Vinent Edgecombe, PO Box-38085, Detroit, 482 38, USA: I am writing to support the Dalits. I was made aware of your struggle thru Runoko Rashidi. I would like to be kept informed of the movements that has and will be affecting the Black Untouchables in India. Much peace, much light. My hope is to visit you and the Dalit pople of India. Send literature and any other useful data to me. I will share it with others who support the Dalit people. (vstang2@aol.com).
Shelby Williams Jr., 309 West End Ave. Lafayette, LA 70501, USA: I got your email address from Brother Runoko Rashidi. I heard you on a TV show with Dr. Hesham Tillawi. I called in and asked you a question about Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. I would like to extend my deepest respect. I have your book, Dalit – The Black Untouchables of India. I have lots of other books by Dr. Ambedkar as well. Here are the books that I have on the subject of Untouchables: What Congress & Gandhi Have done to the Untouchables, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar; History of Hindu Imperialism, Swami Dharma Theertha; Untouchable : Dalits in Modern India, edited by S.M. Michael; Untouchability, M.K. Gandhi, Clash of Two Values: Mahatma Gandhi & Babasaheb, V.T. Rajshekar; Annihilation of Caste, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar; Dalit The Black Untouchables of India, V.T. Rajshekar, Sergeant-Major M.K. Gandhi, Dr. Velu Annamalai; Why Godse Killed Gandhi? V.T. Rajshekar. Is there any other books and or lectures that you could recommend to me and where I could purchase them from. Long live the spirit of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Do you have any audio or video lectures by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. He is one of my heroes. I really admire him. I talked with Runoko Rashidi a few days ago and I am working on getting him to come to speak in Lafayette. I have been a computer engineer at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette for about 10 years. I am also a graduate student in computer science at the Centre for Advance Computer Science (CACS) at UL Lafayette. I study African History everyday. I study scholars like Dr. Ben, Dr. Clarke, Dr. Diop, Dr. John G. Jackson and many others. I want to join the Dalit Voice family. I have read about how your passport was taken away the Indian Govt. (sxw8045@ louisiana. edu)
Dr. Awatar Singh Sekhon, Box-60246, University of Alberta Postal Outlet, Edmonton, AB T6G 285, Canada: The Council of Khalistan’s annual convention was held in Philadelphia from Oct.6 to 8. It was very successful. Delegates came from around the country and Canada to support the cause of a sovereign, independent Khalistan. Khalistan is the Sikh homeland that declared its independence from India on Oct.7, 1987. Delegates listened to several speakers, discussed strategies for liberating Khalistan and passed resolutions. They denounced the law in India that anyone can buy land in Punjab but Sikhs cannot buy land in Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttaranchal Pradesh. They demanded the release of 52,268 political prisoners illegally held by the Indian Govt. Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, president of the Council of Khalistan which leads the peaceful, democratic, nonviolent movement to liberate Khalistan thanked Dr. Bakhshsh Singh Sandhu, who did an excellent job as convention president. Dr. Awatar Singh Sekhon, Manmohan Singh Randhawa, Harjinder Singh, Ajit Singh Pannu, Dr. Ranbir Singh Bhalla, Dr. Anahat Kaur Sandhu, Hardev Singh Bandesha, Charan Singh Kalsi, Jas Paul Singh, Man Paul Singh, Karaj Singh, Dharam Singh, the Gurdwara secretary, Mrs. Harjinder Singh participated. Kuldip Singh Makker was appointed to assist the Khalistan president.
Usman Khalid, 3- Blacklands Drive, Hayes, Mddx, UB4 8EU, UK: This refers to your Editorial, “Flight of Jewish capital to India (DV Dec.1, 2006). It is a timely warning of things to come. The initial effects of massive flow of capital into India might be good but it would make India despite its size a virtual colony of Jewish-controlled banking system of America. You are quite right in saying that the attraction of India to the US is its dominant position controlling trade routes through the Indian Ocean. Once again the world would see the heartland led by China and the rimlands led by the USA competing. But the battlefield would not be Europe it would be the Middle East and the Far East with the Indian Ocean as the link ocean. India could have avoided being involved and saved itself from the fallout of the war and competition. But America is sure it can win if India is on its side. But with India joining, the focus of the competition would be the link the Indian Ocean more than the regions it links. But in era of ICBMs, oceans are neither barriers nor links, they are merely springboards. India’s strategic importance may well turn out to exaggerated.
Robert de Kruyff, Jalan Flamboyan 1, Kelurahan Lasiana, PO Box 60, Kupang, Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT), Indonesia 95111: I have been in the Indian country side to look at some of the irrigation systems and farming communities that the ADB project I am managing does make sense. I am not so sure and I have been fighting with the ADB and the Chattisgarh Govt. to be more realistic and practical. Just spending a lot of money to fix up some dams and canals without the full involvement of the farmers does not make sense. They claim that is what the project is about but given the resources and expectations it seems to be somewhat far fetched. In any case we’ll see what will happen now. They do not like to be critically reviewed. I have read your book, Development Redefined (DSA-2006) with great interest. The picture you painting is very disturbing. Although I understand what you are saying, I do lack enough understanding of the Indian society and its cultural context to appreciate all the important points you make. I therefore did some other reading (for example: http://countrys tudies.us/india/and http://www.sivanandadishq. org/messages/caste.htm# solution) and that I hoped would have given me a fuller and more informed picture. It has not as there are many opponent views and solutions to the problem of what may be called “participatory development” and how to go about it. Of course, as you point out in your book, the SC/ST/BCs and Muslims etc. are deliberately marginalized and oppressed by the upper castes (Hindu rulers) but they are assumed by the same group to be of the same Hindu religion and this would in their eyes legitimize the total social disconnect in India. Look at the “matrimonial advertisements” in the newspapers for example; I have never seen anything like. This has nothing to do with human relationships, rather it is more like a cattle market. Another interesting and disturbing point you raised is the exclusion of the SC/ST/BCs in the national census. I presume this implies that they, therefore, cannot fully participate in democratic elections? These people simply do not exist, they have been made to disappear at least on paper. The historical background of the caste system may have played an important role in the then society (albeit on religion grounds, Rig Veda, the sacred texts that date back to oral traditions of more than 3,000 years ago), it obviously has no place in today’s modern society that India claims to be. I believe that not until all members of a society have equal respect for each other can this problem be solved. Of course, as your thesis implies, making sure that all segments of the society have an equal say in their development will go a long way. However, can you name any country where such respectfulness exists? 1 have lived and worked for the past 38 years in Nigeria, Jamaica, Ethiopia, Philippines, Indonesia, among others (I am a nomad). None of these countries have a caste system, they do however have class systems mainly based on ethnic/religious or political/money grounds. Each of these countries has been or is being wrecked often because of the spoils of development. Whether people there are more or less poor than they are in India does not really matter. They also are left on the sidelines; they are the result of development be it social or economic. Marginalization of certain segments of the population to deny them their identity (look at Indonesia: Malukus, Papua, East Timor, etc. had to conform to the Javanese cultural/political norms) is often is a favorite tactic as is being practiced by your upper castes. In the end it is all about poor and money probably in the name of religion to give it respectability. In your book you suggest that inclusive development (including the SC/ST/BCs etc.) are to be tried out in what you called the BIMARU states. You, however do not show how this is to be done in practical terms.
As a foreigner it is very difficult for you to understand this world’s most complex country. Even the highly educated (Hindu) Indians do not understand India. Hence your confusions are natural. You may say that in other parts of the world also what matters is power and money. But the difference between other countries and India is, here the war and violence against Dalits Tribals, OBCs. Muslims. Christians etc. is sanctioned by the very scriptures and gods of Hindus. This is the difference. What we suggest is that our formula of taking “caste” as the basic unit of development may be given a trial in one or two taluks. If the experiment succeeds it may be then extended. If not it may be dropped and we are condemned. As it is the entire money poured into “development has gone into the stomach of upper castes – EDITOR.
Pradip Sethi, Atharnala, Puri-752 002: Getting a new member for DV is difficult because the language and the thoughts of DV are so powerful and straight that it is difficult to understand and digest for ordinary educated person. Secondly, the complacent attitude of our Dalit elites is preventing them to know what is happening around us. They are detached from their own roots. They expect quick benefits. This is the root of our problems. However, we are fully convinced of the DV objectives and are trying to propagate the unique theories of DV.
Sher Singh Bains, ex-IAS, Flat No.32, 247/1-Minto Park, Alipore, Calcutta 700 027: On Sept.3 last the process of forming a Dalit elite group, under the name of Dalit Mukti Morcha (DMM) comprising retired IAS/IPS/class-1, central or state civil service Dalit officers was launched, Every state unit will consist of officers staying within its territory and elect its own committee members for three years. Its main function is to compile data on Dalit think-tank for each district because DMM will contest each and every MP seat from the next parliamentary elections. The state committees will be free to contest MLA seat. We will always try to throw away the ruling junta of the upper castes. We have identified the Congress as the greatest enemy of the Dalits. Those interested may contact me.
Dalip Singh Wasan, Advocate, 101-C, Vikas Colony, Patiala 147 003: If we have a look at the Sikhs, we come to the conclusion that the number of the Sikhs in India is very small (2.5%). But if we start counting their leaders and their outfits, we will be surprised to note that the number is on the higher side. Even during these hot days when some of them were fighting for the creation of Khalistan, so many people were trying to establish their leadership over the Sikhs. Everyone was claiming that he was the only leader of the Sikhs. But it is on record that all these units took their birth without having any nomination from the Sikh community. There is nothing on record that at any stage the Sikh community as a whole had authorised any one of them to lead and obtain Khalistan. Reports mention the names of Damdami Taksal, Babbar Khalsa International, Shromani Babbar Akali Dal, Shromani Babbar Vidyarthi Prishad, Akhand Keerthi Jatha, Akali Dal (Mann), Akali Dam (Pherooman), Akali Dal (Badal), Akali Dal (Longowal), All-India Sikh Students Federation (Manjit), Sikh Student Federation (Mehta Group), Panthik Committee (D. Sohan Singh), National Tigers of Khalista, Khalistan Liberation Army, Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan (Sangha group), Babbar Sikh Vidyarti Jathobandi, Khalistan Commondo Force, All-India Sikh Students Federation (Presidium group), All India Youth Akali Dal, Sikh Student Federation (Daljit Singh, Khalistan Commondo Force (Bikhi Group), Bhindrawala Tigers Froce of Khalistan (Chhina group) and Dasmesh Khalistan Commando Force. These were some names who were trying to lead the Sikh community. I could record these names. There were many others who were trying to establish their identity during these hot days. Even at the present there are many groups of Akali Dals who are trying to lead the Sikh community. That is the position even on the religious side. So many sants and mahants have established their own units called Deras and they have also formed a separate group Sant samaj in the Sikh community. It is on record that some sants are trying to establish their own sects and even some granths have been compiled by them and they claim that in the near future these granths shall be taking the place of Guru Granth. The so-called Sikh leaders are trying to have blessings of these sants and mahants and none is interested in abolishing or banning all these additional organisations. Rather some of the so-called leaders had been found visiting these so-called shrines to have their blessings and bring some votes for them. So the Sikh community, though small in number, is divided on the religious as well as on the political fronts and that is the reason they are not getting due place at the national level. If they get opportunity to form a government in the state of Punjab, it is not because that group is more popular in the state and especially among the Sikhs but it is because the people want a change and they give an alternative and that too in turns. So if the Sikhs want to have a place in India, they shall have to join and that possibility is not in sight, at least in the present circumstances.
Dr. M. Abid ur Rehman, Clinic Near Ganesh Medical, Chandar Biswa, Nandura tq., Buldana dt. -443 401: The Srikrishna Commission investigated the Bombay anti-Muslim riots and accused many of the political leaders and many in the police force. Neither the Congress nor the Sena-BJP govts, did anything. The report is thrown to dustbin. But the Bombay bomb-blast case was quickly tried in a special TADA court and now the verdict is being delivered. About 70 of the 123 “accused” have been convicted. The irony is that the Bombay blast was staged in retaliation to the anti-Muslim riots. The investigation agency has said this. But those who committed the first crime are free while those who retaliated have been convicted. About 575 Muslims were killed in the riots but only 275 Hindus in bomb-blasts. The killers of the Muslims did not spend even an hour in the lock-up while the blast accused had spent years in the jail. This is the meaning of “Hindu justice”.
Dr. K. Jamanadas, Shalimar, Main Road, Chandrapur-442 402: About five years back one of my articles, “The rise and fall of Budhist nuns”, was published in the Journal of World Federation of Budhists from Thailand. Some friends wanted me to elaborate the subject into a book. The result is this book, Devadasis: Ancient to Modern. As the subject matter comes under the broad category of “effects of fall of Budhism”, in a way, it is the continuation of my first book, Tirupati Balaji was a Buddhist Shrine (1991), where I have shown for the first time that Tirumala, the famous Vaishnava shrine of South India, was a Budhist centre of the past and that it was taken over by Brahmins for Brahminic use during the general decline of Budhism and another one, Decline and Fall of Buddhism A tragedy in Ancient India (2004), where I have discussed the effects rather than the causes of decline and fall of Budhism on the culture of India and in fact how all the present day ills of India are all due to this tragedy. This is not merely a story of how the women in Budhist era were elevated by the Budha and later degraded by Manu during Brahminic counter- revolution in the post-Ashokan period when his successor Emperor Bahidrath Maurya was treacherously assassinated by his Brahmin commander, Pushyamitra Shunga, around 185 BCE. It is the whole story of women during Vedic, Budhist, Brahminic and medieval periods, their woes and triumphs. In the Prologue, how the Brahminic scholars blame the Budhists for every ill found in Hindu society is explained. The women’s problems are discussed with special reference to Women’s Reservation Bill. Even in the 21st century, the relevance of women empowerment relates to fall of Budhism occurring about a thousand years earlier. Here is the importance of history to solve the problems of present day. It is being published by Gyan Publishing House.
Anil Rangari, Bharti Apartment, Gurunanak Nagar, Durg 491 001: The Editor has given us courage and inspiration through his writings saying:
(1) Those who care for justice and truth must also fight for it and die for it. Silent spectators are also culprits. (DV Oct.1, 2006 р.6).
(2) The aggrieved people have to take direct action and their problem will be solved immediately… All those victims of upper caste persecution will get instant relief once they take to direct action. No need to approach anybody. If you are incapable of taking direct action then keep your mouth shut and suffer. (DV Oct.1, 2006 р.16-17).
But I have not understood the proper meaning when you wrote that “It will not be possible to fight Brahminism religiously” (DV Oct.1, 2006 p.16) in reply to the letter of N.S. Chellappa of TN. You are right. By practicing Hinduism nobody can fight Brahminism. But will not a religion antagonistic to Hinduism (Brahminism) help fight Brahminism? Babasaheb Ambedkar said:
Budhist doctrines and principles if understood and practiced properly, they alone are capable and effective to change the established order of injustice, tyranny and inequality.
Religion is one of the centres of power. In Maharashtra, 42 castes embraced Budhism in Oct.2006. In Orissa, MP and Chhattisgarh thousands of people of different castes embraced Budhism. Mass conversion to Budhism will help fight Brahminism.
If such a brilliant intellectual like Brother Anil Rangari, after studying our literature for so long. gets doubts then what about ordinary souls? Yes. What Dr. Ambedkar said was right. But after quitting Hinduism in disgust you have to go into another religion which should serve as an anti- dote. Budhism that Babasaheb recommended, outlined in his book Buddha & His Dhamma, was a real antidote. Babasaheb’s Budhism If understood and practised properly would have helped us fight Brahminism (Hinduism). But are the “thousands of people quitting Hinduism going over to Babasaheb’s Budhism? Budhism as propagated today is heavily infiltrated by Brahmins and their agents. Vegetarianism, idol worship, mangal sutra to enslave woman. meditation and all sorts of Hindu nonsense are all introduced to kill Babasaheb’s Budhism. Quite a number of our own people have become slaves of Dalal Lama, S.N. Goenka, and all sorts of enemies of Budhism totally forgetting Babasaheb’s Budhism. How can such a toothless Budhism, which is nothing but Hinduism with another name, fight Brahminism? That is why conversion to Budhism never invites Hindu anger -unlike conversion to Christianity or Islam, If you want to fight Hinduism religiously you have to take to Babasaheb’s Budhism which is nowhere found in its pristine purity. This is the opinion of Surai Sasal. This is the meaning of what we said in reply to Brother Chellappa- EDITOR.
Shamsul Arifin, M-91, Abul Fazal Enclave, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi 110 025: As per our expectation and prediction US imperialism has ultimately reached its last legs with its shameful defeat in Iraq and Afghanistan. I have been monitoring very interestingly and curiously the US-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan since the time they have begun. Also my eye fell upon a lot of articles and news items on these wars that many intellectuals, well-read and well-informed people of the world have written and said. Many of them have compared these wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with the war in Vietnam. But I am sorry to say that result of these wars is going to be much more bitter and disastrous for the entire world and not only for US. Its outcome is going to be completely different to that of Vietnam. The Vietnam War was not a war of civilization, culture, religious faith and belief. Whereas, on the other hand, these wars are verily so. With the defeat of Iraqis and Afghans in these wars, Muslims would not have felt so sorry and not kept low profile as they will now feel cheerful, enthusiastic and have a boosted morale with the defeat of US and its allies. So now world should get ready either to surrender before a Taliban-like Islam or wage the bloodiest war of faith and civilization in the human history so far. My in-depth knowledge of Muslims and a fascinating experience about them reveal that Talibanism and hardline is undoubtedly somewhere hidden in every Muslim and of course their ideology is the most extreme one. Anyway, time has come now to see it and feel it. Let us watch the world whether they will fight or surrender. However, the most interesting development of all that is going to be seen in the Middle East Muslim countries, including Pakistan where all the Muslim rulers, Shahs, Sheikhs, Sultans, Emirs and Generals and of course the Shias are going to be the first target of this Talibanism and the most extreme ideology. But it will not end there. It is obviously going to impress and embrace the entire world. Even today this extreme ideology is the fastest mounting ideology of the world.
Shreenath Jena, Qtr No. 407, RRL Campus, Bhubaneswar-751 013: The greatest contribution of Kanshi Ram (1934-2006) was he revived the dormant Dalit movement and extended it to OBCs and all the minorities by injecting the militancy of Bahujanism. The Ambedkar caravan had come to a standstill due to the “Poona Pact”. After a long serious thought this Dalit Punjabi Sikh concluded that the caste consciousness and caste-consolidation are the only panacea for all the ills of this broken class. That is how he succeeded where Babasaheb failed in his life time. He created self-confidence among Bahujans. He spoiled the Manuwadi polities and promoted caste-based parties like RJD, SP, NCP which are now ruling the Centre and states. As a practical social scientist, he knew the caste, the bane of India and how everything in India is decided by caste. Like our Editor, he used the caste trumpcard and won.
Ujwal Rabidas, (Research Scholar, Centre for Latin American Studies, School of International Studies, JNU, New Delhi 110 067: The sound of anti-reservation agitation is still covertly echoing in a few places of the country with the hypocrisy of media and the “meritorious” upper castes undermining the process of “national” empowerment and dis-respecting the constitutional mandate. We relentlessly talk about social empowerment (of caste/class/gender), rapid economic development and “national” solidarity just for the sake of debate and with the pretension to be called “Argumentative Indian”. Since we live in a time of liberalization, privatization and globalization (LPG), we frame utopian criteria to estimate ‘development’. These include stock-piling of nuclear weapons, the number of satellites launched, the amount of budget spent on security and defence, the degree of automation. and Western technology used in an industry, the amount of forex reserve dumped in RBI, the growth rate figured in digits and so on. Similarly, ‘national unity’ is characterized by enthno-centric jingoism and lastly ‘social justice and empowerment’ is left out with the pretext of being controversial and inconclusive. Most of these attitudes we have borrowed from colonial legacy. Only that sort of development is meaningful which is “environmentally viable, economically sound and socially acceptable”. In short, only “sustainable development can be successfully achieved if fruits of development will trickle-down into every section of society. And, this will inevitably lead to realization of “national” solidarity in which every ethnic, linguistic and religious group would be able to extend their participation. Reservation is a part of “affirmative action”. Reservation is extended to those section of society that are “socially and educationally (not economically) backward and this is an intrinsic part of the “basic features” of our Constitution. It does mandatorily ensures that the majority of labour forces would be able to participate in the process of development. This labour force includes energy and productivity that has been excluded, isolated and deprived to contribute to national prosperity. This act of exclusion by a small upper caste section of society helped to enslave and colonize the country into the hands of foreign powers. The same act of deprivation divided the society into various stratas and dictated caste-based division of labour and itself consumed the fruits of “exclusive reservation” in temples, education, military, trade etc. Now, with the similar attitudes, the anti-reservation agitations, the same privileged elites are trying to enslave “national” development and imprison social justice into the hands of neo-liberal economic forces, inspired by utopian framework of development. The significant contribution of reservation is not unknown to the anti-reservationwalas. But the problem is in ‘understanding’ the recent developments after the UPA Govt, announcement of 27% reservation for OBCs in Central universities and institutions. During the whole episode of opposition, the vocal opponents are the doctors, medical and engineering students and practitioners. Their agitation would have ended with the announcement of increasing seats. But it did not happen and dearth of proper understanding goes on because:
- A) The vocal opponents are medical and engineering students whose engagement with the society ends up as they enter into the exclusive sphere of natural science after board examination. B) These students being upper castes their taste of life is altogether different from the masses and which is extremely harmful for the Third World agricultural economy like India. C) Luxurious and developed country like America always remains their final destination contributing to high brain-drain. How can this privileged section think about the poor? They are only trying to hijack the healthy debate over reservation in the guise of messiah of the poor.
Poverty cannot be justified whether it is in upper or lower caste. But we cannot prescribe same medicine for all the diseases, even for similar basic facilities and lots of unexplainable hurdles have been put forth in their path of mobility and upliftment. Therefore, the majority of this section is poor. The upper castes have never faced such situations. Poverty in this section exists because they have always heralded the flag of empty social esteem rather than social mobility. They have stuck with tradition and not with modernity. They have patronized unscientific values rather than logical rationality. They have invariably ushered the thinking that from which body-part of Lord (?) Brahma we have originated rather than emphasizing on biological process of reproduction. In addition the most advanced section of the very upper caste has captured the resources leaving their own forward fellows in cycle of poverty. Apart from all these (speaking in traditional view point), Backward Castes have remained backward and poor because it ‘has performed’ traditional caste-based responsibility honestly. If the upper castes are facing poverty, because it ‘has not performed’ its duty properly. Therefore, with the help of other policies and programmes this section should be treated. This also fits into the principle of equal opportunity. It is not the case altogether that the basic features of the constitution cannot be amended. But the moment we insert economic criteria into the constitution, the reservation policy will instantly fail because in corrupted Indian bureaucracy a fake certificate is enough to convert a billionaire into a poor man. The story behind BPL Cards and the beginning of successful failure of NREG Act reveals the same truth. (tuminujjwal@rediffmail.com)
(This article sent to the Hindu several time was not published and mailed back).
P.K. Abdur Rabb, in-charge, Islamic Publishing House, Near Bus Stand, Kannur-670 001: This refers to a book review by Brother Iqbal Ahmed Shariff (DV Nov.1, 2006 p.12) in which he has committed a big mistake while referring to the book Jihad by A. A Moududi. He says the book is kept out of circulation by the Jamate-Islami. This is wrong. As a branch in-charge of Islamic Publishing House, Kannur, I am selling the book originally written in Urdu by name Al-Jihad Fil Islam, its English translation, Jihad, and also Malayalam version. It is also available at our HO Calicut and other branches, Trivandrum, Kochi, Thrissur, Calicut and also sales agencies all over Kerala. The Urdu and English versions are published by Markazi Maktaba Islami, Delhi, and are selling throughout India and abroad.
Sher Singh Bains, (Ex-IAS), Flat No. 32, 247/1-Minto Park, Alipore, Calcutta 700 027: Dalits have been stabbed in the back on Oct.19, 2006. Their human rights have been snatched in the name of “creamy layer”, popularised by the Brahmin journalists. The Supreme Court upheld the reservation for SC/STs in promotions. We must start with the criterion of providing reservation to SC/STs which was their social backwardness and never economic factor. It was the age-old custom of untouchability to remove which this reservation to Dalits was provided. If “creamy layer” is to be excluded from reservation it has to be proved by the Brahmin media boys that they have started giving their daughters in marriage to the Dalit boys. We do not mind giving our daughters in marriage to them. If income is to be applied, then let first the minimum economic standard to be fixed by an act of parliament in case of SC/STs. In India, there is no dearth of persons who own more than Rs. 10,000 crores. If the “creamy layer” of Hindus is so rich then the minimum economic standard for SC/STs to be excluded under the “creamy layer should be minimum 50% of their Hindu brethren. A Dalit must own Rs. 5,000 crore or above to earn disqualification under the “creamy layer”. The 3rd condition prerequisite for disqualification under the creamy layer must be the wielding of power over the last three generations, as IAS/IPS/class-I officer or minister or Speaker, MLA/MPs etc. Parliament must pass an act providing for “proportional reservations for all castes”. This will be the most just and equitable policy for the greater social justice in India. We also would like to know from Parliament: What is the basis for putting 50% limit on reservations? If the Indian house is not set in order at the earliest then Louis-XVI incident of France will be repeated in India. Dalits are ready to play our part in destiny of new India. Let the Parliament of India specify the criterion for excluding the creamy layer among SC/STs which must be based on three factors:
(a) Upper castes must start giving their daughters in marriage to Dalits, (b) Dalit family owns minimum Rs. 5000 crores worth properties and (c) family wielding political power for the last three generation must be out of the reserved quotas.
Gopinath Meppayil, Meppayil PO, Vatakra (via), Kerala 673 109: The “creamy layer” (DV Nov. 16, 2006) is a newly coined word in the place of “economic criteria” discovered by none other than Kerala’s most cunning and perverse “intellectual”, the late E.M.S. Namboodiripad. It first appeared as a note to the Administration Reform Committee Report in 1958 wen he was the first Chief Minister of Kerala. This is intended to deny the benefit of caste-based reservation to the growing Ezhava (Thiyya in Malabar) community of Kerala. Moreover, it was for speaking against the Brahmin hegemony at a public meeting at Trivandrum that late P. Gangadharan, an Ezhava ex-MLA and CPM leader, who was dismissed from the party by EMS in 1971. The “veteran” marixst leader EMS tried to oppress the Bahujans to promote his hereditary cross-thread (poonool) marxism. But Karl Marx even by a partial study of India was able to hit upon the age-old villain of India. He said “Indian castes lie as the stumbling blocs of India’s progress”. However, in spite of the Indian castes, has India progressed? DV readers please discuss the matter.
Amar S. Khade, e/o Ashok Chahare, Opp. Suwarna Gas Agency, Naginabag Sister Colony, Chandrapur -442 402: Google search engine helped me to get Dalit Voice and enlightened to read reports like “super power’s superlative failure”, “Dalit Panthers leader embraces RSS”, “M.S. Swaminathan king of scientific fraud” and “Manmohan mischief kills OBC reservation bill”. I have read your book, Why Godse Killed Gandhi? Marathi version by N.J. Wagmare published by Dr. Bhadant Anand Kausalyan Book Depot, Nagpur. The Manuwadi media is not publishing our news. I want to read your DSA books. Dr. Ambedkar has said “the entire destiny of the society depends on the intellectual class of society”. Now and then this sentence is being used by our Dalit leaders. But they do not explain the meaning of this sentence. What is this intellectual Class? Who are they? Who creates them? Can I become an intellectual?
We will send you our book, India’s intellectual Desert (DSA-1999), which deals with this very subject. You can pose your questions after reading it-EDITOR.
Himalay Tehsin, Director & Producer, Short Films & Documentaries, 53 – Vidyayak Niwas-5, Meera Bai Marg, Lucknow-226 001: I have been reading Dalit Voice and your books for quite some time now. Your literature gives a perspective on the socio-political issues from the side of the English-educated Dalits. When the English-educated upper castes waste tons of newsprint on all sorts of irrelevant things it should also deliberate over the thought process which goes on in the same English-educated Dalits. DV has done an important work in presenting this viewpoint continuously. I am sending a VCD and booklet on a documentary, “Rediscovery of Budhism in India: Contribution of Sinhala Budhists” It is based on my father’s concept on Budha and Budhism and on the contribution of Anagarika Dharmapala. My father, Rajani Kant Verma, had sent you his book Lumbini to Kushinara. Some ideas are from that book. We want your opinion on the documentary. Spare 40 minutes to watch the documentary and send your views. I wanted to take your interview especially on the upper caste penetration in Budhist organisations. But my father’s accident in May made me cut short on interviews for which I had to travel. He is still bed-ridden but improving by the day.
We have sent your VCD and the booklet to Dr. Jamanadas who is a Budhist and a scholar. Brahminism has swallowed Budhism centuries back but Dr. Ambedkar’s honest efforts to revive It to fight Brahminism also failed as the elite Dalits who profited from Babasaheb refused to follow him. Brahminism infiltrated even Sikhism, Christianity and Islam – EDITOR.
Yakubmama, Desai Khadaki, at/PO Kamrej, Surat dt.-394 180: George Bush always talks of eradication of “terrorism” from the world without realising that terrorism is right in the genes of US President. When the White Western people invaded Africa, they started persecuting its mulnivasis and killed thousands of Red Indians distributing smallpox viral blankets among the innocent natives. Ancestors of Bush were responsible for this genocide. So, Bush is the real terrorist who killed millions of innocents in Afghanistan, Iraq and earlier in Vietnam. They did not spare even the poor Blacks, chained and brought to USA as slaves. They looted their land, raped their women, exploited their natural resources and killed millions of Blacks. Even today, they hate the Blacks even after becoming the rulers of the world. After kicking out Secretary of State Colin Powell, a Black, he took a “Black bitch”, Condi Rice. Our Editor must spread his revolutionary thoughts all over the world and educate the oppressed peoples to fight injustice and slavery. The Editor is 76 and he must take care of his health. He must prepare a bold, blunt and honest successor. Otherwise, DV family members will be orphaned.
Gurnam Singh Muktsar, 2- Bhagat Singh Nagar, b/h Bus Stand, Muktsar-152 026: How can we forget a great intellectual like you? Your personality and thoughts have inspired me since 1980. I have been a reader of DV since 1980. One thing I would like to say that we are not alone working for the liberation of Bahujans. Thousands are there. They are our silent companions. They bear the total burden of the struggle. Bahujans had once risen with full faith in Kanshi Ram. But when he left aside the socio-cultural movement we felt orphaned. We have to bear all the burden. There are some good people standing by me and I feel encouraged to work more. We are penniless yet can’t leave the truthful path. So you should have patience. Don’t expect more. You have done a lot. A book on my selected articles published in last 20-25 years is being typed. There might be over 150 articles. I shall try its Hindi translation if our friends like it.
Vishal Arora (vishalarora_in@hotmail.com): It is ironical that religion-related violence, which is endemic to certain parts of India, is studied in such a way that it actually helps in the production and reproduction of violence, perpetrated mainly on religious minorities by Hindu terrorists, rather than prevent it. By attempting to precisely classify and label incidents of collective violence, researchers often become part of the diversionary tacties of the producers of violence to displace blame from themselves to others, says Paul R. Brass, Professor (Emeritus) of Political Science and International Studies at the University of Washington, Seattle. In an essay titled, “On the Study of Riots, Pogroms, and Genocide”, part of his new book, Forms of Collective Violence: Riots, Pogroms, and Genocide in Modern India (published by Three Essays Collective, Sept. 2006, Rs.250), he exposes a lacuna in the study of collective violence saying that social scientists study the phenomena of violence “to display their theoretical skills” rather than expose the dynamic processes that produce those phenomena. “Our work then becomes entangled even through the very theories we articulate – in the diversionary tactics that are essential to the production and reproduction of violence,” says the acclaimed political scientist, whose research in India spans more than 45 years. To make his point, Brass explains that the violence that is often misnamed as a riot and is mainly perpetrated on members of the Muslim and Christian minorities in India is produced in three phases: “preparation or rehearsal”, “activation or enactment” and “explanation or interpretation”. In the sites where rioting is endemic, producers of violence continuously work to create an atmosphere of religious animosity as part of their preparation and rehearsal process, he says.
