Nadvi Admits Muslim Failure
Bangalore:
May 27, 1981 was a red-letter day in the history of the Karnataka Dalit Action Committee. The Gujarat Dalit Panthers, represented by Naginbhai Paramar and Mangal Surajkar, were given a rousing public reception for their heroic victory in the Gujarat caste war. A big gathering of Dalits, Muslims, Christians and other sympathisers converged in the N.G.O.’s Bhavan, Ambedkar Road, to honour their Dalit brethren from Gujarat for crushing the anti-reservation agitation.
The function assumed even greater significance as the first issue of “Dalit Voice”, – the long cherished dream of the persecuted minorities, was released on the occasion.
The function was presided over by R. Elumalai. Dalit leader of Madras. Perhaps the most important facet of the evening was the presence of the revered Islamic scholar Moulana Abul Hasan Ali Nadvi, Lucknow, a household name in every Muslim family in India. The presence of Moulana Nadvi had attracted an unprecedented number of Muslim brothers to the function
D M. Thimmarayappa, convener of the Karnataka Dalit Action Committee, showered kudos on the Gujarat Dalit Panther leaders for their brave fight against heavy odds. Chiding the police and the Government for their active abetting of the agitation, he said the Gujarat Panthers were indeed a source of inspiration to the Dalits in the rest of the country.
Japhet, Secretary of the Bangalore University Students Association assured full support from the students & Christians in every endeavour of the Dalits, strongly condemning the anti-reservation agitation. He said it was engineered by the forces of status quo.
Moulana Nadvi said the Muslims had to hang down their head in shame for their past mistakes. He revealed that the Muslims were equally responsible for the plight of untouchables today. Expounding the point further, he analysed how although the Muslim rulers were reigning the country for hundreds of years they did precious little to remove the curse of untouchability. He called upon the Muslims to make amends for their past mistakes.
Abdul Karim Parekh of Nagpur explained how friendship between Muslims and Dalits was of urgent necessity. He reminded the audience that both in cities and rural areas, the Muslims and Dalits were neighbours and partners in woe.
Naginbhai Paramar thanked the Dalits of Karnataka who had stood by them in the hour of crisis. Though the agitation had caused terrible damage to the life and property of Dalits, there was one significant gain. For the first time all factions and groups gave up their partisan outlook and joined hands to face the enemy in a united front. So much so, the agitation became a blessing in disguise.
Paramar referred to the betrayal of the Dalits by their political representatives. People were losing confidence in all political parties. Another equally important aspect of the agitation was the brutal exposure of the “Gandhian humbug”. Gandhi, he said, had been wiped out of the face of Gujarat and Dr. Ambedkar and his philosophy had become the bible of the Dalits. The Dalits had struck so much fear in their hearts that the enemy would only attack from their hiding places.
Elumalai felicitated the Gujarat Panthers on behalf of the Tamil Nadu Dalits. Stressing the urgent need for bringing the Dalits and Muslims closer, he cited the examples of Ramanathapuram and Meenakshipuram.
