Dalit Students Union Launched

Calicut (Kerala) : Dalit Students Federation of India was born here on March 14 at the end of the six-day conference of the Kerala Harijan Students Federation, the student wing of the powerful Kerala Harijan Federation led by Kallara Sukumaran.  The KHSF having a total membership of about 2 lakhs out of the 6-lakh dalit students in Kerala was celebrating its 25th anniversary inaugurated by the State Dy. Chief Minister Mohammed Koya, the leader of the Indian Union Muslim League. It was decided to form an all-India dalit students union at a meeting presided over by E. V. Chinnaya of Nellore, Andhra Pradesh. D. P. Kanji Ram of Calicut said the dalit movement could be kept alive only by the students. The vast rural dalit masses were poor, illiterate & also persecuted. It was they who consisted the bulk of the dalit population. Their life, itself was in danger and hence they could not be expected to keep the torch of Ambedkar burning. Very few of them had even heard of Ambedkar. The second section was the dalit politicians who had become corrupt and stooges of the Hindus. This section was a liability. The third was the dalit govt. employees. Since they were under constant vigil of the Hindus, this section had lost courage. Though the biggest beneficiary , of the reservations, it could hardly contribute to dalit movement. The employed dalits had turned out to be pleasure seekers. Hence the only section left was students. V. T. Rajshekar, editor, Dalit Voice, who inaugurated the DSF, said the best brains among dalits were imprisoned in services and the worst brains had become bonded labourers of political parties. Our dalit students & dalit masses could save Ambedkarism. Noted dalit writer Paul Chirakarode, Kerala Public Service Commission member, K. V. Kumaran blessed the new student organisation. D. P. Kanjiram & N. A. D. Paul of the Andhra University, Waltair, were appointed conveners. Dalit students in different parts of India may contact D. P. Kanjiram, manager, o/o Dy , Commissioner (appeals), Ag. Income Tax, and Sales Tax, Calicut-11, Kerala, for details.