Ram Declares War on Brahminism
The editorial of the Vol. I No. 1 (Oct. 15, 1981), the very first issue after DV became a “registered newspaper” (annual sub. Rs. 10, total pages 12) was: “Bid to Throttle Christians in India,”. It deals with the brahminical bid to swallow the country’s most prestigious (Christian-catholic) St. John’s Medical College, Bangalore. Prof. Abul Qasem, Calcutta, proves prophetic pointing out that the CPM in W. Bengal has become “a party of capitalists”. He figures in the “Letters to Editor” column along with Prof. K.S. Bhagavan of Mysore University. Both continue to be our subscribers even to this day. “RSS going mad over Jamshedpur anti-Muslim riots inquiry report” which indicted the Nazi party. For the first time, “Jagjivan Ram declares war on Brahminism”, when angry Hindus voted against the Janata Party fearing that an Untouchable would be the PM. Even the RSS worked for the Congress Party.
Before Oct. 15 1981, DV was coming out for six months “for private circulating only”. The editorial of its very issue is published here below:
A Dream Come True
To bring out a journal of our own has been our long-cherished dream. Persecuted minorities all over India in general and members of the Karnataka Dalit Action Committee in particular have been urging us to start a publication.
No doubt we had all the talents and enthusiasm. But what we lacked was funds. Funds will pour if we swim with the current. But the Dalit cause means swimming against the current. There is a chance of getting drowned also. Who will give us funds?
So, for quite some time, we were handicapped for want of funds. But funds alone should not stand in the way. When good wishes are there in plenty, funds will prove to be no problem. This has been our experience.
We could not withstand the mounting pressure of our Dalit comrades-representatives of the persecuted minorities: untouchables, tribals, other backward class (OBCs), Muslims and Christians.
Oppression is increasing day by day. Caste riots have spread from Marathwada to Gujarat. Anti-reservation agitation is threatening to engulf the whole country. Hindu-Muslim clashes are becoming a daily feature. Muslims and Christians are feeling that they are second-rate citizens. Even the very guardians of law and order are joining the forces of oppression.
The persecuted minorities are having hardly any friends in political parties, the government, judiciary, police, administration, professions. Intellectuals are turning dishonest. When there is no friend in these, how can they get a friend in the press? And the Press in India is owned by corrupt capitalists and manned by high-caste journalists, with some minor exceptions.
The milk of kindness is getting dried up. The rich are getting richer, the poor poorer. Perhaps, these are signs of revolution. Therefore, we thought we better not delay.
About 10% of the Indian population is ruling us. This “ruling class” is composed of those rich who mostly come from the high castes. It is a class-caste dictatorship. Naked dance of Hindu communalism. We dedicate this journal to fight this “ruling class” as the Dalit Voice, the voice of all the persecuted minorities of India.
We have a long way to go. Even a million-mile-march begins with a first step. And ours is a modest step. We fully know our limitations. But we will try to improve in days to come.
We suffer from no prejudice, no rancour, no ill-will. To us, no single individual is our enemy. We are concerned more with issues – primarily social and cultural and then economic.
We, therefore, attack the existing corrupt system. We assure that we will mercilessly attack the corrupt system.
Politics is not our playfield. While we may comment, we consider every political party as no friend of the Dalits-persecuted minorities. And the woman is a Dalit among Dalits. A slave of the slave.
For all these reasons, therefore, ours will be a unique experiment. Bangalore City has a vast working class and student population and they can consider us as their trusted friend – a friend of all the poor, struggling people. Dalit writers will be encouraged.
We will support the Left movement – the CPM, CPI and the Naxalites as we have the greatest respect for Marxism, Leninism and Maoism. Our only suggestion is that while adopting Marxism to Indian conditions. It has to be Indianized by taking into consideration the havoc played by the caste system.
We will do our best to propogate the philosophy of Dr. Ambedkar, Parihar and Lohia, and all other progressive thinkers. Genuine Marxists and Rationalists and all those working for social change shall count on our support in their struggle. It is the Dalit Voice.
(Editorial of the Very First Issue of Dalit Voice for Private Circulation Only) Vol 1 June 1 1981 No.1)
