Naresh Barsagade. 4222-Mustic Way, Mather, CA-95655, USA: According to a Hindustan Times report the Hindu terrorists are active even in USA. California is currently witnessing a raging battle between these groups and secular academics over textbooks on Indian history presented to “impressionable minds” in the US. They have launched a campaign to revise the textbooks on the ground that they show ancient India in poor light and single out Hinduism for “bias, distortions and prejudicial treatment”. The secularists are fighting back with equal fervour, warning the California Board of Education (CBE) against making revisions of “a religious-political nature”. The objection is about ancient India, the Aryan invasion, the caste system and the status of women in India. Michael Witzel, an American professor of Sanskrit at Harvard has the support of a number of academics including Indian historians Romila Thapar, D.N. Jha and Shereen Batnagar. Witzel says the groups seeking revision have a hidden agenda. Ved Chaudhary, president of the Educators’ Society for the Heritage of India (ESHI), said: “The ESHI totally rejects the last minute interjection of a group called IER (Indo-Eurasian Research), who were not involved in the reviews”. About 200 changes have been sought by the Hindu groups, led by the Texas-based Vedic Foundation and the New Jersey-based Hindu education Foundation. (DV Aug. 16, 2005 p.27: “US schools forced to praise Hindu racism”). (bnaresh@yahoo.com)
Parvez Khan, Bahnofvorplatz-2a, 50667 Koln, Germany: I am a regular reader of Dalit Voice which is the greatest truth-telling magazine in India ruled by fascist Hindus. We all read and appreciate DV’s truth and deeply admire the bravery of V.T. Rajshekar who is working against the Brahminical nazis while living among them in a fascist atmosphere. All credit to Rajshekar for this brave, difficult and a very dangerous work as it is very difficult to work against the Hindu nazis while living among them. I refer to the DV of Sept.1, 2005 in which an article appeared under the headline. “Madras IT racists persecute Backward Caste woman professor“. We were very sad to read this article and we intend to commence a professional campaign of awareness in the German media in Koln, which is my city of residence and also in Berlin which is now the new German capital. I will send the details of our media campaign regarding her (Prof. Vasantha Kandaswamy. IIT Madras) persecution at the hands of the Brahmins. We also wish to contact the Amnesty International in the previous capital of Germany, Bonn in this regard.
Malji Meghwar, Vill: Missri Memon, PO Islamkot. Tharparkar, Pakistan-69240: I am a human rights activist of Dalits of Tharparkar. A Dalit singer. Wasand Thari, told me that he met you in Bangalore. As I visited the Dalit Voice website and I got your name. The Dalits of Pakistan may be different. But the Untouchability factor is same. Manu, by caste Bheel, is on hunger strike because his 9 family members had been kidnapped 9 years ago and not returned yet. Cases were registered against kidnappers but no action has taken by the police. Now the Supreme Court has taken action and IG police is inquiring.
Mark Weber, Director. Institute of Historical Review, PO Box-2739, Newport Beach, CA 2659, USA: Our Institute website is now getting nearly 2.5 million “hits” a month, or about 80.000 a day and there are now nearly 1,000 subscribers to our IHR News and Comment e-email service. But the number of those who support our work with donations is just a fraction of that. Something is not right. If you appreciate our work, please make a donation now. To make a secure on-line donation, click on:
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Brigadier (retd.) Usman Khalid. Director. London Institute of Asia, London, UK: I am 70 years old, out of these 28 years were in uniform. Having seen the rise and fall of military and non-military rulers of Pakistan. I am of the opinion that military rule has been bad for the military but good for the country. It is bad for the military which begins to be partisan and the time and attention of its senior officers are taken up by matters they are not trained for. It is good for the country because the military brings the culture of conscientious thoroughness to the institutions of the civil society that are characterised by waste and corruption and whose officials are known for making money and increasing self importance by obstructing rather than facilitating. It is, therefore, not surprising that the people of Balakot are out on the streets demanding that earthquake relief and rehabilitation work should continue to be in military hands and not he transferred to the provincial administration of NWFP. The more important point is whether military intervention in politics has been helpful or harmful? I say military intervention was sometimes necessary (Ayub Khan in 1958 and Pervaiz Musharraf in 1999) to deal with the immediate crisis but sometimes it created problems rather than resolve any (Yahya Khan in 1969 and Zia-ul Haq in 1977). But all the heads of government in Pakistan since 1958 military as well as civilian weakened the institutions of the state, heightened public anxiety. created an atmosphere of crisis and made the country politically less stable. Gen. Ayub Khan led the best government in Pakistan. his period in power was characterised by of unparalleled stability and prosperity. But he was unhinged by not winning the 1965 war. However. His principal failure was that he did not act on the Constitution he made in 1962 and was unable to arrange smooth succession, he was seen to be more eager to prolong his rule. The result was that there was no one to guard and protect his legacy and the political order he carefully husbanded crumbled after he left office. Gen. Yahya Khan did not have a chance, his mind was more on wine and women. His failures wee of his person not of the military or of the institutions of the civil society. He was handpicked by America for he was the only leader -civil or military who would put up with India infiltrating the civil institutions of East Pakistan and the Qadianis of West Pakistan. If India had not withdrawn its army from East Pakistan or Bhutto recognised Bangladesh so quickly, the whole of South Asia- not just the state of Jammu and Kashmir-would have been in the grip of a civil insurrection. Bhutto was the only statesman to rise to power in Pakistan. He had a clear vision. He set Pakistan on route to becoming a nuclear power. He wanted a multi-polar world in which the Muslims should be a pole of power. That is still the goal of Pakistan. His belief that Saudi Arabia and Pakistan could do that together is still an operating idea and objective. But he also sought to break the authority of other centres of power the civil service, the judiciary. the armed services, industry and big land lords, banks etc. It is the latter legacy of Bhutto that his party and his daughter Benazir seek to protect. That is why she has been an unmitigated disaster in power and the PPP does harm to Pakistan merely by existing. I fear that it can be employed by America and India in the same role as the Awami. League in Bangladesh. The Army must carry the blame for two things: (1) for bringing Nawaz Sharif into politics and power, (2) for extending patronage to the MQM. In both cases, the excuses is that it was done to prevent the bigger evil-the PPP-from coming to power. The fact, however, is that this action saved the vote bank of the PPP from crumbling. The patriotic intelligentsia do not complain that the GHQ intervenes, they complain that it intervenes so ineptly. At this point in time, the country is faced with a situation similar to that of 1969. It seems. that PML and Gen. Musharraf are not planning for a smooth transfer of power in 2007, they are planning for power being transferred from Gen. Musharraf to Mr. Musharraf. I fear hell would break loose when that became imminent. The feelings of hate to distaste for Benazir and Nawaz Sharif is no guarantee that the people would rejoice if power is transferred in 2007 to Gen. Musharraf in civvies. It is situation in which Army intervention would be welcome. The Army can and must ensure smooth transfer of power in 2007 to a civilian President. If it did that, I am sure no one would complain about GHQ intervention. (usmankhalid@lisauk.com).
M. Madhu Chandra, 85-DDA Flat, Pocket-6. Sector-12, Dwarka, New Delhi-110 075: Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes getting reservation facilities do not realize how and for whose struggles these privileges are provided. It will be very true to our North-East India SC/STs. The struggle between the upper castes and oppressed castes of India has reached its crucial stage. The reservation assured in the Constitution is the most precious gift given to this class. This most precious gift has been under attack again and again by upper caste minority rulers of India. Who is a Dalit? Many SC/ST are not aware about who Dalits are and what injustice and inhuman atrocities they suffered at the hands of the Hindus. Many SC/ST of North-East do not realize how the SC/ST elsewhere are dehumanized. Dalit is the name given by themselves. It means outcaste, oppressed, crushed and Untouchable. They do not fall under the four fold caste system (Hinduism). Dalits are outside the fourth varna (sudra). Sudras at least are included in the caste order but Dalits are outside the caste and hence casteless. India has 250 millions Dalits who are oppressed socially, economically, politically, religiously. intellectually for over 3.000 years. Dalits found their messiah in the 20th century when Dr. B.R. Ambedkar fought for them and left a place where Dalits can be protected and provided the means to live and survive caste oppression from the Hindu minority rulers. The STs do not suffer caste discrimination. But they suffer economic and educational oppression. (madhuchandra softhome.net)
Dalitbandhu N.K. Jose, Hobby Publishers, Ambika Market, Vaikom 686 144: My latest book. Vaikom Sathyagraham Oru Prehelika, was released recently. The sathyagraha at Vaikom was a fraud. When the Dalits of Vaikom organized themselves to walk through the forbidden roads hefore the temple of Vaikom, the then Congress leaders came and started a sathyagraha. This was in 1924. Their aim was to propagate that the permission to walk through the roads was got with their efforts and not by the efforts of Dalits. For that they sat on the road for 603 days. A section of the savarna Backward Castes also participated and the Dalits deserted it. If the Dalits were allowed to continue their own agitation it would have strengthened them. During the saryagraha, Gandhi came and tried his level best to get the permission from the Brahmins and from the government. But he failed and returned. Then the police IG, a British officer, settled it. But it is called as the first victory for the satyagraha marg of Gandhi. My book exposes this humbug and explains what happened at the satyagraha. This is my Sth book on the same subject and my 103rd book on Dalit subjects. (dalitbandu@yahoo.com).
K. Ashok Vardhan Shetty (shetty25@hotmail.com) Twenty-one years after the worst industrial disaster in history in Bhopal, in which over 20,000 people died and 120,000 are still ill and with the Supreme Court negotiating a measly settlement of $470 million which works out to just $500 per survivor, just 20% of the money has been distributed till date and most persons have not received anything. Warren Anderson, CEO of Union Carbide, is a fugitive from the law, and Dow Chemicals (which took over UC) is still evading its responsibility of cleaning the contaminated site. The Bhopal saga shows all the parties involved in very poor light.
Sanjay Kr. Chaudhury, LLB 3rd Year. R.No. 05 – Dr. B.D. Hostel, BHU, Varanasi 221 005: Lalu Prasad Yadav is a social revolutionary in Bihar but give me one example when he has directly attacked the Brahmins the No.1 enemy of Dalit-Bahujan? All Dalit-Bahujan politicians except one or two are slaves of BSO. Lalu. Mulayam, Paswan practice superstition. Lalu’s daughter’s marriage was performed by a Brahmin. Rabri did sun (chhat) worship. Lalu takes chandan on his forehead Why? Does he not know he is not Hindu? Politicians cannot bring about any social and cultural change in North India.
S.V. Humane, 12 Rajiv Co-operative Hsg. Society, Bandra-Kurla Complex, Bandra (E), Bombay-400051: The Editor’s comment on my article (DV Nov. 16, 2005 p.6) says:
“Brahmins have instigated many such Dalits 10 criticise us”, and “But those who are sold to Brahminical bosses cannot e cured”
Such remarks are made in Editor’s comment whenever somoone criticises his “caste identity” theory. It appears that he is so obsessed with his theory that sometimes he dubs everyone, (not me) as bum-lickers of Brahmins or instigated by Brahmins. This does not augur well always. Now, I turn to other parts of his comment and also to the “Miracle of Caste identity” penned by a correspondent on page 13 of that issue. The Editor says that every caste must strengthen its roots so that “no particular caste will have the courage to bully another”. How to strengthen the caste roots? It could be strengthened only by clinging to the modes of life peculiar to that caste, i.e. by following from birth to grave, the tenets, dogmas and boundaries of Hinduism which is another name for Brahminism. This peculiarity not only separates one caste from another caste but castes, in reality, thrive on these peculiarities and look down upon the other castes. The rituals and customs of the lower castes are considered inferior to the customs of the upper castes. Hence, the divide and hate continues in favour of the strong and wealthy castes. Even the subcastes in the same caste differ in many respects from one another. The Editor does not take into consideration thousands of castes and subcastes which are distinctly different and even opposed to one another in all functions of life and living. The idea that after the roots of “caste identity” are strengthened, they would demand the due share of economic and political power hold good only to the numerically strong castes. But is this the only purpose and way to liberate the millions of hapless men and women belonging to thousands of low castes from the bondage of Brahminism? Some castes may get some nominal importance disproportionate to their numerical strength as opposed to economically strong castes. The example of Baniyas and Brahmins does not appeal in the context of caste identity. Because Baniyas and Brahmins adhere to the philosophy of Varnashram Dharma irrespective of their place of origin or region or language while all other castes are mostly localised to their region of origin speaking the common language of that region and have nearly no connections in other region. These local castes of that region compete with one another to identify themselves with the advanced and developed upper castes like Baniyas and Brahmins and in turn are profited by securing some crumbs of political and economic power. The Marathas in Maharashtra and Yadavas in UP and Bihar gained considerable strength through their caste identity but their minds are governed by BSO. Hence culturally they are like slaves of Brahminism. Here caste identity failed to liberate them from BSO. I suppose the aim of “caste identity” is to liberate every caste from the draconian and devilish system of Varnashrum Dharma. The DV correspondent’s version of “Miracle of caste identity” has been presented as a showpiece of success of “caste identity theory. The Madiga (Chamar) show of strength discovering their roots based on Ramayana’s hero, Adi Jambhava, and the hate of Malas underscores the somewhat dubious purpose only to secure some portion of reservation which is due to them on numerical ground. Is this the aim and purpose of “caste identity“, just to secure some portion of service or school or college reservation by Madigas as opposed to Malas? Why the Madigas could not seek their roots outside the Ramayana, the Brahminical scripture which upholds the Varnashram Dharma propounded by BSO? Why can’t their personal and social roots spread and embrace the roots of Malas and Mahars and follow Babasaheb Ambedkar, the saviour of the oppressed and suppressed humanity, and identify themselves as one Untouchable caste as they have been suffocated for over 2,000 years under the heavy, heinous and inhuman burden of BSO? To identify the oneness and unity by Madigas and Malas in Karnataka and Andhra and similarly by Chamars and Mahars in Maharashtra and Chamars and Jatavas in UP could create far greater miracle if they follow and seek new roots and nourish them in the sunlight of Babasaheb Ambedkar by experimenting inter-dining and inter-marrying in the Budhist way, at least by those who are economically self-sufficient. The example of rusted chain links of cycle given by the Editor appears misplaced and unconnected in his theory of “caste identity”. The chain links of cycle are thoroughly interconnected and each link is equal in strength, shape and quality. As such, rusted link if oiled properly fall in line with the chain and cycle moves on. This picture is not seen in the BSO cycle of unequal caste-ridden India. Castes are not like links of chain of cycle. Castes are the road-blocks for the upliftment and development of the lower castes and Dalits in particular. The best way to crush these road-blocks is to abandon the creators of castes which are religious scriptures and varnashrama dharma of immoral gods and Brahminism. Identify and root out them. By caste identity some castes may get some strength and much more caste pride which are not sufficient to crush BSO. If our Editor desires to crush BSO and rightly so then the liberation from BSO lies in spurning and kicking all their creations in entirety. It is in the interest of Brahmins. Baniyas and Marathas to remain and further their interests as Brahmins. Baniyas and Marathas but how is it in the interest of Madigas, Holeyas and Mahars to remain Madigas. Holeyas and Mahars for the ages to come? Keeping and strengthening the i, will undermine the much neglected social reforms, as the entire population is reeling under the unhealthy, injurious, superstitious rites and rituals dictated by the BSO, virtually making people their slaves irrespective of cases. The priority should be given to the sweeping reforms of the social evils and so-called religious practices. The caste identity may wait a short while.
Miss Kuheli Dolvi, vill: Kashyabpur, PO Mohisrekha, Howrah dt.711 303: I heard about Dalit Voice from Brother Akhtar Hussain of Hooghly. I am an unmarried Dalit graduate girl and also unemployed. I do private tuition. We are all SC/STs of West Bengal living below poverty line. I have three sisters. All are unmarried because of dowry system. My father works in a private firm getting only Rs. 2,000 pm. My father maintains our family with great difficulties. I want to read your famous journal Dalit Voice.
S.L. Sagar, Advocate, 290-Dariba, Mainpuri -205 001: This refers to the DV Editorial of July 16, 2005, “In defence of Brahmins”. Editor V.T. Rajshekar is a brilliant journalist but I am sorry to say that his support to Mayawati is against the Dalit interests. He does not know the truth about Mayawati. No Dalit community is with her except the Chamars. When she was the CM of UP she did everything against the interests of Dalits to please the Hindus so that she may continue in the chair. She suspended the SC/ST Act in UP during her regime. A number SC women were raped, thousands of Dalits were beaten through out UP. She did nothing. On July 9, 2005 at a Brahmin conference she gave the slogan that Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh are gods of Dalits ignoring the 22 baths of Babasaheb Ambedkar. A five-year old Brahmin is more dangerous than a snake, said Rahul Sanskrityayan. The reality is that a Brahmin is not only a bad master but also a bad servant. Brahmins ruined many empires. The Sikh king, Ranjeet Singh, was given poison by a Brahmin, sons of Guru Gobind Singh were killed by a Brahmin, Dayanand Saraswati was poisoned by a Brahmin. Chanakya, a Brahmin, invited Sikandar to destroy the empire of Mahapadma Nand. Mohamad Bin Kasim was invited by a Brahmin fakir, Range Raghav invited Khilji to attack Raja Ratan Singh of Chittor and a Brahmin commander of Jaichand invited a Muslim invador to attack on Kanauj. All these Brahmins were servants. How can the Editor say that the Brahmin is a bad master but a very bad servant? Brahmins are very cunning people. They come to Mayawati only to get the votes of Chamars. They know they have no future in both the Brahmin jati parties Congress and BJP. After becoming MLAs with Chamar votes they will desert Mayawati as we have seen twice in UP. When Mayawati embraced Brahmins on July 9, 2005, she disobeyed even the final words of Babasaheb. “I will not die a Hindu”, Our Editor is admiring a wrong person. Mayawati is committing a crime against Dalit society.
D.V. Meshram, at/PO: Mohali, tah: Dhanora, Gadchiroli dt.-442 606: This refers to your correspondent’s report. “Manmohan Singh & corruption” (DV Nov. 16, 2005 p.5), who called him a “capitalist-roader”. The former Finance Minister under P.V. Narasinha Rao is following his ex-boss. In India, a word has many meanings. The concept of avatar (incarnation) is well known. There was an avatar of Narasimha who introduced the new economic policy of LPG in 1993. Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh are the heroes of this policy. After the death of PV, Manmohan Singh is roaring with full force. He may be “honest”, but his avatar is pushing the masses to deeper and deeper corruption.
Shreenath Jena, Qt No. 407, RRL Colony, Bhubaneswar -751 013: A state-level conference against the inclusion of Kaibarta, Keouta, Dhibar, Radhi, Niari, Tiar, Ghani touchable castes (OBCs) in the SC list of Orissa was held here on Nov.27. Bhoja Raj Loha, chief engineer of the state govt. and a noted Dalit intellectual, presided. Mohan Jena. MP and a life-member of DV. addressed the gathering. About 2,000 Dalits were present. Mihır Sethi, Lecturer, Prof. B.K. Mallick of Utkal University. former MLA Tapas Das. Laxman Jena and Duryadhan Jena (both leaders of Central and State Govt. Employees Association) spoke. Reservations are meant only for the Untouchables but the courts are manipulating. Initially the Diwar caste was included in 1950 to the SC list. Diwars are not from Orissa. In 1980, some OBCs like the Kaibarta, Dhibar, Keuta went to the Orissa High Court. The then Chief Justice. Ranganath Mishra, gave a confusing judgment in 1980 stating that Diwar is synonymous to the Kaibarta. Dhibar. Keuta caste. This High Court judgment was against the recommendation of the National Commission for SC. Other OBC subcastes like Radhi. Niani, Tiarui, Ghani also demanded inclusion in the SC list. They claim Khetriya, the former ruling class status. Financially they are better off. Because of fake caste certificates no atrocity case is filed against them as they call themselves SC. (jena_rrl@yahoo.co.in).
In many states, touchable castes are included under the SC list. Political parties demand such inclusions to increase the strength of their vote bank. As a result the already neglected SCs are further cheated by such inclusions. The permanent solution is every state should hold caste-wise census to verify the strength of each caste and even subcaste and then give reservation in proportion to the population of each caste or subcaste- EDITOR.
Subhash Chand Musafir, IT Officer, NIC Ltd.. DO Palampur, HP-176 061: This refers to your reporters “Sex bomb finished Kerala BC leader” (DV Oct. 16. 2005p. 13) and “Brahminical sex bomb to finish Dalit & Muslim leadership” (Oct. 16, 2005 p.19). The Brahmins are the “Jews of India” as stated by our Editor. They gift their women and their virginity to kill their enemies (Muslims) as per the Zionist Arthashastra. The Brahmins say everything is fair in love and war. They are fighting us to defeat us (indigenous people) at every stage. For them there is no question of morality, values or dignity, Their main goal is to win at any cost. The vaidik mantra The State gen, secretary of BDSA, Brother T.R. Nial, organised a second State Dalit Sahitya Sammelan at Nalco, Damanjodi (Orissa) on 30.10.05 in collaboration with the SC/ST employees welfare association, Nalco, and invited two Brahmins as chief guests. RSS girl students sang Vande Utkala Janani. One guest Swain ridiculed Dalit Sahitya. Chief guest Sukla, a writer, spoke on Saint Achyutanand Das, Yashobanda Das, Jagannath Das. Jannath Sanskriti etc. for more an hour. He uttered not even the names of Dr. Ambedkar, Mahatma Jotirao. Periyar. Eight educated Dalit leaders including K.M. Tanti countered the Brahmin speakers. Why our Dalit brothers should invite our enemies? We need an apology from T.R. Nial.
Dharmanand V. Meshram, at/PO: Mohali, tah. Dhanora. Gadchiroli dt. 442 606: I read your famous history-making book, Caste A Nation Within the Nation, (2004, Books for Change, Bangalore). No doubt, the book and your theory is excellent and extraordinary. You have proved it with various examples and experiences in and outside India. “Caste identity” is the urgent need of the time. The upper caste elites pretend not believing in caste but the reality is different. They only try to show their “modernity” to hide their real caste identity. But the fact is the caste can never be hidden.. Your research that today’s castes are not castes but tribal identities is true. Caste is our tribal identity. There were so many tribal units in ancient India. They were not part of the Hindu caste system but maintaining their separate but equal identities. This theory must be propagated all over India. Or else, the Hindu terrorists would swallow all of us. Our “low caste” Hindus, meaning Bahujans. are not aware of this. This is the problem. Under the caste system the Bahujans are called “low castes” but in the past they were great rulers with independent “ethnic identity”. But they have forgotten their great past. When I was reading this book I found a small error on p.79. The right Hindi word is not “Bhagyadhari”. But “Bhagidari” meaning equal sharing and caring.
Umakanta Mahanta, AZAD, Dangapal, Kankadahad po/via, Dhenkanal-759 028: I met you at your Bangalore office and discussed with you regarding Dalit situation in Orissa. I am happy that I am getting Dalit Voice regularly (complimentary) and getting vast knowledge on Dalit movement across the globe. You are the only Editor who spent the entire life for the sake of Dalits. 1 salute you for your mission. I am working for the extinct Scheduled Tribe called Mankadia (nomadic) since 3 months and running a non-formal education centre. We arekeen to save this tribe. We appeal to all DV readers to support our work. Mankadias are monkey-catchers. They are 80 families. They migrate from place to place. Their population is 566. They have no land or assets. They are living in unhygienic 4-feet cottages, all illiterate.
Biral Sen Nag. Secretary. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Bichar Abhijan, Singjhan. Nuapada, Orissa: Our organisation is playing a vital role in creating awareness among Dalits. Last month an upper caste man threw human shit on the statue of Babasaheb here. The police arrested the accused.
A.N. Das, o/o the Betnoti Forest Range Office, at/PO Betnoti, Mayurbhanj dt. 757 025: Your exemplary philosophy and “caste identity” thesis can liberate us from Brahminism. After reading your literature I have started hating the Puranas, Hindu rituals and gods. Dr. Ashok Kumar Bhoyar has become our hero.
Matilal Mandal, 942-Green Park, GT Road, Bandel, PO Sahaganj, Hooghly dt. 712 104: The upper castes (Hindus) comprising just about 15% of Bengal have misled the Dalit Bahujans (90%) by injecting the poison of Hinduism. The situation further worsened during the Manuwadi marxist rule. W. Bengal has thus become a state of social, economic and political torture of the Dalit Bahujans for want of an effective leadership. During the days of Lakshan Sen and Ballal Sen of the Sen dynasty (1905-1202) the Untouchable Chandals (Namasudra from 1911) were expelled from Bengal and driven away by force to the seawater-bound low deltas of the Bay of Bengal at the mouth of the river Ganga to die without food and water as they had revolted against the crude and ignominous Sen rulers. For hundreds of years they had fought man-caters of land and water of the Sundarbans for survival. Finally they settled on those deltas which had been later named as the districts of Bakarganj (Barisal) Khulna, Faridpur. Jesore, Maymonsing, Rangpur etc. of East Bengal. To escape from the social and religious torture of the upper castes. most of the Chandals embraced Islam during the Mughal Empire. That is why the Muslim population of many districts of East Bengal is more than the Hindus as per the 1941 census. Upper castes were responsible for the creation of East Pakistan. Right from the middle of 19th century Dalit movement gained momentum in E. Bengal under the two Chandal gurus -Harichand Thakur (1812-1878) and his son Guruchand Thakur (1864-1936) of Orakandi in Faridpur district. Both of them fought Hinduism. They established nearly 1.500 schools to educate the Untouchables with the support of Dr. Meed, an Australian. After the death of Guruchand Thakur. Dalit movement in East Bengal progressed under the leadership of Jogendra Nath Mondal, another Chandal leader of Barisal dt. and reached its climax in 1946 when Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar was elected to the Constituent Assembly of India in spite of the stiff opposition from the upper castes. Then they entered into a conspiracy with the Muslim leaders to mislead the Chandal supremo. As a result the Hindu-majority districts like Barisal. Khulna, Faridpur and Jesore were awarded to Pakistan during the partition (1947) and J.N. Mandal became the Law Minister of Pakistan. Thus the upper castes succeeded to punish the Dalits of Bengal for supporting Babasaheb (DV July 16, 2005. p. 18). If the Dalit supremo had not fallen into the trap in 1947, the map of E. Pakistan or the present Bangladesh would have been different because according to the accepted policy of partition. Hindu and Muslim-majority districts should have been automatically included in India and Pakistan respectively. This serious mistake of the Dalit supremo seriously affected the Chandal (Dalit) movement of Bengal. If the Dalit supremo had left Pakistan immediately after partition and asked all Dalits to follow him, the Dalit movement of Bengal would have been different. East Pakistan refugees would not have faced acute problems for their settlement in India which they are still facing (DV July 16, 2005 p.18). Since this 1947 debacle, the upper castes have been using Dalits of West Bengal as their slaves. There is no proper SC/ST/BC leader. That in the Lok Sabha election (2004) Bahujan Samaj Party bagged only 0.9% votes speaks of our helplessness.
Brother Matilal, though a new member of DV has proved to be a conscious and energetic student of Ambedkarism. When he is so worried about the enslavement of Namasudras (Chandals) what he should do is to help instill their ethnic identity feeling in his jati people. Once his people become conscious of their identity, all other problems will be automatically solved. We suggest that he should help us to arganise a DV workshop in Calcutta, Far lang we have been looking for a right person to do this great work. Our Dalit brothers have assured financial support. What Brother Matilal should do is to take up the organisational work. One workshop in Calcutta will send the signal to the entire Namasudras and there will be a chain reaction- EDITOR.
Dr. V.D. Chandanshive. Cottage Vaishali, Shahu Nagar, Nanded-431 605: Happy to read the Dec. 1. 2005 DV Editorial revealing your “shift from social to economic problems of Bahujans. Your concept of caste-based budget will send shivers down the spines of manuvadis. I know that “media centre” is your dream and I would gladly become a part of it and strive to contribute for its realization as it is very urgently needed. I will contact Brother Dr. Mahure for this. We need to start a DV Debate on the 22 Pledges given by Babasaheb to Budhist converts on Oct. 14, 1956. They are capable of bringing about cultural change among the hinduised (enslaved) Bahujans. Some concrete work is being done on this by Arvind Sontakke who is a DV family member at Aurangabad.
N.G. Das. 17-Dattabad Road. Salt Lake, Calcutta-700 064: I was out of station for long time and as such could not go through the DV copies. As I started reading the back issues I found you got back your impounded passport after 20 years and went to London to receive the International Award for your renowned book, Caste—A Nation Within the Nation. I cannot express my joy in a word or two. The truth at last has triumphed over the untruth. You are free to go outside and disclose the Hindu atrocities inside India.
A.K. Biswas, IRS (retd.), BK-3, Sector-II, Salt Lake, Calcutta-700091: I came to know about your shock on the sudden demise of Dr. A.R. Biswas on 10.6.2005 (which information did not reach you until Sept.05). Since I enjoyed the love and affection of Dr. Biswas and was in constant touch with him for the last several years I am sending a write-up on the life and achievements of Dr. A.R. Biswas. Dr. Anil Ranjan Biswas. MA, LLM. Ph.D., D.Litt (honry), a great scholar, a prolific writer in English and Bengali, a philosopher, an authority on law and above all a great social thinker, died on June 10, 2005. Dr. Biswas, an old family member of DV authored over 65 books on different subjects: literature, social justice, law, history and autobiography. He also did some excellent translations four in Bengali from English and one in English from Bengali. Included in his creations are a number of research-oriented works like (1) Bangla O Bangalier Itihash (History of Bengal and the Bangalees, 1996), (2) Bish Sataker Bangla Sahitya (Bengali Literature of the 20th century, 1952), (3) History of Indian Freedom Movement (1990) and (4) A Phenomenon Named Ambedkar (1998). He was the pioneer in introducing science and mathematics into literature. In other words, it was he who made chemistry. physics and mathematics the subject mater of literature for the first time. The important books in this series are: (1) The Metrics of Legal Philosophy (1971), (2) A Spiritual Calculus (1977), (3) Squiring the Circle (1985). (4) Continuum becomes Calcutta (1991), (5) Bangla Chhando-Bijnan (1992 in Bengali), (6) Poet-i-Metrika (1998) and (7) The Poetic Experience of Science (2001).
His books on social science are the most important and a must read for the Dalits for their liberation movement. The most valuable books in this series are: (1) From Justice to Welfare (1985), (2) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on Constitutional Reservation as the cure all for casteism (1991), (3) On the Reservation for Backward Classes (1992), (4) Democracy for All (1996). (5) Reservation: Legal Perspective (1998) and (6) Dalits After Partition (2001). A repository of vast knowledge and wisdom, Dr. A.R. Biswas was a guide and adviser to many Dalit leaders and organisations. Whosoever approached him for any advice, suggestion or solution of problems did invariably return happily with a solution or way out. He had a very big personal library with a collection of over 10,000 books, each one of which he could boast of reading at least once and many of them time and again. It bears ample testimony of his studies. He had a photographic memory and he could recollect incidents, names and dates, titles of books and their authors, quotations etc. with precision. A saintly person, Dr. Biswas used to lead a very simple and frugal life. Since his retirement from Bengal Civil Service (Administrative) in 1974 his only pastime was pursuit of knowledge and creative writings. He was the editor-in-chief of two quarterly magazines-Laikhi in Bengali and Poetmetrics in English. The English journal was later made half-yearly and the publication continued till the end of 2004. The Bengali quarterly was, however, discontinued around the year 1997-98. He could perhaps visualise that the end was fast approaching which prompted him to fulfil his cherished dream of founding a trust. On May 16, 2005. Oneil Biswas Research Institute was founded by him with the primary object of running a library and a research centre. He donated Rs. I lakh, all his books and the ground floor of his house at 18, Co-operative Road, Calcutta 700 070 to the trust. Dr. Biswas did not get any recognition worth his name and fame harring a few awards and medals like (a) Anant Nath Deb Gold Medal, (b) Ananda Ram Barua Medal, (c) Griffith Memorial Award, (d) Adwaita Malla Barman Smriti Purskar and (c) International man of the millennium gold medal. The sudden death of Dr. A.R. Biswas came as a great shock to all his followers, admirers, specially the Dalits in general. His departure has caused irrepairable loss to the society and crated a big vacuum which would remain unfilled for what length of time nobody knows.
Brother A.R. Biswas joined the DV family in 1990 and used to meet us whenever we visited Calcutta. He loved DV and was one of our greatest admirers. Veterans like him are disappearing but the younger ones are not filling the void. Today’s Dalits run after power and position which intellectuals like Dr. A.R Biswas avoided. The scene is depressing –EDITOR
Madhu Chandra, Flat No.86, DDA Flats, Pocket-6, Sector-12, Dwarka, Delhi-110 075: “Caste identity” is now well established and strictly followed even within the law enforcement agency of the govt, namely the police. Here is a Times of India report:
Shocked over reports of existence of caste kitchens. in several police lines across Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has directed the Home Dept. to end the system and make arrangement for a common kitchen for policemen. Policemen belonging to different castes will no longer be seen enjoying meals in their caste mess. Mishras, Sinhas, Sharmas, Vermas. Yadavs and Paswans will now sit together and eat a practice unheard of among Bihar policemen till date. In the state capital and other places, police messes are dotted with caste kitchens. And this practice has been going on for long from the days of the British rule. Initially, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was surprised to hear about the caste kitchens. “I am hearing about it for the first time. It is surprising and shocking. I will look into it”, he said recently. The CM acted swiftly. First, he sought a reply from the police dept, to check veracity of the report. He learnt that the caste kitchens had been going on in most of the police lines of the state right from the pre-independence period. (New Delhi, Dec 29, 2005).
The CM may ban the “caste kitchen” but we doubt if he can implement it. Can identity be banned? Even among Brahmins, the different Jatis do not interdine, not to speak of inter-marriage – EDITOR.
