Ambedkarism vs Communism -- Rina Sagare

 There is a lot of support to Kanhaiyya and Communism from Maharastrian Ambedkerite youth. Hence need to once again start the discussion about Communism and Ambedkerism.

Here are the points we discussed on one of our groups. Please comment.

Lets once again concentrate on the topic at hands

1.  What is Communism?
2.  Whether Communism and violence are related ?
3. Can Communism help Ambedkarites to complete Dr. Ambedkar's mission or can we have alliance with them ?

Here are some points, in explanation,

Few points to understand Communism:

Economic and social system in which all (or nearly all) property and resources are collectively owned by a classless society and not by individual citizens.
Based on the 1848 publication 'Communist Manifesto' by two German political philosophers, Karl Marx(1818-1883) and his close associate Friedrich Engels (1820-1895), it envisaged common ownership of all land and capital and withering away of the coercive power of the state.

Its important here to note that Communism is dependant on Class based social System. There is no mention of Caste based society or its problems. 

Nothing is discussed on how to annihilate caste.

It is utmost important for an Ambedkarite to understand difference between a Caste and a Class, because both are technically and practically totally different.

Lets discuss about the second topic....

2) Whether Communism and Violence is related


The "means" adopted by the Communists are equally clear, short and swift. They are Violence and Dictatorship of the Proletariat.
The Communists say that there are the only two means of establishing Communism.

(¡) The first is violence. Nothing short of it will suffice to break up the existing system.

(¡¡) The other is Dictatorship of the Proletariat.
 
Nothing short of it will suffice to continue the new system.

Difference between Buddha and Karl Marx: The differences are about the "means". The end is common to both.

3) Can Communism help us Ambedkerites to complete Dr. Ambedkar's mission or can we have an alliance with them political or social.

Pre-requisites of Communism

Dr. Ambedkar avers that there are certain pre-requisites for the Marxism to succeed. These are the society should be a "Free society", meaning it should give importance to an Individual over the society and that it should be based on equality, fraternity and liberty. [Ambedkar, "India and the Pre-requisites of Communism", (W&S vol. 3,), p.95]

These have been brought to China by Buddhism and to Russia by Christianity.
The absence of these factors in caste ridden Indian society could not foster the growth of Marxism in India, and that is why Marx failed in Hindu India.
Marx could not properly evaluate the importance of caste or its influence on Indian masses. Because, Marx failed here, his followers in India talk of "Class" and not of "Caste".

That is the reason, the movement of Marx in India was and still is in the hands of oppressor class.

Now answer to the third question is bit tricky. Let me put some conflicting points about why its tricky and any straight forward yes or no is difficult.

1.  Communism by definition does not recognise Caste problem, let alone its annihilation. 
2. Communism labels all religions as opium without studying and differentiating between them on the basis of rationality and teachings e.g. Christianity and Buddhism. 
3.  Communisms advocates use of Violence to destroy existing established state affairs like govt, bureacracy whereas Buddha's teachings are about changing minds of people through logic and discussions. 
4.  Communism doesn't answer one important question about what should take place of the predecessor's established system. But Dr. Ambedkar answers that with Buddha's established docrine as well as Bikkhu Sangha.

Its noteworthy that, nowadays Indian Communists studied Dr. Ambedkar and added Caste issues to their Communist's political parties agenda. We need to discuss on whether they added it because they accepted inherited weakness in Communist philosophy and added Dr. Ambedkar's points to address Caste issue or to just expand their supporter's base.

Because if the former is correct then we can have alliance with them on Social as well as political basis. But if its the latter one then we can have alliance if needed only on pure political basis that too on our Ambedkerites terms and not on their terms.

Here we need to learn to differentiate between

•  Caste and Class 
• Philosophy and strategy