This habit of “dog eating dog” must stop
Bangalore: We have read some critical comments made against Brother Baban Kamble, the editor of the Marathi daily, Samrat, from Bombay. These critics, however, admit that the Samrat is “becoming extremely popular in Maharashtra especially in Bombay. Its popularity is just next to BSP”.
The proof of the pudding is in eating it. The people who ate the pudding said it was wonderful. And even as they eat the pudding and enjoy it, they also shout saying they don’t like it. Something must be seriously wrong with such people and we are ashamed to learn they call themselves Ambedkarites.
The Samrat is India’s first Dalit non-political daily paper and we were present in Bombay at its first anniversary function when we personally witnessed the popularity of Baban Kamble and his paper. We have never witnessed such a function in our life. (DV Edit May 16, 2004: “Samrat cements Dalit-Maratha unity”).
Even a dog does not eat a dead dog despite being a meat-eating animal. Such is its fellow feeling. But we Dalits take pleasure in criticizing our own people to please our masters.
As the Editor of a fortnightly English journal we know the difficulties of running a paper. But the Samrat is a daily. This means daily problems, daily confrontations.
And yet Brother Baban has made it a success story.
We appeal to our people to at least learn from the dog. If we have any criticism against someone we must directly discuss it with the person rather than going public which will be used by our ever-vigilant Enemy.
Unique experiment: The Samrat experiment is unique in the history of Maharashtra if not India. The great role it played in the recent Maharashtra Assembly elections has united the Dalits and the Marathas and finished the Hindu nazi BJP and its tail Shiv Sena. It has encouraged hundreds of Dalit writers and taken up many causes.
Dalit Voice has given full support to Brother Baban Kamble who is a genuine Ambedkarite. When the alert Enemy is waiting to pounce upon on us, we should not throw the first stone. If there are frauds and fakes among us there is no need for us to pull them down. They will fall on their own. They can be criticized but privately.
Remember, when the notorious Kanchi Frankenstein was arrested on charges of murder, sex scandals, financial irregularities etc. not a single Brahmin in the whole of India or outside was ready to criticize him. Not one Brahmin said the rule of law must prevail. Why not we learn from the Enemy? This habit of dog eating dog must stop.
