of Indian National Congress. While Modi's first two tenures raised Hindus' expectations to an aggressive level and UGC Equity Regulations came as a surprise and contrary to their expectations like a shift in the direction.  

Savarna Group is without any Widely Recognized  Leadership

Narendra Modi appears to retain an advantage over groups identifying with Savarna interests, partly because such groups lack a widely recognized, nationally influential leader. Figures such as Anil Mishra (an advocate from Gwalior), Sarvesh Pandey of the Savarna Army, and Swami Anand Swarup of the Kali Sena have emerged in this space; however, their broader political influence remains limited and largely untested. While leaders like Mayawati have ,at times, sought to engage Brahmin voters, major national parties have not consistently prioritized savarna-specific mobilization, tending instead to focus on wider electoral coalitions. 

However, the elections themselves would reveal the truth.