The so-called national press or the monopoly press, is in reality the Brahmin-Bania press. In this Brahmin-Bania combination, Banias supply the funds and the Brahmin the pen. Such a press always stands for the value system that benefits the Brahmin-Bania combine. It is, therefore, the bounden duty of such a press to either blackout or blackmail those who work against that value system. BAMCEF is such an organization that works for the oppressed and the exploited and thereby against the value system that benefits the Brahmin-Bania combine. News regarding BAMCEF was, therefore, blacked out during its formative years. Now that BAMCEF has grown big and does big things, blackout of its news is, therefore, ending and blackmail must start if the press is to protect the interest of its masters. During the transitory period there may be mix-up of both the blackout and blackmail. Some thing like this happened to BAMCEF during its 3rd National Convention at Chandigarh. The two leading English dailies interviewed me on Oct. 15, 1981, the second day of the convention. Some portions of the interview were so twisted that they gave impression of BAMCEF working against the very objectives for which it was constituted and so much pain has been undertaken by so many years to bring it to the level where it is seen today. The twist in the reporting of the interviews was explained to the delegates during the coming sessions itself. For future, our stand will be to give. the explanation only through our own publications. We cannot depend upon the Brahmin-Bania press even for fair reporting of the explanations. Let us, therefore, build our own strong press and news service as quickly as possible to counter the anticipated blackmail by the Brahmin-Bania monopoly press. While inaugurating the convention, Karpoori Thakur, former Chief Minister of Bihar, launched all-out attack on the roots of Hinduism-Brahminism. He said : “There are two currents of ideologies prevalent in the Indian society one is liberal, patronised and led by Maharshi Balmiki, Şant Ravidas, Kabir and Guru Nanak in olden days and by Mahatma Jyotiba Phoole, Narayna Guru, Periar EVR and B R Ambedkar in the recent; while other is the orthodox and discriminatory blessed and brought up by Brahminism spirit of inequality. This is the ideology which has deprived all of us our rights for our self-development and led us to demoralization and destruction of independent identity. Since this path has caused our demoralization, we must make all efforts to up-root Brahminism from this land. Then only we shall be able to enjoy the real fruits of democratic life”
Reacting to the reception given to him, Thakur said: “I’m really very fortunate to be present among you on this auspicious day on the occasion of 3rd National Convention of BAMCEF. I was not aware that the employees of the oppressed and exploited communities could ever build such a big and tremendous organization in the shape of BAMCEF. I never witnessed such a big and systematic arrangement like this. Hinduism does not teach equality, fraternity and respect for all. It is all for their duties but never allows to have rights. Under this religion no Shudra could hear Vedas, what to speak or read. If any Shudra found hearing, or reading Vedas, his ears were dumped with hot lead liquid and his tongue was cut-off. This would have continued for any number of years, had Dr. Ambedkar not taken birth among us. Nobody would have dared to take education. It is only Hinduism, which is full of inequality, Mr. Thakur said.
(courtesy: Oppressed Indian, Nov. 1981 )
