Dalit Laeders To Japan

Bombay : In the first-ever contact with the persecuted minorities abroad, four prominent Dalit Panther leaders are going on a tour of Japan in March on an invitation from the Buraku community, a counterpart of the Indian Untouchables facing identical problems. The team consists of Prof. Arun Kamble, Bombay, president of the Dalit Panthers of India, Rameshchandra Parmar, president, Gujarat unit, Bapurao Pakhide, advocate, president Delhi unit, and Ramdas Athavle, a noted dalit writer. P. P. Garude, general secretary of the Buddhist Society of India, had visited Japan in 1980 and had discussions with the Burakus who came to know of the dalit movement in India and the historic role played by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, considered as the greatest Indian after the Buddha. Kazuhiro Usui had already written to the Dalit Voice that after their discussions with Garud, Burakus got a correct understanding of the dalit movement launched by Ambedkar. The Burakus have already translated to Japanese all the important works of dalits and published it as a book. Besides, two members of the Buraku community had visited India at the invitation of the dalits in 1981. Meanwhile, Daya Pawar & Laxman Mane, both prominent Marathi dalit writers, have returned after completing the Ford Foundation scholarship in the US. Mane, a nomadic tribe, is the author of the famous book, Upara & Pawar of Bajute Mane belongs to Dalit Panthers and resides at Satara.