Read your signed Editorial, “Sunset Over Dalit World? Editor Seeks Permission To Close Down Dalit Voice”? Editor seeks the permission to Close down the Dalit Voice. Frankly, I am not surprised. It is precisely this sort of apathy that makes even hardened revolutionaries get frustrated over the organic Dalit-Bahujan proletariat for their passiveness and even betrayal of the movement.
I read that the original Ayyankali of Kerala actually had to physically thrash some of his own castemen, who had become Brahminical reactionaries, to make them mend their ways. To do that today, an RSS-like non-political organisation may be necessary. Dalit-Bahujans simply hate themselves and are full of inferiority complex. They don’t have any confidence in themselves. They are fully corrupted and co-opted. That is why they are not paying attention to your “caste identity” theory because they are full of self-hatred, inferiority complex and frustration.
Maoist party: Just as you are feeling frustrated many in the revolutionary movements in different parts of the world also became frustrated.
Today, our people have become the foot soldiers of the Brahminical fake Maoist party. The energies of our people have been channelised into all sorts of bullshit movements which will only prove counterproductive to them. That is why our people are not heeding your call.
I am not talking about the English-speaking Dalits in the metros. I am talking about rural Dalits. History is not linear. Revolutions are not linear.
Even when I met you in Bangalore I was very concerned that the option to shut down Dalit Voice was haunting your mind. In fact, I fully understand how you feel.
Frankly you have fought for so long with hardly any results. You are bound to feel let down. I am not surprised at all. You are almost 76 now and you are human after all. I am 36, and still I feel the same way as you do.
Brahminised Dalits: Let me hit the nail right on the forehead in all frankness and honesty — Dalits themselves have become reactionaries. Yes. Dalits have become so Brahminical that they have to be repaired first and foremost, before we go to fight Brahminical forces. That is why I feel mere “Educate, Agitate, Organise” may not be enough. We have to first and foremost launch a cultural revolution against our own Brahminised Dalits. For that a non-political organisation like the RSS with a long-term vision is necessary to do what Ayyankali did — to wage a nonstop and protracted ideological war against Brahminical forces over generations if need be.
Dalit Voice can no longer be run only by one man. It has to be run by a trust backed by an RSS-like non-political organisation. I think you should give a call to float such a trust and an RSS-like non-political organisation before you decide to shut down Dalit Voice.
Mayawati gives confidence: We have to pass on this torch to those from the coming generations who will want to find out answers. Don’t look at the present. The present is bleak. I fully accept that. At some point in my life, I was even thinking of quitting my journalistic job and work for DV full time. Yes, I am confessing this to you today after I read your signed Editorial. I wanted to attend the Delhi silver jubilee. But I didn’t have money. It is not that the Dalits don’t know what is happening. I feel they are totally confused about what exactly to do. Mayawati has given some much-needed confidence which was totally lacking earlier.
If she becomes Prime Minister even for a month, that itself will do wonders to Dalit self-esteem and confidence. I see BSP as the Congress party of the Dalits. Someday, Dalits will even dominate the revolutionary Maoist movement. It is not a dream or fantasy and I can see it happening if we play our cards right.
But if we have to see this happen, you must keep Dalit Voice alive. Please do not allow DV to die. That will be a big mistake. The next generation will have nothing to learn from. That would be a catastrophe and a criminal irresponsibility. Please do not do it. If you shut down DV, then there is a real possibility of Brahminism assuming dictatorial role.
