Michael Tobin, 145Forrest St., Fort Leonard, MS 65473, USA: This summer of 1996, I will be meeting with our brothers in Panama. Soon to make arrangements to meet with Louis Farrakhan and members of the “Nation of Islam” about Dalit and Muslim support.
Dr. Laxmi M. Berwa, 7700Old Branch Avenue, Suite C101, Clinton, Maryland 20735, USA: This protest is to the callous and indifferent behaviour of the Indian embassy staff and the Acting Ambassador, Shamla Cow Shik. Our coordinator, K.P. Singh, contacted the Ambassador to be the chief guest of our Dr. Ambedkar Jayanti function on April 14, this indifference may be because this celebration was planned by a Dalit like myself and a contempt for the late Dr. Ambedkar. I must say the embassy staff and the Ambassador were insensitive to our request to be our chief guest.
Arun Kumar, 19Henderson Way, Kempston, Bed ford, MK428 NN, UK: This is with ref. to Nand Kishore’s call to Dalits to embrace Sikhism (“Sikhism alone can rid of slavery and fight Brahminism” DV Dec.1,1995). Before converting to Buddhism Dr. Ambedkar sent his missionaries to the Golden Temple, Amritsar, to explore all aspects of Sikhism. After careful consideration, he preferred Buddhism. Even as early as in 1935, he declared that he was born a Hindu but would never die a Hindu. Since. then he studied various religions and took over 20 years to come to the conclusion (Buddhism) in 1956. Why Buddhism? He could have chosen Islam, Christianity or Sikhism from where he and his followers were promised a huge amount of money to improve their conditions. But he said, “My religious conversion is not inspired by any material motives”. To Babasaheb, individual freedom was more important than anything else. He believed that man can change the course of history. He was a rationalist and wanted his people progress through self-help and self-reliance. The religion of Budha has the capacity to change according to times, a quality which no other religion can claim to have. Now what is the basis of Buddhism? It is based on reason. There is an element of flexibility inherent in it which is not to be found in any other religion. That is what was in Babasaheb’s mind when he chose Buddhism, not any other reason. Can Sikhism get rid of Dalit slavery and fight Brahminism? Sikhs have not discarded ed caste system, the basis of Brahminism. Do they treat Dalits as equal? Dr. James Massey, himself a Punjabi Dalit Christian, says,
“…. But still as for as the location of Hathi (location of excurses or sweeper caste) is concerned it continues to be fixed in the same plan. Majority of the Tuatha dwellers and now by faith Christians are Sikhs. But the change of religion has not really affected the overall life pattern of these people. For all practical purposes they continue to be Chiharu’s whose key job is to serve others…. Womenfolk of Tuatha work mostly cleaning the Haveli (place for keeping animals), removing dung and also cleaning the houses of zamindars (Jat Sikhs) but only the outer part of the houses and it includes removing all dirt. They of course are not allowed to enter the cooking or living room or bedrooms. They are also not to touch cooked food or the utensils in which the food is taken or cooked”. (Dalit Solidarity, p.6, edited by Bhagwan Das and Dr. James Massey).
The same is the situation with Chamars. Majority of them worship the Sikh scripture, Guru Granth Saheb, and are called Ramdas or Ravi Dasia Sikhs. Almost in every village, there is a Ravi Dasia gourd ware. Jat Sikhs and Ravidasias hardly visit each other. Ravidasias are treated exactly like the “Hindu Dalits. Even in liberal countries like UK and US, the Ramgarh as (carpenters) and Ravidasias have their separate gurudwaras from the other gurdwaras. Cremation grounds of Jat Sikhs and Dalit Sikhs are separate in Punjab. Sikhs have copied Brahminism. How can you expect them to fight Brahminism? Nand Kishore has mentioned that Zail Singh (a carpenter) and Buta Singh (safari armchair) were made President and Home Minister because of their religion. Anybody who surrenders to Brahminism is given a chair to fool the Dalits and the outside world. Jagjivan Ram was used to curb Babasaheb. Now K.R. Narayanan, Vice-president, is the latest show boy. Nand Nishore Says one can get courage by converting only to Sikhism. I am not very sure about that Dr. Ambedkar says that tell a slave that he is a slave, he will revolt. Obviously, consciousness is more important. Sister Phoolan Devi is the living example of courage personified. After doing over 20 years of research, Babasaheb gave us Buddhism because it never compromised with its principle. And that is why the Hindu mind couldn’t digest it. All Dalits must leave Hinduism and go back to our own roots of Buddhism.
Shamsul Arifin, PO BOx12258, Dares Salaam, Tanzania: I have shifted my business from Saudi Arabia to this country. I would like to meet you when I come to India. Actually, I like to do the job that you are doing and not that I am doing. I want to fight these corrupt and criminal turned politicians and Po critical religious leaders in India.
Mrs. Surinder Kaur, Calcutta: The SC/ST population is entitled to proportional representation in Lok Sabha. At present, 79 seals are reserved for SC candidates and 42 for STs in the Lok Sabha. But as per the census of 1991 published figures, the SC population is 13.82 crores (16.33%) and they must get r [ 4 89 seats against the present 79 seats. Thus, it is seen the illiterate Dalits are deprived of their 10 seats as MPs. Similarly, the ST population 6.77 crores (8.06%), entitled to 44 MP seats, against their “present allotment of 42 seats. Thus, it is seen both SC/STs are deprived of 12 reserved MP seats. Chief Election Commissioner T.N. Seshan should immediately look into this aspect. This 12 non-SC/ST MPs elected on reserved seats, as per the formula given above, should be asked to vacate their seats and SC/STs should be asked to contest and enter the Lok Sabha. I fail to understand how this fraud could not be detected earlier *by our Dalit intellectuals.
Anil Kumar. M, Bheem Bha van, Put-upon PO, Vada gear 673 105: This Letter is to remind you of our meeting Bangalore on March 29, 1994 when we discussed about some evidence of Aryan aggression against indigenous people of India. The points are: 1. Aryans are foreigners. 2. They came to India from Central Asia. 3. They were mainly two races 1Surya (sun race) and The Moon race (Chandra race), 4. Their homeland was around Syria. Also, they have racial connections with the Jews. 5. They came to India after 1000 B.C. 6. Indigenous Indians have no connections with Aryan races. Our races Asura, Dasa, Dasy, or Nagas etc. 7. Our people never worshipped a god or goddess. 8. Indus Valley civilisation contains no evidence of a god or goddess. 9. I read some Indus Valley language in the correct form. I need support to buy some more books to further strengthen my research and promote our revolutionary movement. The 21st century is nearing. The indigenous people will have to take over as the “Ambedkar Era”, which you have predicted, begins. We should bury or burn all Aryan gods and literature. For this a proper study of History is a must.
National Coordination Committee for SC Chris tians, Chetan Alaya, Arch bishop’s House, Gole Da Khana, New Delhi110 001: We represent the entire Christian community in India in their concern for equal rights for the SC Christians. The Indian Christians are directed to vote in favour of the party or alliance of parties who promise to enact law to re store constitutional justice by eliminating religious dis crimination among the Dalit communities in receiving their due economic and statutory benefits
K. Vijaya Raju, Teacher, Street Behind Samiti Office, Viswanathan, Dist. Krishna, AP 521 215: The following is the publisher’s announcement regarding new book, sent by the author himself to me. The Jewish people are very un-happy with you. They want ed to talk to you but later felt it is useless. DV is branded as an ant Jewish journal in Europe and this is a big loss to the Dalit movement. I met the author, a close associates of Leon Poliakov of France. The book titled A Pariah People, (The Anthropology of Antisemitism), is authored by Hyam Maccoby, 320 pages, 17.50 pounds. In this Hyam Maccoby offers an anthropological explanation for antisemitism. Historically, the Jews formed a despised caste in Christian society, there by playing, unwittingly, an indispensable role comparable with that of the Untouchables in India. The stigma attached to the Jews was continually rein forced by myth and art. Though Jews were officially freed from Pariah status after the Enlightenment, the stigma remained as with Untouchables and as with Pariah groups in many other cultures. In making use of anthropological analysis this important book provides an explanation of the failure of ap parentally promising strategies for normalising the status of Jews. Hyam Maccoby, Emeritus Fellow of the Leo Baeck College, London, is well known as a lecturer, reviewer and writer on Jewish topics and is the author of a number of books, among them The Sacred Executioner and Revolution in Judaea.
We suffer from no prejudice, our question for Brother Vijaya Raju is simple. If the Jews say that their status is equal to that of India’s Un Touchable, then if must necessarily follow thot the world Jews and particularly Israel must anon with our people in India. instead. lures the daring of our oppressors, India’s Brahmana Jali Party (B/P) of upper casers has sent several delegations for loreal and its Ambassador in India has refused for answer our repealed queries. Our oppressors have also repeatedly said their ideology is exactly on the lines of Jews. No Jewish leader has so for refuted this. We go not on the basis of words but actions. Yet we are ready for any folks. We are premier with Vijaya Rafu’s theory. And if that theory helps liberation of Untouchables, we will be the happiest. We wish him Alf success EDITOR.
Kuldeep Ramteke, 103Pusharaj Bid. Manisha Nagar, Near Taran Talab, Kalwa (W), Thane400 605: The Hindu nazi Maharashtra Govt. is delivers lately harassing Backward Caste employees. Upper caste bureaucrats have released govt. resolution for 200 points roasters on July 26, 1995. Following agitation, this order was withdrawn in December last. A select list for promotions is prepared by which upper castes are promoted and BC candidates kept waiting. This technique causes great annoyance. To block Our promotions, the posts are kept vacant for long. Irrigation and Public Works Depts. are the worst hit. SC/ST engineers get promotion up to class cadre i.e. Dy. Engineers could be Executive Engineers. Now without verification Dy. Engineers have been elevated to class1 cadre and promotions of all Backward Caste classily officers stopped. Initially 6,000 engineers of PWD will suffer. So, we have formed Joint Action Committee and launched an agitation. Our demand is that we want promotion facilities up to Ex Engineer cadre as it was already in existence by way of govt. resolution of May, 23, 1974.
N.K. Sonare, All India Federation of SC/ST/BCs & Minorities Emp. Wel. Assn., A/23, ONGC Conly, Agartala799 014: Finally, the Ministry of Welfare® Govt. of India, has issued orders indicating new re vised rates of post metric scholarships for SC/STs. As per the office order No.11017/1/92SCH.CELL dated 14th Feb. 1996 signed by P.K. Srivastava, Di rector (SCD), Ministry of Welfare, the new revised rates are to come into force i.e. 11095. Those interested in details may write to me. Buddhapriya Masked, Ashok Bhavan, Daha Chawl, Ulhasnagar421 004: Happy Bhim Jayanti and Budha Jayanti of April/May 1996 to all DV readers. In order to and with the aim and object to defeat all the Manu wadi and Gandhi wadi parties in the coming elections to Lok Sabha and Assembly, I request all DV readers to work hard to win the Phalombe, karite parties like the BSP and the United RP! I. Takeshi Makwana, 23Pratapnagar Society, Rajpur, Ahmedabad380 021: Earlier, I was subscriber of Dalit Voice. I missed to ‘renew it for certain reasons. Presently, I’ve appeared in LL.M examination held by Gujarat University. I had earlier reviewed two of your books in Gujarati periodicals. The Brahminical Social Order (BSO) is in full swing in Gujarat too. Dalit Panthers have stopped roaring. BJP and RSS goons are up against Dalits. The complete govt. machinery is against Dalits and downtrodden.
We remember Brother Takeshi. He was once o prominent member of our DV family. Like him, several hundreds of Gujarati Dalits discontent used their membership and today they have almost forgotten us. There was no fame when Gujarat stood No.2 or 3in DV circulation. That was airing the two (71987 and 7 985) “Gujarat caste wars” launched by the three Healy nazi forces among Brahmins, Banias and Patels in Gandhi’s Gujarat, Ramesh Chandra Parmar HeForShe Gujarat Dalit Panthers, had in viced/ us then and we rethought the two Gujarat ‘caste wars” would sharpen the contradictions, ” Edl care the Dalits and forge the Babuyan Samay unity. Bur Gujarati Dalits lost this glorious opportunity and. alas, foody a Hindu nazi party s ruling this State. Obviously. the Dalit leader ship has compromise, and noncorrupted, coopted and in the process the anger evaporated. This is happening not only in Gujarat buffalo over India. Parliament carryover politics is killing the revolutionary zeal of our you. In Gujarat DV circulation felt steeply and we did/ nor visit this State later. All our old fiend’s ha vet forfeited us. Slaves strafed enjoying their showery. That is how the DV circulation does not rise. We are eager for visit Gujarat afebrile 3 I elections which should be used by the SC/ST/ BCs and Muslims of Gujrat for reflect upper caste forces and assert themselves EDITOR.
Er. Jagannath Pani, Or. No. D/6, Sector I, Upper In dramatic Project, Mukhiguda PO, Kalahandi, Orissa 766 026: I am just a one-year-old DV reader. Read about “Media Centre” on few occasions, but sorry to note I know no details about it. So, it is necessary to explain the whole project once again and the difficulties you are facing in giving it a shape. Only after knowing this the new readers like me can do justice to the “Media Centre” project. I need an information regarding the IAS preparatory college for Dalits at Madras. Dr. S. Perumal, principal, is said to be dedicated Ambedkar (DV Aug.16, 95 p.10). But correct address is missing. Is there any such destitute for Dalits in India? The Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) is setting up three institutes at Kottayam, Madurai and ‘Ranchi to provide intensive training to SC/ST/BC students for civil service examination (Hindu, Feb.21, 96 p.6). What is its present status?
Our reply to Brother Pani is on the same lines as above. For the past few years, particularly after the Babri Masjid demolition, we have been pursuing this idea. We went round the country thrice and then even wrote about it twice. Some contributions did come buritis a peanut compared for the amount needed. A Wadia Centre” project report was prepared. But the fast-escalating cost made the report outdated. A project for start a simple weekly journal in English, Hindi, and some Important languages in Delhi will cost nothing less than Rs.50 lakhs. The demand for such a journal /s enormous. The money is available with our political leaders and officials. But they are not interested in supporting such a project because they simply can’t understand and ap appreciate the importance of media. Every Brahmin understands the importance of media because it is through the media they control and manipulate our minds. But our people are more interested in the petty ‘political po war”. They say once we ‘capture” political power everything else, including “Media Centre” will follow. But who will hand over political power to Dalits? Power is not given beflaked. Babasaheb has made this point very clear. Without @ thoroughgoing social and cultural movement. political power cannot be captured. We are tired of repeating ff. Even such awakened people like Muslims, Sikhs and Chais tians are not able for understand this point. We are fed up EDITOR.
D.K. Nagdeote, PO Neri, MS442 904: By belonging to different subcastes, we fight among themselves. Every subcaste thinks it is superior to others. Who will organise Dalits? Who will bring them under one flag? Dalits activists can do this if they sincerely do their work. Dalits cannot read and write. They cannot understand why they are exploited and persecuted. They are full of blind beliefs and super stations. Who will teach them modern science? Who can save them from servility? The only answer is Ambedkar’s. Some Dalits have embraced Buddhism. Did they leave their subcastes? in fact, some of them have left it. Only if all Dalits forget their sub castes and take to Buddhism, then only it is possible to kill subcastes. Intellectuals among Dalits should come forward to give an honest leadership to Dalits. But “educated” Dalits are wandering elsewhere.
D.M. Ravi Prasad, Director, “National Seminar on Dalit Writings, Movements”, Sociology Dept., Kakatiya University of Arts & Sc. College, Waran gal506 001: The seminar Feb.2324, 1996 was intended to record and document how Dalit writings and movements have been Abie to influence each other and how these two act as catalysts for change. The issues related to Dalits have been identified and listed with considerable care and attention. Sig indicant among these is: 1. Caste system and the Indian polity. 2. Phule, Gandhian, Marx and Ambedkar approaches. 3. Dalit writings and move mints as agents of change. Dalit Voluntary Action Forum (DVAF), a Hyderabad based NGO headed by Rajan Babu funded the seminar which was a big success. This is the first time an interdisciplinary seminar is organised in our university. This is also the first time that a university has come forward to organise a seminar on wide-ranging issues related to the Dalits on this scale. Prof. Ramakistaiah, Vice Chancellor of Osmania University, inaugurated the seminar. Prof. Y. Yaikuntham, Vice-chancellor of our University, in his presidential address traced the early writings in Telugu that shaped the Dalit conscious ness. Dr. Kancha Lailah’s was an illuminating lecture. Bojja Tarakan gave the second guest lecture on “Caste System and the Indian Polity”. Prof. K. Enoch of S.K. University, Anantapur, criticised Hindu myths and Hindu gods as a fraud on the Dalits. He cautioned the Dalits not to fall into the traps of the Brahminical order. Findings of the seminar said Dalits writings are influencing the Dalits more than the govt. plans. The seminar demanded new Dalit l6x1s S ——— as an alternative to the Brahminical scriptures and recommended a Dalit Academy of Arts and Literature at the national level.
Ajay Narasu, B1/71 Sector, L.D.A Colony, Kanpur Road, Lucknow 226 012: Regarding “UP de bale”, I have to say that most of the writers on the subjects are either ill-informed or prejudiced. Our Editor repeatedly says that “repeat a lie 99 times, it becomes truth at the hundredth stage”. The Brahminical media is all-out to misguide the Bahujan’s. Writers in DV also appear to be prejudiced. Giving details about the gaining popularity or losing popularity should not be our motive. The direction of movement is more important than the distance travelled. Writers like Promod Kur eel, Mrs. Surinder Kaur who are writing for the sake of proving their prophesy should be discouraged because their con collusions are based on partial truth. DV family is requested to discharge its duty as impartial observers and advise of the society.
Prabhat Ranjan Nag, At OPM Colony, quested to discharge its duty as impartial observers and advisers of the society. Qr. No. SHS 72, PO Braj Rajnagar, Jharsuguda dt. 768 216: You have shouldered a great responsibility. Your writings inspired me a out and made me informative on several aspects of Dalits who are yet to get the taste of freedom. It would be better if an Oriya edition of Dalit Voice is published. One thing is not clear to me on page10 of your DSA book titled Why Go for Conversion. It says a staggering 30% (Untouchables and Tribals) and 40% (Backwards) are neither Shudras nor Hindus. Are the 40% of Indian population not Untouchables? If yes, why then it does not come under the Untouchables group? Would you please explain.
If the oppressed Oriya Dalits and Bap we Samay need an Oriya edition of DV, it is for them to come forward for start one. The 40%. of the population referred for in our book are Back ward Castes (BCs) who are also indigenous people of India Ke SC/STs. Manaal Com, fret port benefits BCs who like SC/STs are neither Shuars nor Hindus EDITOR.
S.U. Rangari, 211/8359, Kannamwar Nagar, Vikhroli (E) Bombay400 083: “Dr. Ambedkar Era”, as predicted by you, is definitely coming. There is no al tentative to it. All the parties such as Congress, BJP, Shiv Sena etc. are at least placing the portraits of Dr. Ambedkar a. their public meetings. They may put the photos willingly or unwillingly. It shows that there I no alternative to Dr. Ambedkar in India. It means “Dr. Ambedkar Era” has already started. Not to worry about it. Vikhroli is a beautiful place. Tagore Na gar and Kannamwar Nagar are two big codeveloped areas in which about 40% are Buddhist. There is a vast open place. Many Abderites like me go for morning walk. Only a few are retired others are working people. If we Abderites come to gather we can create a big force of experienced people. And this force can be utilised for many welfare activities of the society. So, I called a meeting of these people on Feb.18 and 21 out of 29 invited were present. A new Club is born. We decided to “educate” our people through… Lectures publication, songs, dramas, dances, paintings, sports. reading rooms, picnics and tours etc. When I went to Amravati, I did the same thing there also. I called all the Ambedkar morning walkers on Feb.29 and told them about the Club formed in Bombay and the club of the same name “Dr. Ambedkar Senior Citizen’s Club” was formed with the same aims and objects at Amravati. DV readers all over India should form similar clubs and intimate me.
Dr. Sudhir Ranga, Kila Colony, Jhajjar 124 103: Caste system in India is a unique system of social inequality sanctioned by Hindu religion. There are several Jati’s. But the division which is prominent is the one between the twice born and the Untouchables. A unique feature of the Hindu social system that has hardly any parallel anywhere in the world is the existence of a large group of people called Untouchable and unapproachable groups later called Scheduled Castes. The twice born castes through manipulation and through the use of force controlled the means of production. If we have to achieve equality it is necessary that the caste system has to be destroyed. An elite class has the emerged among SCs. It is the result of the social inequality prevalent in the caste system. Social mobility is always taking place in every society. So was the case in the Indian society. The SCs also have seen such a mobility. The most important factor which induced such a mobility was education, technology and change of occupation. The whole Indian society including SCs became educated during the British rule because education was made universal by them.
Manmohan Kaur, Sant Isher Singh Rare Wala Edu cation Trust, 179180, Model Gram, Ludhiana141 002: K.B. Ram of Bombay in his Letter (DV Feb.1,96 p.14) has criticised Sikhism and also Nand Kishore, a Dalit leader of UP, the misconceptions on Sikhism were created right from the days of Guru Nanak because he criticised casteism. Sikh history itself was either misrepresented or kept concealed. It was only when the book, Freedom Struggle of India by Sikhs and Sikhs in India, was published that the world came to know it was the Sikhs who started, soughed for a century and won freedom for India. But the upper caste led Congress defamed Sikhs by labelling them extremists, terrorists, separatists. As the Sikhs had no media (though time and again strongly suggested, rather sincerely advised, by Dalit Voice and other lovers of Truth) this barrage of false and malicious propaganda against Sikhs could not be countered. Advocates of casteism have army, police, finance, media. Greedy fools are available to them out of “suit case” Scams etc. to serve them and malign those who fight caste and serve humanity. Those who have not studied Sikhism may say, due to their ignorance, that Brahminism has made inroads into Sikhism. Brahman Vadis hate Sikhism, because with the advent of Sikhism casteism (Brahminism) feels shattered. Sikh identity is not tolerable. Some Sikhs may not fully follow the principles of Sikhism but they are an exception. Guru Nanak refused to bear Brahmin thread, asked Bhai Lalo, a Shudra, to stay with. Guru Amar Dass made all castes sit together and eat together (langer). Guru Ramdass and Gury Arjun made all castes to take bath in the same water tank. Guru Arjun compiled Guru Granth where writing of saints of all castes are included. Guru Gobind Singh made all castes to drink nectar (amrita) with mouth from the one and the same bowl. These unparallel! practices continue in Sikhism even today. Our Trust acts and preaches on the same lines. Brahmins can never make inroads into Sikhism. It is a false propaganda that Sikhs approached Babasaheb Ambedkar to get converted to Sikhism. Babasaheb was the wisest, sincerest and the most learned person of those days. People do not know the facts why Babasaheb took other steps. The author of this Letter has the full facts regarding this matter. This his tropical fact is kept concealed for obvious reasons by those who stick to casteism. The Sikh Light In fan try was not raised by Sikhs, it was raised by the British. They had Jat, Gorkha, Rajput, Sikh, Mar Atha, Mahar Regiments etc. Agents of Brahminism will continue to find fault in Sikhism as it hits at the roots of casteism. People who wish to do away with the evil of casteism must carefully and impartially study Sikhism, Sikh history and literature, particularly the Gurbani of Guru Granth Sahib.
Anil Rangari, Canara Bank, Shahidul, MP484 001: find in DV lot of addresses which I never find in any other Dalit journals like Bhim Patrika and Bahu Jan Sangharsh which I am reading since my student life. I found the name of our Editor for the first time in a pamphlet of conversion programme at Bhopal on May 15, 1994 and wrote a postcard to DV address. I promptly received the reply and from then onwards I have been a reader of DV. I never found such a bold, truthful, powerful, sharp journal anywhere in India. I am a reader, member, canvass# er for the past 1015 types of Ambedkar journals. All are good according to their editors. But I like DV (English) as the best for correct facts, guidance, in perpetration and solutions to our problems. The Letters column in DV has no parallel in India. It is the heart of DV through which we know the real problems, happenings, movements, activities all over the world. Addresses of many Ambedkar activists, movements throughout India and world. It is the sole responsibility of every DV readers to “educate, agitate and organise” all the Dalit Bahujan’s within their areas. It is our duty to strengthen by every means. Bhim Patrika. (Jalandhar) is also the best Ambedkar journal but it lacks strategy and tac tics to organise all the Dalit Bahujan’s. An Ambedkar media must combine many things and fulfilled all the demands and needs of the Dalit Bahu Jans and help spread “Ambedkar Mission” all over India. All other Ambedkar journals must follow DV.
G. Saddharma, 2511458, Rajarhat, Gautam Na gar, Nellore524 004: This is with ref. to A.L. Ukay’s article “Reservation and conversion” (DV Feb.1 ,96). It said Babasaheb was one among the six best brains in the world. We have not come across one single person in the whole world with such depth of knowledge and such original and fresh thinking. He was a scholar, social scientist, historian, prophet, philosopher, psychologist, thinker, leader and liber actor all blended in one single Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, a rare, unique blessing. Before » Babasaheb all other intellectuals known to history are mere pygmies. He suffered, sacrificed his all and shed every drop of his blood for us. His was a solitary battle against the centuries old stubbornly rooted, exploitative Hindu value system. If we are really civilised, disciplined and conscious of our roots, our duty is simply to follow our Saviour with implicit veneration, determination and dedication without either contradicting or interpreting his perception. The cause for our confusion in choosing a correct view mainly is that we have become highly self-styled hypocrites. The result is there are men among us who shamelessly declare that they are greater than Babasaheb the Titan of the Himalayan height. Perhaps these men have forgotten that their claim is like a candle light competing with the sun. To arrive at the correct conclusion on the different views expressed pertaining to the two major issues of reservations and religious conversion, the yard stick of what Babasaheb said of these issues must be applied. 1. On reservation, Babasaheb said:
“Reservations are obligatory for a stipulated period of 20 years only. To prolong them beyond that period is to arrest the Untouchables from devil oping into a force”.
Now, it is half a century lapsing since these riser ovations came into being. The results as we pretty well know have been most disastrous. As was predicted by our Saviour, the reservations have become a powerful weapon in the hands of the upper castes to keep us perpetually enslaved and make us enjoy the slavery most comfortably. The ruling class is prolonging these reservations indefinitely in their own interest paying no need to our repeated riper sensations to remove the job reservations slowly and the political reservations immediately. The correct _view, therefore, obviously is that these reservations should necessarily go if we want to develop into a force to make ourselves our own salvation. 2. On. Conversion, Babasaheb said:
“We are not Hindus and were never Hindus. It will not be possible for us to achieve progress in all social, economic and political fronts unless we first quit Hinduism and go to Buddhism to institute ourselves into a community and to develop into a powerful force to capture the ruling, dethroning the upper castes who after all constitute 15% of India’s population”.
Thus, when the views of our Saviour as regards the two major issues are crystal clear, why should we get confused hearing the views of the self-styled hypocrites and of those who at the cost of the community served the upper castes all their lives as bonded slaves, earned crores and died like worms, unsung and unwept?
Dr. D. Yadaiah, B2/24, MIG (Huda) Chandan agar, AP500 050: I have gone through the Debate column What has gone wrong with the slaves of India? Ever since you wrote on the Defects of Dalit movement (DV Edit May 16,95) and its strategies and tactics, there Nas been a debate here and there. I my self-discussed the issue with many intellectuals. After 25 years of work in the Dalit movement, touring the length and breadth of the country, this is my opinion: 1. The “educated” Dalits should have a moral responsibility to contribute to the society from where he or she came. 2. We have to develop our own media. For this, every employee should Duti fully contribute his resources. 3. The youth should be trained on the guidelines of Ambedkar’s, ‘Phyletism and Buddhism. 4. Our youth must study the “Three Commandments” of Babasaheb “Edu cate, Agitate, Organise”. 5. Brahminism must be ex’ posed time to time. 6. International Human Rights Commissions should be kept informed about Dalit persecutions in India. 7. A systematic destruction of BSO shastras should be undertaken.
Dr. N. Suresh, PG student, Dept. of Ortho. Surgery, MCH, Calicut8: This is with ref. to Dr. (Mrs) K.K. Sidhu’s Letter in DV Jan.16,96. Nowadays it is a fashion with our “educated” Dalit youth to run after fair skinned upper caste girls and marry them once they attain some economic status which they achieved because of the struggle launched by Babasaheb. Dr. Sidhu is right in saying that the upper castes are encouraging this practice. After getting married to upper caste girls, these Dalit youths. become slaves of the upper castes and forget the community. Dalits should maintain our purity, intel lectically and racially. “Educated Dalits should never go near upper caste women. We are Black and Black is beautiful. In Kerala, the biography of Dr. Ambedkar was published as a sublanguage text book for the 10th std. in the year 1984. I was lucky enough to study this book which was withdrawn the very next year itself. Students in India study biographies of non-Indians like Gandhi and Nehru. But India’s only one internationally famous son, the Father of India, is not available because of the Hindu nazi conspiracy. The Editor of DV repeatedly says that he is not against Brahmins but only Brahminism. But it is not Brahminism but Brahmins who have confiscated his passport. Brahminism was not dropped from the sky. It was the creation of the Brahmins. Brahminism or Hinduism is the creation of the Brahmins. Paraiyar E.V. Ramaswamy said: “If you see a snake and a Brahmin together, leave the snake and kill the Brahmin first”.
Prof. Md. Shadan Rehaman, Dept. of Pol. Sc., AMU, Aligarh202 002: My letter in Hindustan Times brought me lot of mental agony. In fact, only you are the person in the entire country who gave a positive response to my letter regarding the BJP in Hindustan Times. So far, I have received six letters with abusive languages and distorted and provocative facts. These anonymous letters have even threatened me of dire consequences if I continue my writings in such style. Perhaps the HT too has turned hostile to me because six of my ““letters to editor”. Are lying in its office.
A.S.K. Nawaz khan, 7Alankadavu, Amba rampa lay am, TN642 103: I do not know how to read Dalit Voice with such small print. My eyesight is failing, my age being 85 years. I am living in a small hamlet of about 100 families with scarcely any one to join any literary activity. There are some ten families of Dalits, all semiliterate agricultural labourers. It is almost impossible to get them out of their ageism ‘vowed shell of ignorance. As a Muslim, I feel for them but I am helpless.
Shahina Mohd. Andhra University, Walt air, AP: Con gratulations on your Editorial of Jan.16: Cow belt Maulana’s and the article by Dr. Ejaz Ali: Anti-Islamic elite Muslims opposing reservations (p.8). My family is Dalit convert to Islam. We refused the benefit of reservation to enjoy the religion of human equality and Truth. However, I am fully aware of the fact that there are certain elements essentially Brah min converts who want to retain the periplasmic caste divide in the Muslim community. They are the No.1 enemies of Islam. They must be attacked without mercy. But what Dr. Ejaz Ali is doing is not in the interest of Muslims or the whole Bahujan society. Muslims, including the whole bunch of “upper castes”, have become an oppressed community. Even the “elite” Muslims are also denied access to govt. jobs. They too are hated and subjected to dis crimination simply because they are Muslims. This 15% of the population of the country, Muslims, has only 2% of the jobs. The same is the case in economy, private sector, media, land ownership and everything else. So, by calling “elite Muslims” as enemies, Dr. Ali is playing into the hands of Hindu nazis. It is interesting that when he attacks the “elite Muslims”, although their position is relatively a little better, he doesn’t say a word against the common enemy of Muslims and the entire Bahujan the Brahminical Social Order. He will, of course, be patronised by the upper caste media for a while in or gender to divide Muslims and also to dissuade the op pressed Dalits from embracing the liberative relic of Islam. Our enquiries have revealed that he is trying to build a constituency of his own together with his father-in-law who was dumped by Laloo Prasad Yadav. Although he is promoted by the Brah min media, he couldn’t find any support among Muslims in his attempt to fight Muslims. Meanwhile, we must fight the upper caste converts to Islam who retain the caste hierarchy.
M. Rahman, Govt. H.S. School, Yazali PO, Arunachal Pradesh791 120: Lending some copies of DV to my colleagues for study and my frequent refutation of their false glorifications of their rituals etc. on the authority of DV, have made them turn against me. 1 am determined to fight for Truth. Please appoint a distributor of DSA books at Guwahati. Some of your representatives may come to Guwahati or Shillong and talk to local publishers, booksellers. Also give coverage to the NE region problems arising out of Brahminism. Please note that the NE people are not of Aryan stock (as they say) and the BJP has withdrawn from this region. The cock and bull story of Muslim infiltration from Bang laddish is a hatefully planned conspiracy to set the nazis and credulous Tribals against Muslims is, however, gaining grounds in the region.
M.M. Khuraishi, Pragati Nagar, Brahmavar576 213: I was amused and then amazed at the reaction to the DV Editorial, Cow belt Maulana’s (DV Jan.16, 1996) by P.N. Imbichi Koya, (DV March 16). Not only thank but congratulate our Editor on this good piece of research. Koya Saheb says he is a well-wisher of Jam ate Islami. But will he exclude the DV? If he is in love with Jam ate Islami, the Editor of DV was a great friend of the same for over 2 decades and is a personal friend of all the Ameers of Jam ate Islami. Readers do not know the commitment of the Editor and his Editorial board on certain matters. He is a fighter from within the Muslim community to get things repaired and get going. He is never against Muslims or Islam and has never been. The Editor spoke no ill. He pointed out the faults in its functioning. The writer also admits printing and selling of books and operating relief camps by the Jamat. Does DV say that it is a bad work? DV only points out the Jamat’s failure to take forward the mission of Islam. Islam came to relieve the pains and sufferings and to undo the social injustice on the basis of unity of all. He is asking the Jamat to fight on these fronts as the Quran would also ask the followers of Jamat do: (48/28):
“He it is who has sent his messenger with the guidance and religion of truth that He may cause it to prevail over all religion etc.”. Of 61/9: “He it is who has sent His messenger with guidance and the religion of truth that He may make it conqueror of all religion however much idolaters may be averse”.
The Editor is a fighter against all forms of manmade social injustice. This is the major task before Islam. To that extent he is agitated about the nonfunctioning Islamic organisations in India. I do not know if the Editor has gone through the speech delivered by Louis Farrakhan at his recent “Million Man March”. His exposure of Whiteman’s atrocities on Blacks, though sugarcoated to remove the sting and hurt, is definitely unlike yours. But he conveyed it blow by blow (p.13,16 in part 19 onwards). He named all the evils in the White. It is worth quoting. Unless the people know the American African slavery and style, ordinarily it is not possible to digest, because in his efforts to remove the sting, he takes refuge in all prophets.
Dr. Ejaz Ali, Ghulam Sarwar Clinic, Bhishma Pahari, Patna800 006: This is my reply to Syed Sha hirudin (DV Feb.16, p.11). “Minority” is an elusive word. Muslim unity is a paradox. These two over used words are just for exploitation of weaker section of Muslims. Caste system in all respect is equally prevalent among Muslims. But it is never accepted by the upper caste and elite Muslims because they don’t want to lose their jaghirdar. Ask Syed Sha hirudin, Aslam Sher Khan, Syed Jafar Sharief, Mariana Obaidullah Khan Azmi, Sheikh Farooque Abdullah, Shahrukh Khan, etc. the purpose of using titles like Syed, Sheikh, Khan with their names. This is lacking in the name of Dr. Ejaz Ali, Ghulam Sarwar and Azharuddin, cricketer. These titles are meant to produce an impression of Supremacy and to demoralise the backward caste Muslims. The demand for reservation to the entire Muslim community becomes communal, unconstitutional and very much harmful to weaker sections of the community. The reason for the downfall of this community in social, education, economic spheres is because of the dominating upper caste leadership which like Hindu nazis never bothered about the major chunk of Backward and Dalit Muslims. Backward and Dalit Muslims form 8090% of the total Muslim population. When we are in such a big majority what is wrong in talking of only these Muslims? Why then they do not want to bring these Dalit Muslims to the mainstream for the sake of secularism, integration and communal harmony? How can our demand for equality promote separation? Why they want to re peat those arguments again and again which were made before and around the period of partition? Why they always raise the issues like communal reservation, (first in 1906 and again 1993), personal laws, uniform civil code, Babri Masjid issues, which are least preferable issues. Over 80% of the Muslim population is illiterate, poor and victims of anti-Muslim riots. They need basic education, economic uptilt. These are the burning and constructive issues for the community. But have you ever heard these issues raised by the upper caste Muslim leaders? Can those nonissues solve the problems of Muslims? But of course, they can solve the problems of elite Muslims. By harping on these “problems”, they can get huge amount of money from Muslim countries at the cost of the majority of Backward Muslims. Leaders belonging to upper caste Muslims, like Syed Shahabuddin, should now stop thinking of the entire Muslims community as by now they have been clearly reduced to their caste leadership, which they were doing from the very beginning under the pseudo umbrella of Muslim unity, minority Muslim as a whole. Elevation in status of Muslim society needs# the same formula as it is for Dalit and Backward brothers. Dalit Muslims should get the facilities like SC/ST, so that they could get political, educational and economic protection. Backward Muslims should take share in the BC quota. Upper caste Muslims should fight with upper caste Hindus. If they are mixed with our oppressed Muslims, the elite Muslims will loot all our facilities pushing BC and Dalit Muslims into greater trouble. Ask from Syed Shahabuddin as to why in “Muslim quota, only Syed, Sheikh and Khans get most of the ticket for Assembly and Parliament elections. I think like group reservation in services and education, as described earlier, election ticket should also be distributed among Dalit, Backward and upper caste Muslims (from Muslim quota) as perpetuation, so that, in spite of one-man (upper caste man) show, the leadership should be collective one, representing all the ‘ different castes in Muslim society.
Isa Haque, Madhupur, Hoerah712 147: This is with ref. to the Letter of S.R. Talukdar, Mayawati mesmerism, and your Editorial, BSP must learn lessons from UP debacle (DV No.1,95). Talukdar has criticized our Editor in most uncharitable and undignified terms and our human rights crusader, Dr. Velu Annamalai, alleging that the former is spreading lies and rumours against BSP while the latter is a half Ambedkar. The tone of the letter is offensive from the beginning to the end, hurting our love and respect for these two noted personalities for the excellent service they have been rendering to the cause of the Dalits and other indigenous people of our country. To secure recognition for the Dalit identity, they have been fighting hard, nationally and in trinationally, for which they are hailed as the champions of Bahujan Samaj. For this, they have suffered so much. Dalit Muslim unity and Bahujan Samaj creation are their brain child. There is also no denying the fact that it is our Editor who has out lined the theory of the struggle of the Dalits along the Bahujan Samaj line. And, admittedly it is this line which is being followed and pursued by various segments following Ambedkar’s. The Editor is not against Bahujan Samaj nor is Dr. Velu Annamalai. Talukdar knows all this that though away in the us, Dr. Annamalai has been working for the recognition of Dalit as indigenous people of India. Instead of casting aspersion on this outstanding personality, Talukdar should have appreciated his outstanding contribution. Bahujan Samaj Party is only a political party. But Bahujan Samaj is different. its leader ship is not above criticism for it sold the Bahujan interest to the enemy, BJP. Talukdar wants Dalits to “’rapture “political power” but the point he has missed is that it should not be at the cost of their interest, identity and even existence. quite the opposite. BSP’s proclaimed goal is to destroy manward. BJP is a man wadi party. So, by what logic is it possible to destroy manward with the help of BJP? Political power acquired with the help of man wadis will not be political power at all.
