Letters to Editor
Cherukuri Devadas, 11235-Oak Leaf Dr. #119, Silver Spring. MD 20901, US: Nanaji Thamka died on April 5 last following a heart attack aged 67. He was associated with Babasaheb’s mission and was the first-generation post-conversion Budhist and an office hearer of SC/ST association of RBI, Nagpur. He organized cooperative housing societies in Nagpur named as Uruwela Colony to commemorate a place where Budha lived. My junior at the Pane University, Vijay Sonewane, has married the daughter of Nanaji Thamke. I request all my brothers to join me in passing on our condolences to our beloved sister Ujwala Sonewane.
Dennis Hans, Buenos Aires: The Association of Nations Destroyed. Destabilized or Otherwise Violated (ANDDOVUS) by Uncle Sam (US Govt.) has authorized the ouster of the current US administration by no later than March 2003. Foreign ministers of the 123 nations that make up ANDDOVUS met here (Argentina) recently and agreed to appropriate $42.8 billion for what they termed “regime change in the US”, “We’ll do just what the CIA has done to so many ANDDOVUS nations”, said an aide to the Angolan Foreign Minister. “We’ll use bribes to recruit or subvert the media, labour unions. business groups, political parties or factions within parties and disaffected officers in the military and police”. Back in 1972, ANDDOVUS had 54 member-nations, but it achieved phenomenal growth during the 1980s. (Infotimes).
G.S. Aulakh, 1901-Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 802, Washington, DC 20006, USA: The US State Department has placed India on its watch list of violators of religious freedom, according to the May 7 issue of the Washington Times. This means that the US Govt. certifies that India is a violator of religious freedom. The US should now impose sanctions on India for its violations of religious freedom. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom, created by Congress, deserves praise for criticizing the State Department for being soft on sanctions.
Dr. Abdul Malik Marathe, Flat One, 78-Albany Street, Hull, East Yorkshire, HU3 1PN, UK: We have started producing a new fortnightly newsletter for distribution among the Muslims called Islamic Revival. It is produced on double-sided A3, folded into A4. Volume 1, issue 1 in Word 97 format can be downloaded from: http://www. islamic-revival.org/1423/020420/islamicrevival020420. doc. There is also an on-line version available at: http://www.islamic-revival.org.
Vaibhav Wasnik <wasnik@physics.arizona.edu>: I share my sorrows with you considering the murders of innocent Muslims that shook the nation. However, the Hindus must be happy. I want to narrate a few things that happened here in my university concerning Gujarat I live alone here. When the news of the incidents started pouring out. I was gravely shocked. I tried talking to a few Hindu friends. The only answers that they could give was why this Mandir-Masjid fight. A careless misquotation. A Hindu professor from our university approached me and told me his grief over Gujarat, I told him that it was not a Hindu-Muslim problem but the thorns of this fight lies in the fact that the majority of Muslims are the Backward Caste converts. The only problem of India was Brahmin domination. Well, I was surprised to know that this upper caste had a similar feeling. So we decided to collect money towards the cause. I sent an email to the students here attacking the root cause of this problem. The problem was not Hindu-Muslim one. Nobody replied to my EM. Then I sent the same email to the president of the India Club and he gave such a cute reply. He said that he couldn’t forward the mail that I sent him because it coincided with the political thinking of some Indians and a lot of Indians may not subscribe to such a thinking. He also said that he couldn’t approach the university body because this was an internal dispute not a natural disaster. These dispute people could give donations to the cause of earthquakes. But not when Muslims get murdered. Reasons pop out. Internal conflict. Retaliation. Bullshit. These are the intellectuals of India. They represent the Indian community here. These are the same Indians who were cowering with fear during the Sept. 11 bombings. If killing of Gujarat Muslims could be justified as a retaliation, killing of these Indians here should be also justified. A few killings caused the Indian Govt. to tell the United States that they should not act racist. Why not when a Christian father gets killed in India? The racial murder of these Indians living here should also be justified. I am asking a question. What are these people made of Dear Editor, you rightly pointed out that the country lacks honest intellectuals. The country lacks people who can really think. I salute you on your thoughts. The only intellect that these Indians have is the cunningness to prove that the worship of a monkey god could be linked to the side by side existence of a really developed human race with a monkey race. These people will build stuff in the Silicon Valley but their hearts are nothing. They are knowledgeable not educated. India needs a cultural revolution. The countrymen need to find out who their real enemies are. The countrymen need to realise who true Indians are and who are the foreigners. I have written this mail in a fit of rage and desperation. It only reflects the feeling of a true Indian.
Raghuthaman Opeh, C-006, Pragati Vihar Hostel, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110 003: It is curious that no news of Dalits is coming from Gujarat. The Karuna Trust, Valjibhai Patel, the lawyer (who was aided by about half a dozen forum members for earthquake relief of Dalits) and others located in Gujarat, have not come out with any firsthand information. I believe our people have made peace with the upper castes. I only hope that they have not joined hands with the Hindu nazis to have some fun. The Tribals are fully into the rioting. This reminds of the use of Dalits of Trans-Jamuna colinies to carry out the anti-Sikh pogrom in 1984 in Delhi. Is there an alliance a-la Mayavati-BJP in Gujarat too?
Hindu nazis with a great missionary zeal and in vesting crores of rupees have corrupted and co-opted the urban dwelling Dalits of Ahmedabad in particular and Gujarat in general. During the days following the Gujarat caste war” (1981 and 1985) Dalit Voice circulation soared. The Gujarat Dalit Panthers headed by Brother Rameschandra Parmar and assisted by Valjibhai Patel were cur two lieutenants All these people gradually came under nazi influence. Almost 100% of the Ahmedabad Dalits have been hinduised. The upper castes, who during the carte war killed our people, became the heroes of our people They turned Dalits into good Hindus and instigated them against Muslims. This they did by destroying the identity of our people, crushing the very personality of our people. It is a very big job to recover their personality and re-establish their Identity. It needs a socio-cultural revolution. But who will do it?- EDITOR
Dr. Ashok Adhav, Yash Chambers, Flat No.2, Ground Floor, Subhash Nagar (Dhanori), Vishrant Wadi, Pune 411 015: My wife, Mrs. Vaishali Adhav, who was Miss Roshan Sayani, a Khoja Muslim before marriage with me. After marriage she read Budhism and voluntarily embraced it (Govt. gazette 1977) and active in the spread of Budhism. She died on April 28, 2002 due to diabetes and hypertension.
On behalf of the Dalit Voice family world-wide we offer our condolences and request you to redouble your efforts to promote Dalit Muslim unity- EDITOR.
Bhante Prajnasheel, Bodh Gaya, Bihar-824 231: On April 27 last. Bodhgaya DSP. Madhusudan Bari, took action against M. Vimalsara Thero, gen. secretary, International Budhist Council, Bodhgaya and ex-Bhikku in Charge and asst. gen. secretary of the Mahabodhi Society of India, Buddhagaya Centre. He was troubling the Indian Budhists and specially Ven. Bhante Anand, gen, secretary of Budhagaya Mahabodhi Vihar Liberation All-India Action Committee. He used lakhs of rupees to remove us from Bodh Gaya Mahabodhi Temple and appointed Kalicharan Yadav as secretary of the Mahabodhi Temple Management Committee. He went to the Gaya Jail in a cheating case. The commissioner has also ordered him to go back from India.
Wing Commander R.K. Mandal, Air Hq, Vayu Bhavan, Rafi Marg, New Delhi 110 011: A national car was organised on “Re-writing of Indian history: An autochthon perspective” by Dalit Bahujan Intellectual Forum of India at Indian Social Institute, Lodi Road, here on April 28. The seminar was attended by scholars and students of history. Noted scholars such as Dr. Bhou Lokhande, HOD, History, Nagpur University: Dr. Ichhamuddin Sarkar, Reader in History, North Bengal University, Dr. Roop Kumar Barman, Dr. P.C. Ray. S.K. Biswas, Dr. Nagendra Singh, S.K. Mathur, J.C. Mandal, M.P. Rana, Sudesh etc. spoke on the occasion. The objective of the seminar was to put forth the Dalit perspective on re-writing of Indian history with particular reference to inconsistencies and distortions in writings of Indian history. It was discussed that the obvious bias of the court historians in ancient and medieval times and utilitarian British historians like James Mill who laid foundation of communal interpretation of Indian history by categorising the same as Hindu period, Muslim period and British period was continued by nationalist historians. In their over enthusiasm to identify national heroes like Rana Pratap, the official historians created an impression that Muslims were enemies of this land. It was also pointed out that deliberate omissions in official history writing like non-incorporation of discovery of stupa and other symbols of Budhism at the excavation sites of Harappa and Mohenjo-daro amounts to most degraded kind of intellectual dishonesty. Projections of only the doctored history would not take the Indian society and Indian nation anywhere. The seminar criticised how in the recent times the role of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was dubbed as anti-national. It was argued that if his raising voice on behalf of downtrodden was anti-national, the pseudo-nationalism of reactionary forces creating disturbances in various parts of the country is nothing but waging war against the Indian nation. The aboriginal Indians who are the actual producers of wealth and held the economic growth of the country were not highlighted. Contributions of farmers who are 70% to 80% in numbers and still. producing about 60-70% of GDP of the country have been ignored. The Indian classical language Sanskrit. offspring of the ancient Indian language, has been put on to the alter of respect but the original Indian languages have been ignored in the history. The seminar demanded that the Dalit historians should be actively associated in the re-writing exercise being carried out on behalf of the Govt. of India so that this exercise is dispassionate, complete and meaningful and the Indian history is more objective and credible.
Bhadant Arya Nagarjun Surei Sasai, President, Bodh Gaya Mahabodhi Mahavihar. All-India Action Committee, All India Bhikku Mahasangha. All-India Dhamma Sona, a grand Budha Maha Sammelan (festival) is organised to celebrate the Budha Jayanti on May 26, 2002 at Bodh Gaya, Bihar.
Nayyar Ahmed, Vijayanagar Nursing Home. Vijayanagar Colony, Hyderabad-500-057: Since decades I am a regular reader of the Radiance and the Urdu Dawar. They definitely have a soft corner for the DV Editor and Dalits. The Dawat Editor expressed his feelings on the first page dated Dec.7, 1999 and June 16. 2001 about the DV Editor and Dalits. As regards DV Editor’s complaint that the Jamate-Islami is not joining in the movement for Dalit-Muslim unity, he pointed out that Dalits should come out of caste system. Muslims have regard for all castes in general and human beings in particular. All humans are equal. Hatred is not the answer to hatred. Hearts should be won through love and affection, The Indian Muslims too hope to come out with some good results if Dalits extend their hand. Unfortunately majority of them are still under the spell of Brahmins. There is no place for racial discrimination in Islam. So no question of any kind of corrupt. “Aryan Muslims”. Our Prophet says there is no supremacy of Arab over non-Arab or non-Arab over Arab, White over Black or Black over White, all are children of Prophet Adam (the first man on earth) who was created from clay. In fact there is no place for racial discrimination in Islam but it pains when due to improper knowledge of Islam some people in DV create pseudo-caste or racial sects in Muslims. Islam declared tribes, races and nations as a means of good introduction and identity.
Dr. Anwar Hussain, Executive Magistrate, Jay Nagar Sub-division, Madhubani -847 226: 1 want to promote your writings and speeches to spread light and awakening. in all depressed and deprived classes.
Jasir Alavi, c/o Alankar Printers, PO Chandakunnu, Nilambur. Malappuram dt., Kerala: A couple of years ago I happened to read your book, Merit, My Foot (DSA-1987) by accident or what I should now call destiny. Actually I had ordered for a book on the reservation system. It was really an eye-opener for me. I searched. for more books of the DSA but in vain. Later I came to know that a “Book Room” set up by the Muslim students, at Manipal in the Manipal Masjid was having some of your literature and that was how I got many of your books. It really shook me that there are only a few among us who are bothered about the way things really are. These days when Dalit literature and women’s literature are widely taken up for discussion by the media in Kerala, your books and that of other writers of Dalit Sahitya Akademy are must readings. But it was sad to observe that most libraries do not have your books, not even good Dalit literature. Only a very few people seem to have noticed your books, views and the voice. Fewer still “believe” them. Then again, given your position, it was not surprising. Perhaps it is the lack of funds that fail you. But do keep trying. I find that most Dalits or Ezhavas are ignorant of the facts. May be as you said “slaves enjoying their slavery”. The poor remain so and as for those who make it to the college etc. all they have got to read are the books of the Sahitya Akademy, those of the communists, and the so-called secularists and so on. And the media all in the hands of the racists. I understand you are the Editor of Dalit Voice. I have never seen it and I would like to know how I can subscribe to it. Most people except a few Muslims and a fewer still Dalits and others, do not know anything about the Dalit movement nor about the root cause of all problems Brahminism. As a Muslim I have limitations in convincing them and I feel only you can do something about it. I wish to propose a few points for the Dalit movement or for at least an awareness about it:-
- The point to be considered first is the first of the three Commandments you yourself have written to Educate. For this you must do all possible things to make your literature available at all Il book shops and libraries (at least the colleges). I am sure that the Muslim institutions at least will co-operate. (2) A Kerala chapter of DSA should be started, if not yet. If there is one, please let me know about it. It should focus on making Dalit literature available especially in Malayalam (3) Revolutions stan with the students So, you should form Dalit students’ forums without affecting their studies. The Muslim Students Federation (MSF) of the IUML will be a good model. They organise campaigns, agitations and stage protests without letting them affect their studies or classes. This is important as we have a long way to go in “learning our lessons. I am also sure that the MSF will co-operate on this issue. (4) You should stress the SNDP about their role and importance and ask them to cooperate with other oppressed sections. (5) Most parties are now making or forming wings or forums within the party for the Dalits and the Tribals. This should be dealt with seriously,
Syed Naseer Ahmad, Apnaghar, Undavalli Centre. Tadepally Mandalam, Guntur dt. 522 501: My fourth book in the series of “The role of Muslims in the Indian freedom struggle” titled, Mysore Puli: Tipu Sultan, was released on May 4 (203 death anniversary of Tipu, the Tiger of Mysore). It was released by a veteran freedom fighter, Shaik Moula Sahch. (pp.26 Rs. 5). Write to author for the book at the above address.
Dr. Abdul Karim M. Naik, Dongri Clinics, 42-Jail Road (E), Char Null, Dongri, Bombay-400 009: I came to the function of “Secular Activists Watch” at Rizvi Complex on April 27, 2002 and heard your speech which was apt, factual and worth noting and worth remembering. As it was late I could not wait till the end. of the function. I would like you to concentrate on Bombay which is the right place where you can get many subscribers for Dalit Voice. Your coverage of Gujarat riots with facts and figures exposed the fundamentalists. We must try to bring unity among secular and democratic forces including Dalits and Muslims.
Mohamad, Lecturer in History, SGS College, Bhatkal-581 320: I am a MA graduate working as a lecturer and doing diploma in “Dalit study” from Hampi Kannada University under the distance education programme. 1. request DV readers to send me information to the above address on caste system, vaidik religion, Indian value system. Dr. Ambedkar thoughts, Dalit literary and Dalit movement in Karnataka, land reform struggle, human rights struggle etc.
- Haque, Patna: Everybody is talking of the state-sponsored Muslim genocide in Gujarat but the Aryan manuwadis defended it as the right reaction to the Godhra. But nobody has talked about the pre-Godhra nazi preparations, hooliganism/looting and shouting of anti-Muslim slogans by so-called Ram Sevaks for 100 long days in purna ahuti yagna started at Ayodhya. After the Gujarat genocide, the nazis resorted to their routine propaganda that the perpetrators of riots were few in numbers. If the rioters were few how over 1,000 Muslims were killed and over Rs. 250 crore worth of Muslim properties were looted or destroyed? The Hindu police silently gave moral support to the perpetrators of violence. The court also refused to punish the culprits. The administration kept mum, politicians played double-game. How can we say the killers were few? The Aryan manuwadis are the very people who swallowed crores of rupees in different corruption scandals. It is they who looted the hard-earned Muslim money to fill their belly. They antogonise the Muslims and at the same time shout the slogan that “Muslims must be brought into mainstream”.
S.M.A.R. Majeedi, Hasan Mansion, 116 Katkui, Chandpur-246 725: No doubt Hindu nazis have left the zionists far behind. I have done construction work in Ahmedabad, Baroda, Surat, Gandhidham in W. Rly in 1966-77, I have seen exemplary unity of Hindus and Muslims. Both Hindu and Muslim business flourished jointly in South Africa. But today the Hindu nazis have slaughtered that harmony. Nobody can imagine the conditions of our weeping hearts. In 1981, I took premature retirement as Dy. Chief Engineer (Const.) W.R. settled in ancestral place, Chandpur.
- Haris, Al-Irshad Library, Irahadussary Vidyarthi Samajam, Palliserickal PO, Sasthamcotta, Kollam-690 521: We are thankful to you for publishing a report on Abdul Nasser Madani, who is hero for the poor oppressed Muslims of Kerala. I admire your ingenious and committed mind. I read your book, India’s Muslim Problem (DSA-1998). I want to join hands with you in all your mission. We have to organise big agitations against the Hindu nazis.
M.H.M. Saleem, “Ashiana” Main Road, Gangolli, Kundapura taluk 576 216: My town Gangolli, on the West-Coast witnessed in Feb.2002 the second anti-Muslim riots in less than ten years while celebrating Bakrid. The last full-fledged anti-Muslim riot was in 1992 when the loss to Muslim property was extensive. But this time the damage was almost negligible. Thanks to our Editor, we are now able to identify the real hidden enemy. We included three GSBs in FIR which did the job. In the 1992 riots, the upper castes (GSBs) used the Kharvi (fishermen) to do their dirty job. This time they used SC/STs but did not succeed. Where do these Karvis BCs fit in the Hindu hierarchy? Please help as we are trying to educate them and win them over. Where do the Bunts come in the Hindu pyramid? Kshatriyas? Aryan or non-Aryans? This information will help us to convince our Bunt friends who are very good individuals. Do not sound too pessimistic, even if it is true, (DV Edit March 1, 2000: “Sunset over Dalit world“) as it discourages your readers. Take good care of yourselves and remember that I am too small a person who is not worth the contact of a great Editor like you.
Fishermen belong to the Most Backward Caste (MBC) category. The nazis have successfully hinduised (enslaved) them in South and also North Kanara districts and turned them against Muslims. The major Bhatkal anti-Musim riot was launched by nazis with the Kharvi muscle. The Muslims can simply win them over by sharpening the contradictions between the upper castes and BCs but they are not doing it. They think all are Hindus. This shows the poverty of thinking among Muslims Bunts come under the BCs and of brahminism, They are not Aryans Kshatriyas. But as they hate the MBCs and Dalits the Brahmins have played on this contradiction and used them. Brahminism & gaining day by day-EDITOR
N.S. Shaikh, Indian Muslim Social Organisation, Tawakkal Society-1, Circle, Sarkhej, Ahmedabad-382 210: The Prime Minister was given here a red carpet welcome from the blood of the thousands of persons killed, butchered and burnt alive. He took many representations but took no actions. The sane and educated Hindus, members of other parties and the members of SC/ST All-India Confederation comprise over 70% Hindu citizens in India and it is their demand to ban the Bajrang Dal, VHP and the RSS.
Syed Basheer Ahmed, 1929-South End “C” Road, 9th Block (E), Jayanagar, Bangalore-560 069: The religious “minorities are Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains and Budhists. Muslims form 12% of India but have not more than 4% govt. jobs. Hardly 1.5 to 2% of the funds from financial institutions are given to them. The income of the 78% of the families does not exceed Rs. 10,000 year per family. This is the most backward community educationally. It is true that all talk of uplifting this community during elections and all are aware of the present status of the community.
K.S. Faiyaz Pasha, Prof. of History. 10 Cherangal Abdul Ghani Saheb St., Ambur, Veliore dt. – 635 802: Your book, Grave-Diggers of History (DSA-2001), is an eye-opener to narrow-minded historians who see history through the jaundiced eye. The book is wonderful and will sweep off the feet anybody who reads it. It is a book not only to be read but also studied, chewed and digested. History is full of events and facts and only those momentous moments, which are extremely transmatic, causing deep emotions, are recorded. Distortions (i.e.. grave-diggings) also take place to suit particular contexts which result in pseudo-history. History, if selective and written with a view to dividing the communities along communal lines, can do infinite damage to communal harmony and will not augur well for the unity and integrity of our country. Grave-diggers of Indian history are warned. However, a heavy responsibility devolves on the indigenous historians (where the Dalit writers have failed as per your pungent remark) of your stature to dig the truth from the graveyard of falsehood in the wake of the saffronisation of history which has found a place in the history textbooks prescribed by the NCERT. Such saffronisation, apart from destroying the identity of the original inhabitants of India, will disturb the fabric of communal harmony and take our country to unknown. destination god forbid. History books should reflect the brotherhood among different communities that existed in the past. (If we open a quarrel between the past and the present we shall be in danger of losing the future). It is regrettable that the secular parties which are the political partners in the NDA Govt. in Delhi have not taken steps for fear of losing power to prevent the saffronisation of Indian history, May god save our country. Brother Mohd. Zakir Hussain (DV Feb. 16, 2002 p.16] says that you are well versed in all religious knowledge. At the same time he has posed you some questions viz. “to which religion do you belong? If you belong to a religion other than Islam what prevents you from embracing Islam?” You have not answered his questions in the DV. My conclusion about you is that you have followed in the footsteps of Dr. Ambedkar and embraced Budhism. That means you are a Budhist and hence a rationalist. Dr. Ambedkar said that he conferred the greatest benefit on the country by embracing Budhism which is a part and parcel of Indian culture. Why such a native religion like Budhism, a part and parcel of Indian culture which sprang up as a protestant movement against brahminism, was ejected out of India by brahminism? Why the Brahmins played a cunning trick with Budhism by declaring Budha as an avatar of Vishnu? Can they play such a trick with Islam which does not believe in avatar? Do the Dalits say that they regret now for having embraced Budhism? Do they say now that they have committed a blunder in life by not embracing Islam? These are the questions before us. You alone can enlighten me about them, However, a comparative study of Budhism and Islam made by a Muslim by religion who left Budhism and came to the fold of Islam (they are not my words) says. Budhism presents a complicated and haughty philosophy that does not concern itself with the various aspects of daily practical life. For this reason Budhism is not attainable by the average person to toils and sufferings in this life. It is difficult for him to understand besides applying it in his conduct and behaviour. So how can Budhism be called dynamic, self reliant and universal? But Islam is different. Its teachings are simple and easy and there are no crookedness and complication in them. Besides they are realistic and practical teachings that guide man to the straight conduct in all walks of life and lead his thinking to religiousness and piety. The teachings of Islam are of simplicity, clarity and realism to the extent that it is easy for everyone to understand and absorb their meaning. The teachings of Islam are not the monopoly of a class of monks as it is the case with other religions. All these facts point to the conclusion that Islam and not Budhism has a special claim to be a dynamic, self-reliant and universal religion. The difference between Islam and all other religions is that other religions say that through faith you may act, Islam says that through action faith must be born, Unlike other faiths which insist upon their votaries implicit obedience without independent inquiry, Islam counts inquiry and counsels its disciple to study, search and investigate prior to acceptance. Muslims are forbidden by their faith to use tactics or force while winning converts. The Quran says: Let there be no compulsion in religion. Islam allows freedom of worship also when the Quran addresses the non-Muslims thus: Unto you your religion and unto me my religion. I am not appealing to you to embrace Islam because the choice of any religion is yours.
- Akbar All. 4270-South 3rd Street, Pudukottai-622 001: Dalits in S. Kavanur village, Ramnad dt., have publicly announced conversion to Islam because of the continued neglect of the Untouchables by the society and the govt. Even their simple demands are not met. After their announcement, the govt, authorities, BJP and other political parties have rushed here giving all sorts of promises. This is not the first time the Dalits have threatened conversion to Islam. Because the Dalits know only such a threat works because all political (Hindu) parties and the Hindu govt, are afraid of Dalit-Muslim unity.
Md. Ali c/o Md. Faruk Choudhary, Md. English School, South Banskandi, PO Banskandi, Cachar, Assam-788 101. My absence at the Delhi Budhist conversion and your Calcutta visit were due to my economic condition. I am a poor youth. I have started learning only after I started reading DV. During my recent visit to Shillong, I met lot of Khasi Christians to whom 1 introduced DV. To them, DV looked very new and highly valued. All nationalities living in the North-East regions belong to Dalit family. However, we are made to fight each other because of the disaffection spread by Hindu nazis. We are all blood brothers. I was also a victim of nazi poison. Dalit Voice saved me, I want to start a DV study centre at Shillong with the help of our Khashi blood-brothers.
