It was ‘Gurukul’, the first theological college among both the Catholic and Protestant churches in India, which had established a Dept of Dalit Theology on Νον.3, 1987. The dept was set up as part of its diamond jubilee celebration and a concrete realisation of the dreams of Dr. K. Rajaratnam, who feels that the church in India, especially the Lutherans, should be god’s instrument to liberate the most oppressed Untouchables.
The Dalit Theology Dept… was befittingly inaugurated by the Black Bishop of India, M. Azariah. Over 15 Dalit organisations from all over India were present at this Inaugural function.
Builder of institutions: Within nine years, the Gurukul has made good progress. On Sept.3, the Gurukul started a ‘Dalit Study Circle’. In his inaugural address, Dr. K. Rajaratnam, popularly known as the “Builder of Dalit institutions” and an internationally recognised social thinker, economist, director of ‘Centre for Research on New International Economic Order’ (CRNIEO) and a source of inspiration to the cause of Dalit awakening, said that Education was a must for liberation and literature was the best weapon for education. He also remembered the great services rendered by Dalit Voice and Dalit Sahitya Akademy, Bangalore.
Brahminical theology: Dr. V. Devasahayam, Head of the Dalit Theology Dept, said the Study Circle was a forum where Dalit intellectuals, writers, ideologues, and activists would meet once in three months to discuss important issues related to Dalit struggles, their history, culture, and religion. Dalit theology, he said, was juxtaposed to “brahmin theology”. Brahminical ways of learning are hierarchical, whereas the Dalit way of learning is corporate and participatory.
Dr. Rajaratnam says the Aryan upper castes were the most cunning and crafty people in the whole world. Babasaheb Ambedkar had become more dangerous to the Aryan oppressors now than when he was alive. “As Babasaheb is being resurrected, M.K. Gandhi is dead, buried, and forgotten. Babasaheb is great not because he wrote the Constitution, but because of the emergence of Dalit awakening and revolt. The Dravidian movement did not take an interest in Dalit issues. “The war against the oppressors of Dalits was to be fought on an intellectual level, he said.
Caste and Alternative Culture by Katti Padina Rao was reviewed. The author was also present.
