Ms. Mayavati has come from a poor background and being a Dalit herself she has suffered the degradation by the Society.If Brahmins and other Upper castes are blamed for ill treating Dalits in the past,the Dalits like Mayavati who has tasted power are also to be blamed for her arrogance in displaying her diamonds and silks in the midst of majority of poor Dalits in the rural sector.In Maharashtra, many Dalits covertly practice caste system amongst different groups of Dalits.I know a friend of mine A Civil Engineer from IIT Mumbai who belongs to Maang caste and his in laws who are Mahars initially objected to marry their Medical Graduate daughter to a Maang.So why blame upper castes alone? Casteism is a state of mind. It is not confined to a particular caste or creed.So if Mayavati shows off her wealth, she is in fact practicing casteism and thrives on casteism.She cannot come out of it because it suits her politically.Tomorrow if there is no caste Mayavati will fade away.It is in her interest to keep up the tempo of caste politics.How much she is genuinely interested in the upliftment of Dalits is a matter of time.
