As someone who spent many years of my life in south-indian villages, if I may say so, Professor D.Gupta, has got it right. The main obstacle to SCs and STs in rural areas have been the OBCs. It is a shame that India's chattering classes with their Das Capital "analysis" of Indian history have not understood rural life. In TamilNadu, the ruling DMK and its parent DK, built up a well-connected mythology of anti-brahminism, anti-brahmins, Dravidian "race", anti-Sanskrit and anti-Hindi stance to gain political power for the OBCs and BCs. I do not see all that much gain for the Dalits in this "Dravidian" rule, from 1967 to the present moment. A creamy layer from the SCs and STs is included in the network of corruption [ road contracts, public works contracts, other licences ] and patronage in appointments to government-controlled units. But the rural areas inhabited by Dalits are still pretty much neglected. No schools, no primary medical centres. Oh, you will see a statue of Ambedkar though. Finally, the wealth of some of these OBC families you can judge, if you come to any of the jewellery and silk saree shops in Chennai. The OBC families arrive in brand new "safari" vehicles and can make purchases for up to 5 or 6 lakhs of jewellery at a time. This must be the case in other provinces of India also, I presume. Some of these families are so wealthy, it is said, they have bought properties abroad and may have swiss bank accounts.
