Capitalism along with English is the way for Dalits to break free and prosper, believes Dalit thinker Chandra Bhan Prasad
Can you snap caste barriers by scaling up the class ladder? Is entrepreneurship the answer to the age-old pernicious caste system? The answers to both these questions would be an emphatic yes, if they were posed to Chandra Bhan Prasad, acknowledged as one of the most important Dalit thinkers and political commentators today.
Prasad urges Dalits to become self-reliant by setting up enterprises as well their own banks. Best known for his Dalit Capitalism concept, he urges Dalits to become job givers instead of job seeker, thereby shattering the caste tag.
Prasad had the honour of his dictum being chosen for the New York Times “Quotation of the Day” segment (December 22, 2011). He was quoted as saying, “India is moving from a caste-based to a class-based society, where if you have all the goodies in life and your bank account is booming, you are acceptable.” His favourite quote is “Caste & Capitalism can’t coexist; one will have to wither away for the other.”
Apart from being profiled by New York Times and Washington Post, Prasad is mentioned by publications and scholars the world over, including the Nobel Laureate Garry Becker. His weekly Dalit Diary has been a regular feature of the Delhi-based English language newspaper The Pioneer since 1999. The column is routinely translated into numerous other major Indian languages.
Inspired by America’s Black Enterprise, he brings out a 100-page English monthly magazine, Dalit Enterprise, which profiles around 20 Dalit entrepreneurs in every issue. Through the magazine, Prasad hopes to inspire entrepreneurship among Dalits and to show that the community can make a mark in the business world, no matter what the odds are.
Born in September 1958, into the Pasi community, a so-called ‘untouchable’ caste, Prasad also acts as an advisor to the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In 2007-08, he was a Visiting Scholar at the Centre for the Advanced Study of India. His writings include Defying the Odds-The Rise of Dalit Entrepreneurs (2014), co-authored with Devesh Kapur and D Syam Babu. He studied at Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi, where he completed his M.A. and M.Phil.
Prasad has set up bydalits.com an e-commerce platform to promote products manufactured by Dalit entrepreneurs. The portal’s objectives are: make Dalit capitalism a reality; ensure rise of Dalit billionaires; act as a bridge between Dalit manufacturers and consumers; encourage Dalits to launch their own brands; motivate Dalit middle class to buy Dalit products.
Prasad also urges Dalits to dress well and stylishly. “Wear leather coats, wear leather hats and buy all-season coats. The Dalit middle class should dress very elegantly just like Ambedkar used to dress on public forums. There shouldn’t be any excuse,” he said in a media interview.
Prasad avers that a new goddess has been born in India. She is the Dalit Goddess of English. He says the importance of English cannot be overstated in today’s India. English, he believes, will increase the Dalit youths’ chances of getting into institutes of higher education and improve their employment prospects.
“It’s not possible to get by in today’s world without English. Even to communicate with people in other Indian states, you need to know either the local language or English. Since you cannot learn multiple Indian languages, English has to be used as the link language,” he adds.
Capitalism along with English, indeed, is the way for Dalits to break free and prosper, he concludes. Even if all don’t agree with Prasad’s formula for success, which is entirely materialistic, his positive attitude of self-reliance, or taking things into one’s own hands, to climb the ladder of success, rather than depending on outside help like job reservations may find many supporters.
(Sources: bydalits.com and media reports)
Oswald Pereira, a senior journalist, has also written eight books, including The Newsroom Mafia, Chaddi Buddies, The Krishna-Christ Connexion, How to Create Miracles in Our Daily Life and Crime Patrol: The Most Thrilling Stories. Oswald is a disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda, and practises Kriya Yoga.
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Inspiring article. Well written Oswald. It takes a lot of courage and 100 times the effort to rise when one is born poor and in a caste that is treated badly. Kudos to Chandra Bhan Prasad for his work in helping this community.
True Marlene. All our Spirituality becomes zero if we ignore their plight.
This is indeed a wonderful article and close to my area of social work. For last few years i have been supporting dalit fashion graduates and sponsoring dalit fashion shows in Jharkhand. Oswald delves into the positive side of people and spreads goodness and inspiring awareness. I would quote this in my lectures. Thanks Oswald.
Thank you, Aseem. You are a true entrepreneur, who helps those most in need.
Self-reliance is indeed the ultimate empowerment of Self. The very best of the teachers do not merely know it but foster it as a means of existential freedom, but as the fulfilment of a respect which every entity of the society rightfully deserve it.
Chandra Bhan Prasad, as he is introduced, is definitely such a powerful teacher for the less privileged ‘Dalits’ or ‘oppressed’ of India, who as such comprise a larger section of our society.
In this context I am reminded by a few words from the book “Pedagogy of the Oppressed” by Paula Freire which so succinctly speaks for it:
“The more radical the person is, the more fully he or she enters into reality so that, knowing it better, he or she can transform it. This individual is not afraid to confront, to listen, to see the world unveiled. This person is not afraid to meet the people or to enter into a dialogue with them. This person does not consider himself or herself the proprietor of history or of all people, or the liberator of the oppressed; but he or she does commit himself or herself, within history, to fight at their side.”
Thanks Oswald Pereira ji for introducing such a wonderful leader through this article.
Thank you Baturamji for sharing your thoughts on the subject. Mr Prasad, indeed, has chosen the right path for Dalits.
Oswald, your profile of Dalit philosopher/businessman Chandra Bhan Prasad inspires not only the Dalit community (and me) but, hopefully, all those working towards equality in India for untouchables. What a beautiful illustration of one man’s determination and perseverance towards building a more just, equitable world. His bydalits site offers opportunities to anyone willing to believe and invest in themselves, their people and their future. My deep hope is that Indian spirituality can temper Prasad’s capitalistic vision to create a uniquely Dalit brand embodying the best of both East and West. Well done!
You are right, Chana, about a blend of East and West. Mr Prasad is, indeed, an inspiration to the whole world. He has been duly recognized in countries like the US, the media abroad and in India,as well as prominent people, including Nobel laureates.
Thank you so much, Chana for sharing your thoughts and I keenly look forward to your next article for our website.
You have profiled an entrepreneur in a novel way, silently telling all how one can become a Ram Manohar Ray and bring in reformation.
Prasad finds the real image of india. Indiais fast becoming a class base society now. No matter who you are money and matter is the new found credential.
Another important addition was his recognizing English as a catalyst for development. Yes i too agree. English as a language has universal acceptance and one who starts living today, enters into a universe, no more in a small town or big city, but in the world.
Nice informative post. Was not knowing Prasad or his works. Feeling good that India is rising through so many brilliant facets.
Thank you for a nice post Oswald jee!.
Dear Manas Das Jee, Mr Prasad is indeed an innovator and the beauty of his approach is one of positivism. He doesn’t cry foul against society or rant about injustices or demand special rights and privileges, but prefers to speak from a position of strength and progress.
I believe the best way to fight injustices or historical anomalies is to rise above them, rather transcend them with courage, conviction and the power of the human spirit, which is invincible because God is present in it.
Thank you Manas Das Jee for sharing your thoughts.
ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात्पूर्णमुदच्यते ।
पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते ॥
Though we have many verse which try to define the infinite absolute which we have no means to know by our limited factors but we have access to it through the fundamental process which we take it so ordinary that we never ever look seriously into it .
The system of divinity is such that everybody emanates from the the absolute and is complete in itself . But the absolute relies on nothing . It is the self generating system . Even if everything is taken away from this system it will still remain complete . One might cut a tree to end its life but
how can one destroy all its seed。
Whether an ant ,a lion , a fish ,a human , they all go through life process . The solar system is a model based on the structure of atom at the microcosmic level. We cannot be anything different from the absolute fundamental blocks.
We are all one since we emnate from one .
The sense of individuality is just for identification.
There is no difference whatsoever .
Now it is up to us what we want to be identified with . But life process won’t change .
Seema, true what you say, everybody emanates from the absolute and so we are one.
The moment we realise this, then caste and class, will have no meaning.
Thank you Seema for sharing your thoughts on this.