The day-long April 25, 2009 Dalit Voice silver jubilee meeting in Bombay’s SNDT Women’s University (Marine Lines, near Church gate Rly. Station) was a disappointment. This is because Dalit lectures of the university tried to use the event to promote their interests in the upper caste-controlled university.
Lifeless: Half a dozen upper caste women teachers were vocally challenging our statements. But the DV family members and Dalit university teachers were silent. They had no courage to hit back.
To that extent Dalit academics in the country’s universities and colleges have been silenced. Years and years of sneering and jeering by their upper caste colleagues have made them almost lifeless.
Most of the teachers present were not only Dalit but Mahars, belonging to Babasaheb Ambedkar’s subcaste. Babasaheb spent most of his life in Bombay and suffered for his people. Yet these Dalit teachers, who should have been in the forefront of “educating” their flock, have been lifeless.
With minor exceptions, the entire Dalit teaching fraternity has failed Dr. Ambedkar.
But on the other hand, the upper caste teachers were boisterous in defending their “meritocracy”. So it was left to us to rebut them, logically argue our position and silence them. However, one Dalit young woman, a nurse, Ms. Nilima Sonawane, effectively hit back at the Hindu women lectures and silenced them.
VTR book released: Vinayak Hankare, a dedicated Ambedkarite who was the convener of the meeting. Moolnivasi Mala, another DV fan, Dr. Ravi Anchan an OBC writer, were present.
Dr. Anand Tel Tumbde released the book, VTR Friend, Philosopher & Guide, by Iqbal Ahmed Shariff in the afternoon session.
It was decided that we should call a meting of 15 “honest intellectuals” from different parts of India to discuss the future course of action in Bombay. Dr. Anchan, Hankare and Moolnivasi Mala have agreed to shoulder the responsibility.
