Orissa Workshop Miracles

I greatly admire your sincerity, initiative and stamina with which you finally landed here and interacted with us for three days (May 28 to 30, 2004). My dream was finally fulfilled by seeing you and hearing you directly. Your thoughts are so advanced that it will take a long time for us to catch up with you and translate them into action. But I am sure we will surely act as you directed. Your revolutionary ideas like social engineering ” Bhim Yan”, SC-BC unity, “caste identity” have brought new enlightenment and made us think on new lines. The following are some of impressions gathered by me and my friends about the memorable workshop. (1) The DV workshop has given wonderful exposure to the Orissa Dalits. Personally, I came to know so many Dalit brothers who are working for the same cause in different parts of Orissa in different ways. (2)I ‘was very much encouraged by the tremendous response of young Dalit workers who came from. far off places of Orissa and were present throughout the programme. All of them said they were inspired by you and were eager to do whatever possible to get the best out of your presence. They got all the weapons to fight the upper caste domination of Orissa. (4) All of them felt the urgent necessity to replace the existing rule of the 5% Brahmins and 2% Karans who are ruling Orissa for over 56 years. By uniting SC/ST/BC. and minorities we achieve it. You gave me this mantra and we will use it. (4) Your call for social change is possible only by spreading the Dalit literature and Mandalisation of BCs. The SC-BC unity which you stressed so much has been accepted. The two powerful BC castes in Orissa, like Khandayat (15%) and Yadav (13%), are egocentric, fully enslaved by the BSO and persecuting the innocent Untouchables: These two unthinking people, as you said in your speech, must be brought to our side to build the Bahujan Samaj. I want to arrange a debate on Mandal Commission Report, make these two BC communities join us. Your suggestion is taken ‘seriously. You have done really a great job. We need your blessings.