This refers to Com. Ayyan Kali’s blunt attack on DV and its Editor: “DV failed to inspire people to fight Brahminism (DV May 1, 2009, p.6).
I agree that DV failed from its very inception because it is read only by those English Dalit babus who would simply, give a look at it and then forget it. At the most a few “Ayyan Kalis” would write in it, get kudos and that is all.
DV never became a paper for the masses. It is confined to the so-called “intellectual group” Most of its readers are retired and, also, as VTR says, tired persons. I do not know if VTR ever tried to sell DV to the young. Had DV been a paper of masses, particularly students, by now many of us would have been facing civil and criminal cases for writing such “provocative matter against public peace and order
Only thing that DV has achieved is that it has made connections or made known Dalit writers of the world to each other I think this one achievement can wash off all other failures of DV
So far as VTR is concerned I have known him since he wrote the book, Why Godse Killed Gandhi?. He is one of very few persons whom I revere. Another one, Kanshi Ram. I admired Mayawati also till she joined hands with BJP to become the CM. Like Kanshi Ram, VTR never deviated from the mission. His Editorials, his books never repeat, never overlooked the Dalit cause. Had he decided in the 80s to compromise, perhaps, today he would have been the super chief editor of some toilet paper earning
millions, moving in luxury cars, residing in spa villas. He sacrificed every bit of his life for our mission And still we allege failure on his part.
VIPASSANA
If we the so-called Budhists claim Vipassana is real Budhism, should Budha be blamed for it? if we the Ambedkarites join BJP should Babasaheb be blamed for it? If we failed to achieve our mission, it is we who are to blamed.
VTR warned and forewarned us at every step of our life. He has kept the Ambedkarite torch burning with his blood. If we failed to see the holes on the road it is our fault. Why blame our fatherly figure?
I fully endorse the criticism of Cam. Ayyan Kali. But the Comrade’s theory
of armed struggle appears to be impractical for the following reasons
(1) Who will launch the armed struggle? (2) Against whom? And (3) how to do armed struggle?
(i) Every one will tell you to hit back but who will do the hitting? Our people are enjoying their slavery. We are completely brahminised. We do Vipassana but our youth merrily chant Ganapati Bappa Morya. Can Com. Ayyan Kali destroy these socio-cultural mindsets and habits through gun?
(ii) A majority of our literate people dare not disclose their caste. Most
of our Dalit babus carry false surname. Will they take to armed struggle?
(iii) There is a very big segment of our population who have not even heard the name of Dr. Ambedkar or Budha. Barely 5-10% of our people know what Ambedkarism and Budhism is. And those who practice it can be numbered. So who is there to launch the armed struggle?
AGARWAL COLONIES
Look at our youth. Many of those who make it to civil services or plum posts desire to or actually marry upper caste girls and settle in Agarwal colonies. Most of them remember Babasaheb only when they fail to get promotion through reservation.
Mayawati desires to be PM. She is not only ready but has in fact joined hands with our age-old foe i.e. Brahmin and the Brahmana Jati Party. Can Brahminism exist without the Brahmin? See the record of our Dalit legislators. How many of hem have not defected to other
parties for the sake of ministry? The founder of Dalit Panthers is now in some RSS party.
Will these time-servers carry arms for the cause of Dalits?
I have serious doubts if Com. Ayyan Kali can get enough numbers to start an armed struggle. During the Kanshi Ram era (before joining hands with BJP) it was possible and feasible.
BHINDRANWALE ARMED STRUGGLE
(2) The second question is the more important. On what principles this armed struggle should be carried on? Supposing we get arms, against whom should we use them?
See what happened to Sant Bhindranwale armed struggle.
What did he achieve by sacrificing lives of tens of thousands of Sikh youths? On the other hand, see the status of Brahmins of Kashmir. They exploited Kashmiri youths in Kashmir. Today they are enjoying super luxury in Delhi.
If Bhindranwale movement died without achieving anything what will be the fate of our armed struggle?
MEDIA CENTRE GLOOM
The third factor is how to carry on the armed struggle.
Besides manpower, it needs lots of money. We lack both. Due to lack of funds alone our Editor has not been able to start a “media Centre” in Delhi. I offered my services but I have no money. He replied, “it is all gloomy”. If VTR can think that a person, like Kuldip without money is all gloom, there is substance in it. Let us be practical.
No armed struggle of one group against another has ever been successful. Examples of IRA, LTTE, Khalistan, al Qaida, Hamas etc. are before us. It is successful only when it is targeted against the state. Examples: Nepal, French Revolution etc.
KADGADHARI BUDHA
That is how Budha was always more stable and successful than Marx.
Can we wipe out all Brahminic forces through violence? Even Pushyamitra was not successful with his sword alone in wiping out defenseless Budhists His gang infiltrated Bikhu Sangh and distorted Budha Dhamma from within beyond repair. What his sword could not achieve was achieved thru declaring Budha an avatar of Vishnu. S.N. Goenka is not using armed struggle.
We have not been able to climb the first floor: “Educate”. Forget about “Agitate” and “Organize”. Kanshi Ram “educated” us a bit. But the Dalit Voice drive to “educate” our people in Ambedkarism is not meeting with success,
Let us first “educate” our people, then think of raising arms.
I believe Brahminism can be destroyed only the way it destroyed us. We need “Budhas with swords”. We will have to destroy their monopoly on priesthood. Kanshi Ram cracked their domain of political supremacy. He broke its legs. Now head has to be crushed. For this. Ayyan Kalis, Kuldips will have to play the role of Goenkas.
Let us start a movement jitni jis ki sankhya bhari utni uski hissedari. Our constitution says we (Budhists) are Hindu. Let us claim our share in priesthood. Out of the four Shankaracharya’s, three should be from among SC and BC. For the one post Brahmins, Banias, Kshatriyas may compete.
