Hindu Fanatic’s Bid To Kill Dalit Panther Leader Arun Kamble

Bombay Prof. Arun Kamble, leader of the Maharshtra Dalit Panthers & a noted Marathi writer, through his research has proved that Ravana was a great Buddhist leader & Rama, a Kshatriya, was only the leader of the victorious Aryans & the whole Ramayana, a Hindu epic, was nothing but a fight between the invading Aryans and the Indians who were mostly Buddhists. In his latest book. Ramayanatil Sanskriti Sangarsh (Cultural Revolution in Ramayana, Pub Panther Prakashana. Trikal. 308-6833, Pantnagar. Ghatkopar-E. Bombay-400 075, pages 77, 1982. price Rs. 20), which has become very controversial, he has also proved that Sita was not abducted by Ravana but on her own she went with Ravana having been attracted by Ravana’s beauty and knowledge. Some Brahmins of Maharashtra became so furious with Kamble, they tried to murder him. According to a frontpage report in the Sunday Observer (Sept. 5) the book, released in Bombay on Aug. 15 at the conference of the Namantara Nirdhara Parishad inaugurated by V. T. Rajshekar, editor, Dalit Voice, was reviewed in Navashakti, a Marathi daily. Pro-RSS Brahmins became so angry that one Kartar Singh Thatte, a Hindu fanatic. went to the Navashakti office and threat- ened to kill both Kamble and the editor of the paper. But fortunately both were not in the office then. One Kopragaonkar Bus, another RSS admirer, held a press meet to demand the arrest of Kamble for denegrating the Aryan god, Rama. The Hindu objection against the book is that Kamble has made Ravana the hero of Ramayana. The Aryan authors of Ramayana deliberatiy called him a Rakshasa (demon) with a view to character assassinating a great leader of the dalits who were mostly Buddhists then. Kamble quotes noted historians to prove that there was no evidence to say that Ravana carried away Sita. Ravana was a great Dravidian hero, a great philosopher. who embraced Buddhism. “Because the Buddhist literature had spoken so highly of Ravana. Brahmins pictured Ravana in such vile terms”. (page 44) Rama was a mere champion of the Brahmins and that is why they conferred godhood on him. Some Brahmin Marathi writers criticised Kamble for “having insulted Sita.” He is getting threatening letters. But Kamble says: “Rama himself had several women as stated in the Ramayana itself. All that I am asking is does a woman have the right to love another man after her marri- age ? After ill-treated by Rama. Sita had every right to go with another man (Ravana) she loved”. He cities authorities to say that Ramayana has spoken ill of Buddhism. The epic was manufactured by some Brahmins to counter Buddha’s teachings. Buddhists and Jains have been decried as atheists, robbers, murderers.” Meanwhile, the controversy raised by the Hindu fanatics has pushed up the sales of the book which can be got from the above address. Those desiring to translate it to English may write to the Dalit Sahitya Akademy.