Gurdeep Singh Mann, Member of Sher-e-Panjab Forum, (jatsikh_braderee@yahoo.co.uk ): There are no castes within the Sikh community. We have no association with the caste system and Hinduism. Different groups within the Sikhs are described as braderees, meaning equality. Braderees are not like the Hindu castes. We consider it offensive when people talk about Sikhs as different castes. The Guru Granth contains the writings of many Hindu and Muslim saints (Bhagats). When a Sikh bows to the Guru Granth he is also respecting the bani of Baba Beni (Brahmin), Bhikhan (Sufi Muslim), Dhanna (Jat), Farid (Sufi Muslim), Jaidev (Brahmin), Kabir (Brahmin-Muslim), Namdev (Tailor), Parmanand (Brahmin), Pipa (Yogi), Ramanand (Brahmin), Ravidas (cobbler), Sain (barber), Sadhana (butcher), Sudras (Brahmin) and Trilochan (Vaish- Arora). Sikhs are offended using words like Churra, Chamar etc. when referring to our Sikh brothers and sisters. They occupy the same status as any other Sikh within our faith and they should be referred to as Sikhs with respect. The charge that certain castes are not treated equally in certain gurdwaras is untrue because the gurdwaras are open to everyone no matter what caste, creed, colour or religion they are from, and everybody is treated with the same courtesy and respect. People may not marry some of a different braderee because of the cultural differences that exist between braderees. Some people may not even marry some of their own braderee if they are from outside their religion because of the cultural differences between the regions.
Harpreet Singh, (hsingh@careworks.ie ): A former priest of the Golden Temple, Bhai Ram Singh (40), an aide of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, has been appointed the 15th Jathedar of Damdami Taksal. A decision to this effect was taken at an emergency meeting in Tressy, USA, presided over by Baba Thakur Singh, acting chief of the Taksal. Bhai Ram Singh is nephew of Sant Kartar Singh Khalsa, the 13th Jathedar of the Taksal. The appointment of Ram Singh as Jathedar was necessitated when the Jathedar of Akal Takht and the SGPC made a formal announcement on June 6 declaring Sant Bhindranwale as a martyr in “Operation Bluestar”. Ram Singh replaces Sant Bhindranwale after 19 years of his death. Ram Singh had resigned as priest of the Golden Temple in protest when he was transferred to Jind in Haryana by the SGPC.
Raju Kamble, 318 – 3600, Brenner Drive NW, Calgary Ab, Canada T2L 1Y2: The advice by Gail Omvedt in the Hindu to Dalits to vote for Digvijay Singh’s Congress Party in MP is an ill advice. Neither it fits into any theories of Dalit empowerment nor the round realities of today. In today’s situation BSP has definitely worked well and destroyed the Congress from UP. The RPI vote bank is quite intact in Maharashtra despite its failure to” develop into powerful political party. In Tamil Nadu, Dalits have started asserting themselves politically through their own parties of Tirumavalavan and Dr. Krishnaswmay. Even if one assumes for a moment that BSP is not working for the empowerment of Dalits in UP, then also advising Dalits to vote for the Congress or BJIP’s absurd from any point of view. Dalits can empower themselves by forming their own parties and trying to be a balanced power and not by joining any of the “national” Brahminical parties like the Congress or BJP or Left parties. (kamblerd@hotmail.com).
Mohinder Paul, Deputy Registrar, Punjabi University Campus, Patiala – 147 002: I have been a member of the DV family right from the inception of Dalit Voice (1982). Your efforts highlighting the acute problems of the Dalit§* who have been kept suppressed since centuries by the upper castes are laudable. I read DV seriously and with devotion and always remain waiting for the new arrival.
Ilyas Patel, c/o Anjuman-e-Imdadul Muslimeen, Furja Road, Bharuch – 392 001: Strategies are being made by Hindu nazis to defame Islam and Muslims in various directions and on every occasion. Whenever they get opportunity to ridicule Islamic traditions they don’t lose it. Brother Raju Thomas’ Letter in May 16 DV give us pondering moment as to why Hindu nazis are opposing conversion. They are working on the principle of “offence” is the best form of “defence” while criticising Islam, while Hinduism itself is a bunch of unimaginable traditions which are inhuman in many cases. Yet they are giving advice that some of the verses of the Quran must be omitted. How many Muslims have four wives? “= This is a matter of research. Once the Dalits of India totally convert themselves to other religions, India’s destiny will be like that of America.
Rev. J. Yesu Natha Das, COTR Seminary, PO Box-3, Dorathota, Bhimili PO, Vizag – 531 163: I have been a regular reader of DV for many years. I, indeed, acknowledge of the great contribution of DV and the leadership of its respected Editor for the cause of Dalits awakening. Yet our people are not very sensitive towards our issues and struggles. We are still remaining in division and discrimination. Even the Backward Castes are not considering the Dalits with due respect. Few BCs are well organized and able to bargain their demands politically and socially. Still, they do not like the advancement of Dalits. Dalit organizations are in strife and fight due to the Brahmanic tricks. Dalits are not able to reach higher positions because of their economic and educational backwardness.
There are many intellectuals among Dalits children who are not able to afford world-class educational opportunities. Since private institutions are monopolizing all such institutions and disciplines, our children are shut out. Though our children can emerge as competent candidates in the field, they lack privileges. We know that the government concessions and reservations are nominal are disappearing now, we must think and act to produce a new Dalit generation with quality education, social status and sharpened competency. The writer reminded of the great slogan of our Dalit leader Dr. Ambedkar, “Educate, agitate and organise”. It is true that to change the course and prospect of Dalit intelligentsia, we need to equip our children with standard English education. The writer is an experienced secular and theological educator. I feel that we must initiate some creative, positive and practical organization to promote educational facility in all disciplines to all possible Dalit children without any discrimination. It will be a mega programme for our Dalit children in the 21st century. Those interested may write to me. (disabless@yahoo.co.in).
Mulnivasi Mala, 8/4 – Siddhi Chawl, B.S. Road, Dadar (W), Bombay – 400 028: I went to my native place in Andhra Pradesh where Manda Krishna Madiga and myself toured the whole day (May 19, 2003) in Jukkal Taluka and addressed Mala meetings to unite the Dalits and Muslims to fight Brahminical fascist forces. Manda Krishna is following in your footsteps. He is the first person in AP to stand by our Muslim brothers.
S.L. Virdi, Advocate, Civil Courts, Phagwara – 144 401: The following are the facts of the Talhan caste war (DV July 1, 2003, p. 5: “Blot on Sikhism: Jalandhar clash proves hinduisation of a revolutionary religion”). The village has a population of 10,000 in which the Dalits are an overwhelming majority (about 72%). Yet the land and social control is largely with the Jat Sikhs. Mostly due to the migration of the Dalit youth to foreign lands and the Ambedkarite movement, the Dalits in the area are relatively well off which is the cause of the caste war. The trouble started on Jan. 14, 2003, after the gurdwara management was dissolved by the Jats who passed a resolution saying that only those who followed the Sikh maryada (religious code of conduct) would be allowed to enter the gurdwara management. This was just to keep out the Dalits. Dalits have been denied any role in the administration of the samadhi of Baba Nihal Singh-cum-gurdwara. The Dalits floated a parallel management committee and took the matter to court. Jats imposed a social boycott on the Dalits denying them work. They tore the portrait of Guru Ravi Das in the shrine. This infuriated the Dalits. They approached the police who refused to register the case. The Dalits then approached the district authorities which again ignored them. When the Dalits demonstrated against the injustice, they were lathi-charged. Instead of registering a case against the Jats, the police registered an attempt to murder (307 IPC case), rioting with deadly weapons (148), voluntarily causing hurt to public servant (332), obstructing public servant (186), assaulting him with criminal force (353), causing damage to property (427) and the mob acting with common intention (149) to intimidate criminally (506) against the 84 Dalits on Jan.21 in the FIR number 21 of Thana Sadar Jalandhar, under which Talhan falls. Then the Dalits approached to the National Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Commission. The Commission visited the village on Feb.5 and asked the district administration to punish the guilty under the relevant sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The Commission also asked an IPS officer to probe and find out if the SHO had used more force than required. A Kapurthala-based IPS officer, however, gave the SHO a clean chit. No action was taken against the accused. After a futile wait Dalit Action Committee launched hunger strike before the statue of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Jalandhar, yet no action was taken. Then they held two meetings under the presidentship of Chanan Ram Paul on May 22 and then again on May 27 demanding justice. Santokh Singh, Punjab Social Security Minister, made a public statement that “documentary evidence of social boycott was established”. A team from the National Commission for SC/ST conducted an on-the-spot inquiry on Feb.5 and ordered that “Kewal Singh and Bhupinder Singh be expelled from the village for six months”. Dalits sought ‘a share in the management of the samadh of Baba Nihal Singh that received an annual offering of about Rs. § crore. The five-month-long tension between Jats and Dalits of Talhan, 10 km from Jalandhar, took a violent turn on June 5 as armed clashes took place between the members of the two communities in the presence of police at an annual fair was in progress at the mazaar of Pir Baba Fateh Shah resulted in injuries to about 12 persons. A large number of houses, vehicles and property were damaged, forcing the district administration to clamp an indefinite curfew in the village after the failure of the police to control the violence. The violence even continued after the imposition of the curfew. Chanan Ram Pal, president of the Dalit Action committee, said that the violence started when some police officials manhandled a group of Dalits standing near the stage at the fair at the instance of some Jat Sikh youths. Dalit youths opposed their action which was followed by beating of Dalits by the police. Youths in the Dalit- dominated Buta Mandi area took to streets after they saw clips of a clash between the Dalits and Jat Sikhs in Talhan village on a local TV. In the Buta Mandi police firing one person was killed and 21 were injured. The June 5 violence infuriated the Dalits, and they resorted to block the Jalandhar-Amritsar GT Road. There was also a Phagwara bundh. There were total support of the district administration and police to the Jat Sikhs. During the police-firing some policemen used abusive language against Dalits. The police were anti-Dalit. In Punjab, 33% are Dalits and another 33% are Backward Castes. Only 19% are Jats and the remaining Hindus. Hindus are in a micro-minority. The contradiction is mainly between Jats and Dalits. Jats are not only exploiting the Dalits economically and socially, but even sexually in their fields. If the Dalit resist, they are beaten, humiliated and then they were involved in false cases and finally socially boycotted. At present not only the Talhan village of Jalandhar but even the village Hasanpur in Sangrur and Aligarh in Ludhiana district are facing social boycott. (slvirdiadvocate@rediffmail.com ).
Ronki Ram, Dept. of Political Science, Punjab University, Chandigarh – 160 014: The Talhan caste clash is not the first of its Kind as press reports suggest. Punjab has already witnessed such types of episodes. The case of political activism during the Ad Dharm movement of the colonial Punjab is a case in point. When the Ad Dharm movement under Babu Mangoo Ram started advocating the cause of the Dalit liberation and their empowerment, the Punjab Dalits faced violent oppositions from the upper castes. Whenever the oppressed raised their voice for their emancipation they faced stiff opposition from the upper castes. They may be Rajputs or Brahmins or Jats. Dalit brothers in the academics and in various activist circles should give some thought to this issue.
G.V.K. Asaan, “Kalvi Agam”, Vadakovil, Coimbatore, TN – 641 002: The author of an article “Questioning Periyar’s legacy” (The New Indian Express, March 12, 2003), described as a “historian” of the Dalit movement, is no different from the Hindu nazi historians in misquoting views, distorting and misinterpreting facts to suit preconceived notions, and, in the process, misleading the readers. From the time he entered public life in 1917 as the President of the Madras Presidency Association till he breathed his last on Dec.24, 1973 in his 95th year, Periyar EVR consistently and tirelessly worked for gaining equality of status, opportunities and treatment for all including women. He would not accept assigning a subordinate status for women just because they physically differed from men in one or two aspects. Hindus becoming Christians or Muslims, rather he justified their change of religion to escape indignity and discrimination. He commended Islam between these two faiths because he found socio- religious equality practised better among the Muslims than among the Christian converts who continued sticking to their original divisive caste identities, a practice opposed (o the teachings of Jesus. Despite his support to conversion as a mode of getting rid of degradation and discrimination under the varna-jati system sanctioned by Hinduism, Periyar did not consider it as a final or perfect solution. The ideal condition can be achieved only when people begin to value self-respect above everything else, are imbued with the spirit of equality and liberty and cultivate an outlook of rational humanism. When Dr. B.R. Ambedkar informed him about his going over to Budhism, Periyar encouraged him to do so and asked to take along with him lakhs of people. To say that such a person “has never been secular” is simply ridiculous. The ideas expressed under the head Juniority community are quoted in the article. Periyar wrote them at the time of the third general elections on March 6, 1962. He did not like Muslims as a community supporting Indian Union Muslim League because it had aligned with the then rightist Swatantra Party of C. Rajagopalachari who wanted the Hindu ethos to prevail as against the secular values and planned economic development. Periyar’s basic approach regarding the minorities was that he considered:
“Except Aryans, all those living in this country including Muslims and Christians as Dravidians. When it. is said that Aryans are excluded, it should be understood in the sense that Brahmins are excluded”.
The Indian Express article says Periyar was anti-Dalit and that he ridiculed the Dalit attempts to get education and jobs. The utter falsity of these allegations proves that his criticism of Periyar’s views and service is perverse and motivated. Throughout his public life starting from 1917, Periyar made it one of his basic policies to work for reservation for various communities including Dalits in proportion to their population. He joyously welcomed the Communal GO of the erstwhile Madras province in 1928 because it made reservation in government jobs a legal obligation. But, at the same time, he found fault with the GO for providing inadequate representation to Dalits. The famous provincial self-respect conference, organized by Periyar in Feb. 1929, passed many. resolutions with special reference to Dalits to give them equal status and opportunities and to promote their educational facilities and job opportunities. Even while he was in the Congress Party, Periyar threatened to burn the Ramayana and Manu Smriti in 1922 because the Brahmins in Tamil Nadu Congress Committee thwarted the passage of his resolution to allow even lower castes, including SCs to enter the Hindu temples. He played a leading role, in Vaikom Satygraha (1924-25) undergoing rigorous imprisonment, to win the right for avarnas and Untouchables to use the public roads. His agitation programme demanding appointment as archakas qualified persons, irrespective of their birth in any caste was his last major effort to establish an egalitarian social order. Instances of his endeavours to emancipate the downtrodden are too many to enumerate in a short space. He wrote in Viduthalai (Tamil daily Sept.7, 1972):
Large number of depressed Class (SC and ST) people should be recruited in government services. A large number of them should be introduced in the police department and appointed as village officers.
M. Venkatesan, Thiruvalluvar IIIam, Athimanjeeripet, Pallipat Tq., Tiruttani dt. – 631 202: In the June 1, 2003, issue of Dalit Voice (p.13) your reply to Dr. K. Jamanadas about Periyar’s contribution to Dalits and BCs was correct. I have also questioned Chandra Bhan Prasad’s biased views on Periyar and the Dravidian movement as published in the Vaartha, Telugu daily. Periyar fought against untouchability, Vaidik Dharma, Manu Sastra and Brahminism. He fought for the unity of Dalits and BCs. Dr. Ambedkar also fought for the same principle.
Dr. Ashok Adhav, MHB Colony, M-36/2521, Yerwada, Pune – 411 006: Kanshi Ram says (Indian Express May 2, 2003, Pune) he will have alliance with the Brahmana Jati Party (BSP). What then must be our strategy? Pro- BSP? Anti-BSP or wait and watch? So many BSP people have written in DV about the obligations of Mayawati in UP to form the govt. What was obligation for her to go to Gujarat to support BIP? I think BSP will be swallowed by the Hindu nazis in two or three decades like Periyar’s Dravida Kazhagam. Mayawati and Kanshi Ram are not Budhists. Seo, it cannot last more than two or three decades as an anti-BSO force. Kanshi Ram looks too much pro-Brahmin. Am I wrong?
Igbal Ahmad Shariff, Advocate, No. 94/1 -11th Cross, Tank Garden, Jayanagar sit Block, Bangalore – 560 011: Till some 200 years ago the news of wars and political changes used to reach distant places after months. Later, it took some months. In the early 20th century, the news started reaching in days through the radio. At that time the news was verifiable and used to be fairly accurate. But with the arrival of electronic media, we Cun see live battlefields, but three beauty is it is false. Totally one-sided and false. TV stations are purchased. Reporters “embedded” with troops and reporters under control.
Everybody agrees that truth is the first casualty in wars. Read the excerpt from a Guardian article:
“The chief news executive of CNN wrote a strikingly honest article about the terrible news from Iraq that CNN did not report from Baghdad for many years in order to keep the networks accreditation and access under the dictatorship”. (Deccan Herald, April 19, 2003).
He became honest after a decade. CNN was shameful enough not to report for 20 years just to be in the good books of Baghdad. What it did for the US during the war is glaringly witnessed by all viewers. When there was regular fight, the reporters told US marines, British forces etc. but when there was happy news, they said our forces exhibiting clear bias. The same was with the BBC, the so-called stalwart of truth. Read this headline and compare the contents:
US shuts down Irag-Syria pipeline. See what Donald Rumsfeld said: “I am hopeful that they have shut it if, and I have heard that has happened. But I cannot assure you that all illegal oil flowing from Iraq to Syria is shut off. I just hope it is.” (Deccan Herald, April 17, 2003).
Has electronic media come to tell the truth or hide it? See how the reporters in Palestine Hotel in Baghdad were shot and killed for telling the truth. The reporter of Al- Jazeera was targeted as a reporter from the enemy’s side. This confirms DV calling reporters “intellectual prostitutes”. DV had called only Indian reporters as such. But the British and US reporters are still worse. We should celebrate the killing of such reporters. Humanity had bitter days when there were no reporters, newspapers and TV in the ancient days, when free, unconcerned travellers and merchants used to report events.
Kartar Singh, A/73 – CGS Colony, Bhandup (East), Bombay – 400 042: How wretched a country that India is that everything is viewed through the eye of caste because of the wicked Brahminism. The Brahmin maintains his (mock) supremacy by dint old nefarious casteism. When Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiyya is rightly put behind the bars under POTA, the wicked people malign Mayawati by blaming her and calling it a “Dalit versus and Kshatriya” fight. Where is the question of one caste put against the other? Action against a criminal is taken as per the law, as per the gravity of his crime. This is perfectly in conformity with the law of the land. The biased and corrupt media is predominately tilted towards Brahminism. All the ills and evils of this wretched country are because of the vaidik selfish and foolish activities. The country remained slave for centuries and now the country suffers from backwardness and abject poverty. The media in India is dishonest, perverse, biased and prejudiced, always giving distorted picture of events titled towards Brahminism. Why this media is not writing about Budha’s Anatmavad, Dawrin’s Theory of Evaluation, Psychoanalysis by Frued, the God is dead by Nietzsche, abolition of priestcraft by Vivekananda and abolition of Brahminism, capitalism and establishment of socialism by Sardar Bhagat Singh etc.? Why it does not promote rational thought to inculcate scientific temper in the masses, as directed by the Constitution of India? The Indian cinema made half a dozen of films on the life of Bhagat Singh without reference to his true ideas an ideology but giving a distorted and false picture of a great patriot and rational thinker. Media has failed to educate the masses in the latest developments and achievements of science. But it is playing a destructive role. I wonder if this country is ruled according to the dictates of Manusrmizi instead of the Constitution of India framed by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. It is a historical fact that feadalism was the ~ worst form of terrorism then, but in today’s context it is Brahminism. The handbook for perpetrating terrorism is the Manusmriti, the echoes of which are found in the Ramayana, Mahabharata etc. History says the Brahmins refused coronation of Shivaji on the pretext that he was a shudra because there was no Kshatriya during the kaliyug. The Brahmin Parshurama annihilated Kshatriyas 21 times from the face of the earth. Later the wives of the slain kings implored the Brahmins to cohabit with them so as they may bear the children of the next generation of Kshatriyas. Brahmins did the same happily — by Niyoga in terms of religion. It means mixed generation of Kshatriya’s in Kaliyuga came into existence. But the great Saint Ravidas says to him Khalas Chamar meaning thereby pure Chamar, pure of * | blood and action. What a wonderful fact comes to light that if there is anybody pure i.e. Chamar, which enables them to occupy higher status in society in face of others who are impure. It will be seen that all the ills and evils of this wretched country, that is Bharat, are the result of Brahminism. Mayawati comes from the ruling class of the world — the Chamar. But the Kshatriya have been stooges of Brahmins. Raja Bhaiyya, a Kshatriya, is a notorious goonda of the area and a confirmed criminal charged under several laws. Barlier CMs were eunuchs, spineless and corrupt fellows who could not take action against this goonda. When a lion-hearted CM took timely and appropriate action against the culprit, the people praised her bold action.
P.D. Ubale, 6 – Mantri Residency-I, Kotkar Lane, Aundh Road, Pune – 411 020: It is great that we call ourselves Budhists. Then many times I wonder what practice do we do as Budhists? Hindus do their daily puja of whatever god. Muslims do their namaz without fail. Christians do their Sunday pravers well-organized. But what do we do daily as Budhists? I am afraid. The reply is we do nothing. Of course, we too build shanty viharas in dirty corners, go there, offer puja, indulge in parrot-fike chattering of vandana followed by senseless talks which nobody listens except the talker himself. T am sad as I see this picture everywhere, every time. And [ wonder what the Budha himself would have thought after seeing us do all these rituals mechanically? And 1 am afraid he would have simply thrown us out of his sangha. Since we are indulging in the same senseless rituals which he objected to and rejected as ignorance. I hope the intellectuals of DV family agree when I say % this. The Budha rejected all these senseless rituals. He called them unary (ignoble) actions. Then the question -JS if he has rejected these rituals, what did he teach us to – practice? Did he give us any alternative practice to puja, anamaz and Christian prayer? If yes, then what is that? To understand this, we have to go to the basic question underlying these rituals. Right or wrong, what is the objective of all these rituals? There may be many and rather diverse as claimed by these sects. Still there is one common sane objective of these rituals. And that is to cultivate the mind. For good. For welfare of self and welfare of others. For developing moral values. For developing friendship, to evolve oneself into a good man. Whether these objectives are met or not by ebserving these rituals of puja, namaz etc. is their problem. We need not waste our energy in discussing that. We have abandoned it and chosen the Dhamma on the advice of our saviour. So, the main question is of our own practice s Budhist. Is there any practice in Dhamma which helps us to meet the above stated objective 1.e. cultivation of mind? Yes, I am sure there exists such a practice. Very effective practice. Replying to a question on whom to worship after his departure from the world, Budha said:
DhammanuDhamma Patipattiye Buddham Pujemi
DhammanuDhamma Patipattiye Dhammaimn Pujemi
DhammanuDhamma Patipattiye Sangham Pujemi
i.e. by dwelling on Dhamma (by meditating), you worship the Budha, the Dhamima, the Sangha. And how? The lord has clearly prescribed it in Sati Parthan Sutta. And that is meditation. And he proclaimed that it is the “only way. There is no other way for salvation from suffering. Of course, Budhist meditation gives much more to the practitioner. But one must practice himself to earn its merits. Nobody can do it for others as in many other religions a myth again. Alas the scene around is that we, the so-called Budhists never do it. So., we don’t do any Budhist practice. Let alone daily. The result is, we are not getting converted to a Budhist. There is no further progress beyond calling oneself a Budhist. Absolutely a stalemate. For a breakthrough one has to join a Budhist meditation retreat. May be of his/her own choice. There is no other path. That is the only path to get converted to a Budhist. Otherwise, we remain raw human beings. Vulnerable to all ills and evils. A world of caution. Before joining any meditation school, one must take due care to verify whether the school believes in and observes panchaseela or not. Since sheela is prerequisite of the Budha Dhamma. (ubale@mah.nic.in )
Makhan Singh Bhai Rupa, c/o Begampure da Wassi, No.2 – Bhagat Singh Nagar. B/h Bus Stand, Muktsar – 152 026: On July 6, we are going to celebrate Saflta Samelan at Ludhiana as our Punjabi Dalit monthly, Begam Pure da Wassi, has crossed five years successfully because of the efforts of our workers. Some of whom will be honoured on that day. Also, an important book, Main Hindu Nahin Marunga, (fundamenial | thought of social and religious revolution in India) will – be released. It is written by me in the context of Budha, Sikh and Phule revolutions against Brahminism. A state body of “Samaj Parvartan Sabhia Char Manch, Punjab, Muktsar hq., will also be announced on that day. Gurnam Singh Muktsar is the chief organising figure of the function.
M.M. Satpute, A/1 – Dinanath Coop Hsg., Near RTO, Andheri (W), Bombay – 400 053: This refers to your ° report on Mai Saheb Ambedkar’s death (DV June 16, 2003, p.7). I do not understand why the late Shankaranand Shastri has been brought into the picture and connected with the death of the late Savita Ambedkar, the widow of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. Mai Saheb was associated with Dr. Ambedkar for about eight years as a wife as well as a life partner. It was her duty to take care of her husband in her own style and her own manner. After Babasaheb’s death she lived as a common citizen of India. She did not enter politics nor begged for any post. This itself proved her greatness and also devotion towards her husband. We all must be proud of her. Otherwise like Mrs. J. Kennedy, the widow of late President Kennedy, she too could have married somebody. I knew the late Shankaran and Shastri personally. It was a fact that he made clear-cut statements and narrated true facts in detail in his published books about the death of Dr. Ambedkar. It was also a fact that he was the person who took the decision to take the body of Babasaheb to Bombay for funeral against the wish of Mai Saheb. Today’s Chaitya Bhumi of Babasaheb in Dadar Chopatty, Bombay, was made with the help of late Dr. P T. Berale, then the Mayor of Bombay. In short, the entire credit goes to Shankaranand Shastri and his friend, PT. Borale, for creating a holy place out of Babasaheb’s cremation ground where millions of people from all parts of India gather every Dec.6 to pay their respects every year to the Bodhisattva Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. Of course, the great leaders of ours, well-wishers and the family members of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar had excused her at that time [or what had happened. The chapter was closed permanently there itself. 1 would like to bring to your notice a small incident to which I was an eyewitness. There was a function at Lucknow. I accompanied Shankaranand Shastri and also others to attend the same. As soon as we entered the hall, Mai Saheb came running from the stage and received Shankaranand Shastri with love and affection. He bent his head. In turn, she showered blessing on him and enquired “How are your beta?” This. | – reveals the great relationship — mother and son. Balwant Singh Boharu, B/257 – Ranjit Avenue, Amritsar – 143 001: I have been reading Dalir Voice for some time and found it unrealistic about social events. You talk much about Dalit-Muslim unity which cannot be achieved unless all the Dalits 20 to Islam. On the other hand, you think Sikhism is dead and do not want Ambedkarites and Sikh unity. What to say of this unity? The Ambedkarites of Jalandhar who claim to be Budhists (atheists) i.e. nonbelievers, wanted to take over a Sikh gurdwara and created hatred among the Sikhs and Dalits in the village Talhan, creating riots in Jalandhar city. Dr. Ambedkar went to Budhism but his conversion did not improve the condition of the Dalits except a few highly placed in the services. Even if the entire population of Dalits go to Budhism, their lot cannot be improved because in India it 1s already dead. It is not wise Lo ride on a dead horse. I had been in touch with the Ambedkarites of Jalandhar for the last 10-12 years, contributing funds and distributing their books and appreciating Dr. Ambedkar and his contribution towards humanity. After observing their hatred for Sikh scriptures and the part played them in the management of Sikh gurdwara at Talhan leading to riots, I have realised that they do not want any unity with Sikh masses. The Budhists and those who have no faith in the Guru Granth have no right to be a member of any Sikh shrine committee. The followers of Dr. Ambedkar should not interfere in the management of Sikh shrines.
Shamsul Arifin, M-91, Abul Fazl Enclave, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi – 110 025: After rejecting the international mandate and rendering the UN more defunct and more paralyzed than ever before, the US invaded and changed the regime there. But was it really only to change the regime? The answer is an unambiguous no. The fact is that the unilateral decision of the US to attack Iraq to dethrone Saddam and exterminate his supporters was not only to change a regime. Rather, it was a kind of test and experiment of US to give a boost to its hawkish imperialism and terrorism. Now. The righteous people and the countries with wreckers and ammunitions must get ready to face state-sponsored terrorism more than ever before. Division and discrimination between poor and rich, weak and powerful nations will widen now. (DV May 1, 2003, p.5: “Who can take this new imperialist America?”). After Irag, now Bush points his gun in Iran. And after Iran there are many more, especially the Gulf countries. Now question arises — why a Muslim country, especially in the Gulf, only on suspicion and presumption of possessing or developing a nuclear power, is warned, attacked and wrecked by the US? Why US is so worried about this region? Why not North Korea (NK) is making US so worried/ And not only NK but there are many more countries in the world which have nuclear power today. But why has only this particular region become a source of problems and worries for Bush? The answer is that the most powerful state of the US i.e. Israel is also there in this region surrounded by the Muslim nations. And not only NK but no other country in the world is posing any threat today to Israel. In fact, they may cause threat to US itself, but it does not make Bush worry so much. Because Bush is more interested in the safety of Israel than the US today. After contemplating and analyzing the behaviour and attitude of Bush it seems that Israel has played more important role than the people of US to make Bush President of US. I appeal to the people, not to the puppet governments, of the Muslim world to take serious notice of the unsavory political activities of the US. The presence of Israel in the Middle East will never let peace prevail in the region. Also let me make it clear that it is not so easy to get rid of it. What I am sensing is one of the bloodiest wars in human history will be there before a permanent solution. Otherwise not one, two or three but dozens of so-called road maps cannot pave the way. Muslims will have to decide whether they must live in the region or the Jews, because both can never live together. This is impossible. Forget it. Most importantly, my sincere suggestion for the Arab masses is that for the time being I would like them to forget about the US and Israel and start thinking seriously about their rulers, the people in power there. They believe it or not, but the fact is that the root cause of all the problems in the Arab world today is only because of their un-Islamic and pro-American rulers. These rulers have been completely deprived of the “Spirit of Islam” and sense of thinking in the right direction by their highly luxurious and lustful lifestyle. They have badly fallen into the trap of American and zionist conspiracy and now they are completely into their claw. The solution of their problems is only in rising against their anti-Muslim and pro-American rulers. They are only serving the American and the Jewish cause. (shamsr@rediffmail.com)
Dr. M. Ejaz Ali, All-India United Muslim Morcha, New Delhi: The Ayodhya dispute is back in the news. Though it is now being used as a political stunt, its dreadful effect is continuously felt now as the society is getting divided on artificial Hindu-Muslim grounds. Hence its solution is essential for the welfare of the exploited sections of society. For its permanent solution, one of the two communities has to withdraw the claim from the disputed site. The two community leaders must sit together to finalise this give and take formula. If the Govt. of India removes the religious restriction from Art 341, Muslims will be persuaded to withdraw their claim from | disputed land in Ayodhya.
