P.K MAHANANDIA, Melyrid, Sweden: I am reading Dalit voice and other literature you sent. I am very much fascinated by the life and work of Babasaheb Ambedkar because I am my self an untouchable from Orissa. I had to struggle not only against poverty but all sorts of prejudices when I made my way. In my school I suffered constant humiliation owing to my birth as an untouchable my (upper) teachers never called me by name but by the name of my caste — that too in a humiliating way. i am very much interested in reading the original works of Babasaheb. My new assignment at the Swedish International Development Authority, Uppsala, is teaching art and culture of the Third World to Swedish diplomats going on foreign service and Swedish young officers to be posted in Asian and African countries. The most popular and oldest weekly of Sweden, Allers, founded in 1877, has just published an article on me and my wife. The Swedish people are trying to understand the situation of Dalits, and the racism they suffer from, through my life history in the Swedish press. Very often i am invited to deliver lectures on India and the problems of its Untouchables.
We are soon coming out with a writeup on this internationally reputed artist working in Sweden proving I to the world that given opportunity anybody can rise to any heights. India’s loss was Sweden’s gain. Our greatest joy is that he has not forgotten his past and the blessings of Babasaheb even after reaching the peak of professional prosperity. We will also announce about the “Mahananda International Scholarship” which he ‘and his Swedish wife have instituted to encourage I talented Indian artists — EDITOR.
Gautam Chakravarthy, London: Recently the birth centenary of Babasaheb Ambedkar was celebrated by the Indian Embassy at Bonn and also at Frankfurt. The UK Centenary Committee presented them with portraits of Babasaheb and Ambassador Madhav accepted our gifts. In his speech the Ambassador spoke about the caste discrimination that is continuing even to this day in India. Dr. Ambedkar had a connection with Bonn through his education there as sawyer. The people of Bonn should be proud that such a great man of India had lived in this city. Chanan Chahal, chairman of the UK Committee, also spoke and said more than a quarter population of India are followers of Babasaheb. Dr. Ambedkar came © Bonn as a lawyer. Untouchables in India despite all the safeguards in the Constitution still suffered iron all racist discriminations he said. S.L. Sampla, resident of the Buddhist Society of Frankfurt, had made all the arrangements.
Dr. Velu Annamalai, Indian Dalit Sil Group, 14902 James River Lane, Houston, Tx 77084 USA: IDSG is growing slowly and gaining recognition. Runako Rashidi and myself were in Washington from June 7 to 9 and did lot of talking. Local AfroAmericans gave us good response. A sister, Nubia Kai, read a beautiful poem on the Dalits. I also gave a radio talk thrice on the Dalit problem. I think the Afro-Americans will be our greatest support because both have a common origin and a common oppressor. Soon we will have so much activities that DV will have to earmark a column for us. Take care of yourself.
V.T. Hirekar London: Before I left for Toronto, I met your wife here and we had a fruitful exchange. In Toronto, I found DV in the house of Yogesh Verkade. All the Dalits whom I met in Canada are full of praise for DV. Varhade’s book International Law & Dalits in India is well-written. In this book he argues that the Indian brand of racism is worse than any other form of racism in the world. It is in Toronto that i read your book, DALIT- The Black Untouchables of India, published from the US. Committee
Raj Kumar of Paul, Great general Britain, secretary, Upper Dr. Zoar A Street, Wolverhampton, UK: We are sending through your wife our 1991 souvenir on the opening of our new Buddha Vihara and the birthday centenary of Babasaheb.
M. Mahananda, president, Orissa SC/ST Emp. Welfare Council, Post Burla, Dt. Sambalpur-768 017:” A big public rally was organized by our people of western Orissa to carry the Dr. Ambedkar Jyoti from – one corner of the State to the other. It took 15 days. Shortly we are inaugurating the Orissa chapter of the Dalit Union here together with our own Dr. Ambedkar Bhavan and the Samata Sainik Dal.
Mangu Ram, Delhi: DV has been acting as the publicity agent of the Bahujan Samaj Party despite my repeated warnings against it. On the eve of the elections, you realized the mistake and expressed your reservations on the role played by the BSP which helped the Hindu Nazi party to capture the UP Govt. by dividing the SC/BC/Muslim votes which otherwise would have gone for the Janata Dal.
BSP chief continues to be our friend. Our philosophy is dog doesn’t eat dog. We don’t criticize our people even inside the Nazi parties because some day they will all come back repenting. We have received many letters on the role played by the BSP in the recent elections and the big defeat it suffered. Kanchi Ram himself has admitted (Sunday July 30) that in UP the fight was between the Janata Dal and the BJP — EDITOR.
T.K. Narayanan, Trivandrum: Your June 16 edit and your speech, “Church’s Three Crimes against Christ”, in the same issue were superb. Recent elections have proved that in Kerala the Syrian Christians have become neo- -brahmins. The entire lot went against the Mandal, meaning SC/ST/BCs and MB, ‘and voted for the anti-Mandal Congress. Untouchable – converts to Christianity in Kerala must come out of “» this brahminesses church and build their own church.
R.U. Rangari, Vasai Rd., Thane Dt., MS: My Marathi review of your great book, Ready Reference for Revolutionaries (DSA 1991) has appeared in the prestigious Bahujan Nayak and the Bahujan Sandesh, Napur, Jai Bhim and Amrapali, Bombay.
Madhu C., Kochuvilayi House, Kuttanam, Pallikkal Post, Kerala – 690 503: I have translated to Malayalam N.K. Sharma’s historical piece, “History according to Ambedkar’s: Further Research into our Roots,” (DV May 1 p.16). I would like to publish it as a pamphlet to educate our youth here but have no money.
To repeat what we have said, those having money have no brains and those having brains have no money. How to reconcile the two has been our endeavor. Kerals is the state of the enlightened and somebody having both in Kerala would definitely get it touch with Madhu at the above address — EDITOR.
“Mahendra Deep, chairman, Dr. Ambedkar Amar Jyoti, Sambalpur-4, Orissa: We thank Prof. J. Sahu of the Vedavyas College, Rourkela, for his support to spread the message of Dalit Voice and Dalit Sahitya academy in Orissa. Our Backward Caste comrades in the state should learn a lesson from him and realize the supreme truth that like the Untouchables and Tribals, they are not Hindus. BCs are neither Sudras nor Hindus. BCs can secure their salvation only if they join with us. And DV is trying to unite all non-Hindus-SC/ST/BCs and religious minorities.
M. Velayudhan, Cheralathan, Kerala: Thank you for publishing Shyam Sunder’s “document” that Untouchables are Mool Bharati’s and not Hindus (DV May 16). It is a befitting answer to the Hindu Nazis who are selling their Hindutva to the unwilling nonHindus.
R.L. Yadav, Allahabad: Your English pamphlet, + “Hindu unity destroys Indian Unity” (a reprint of the DV editorial) was published in Hindi. The first print of 2,000 copies was exhausted in one month. Another 2,000 copies were printed to meet the demands from DV readers. We covered the whole cow belt. We received orders even from TN and Kerala. This gave us lot of encouragement. A lot of Hindi-speakers have appreciated the Editor of DV for coming out with such a valuable and timely piece which convinced the BCs and SCs that they are not Hindus, that non-Hindus formed 85% of the Indian population and the real aim of the Ramajanbhoomi stunt is not to harm the Muslims but to enslave the SC/ST/BCs in the name of Hindu unity.
Ms. Sangat, Madras: T.K. Narayanan of Trivandrum is wrong in saying that the caste system was © challenged by none except the Buddha (DV June 1 p.3: “Dr. – Ambedkar’s warning to Hindus”). I want to Dalit Voice draw his attention to Mahavir, Kabir, Guru Nank, Paraiyar EVR etc. who also questioned the Aryans and their caste system. Can quote several passages from the works of Nanak who formed a caste-less society as far back as 1699.
T. Harikrishna Prasad, Secretary, Atheist Society of India, Vizag, AP: I sent some danger from a group of pseudo-Ambedkarite who deceive Dalits saying that Dr. Ambedkar opposed communism and that he worked for the liberation of only Untouchables. Such an argument will antagonize the BCs for whose liberation also Babasaheb had worked. Babasaheb never opposed communism. In fact, he was a better communist than many of our today’s communists. Those who make a living out of Dr. Ambedkar should be identified and eliminated.
S. M. Pasha, Madras: The New Nazi Chief Minister of TN, “Miss” Jayalalita, who is a postmaster in stunts, has said she would assume office on the Bakrie day to please the Muslims. But we will not be deceived by such stunts. If she is sincerely interested in the Muslims she must
(1) publicly denounce the Nazi proposal for uniform personal law,
(2) establish an autonomous minorities commission for TN and
(3) constitute an anti-communal riot force comprising Muslims and Dalits.
A.R.M. Hakim, Bombay: Aim very much impressed by the frankness, forthrightness and dedication of DV. You have been fighting the cause of all the oppressed and their unity to fight the Nazi oppression.; Hence DV deserves our full support.
Arshad Kalliath, Trivandrum: Quoting from a letter in a Malayalam weekly by the Amnesty International, those interested. could send documents concerning violations of human rights in India to Susanne Moses, Amnesty International, Matzwil, CH 3036, Dettingen, Switzerland.;
S. Akhtar U. Patel, Khanpur Deh, Gujarat-392 150: I have sent you the manuscript of my translation of your piece, “Hindu Unity will break Indian unity.” as I have no money, I am sending the MS to you so that you may arrange its publication. If it comes out in Gujarati it will very much enlighten the Gujarati Dalits, Backward Castes, Tribals and Muslims who will be shocked with your scientific arguments that non-Hindus are 85% of the Indian population and that Hindus are only 15%. Once our people come to know this great truth, Hindu Nazis will simply run away.
We have sent the MS to our representative in Ahmedabad, Ramesh Chandra Parmar, to do the needful as he has already many publications to his credit — EDITOR.
Buddhapriya Mhaske, Ulhasnagar, MS: From your editorials (June 16 and July), it is clear that it was the Nazi Aryans who managed to bring back the Congress, the original Nazi party of India, to power by playing all sorts of tricks such as diverting the attention of the original Indians. The Nazis also arranged to get Rajiv Gandhi murdered in the midst the elections and used “Ram” to divide the Bahujan Samaj
Raju ‘Thomas, Madras: Recently I attended a national seminar on “People’s Theology” at Kottayam organized by the Jeeva Dhara, an international theological journal published from Kottayam. The seminar revealed that more and more people are now realizing that the Dalits are not Hindus and that Separate and must have a separate church. A few of the “Gandhian priests” who attended the seminar were miserably defeated.
