Edolphus Towns of New York speaking in the US House of Representatives on May 12, 2005 referred to the just published book, Authentic Voices of South Asia (DV June 1, 2006 p.14). He said it was an excellent discussion of India’s upper caste hegemonic ambitions in South Asia and the drive for self-determination for all the peoples of the subcontinent.
The book includes essays on the situation in Punjab, in Kashmir and in other troubled parts of the subcontinent. It extensively discusses India’s ambition to the overwhelming, hegemonic power in South Asia and control all the countries there and its disrespect for the sovereignty for its neighbors. It is dedicatedto:
250,000 Sikhs, 90,000 Muslim Kashmiri martyrs and many more who have been killed in all parts of India, notably Assam, Maharashtra and Gujarat by Hindu mobs or the Indian police and armed forces.
Glitter of Brahminism: The book includes essays by Dalit leader V.T. Rajshekar. Dr. Gurm Singh Aulakh. President of the Council of Khalistan, Dr. Awatar SinghSekhon, Editor of the International Journal of Sikh affairs, and many other leaders and scholars, Rajshekar writes that “the glitter of Brahminism lies in its imperial ambitions and its fascist agenda”. Dr. Sekhon writes that only accepting the principle of national self-determination provides a basis for peace and stability in South Asia.
India agreed in 1948 for a plebiscite in Kashmir to determine its status. That plebiscite has never been held even as India proudly proclaims itself “the world’s largest democracy”. Well, why not simply let the people of Kashmir, of Punjab, of Nagalim and of all the other minority states and communities determine their status by means of a free and fair vote? Isn’t that how democracies do business? It is time for the US Congress to go on record demanding a tree and fair vote, demanding that India keep its promises and act like the democracy it claims to be, It is also time to stop American aid and trade with India until its “imperial ambitions and its fascist agenda”.
Brigadier (retd.) Usman Khalid the Editor of this masterpiece, has written the foreword.
