‘ AI, GIS helped Bharat bandh’

Washington, April 17: The Bharat Bandh on April 2 called by dalit groups was a result of the successful use of artificial intelligence ( AI), the geographic information system ( GIS) and big data, according to a core group of US- based dalit activists. The protest, which surprised many because of its sudden eruption, was organised against the dilution of the SC/ ST ( Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

New Jersey- based Deelip Mhaske, who heads a secretive network of some 100 overseas dalit activists based in the US, the UK, Australia and the Middle East said the protest shows that dalits no longer need to be affiliated to any political establishment. "A new era for dalit politics has begun by adopting artificial intelligence, the GIS and social media," Mr Mhaske told PTI in an interview as he gave an insight into how dalit groups were mobilised during the protest. Most of these dalit activists in the secretive group are from the IT sector and work in some of the top info- tech companies.

Except for Mr Mhaske, who has formed the Foundation for Human Horizon out of New York, no one wished to be identified. Several of them who spoke to PTI on condition of anonymity, said that over the past three years, they have worked to create a social- media based network of likeminded to mobilise the dalit community. Over the past few years, the group has used artificial intelligence to harvest publicly available data.