GAMA RAM, A-2/4, PAPER MILL COLONY, LUCKNOW-226 006
This refers to the Letter of Brother B.K. Ghatak (DV July 16, 2001 p. 13) that some Dalits call DV a “Muslim Voice. It also struck my mind a number of times. The problems of Muslims can be highlighted but it should not be allowed to dominate the journal.
I do not know about the condition in South India but in the North particularly UP the condition of Dalit-Muslims including Ansari (Julaha), Chikwa, Dafali, Dhunia, Barber, Dhobi (washerman), Ranrez, Bhishti, Fakir etc. continues to be very pathetic.
During the 700 years of Muslim rule, the Turks, Afghans, Moghals etc. made friendship with the upper castes (Kshatriyas and Brahmins) and neglected the Dalits and shudras. They failed to give due attention to shudra/Dalit converts to Islam and allowed them to remain as Dalits which is anti- Islamic.
A Dalit sweeper even after conversion continued to remain sweeper for centuries and was exploited like the Untouchable sweepers.
Worse than Hindu landlords: There has been some improvement due to their employment in Middle East but still no upper caste Muslim (Sheikh, Syed or Pathan), most of whom are upper caste Hindu converts, will accept son or daughter of a Dalit-Muslim for marriage.
Before the partition, the situation was worse and upper caste Muslims used to treat Dalit-Muslims like servants.
Except that the Dalit-Muslims are allowed in mosques and that there is no untouchability, they are still looked down upon by their brethren.
The upper caste Muslims, most of whom were landlords, used to exploit Untouchables worse than Hindu landlords in pre-independence era. The situation improved a bit after the abolition of zamindari system with both Hindu and Muslim landlords.
I belong to Eastern UP and I have seen that the Dalits did not want to marry their daughters or sons in Muslim- dominated villages of Dalits. You know why? The honour of no Dalit woman was safe in Muslim- dominated villages of Dalits.
Hindu nazi fear: The behaviour of Hindu zamindars was also not good towards Dalits but it was better than that of Muslim zamindars. There is no basic change in the behaviour of upper caste Muslims towards Dalits but due to fear of Hindu nazi organisations they have outwardly softened their attitude only for their selfish political ends. They are with BSP not because of their affinity towards Dalits but for selfish political ends.
In the issue of DV July 16, 2001 out of 24 “Letters to the Editor 13 are by Muslims.
We can mobilise Dalit-Muslims but not the Sheikh, Syed (Shias) and Pathans, most of whom are converts from Brahmins or Kshatriyas and their temperament would never change.
