FSR, < fsr5st@yahoo.com>: The Women’s Affairs Technical Committee (WATC) is a Palestinian NGO established in 1994. The WATC aims to bring women’s issues to the forefront in all spheres of life in Palestine and works to achieve equality between men and women in Palestine through a wide range of programs. Since the beginning of the second Intifada (uprising) in September of 2000, the WATC has been committed to ensuring that the voices of Palestinian women are not silenced, nor their goal of equality forgotten. The WATC has put great effort into acknowledging any documenting both the ways in which women are disproportionately harmed by occupation and conflict, and the role that Palestinian women are playing in the Intifada. On their website, the WATC has created “Through the Eyes of Women”, a collection of essays, poems, stories, reflections, and songs created by Palestinian women to express their feelings, experiences, and suffering during the current Intifada. To access “Through the Eyes of Women” (WATC) and learn more about the activities visit our webpage at www.pal-watc.org or send an email to watcorg@planet.com.
Dr. R.P. Harsh, Harsh Clinic, Barnala Road, Sirsa – 125 055: Budhism is the dhamma of indigenous people of India. It does not believe in God, atma, idol worship, karma and reincarnation. It preaches Prajna, karuna and Samta. Dr. Ambedkar incorporated these principles in the Indian Constitution as liberty, equality and fraternity. Budhist dhamma was a social revolution for Bahujan hutia, Bahujan sukhai. The Budhist dhamima destroys the social, political and economic monopoly of the Brahmins. That is how the Brahmins became the enemy of Budhists. The Brahmin commander, Pushya Mitra Sung, not only killed the last Budhist emperor through treachery in 185 BC but also issued an ordinance to massacre the Budhists and put 100 gold coins as a reward on each head of a Budhist. Budhist centres were destroyed, Manusmriti was written to suppress them socially, economically and politically. Later 84,000 Budhist centres created by Emperor Asoka were converted into Hindu temples. New gods, Rama, were created at Ayodhya, Krishna in Mathura, Sankaer in Kashi. Budha was depicted as thief, nastik in the Valmiki Ramayan (Ayodhya Kand, canto 109, verse 34). Budhists were made Untouchables (Mitakshra Tika of Yajnavalkya Smriti 3/3). The authors of the Ramayan, the Smriti and Puranas do not accept Budha as Hindu, as he was opposed to the basic structure of Hinduism. (Was Buddha A Hindu by Dr. Surendra Ajnat, (Bheem Patrika Prakashan p.23). A noted Muslim scholar of the 11th century, Al-Biruni says that before the arrival of Islam, Budhism was the religion of Islamic countries also like Egypt, Iraq, Khurasan, Faron, Afghanistan and so on. Despite these historical facts some Muslim brothers like Nafisul Hasan of Dehradun (DV Jan.16, 1999 p. 16) says:
“Historically it is proved that Budhism is Hinduism”.
Probably he might have read history written by some Hindu nazi author. To support his argument Hasan also refers to the article of DV Editor, “Plot to hijack Budha”. But the Editor of DV has nowhere written that Budhism is Hinduism. Environment plays a very important role in shaping the personality of an individual. Environment not only affects the personality of an individual but also affects rituals, customs, traditions, language and so on. I have a Muslim friend, a lecturer, Post-Graduate Govt. College, Sirsa (Psychology Dept.), but his name is Babu Ram Chauhan, but some of the Hindu customs like kart are performed in his family after the death of his mother, because his family is living in a Hindu-dominated area. Another friend, a public relations officer, a Chamar by caste, instead of burning he was buried. People who came to the ceremony inquired if he was a Muslim. Before the partition, his was a Muslim-dominated village,’ hence they followed the Muslim custom of burial. When I was a medical officer, my assistant was an Anglo-Indian whose mother tongue was English. He had an illiterate girl as Neighbour. She could speak English fluently, but she could not write her name in English. If some Budhists were to perform Hindu rituals, it is due to the influence of environment in which they were living. The word Hindu is not found in any ancient Brahmin literature. It is a Persian word. It came to India with the invasion of I Mohd. Bin-Kasim in 712 AD. Muslims used this word » frequently for the natives of their country including Budhist. The present Mustafa din fought against brahminism to protect their identity. Their struggle continued till 1200 AD. The cunning Brahmins adopted the “Hindu” word to create an artificial Hindu majority and destroy their enemy (Budhist). They coined this new word to fight Muslims by instigating the Budhists against Muslims. This is Indian history. The same tactic is continuing even today. Despite 20 years of repeated warning in Dalit Voice that the Dalits (Budhist) are not Hindu and were never Hindus, our Muslim elites like Nafisul Hasan continue to say that Budhist are Hindu. Islam has a democratic way of life. It is based on the principle of equality and fraternity which is the”(foundation of democracy. Therefore, there is no provision for kingship under Islam. Prophet Mohammed was more sympathetic towards the oppressed. The Quran says:
“… Provision must be made to help kindred, orphans, way farmers, widows, those who are in bondage or in debt, those who are expelled from their own homes and deprived of their properties and in general need”. (Curse of Allah, DSA, p. 17).
In the court of Akbar there were nine “jewels” of which eight were Hindu nazis. The Quran has made the provision that a Muslim can have four wives only but- the Muslim rulers enjoyed hundreds of wives and concubines. The Hindu nazis during the Muslim rule strengthened their imperialism, amended their literature, made caste system more rigid and oppressive. The problem of Ayodhya, Mathura and Kashi is the result of anti-Islamic behavior of Muslim rulers. Instead of protecting the oppressed, the Muslim rulers made the oppressors more powerful. The organisation of “Sacred Brahmins” called the RSS, wants to take the credit for forming Hindu Rashtra, the Editor of Dalit Voice gives this credit to Gandhi. But I differ with the Editor and say 4 that the credit for forming the Hindu Rashtra goes to Muslim elites and the Muslim rulers. Because:
(1) They brought the word “Hindu” from outside.
(2) They could not identify their real enemy and called every one Hindu even the Mustafadin (Budhist) of that period.
(3) Instead of helping the Mustafadin these rulers acted against the “Spirit of Islam” and appointed the oppressors of Budhist (Dalit) as their Mansardars.
(4) Instead of staying on in India, the Muslim elites went over to Pakistan, leaving their brothers for further oppression under Hindu nazis, thus paving the way for Hindu Rashtra.
Had the Muslim rulers not appointed Hindu nazis as their Mansardars and not acted against the Spirit of Islam. and Muslim elites had not left India, the Indian history ¥ would have been altogether different. The Gupta period in Indian history saw the Brahmin imperialism, they never ruled the entire India but presently they are ruling. the entire India. Thus, the credit for formation of Hindu Rashtra goes to Muslim elites and rulers and not RSS or Gandhi.
Gurnam Singh Muktsar, 10 – Guru Angad Nagar, Muktsar – 152 026: The problem of Backward Castes is the problem of India itself because they constitute the majority population of the country. It is also the problem of the reconstruction of the “nation” itself. The Dalits, the Tribals and the BCs together form what may be called the Bahujans (the majority), says Chandapuri, a great freedom fighter from Patna. I have taken the above para from a book, Chandapuri, The Father of Backward Classes Movement, published by the Tyagmurti Chandapuri Mission Publications, Sarswati Bhawan, North Mandiri, Patna (Bihar), Rs. 50. Being a student of social movements, I have made a deep study of all struggles of Chandapuri, named Ram Lakhan, born in Nov.1923. His father, Mahabir Singh, belonged to Chandapur village on way to Bodh Gaya. Our entire history has been perverted and distorted by the Aryans. What we are taught today is Aryan brahminical history. Chandapuri worked for the liberation of BCs about whom our Saviour, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar said:
“I have visited various countries of the world and got opportunity to have met politicians, statesmen and learned persons there but I have not met such a young man like Chandapuri who has so vast knowledge and grasp of national and international affairs. He has qualities of head and heart to face the challenges of the future. I wish him and all your success”. (Nov.6, 1951).
These are the words of India’s greatest giant, greatest Indian philosopher after Budha. The greatness of R.L. Chandapuri is that he has fully exposed the havoc played by brahminism. He says brahminical leaders indulge in exploitative practices in society by propagating – falsehood, hypocrisy, immorality, corruption, casteism, communalism, superstition, rituals, sexual desires, violence and all that is inhuman. There are two kinds of brahminical leaders. The first one is one who is a born Brahmin. The second one is not a born Brahmin but a bum-licker of Brahmins excelling them in all the brahminical crooked crafts. These bum-lickers are much more dangerous than born Brahmins. Chandapuri met Dr. Rajendra Prasad when he was aged 11. I wrote a novel, Garibi Duniya, and wrote a book of poems in 1947. He participated in the “Quit India Movement” (1942).
Initially, he followed Gandhi. But he did not become his – follower. When he was in MA, he witnessed anti-Muslim riots (1946). Chandapuri later formed the Bihar Provincial Backward Caste Federation (1947), and started a weekly paper, Pichara Varga. He met Dr. Ambedkar in 1948 and got Article 340 inserted in the new Constitution for the liberation of the BCs. To sabotage his movement, Pandit Nehru instigated some people to form a parallel federation under the leadership of Jagjivan Ram, then a Union Cabinet Minister. Chandapuri talked to Dr. Ambedkar about forming a political party merging the Scheduled Caste Federation in 1952. But the president of his organisation, P.S. Deshmukh, opposed the proposal being a congressman. Chandapuri made several attempts to unite SC/ST/BCs and Muslims. He contacted Dr. Ram Manohar Kohia also. But the Brahmins in Lohia’s party like Madhu Limaye and Raj Narain sabotaged the proposal. In 1978, there was an attempt to kill Chandapuri during a mass rally in Patna before the State Assembly. Lakhs of people had gathered there. A CRPF jawan ponied a loaded gun thrice towards Chandapuri but failed to kill him. Chandapuri belongs to the Backward Kurmi caste.
Raju Thomas, 30 – Somasundaram 1st Street, Madras – 600 023: This is in response to the Letter of Rajani Kant Varma, editor of the Socialist India (DV Sept.16, 1999). I am not going to swallow this bogus socialist ideology which has ruined our people. Communism/socialism/ marxism in India is nothing but brahminism which was used to further enslave our people — Dalits and BCs. Manjoor Gopalan has already given a fitting reply to Varma in his Letter (DV Nov.1, 1999 p.10-11). Even more I want ask Varma: who is he to tell us that conversion has given us no relief when Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar himself had long back shown us the true path? Of course, the Aryans want us to remain in their poisonous Hindu gas chamber. But as followers of Dr. Ambedkar, we prefer conversion till the last Dalit/BC/ ST is liberated from Hinduism. Nobody can stop us. Only those slaves and slave-minded people may listen to people like Varma. Why should Varma get shocked when Dalit Voice pleads for one faith or the other? The real meaning of “communalism” is brahminical fascism. Communalism is the youngest child of brahminical fascism. To cover up this secret, the cunning and crooked Aryan Brahmins deliberately invented this fake word, “communalism”. Today every fool in this country is using this word, and the real target is missed. Varma wrote about a “casteless society”. Can he destroy the castle? However, we are not for a “casteless society”. We want every caste in India to be get strengthened. There is nothing good in Hinduism for our people. If the SC/ST/BCs continue to remain in Hinduism, they will never be a liberated people. We do not deny: the existence of untouchability in Christianity but this poison came to Christianity from Hinduism through the Aryans. Once Hinduism is destroyed there will be no untouchability in any other religion in India. I did not plead for Christianity in my article. I am equally critical of the Aryan Christians. But can anybody deny the truth that it was Christianity which civilized the Aryans in the West who were once barbarians? The Aryans could not change and get civilized in India because they did not encounter a religion like Christianity. It is time the Aryans decide whether they want to transform or migrate from India. Aryans in India have become so arrogant that they do not want to undergo any kind of transformation. They are unwilling to. Change. Budhism will not and cannot give the “Plus Condition of Mind and Body” to the Dalits.
Let Varma read Vol.12 of Babasaheb (pages 733 to 735). Let him first read this Volume and then come for an argument on conversion. He will then understand whether Dalits will gain any relief through conversion. It is none of the business of our Enemy to prescribe medicine for our sickness. We decide what medicine we should take to cure our illness but certainly not our enemies. We diagnosed our sickness, and we have found the best physician in our Babasaheb. He has given us the best medicine and that is conversion and conversion only to such religion which our enemy oppressors hate the most. Is it clear Rajani Kant Varma? Please order a copy of Babasaheb’s speech, Why Go for Conversion? DSA, 1987, from the Editor of Dalit Voice. As for Varma’s accusation that people like me are the greatest threat to the weaker sections of society and Dalits, it is for my people to judge, and they alone will be the final authority to decide whether I am the greatest threat to them. History gives its own verdict on events and individuals and even ideologies. History has already pronounced its verdict on communism/socialism/marxism. But people like Varma still want us to buy their products. We are no longer the consumers of communism and socialism. Both have been buried fathoms deep. Please read our Editor’s masterpiece, How Marx Failed in Hindu India? (DSA). Yes, we are the greatest threat to our Enemy which is none other than the alien Aryan/Hindus in India. Only those agents of this enemy are the real threats to us. We are capable of tackling them at the right time. If the Varmas are threatened because of people like our Editor and me then we cannot help. I am happy Rajani Kanth Varma has attacked me. I feel proud. I had encounters with people like Advani, Suryanarayana Rao, S. Gurumurthy, P. Parameswaran (Kerala), Major Vedantham (dead) and many such Hindu nazis and I must tell Varma that I have never experienced defeat in my life only because of my Babasaheb and my beloved Dalit Voice. I know that some ignorant and innocent Dalits, who are not well versed in the language of Dalit Voice, will only misunderstand me by reading such letters of Varma. I again thank Varma for his attack on my theory. I quote Mao:
“I hold that it is based as far as we are concerned if a person, a political party, an army or a school is not attacked by the enemy, for in that case it definitely means that we have sunk to the level of the enemy. It is good if we are attacked by the enemy, since it proves that we have drawn a clear line of demarcation between the enemy and ourselves. It is still better if the enemy attacks us wildly and paints us as utterly black and without a single virtue; it demonstrates that we have not only drawn a clear line of demarcation between the enemy and ourselves but. Achieved a great. Deal in our work. We should support whatever the enemy opposes and oppose whatever the enemy supports. (Who is Ruling India, DSA, 1982, p.1).
When the Editor of Dalit Voice is attacked by our enemy, those people who faithfully follow him also will be attacked by our enemy. It is up to the Varmas to join our enemy and mount a united attack against us instead of advising in the name of socialism and communism etc. We welcome open enemies but not disguised friends. 1 can understand Varma’s hatred against religion because all those who hold on to communism and socialism are opposed to religion or any faith. They do not want to be regulated by any virtue or ethics and morality. They want to lead a life of anarchy. They do not like restrictions. I have quoted the law of contradictions which is the law of nature. And this quotation is from one of the world’s top communist leaders. If one faith goes against another faith, then there must be something basically wrong with” both the faiths. But that also depends upon the Law of Contradictions. But if any faith or religion speaks only ¥ for the good of man and if any other religion or faith opposes that faith or religion then the latter religion or faith must be vehemently fought by the former religion or faith. As far as I am concerned, all religions in the world, except Hinduism, have taught only good things for humanity. However, there must be some differences, but man must identify the best and the most perfect religion among all religions. Can man totally avoid religion? Or has religion no role in regulating human life? I quote Babasaheb:
“The function of religion is the same as the function of law and government. It is a means by which society exercises its control over the conduct of the individual in order to maintain social order. It may not be used consciously as a method of social control over the individual. Nonetheless the fact is that religion acts as a means of social control. As compared to religion, government and law are relatively inadequate means of social control. The control through law and order -does not go deep enough to secure the stability of the social order. Religious sanction, on account of its being supernatural, has been on the other hand the most effective means of social control. Far more effective than law and government have been or can be.
Without the support of religion, law and government are bound to remain a very inadequate means of social control. Religion is the most powerful force of social gravitation without which it would be impossible to hold the social order in its orbit”. (W&S, Vol. V, 1989 p. 410-411).
If Varma is an honest person, then he will stop hating religion. If a man wants to lead an orderless life, he/she will-have to reject the control of religion over his/her personal life and bestiality and vulgarity can take control of his/her life. Faith stimulates, inspires man and leads him into powerful action. Look at how the Muslim “fundamentalists” in Algeria, Bosnia, Chechnya, Iran Kashmir, and in many other parts of the world fight victoriously against their enemy oppressors. It is their faith and faith alone which is the source of their inspiration and strength. Here is a book which Babasaheb liked the most, The Essence of Budhism, by P. Lakshmi Narasu in which a very important reference is on faith:
“By faith of course is not meant the belief in something which is irrational and absurd or the belief in creeds or dogmas or the determination to be satisfied with unproved and unwarranted statements, but the conviction that truth can be found. While reason enables man to arrange and systematize knowledge to construct truth, faith gives him determination to be true to his convictions and ideals. Faith becomes superstition when its parts company with reason, and worse still when it fronts it in flat contradiction, but reason without faith would turn man into a machine without enthusiasm for his ideals. Reason seeks disinterestedly to realise right order where it is not, but faith gives character and strength or will to break through the five hindrances of mental sloth, lust, malice, spiritual pride and pretensions. While reason rejoices in the truths it has already found, faith helps it onward to further conquests, to aspire after the attainment of what has not yet been attained, to work strenuously for the realisation of what has 1ot yet been realised. It is faith alone that can transform cold abstract rationalism into a religion of fervent hope and love.” (p. 24, 1907).
I wish Rajani Kanth Varma would read this important book and try to understand more about faith.
Dr. Ashok Adhav, MHB Colony, M36/2521, Yerawada, Pune – 411 006: This refers to the Letter of N.K. Nagaraj (DV Aug.16, 2000). He wants to know the origin of the word Hindu. Babasaheb did not do the futile work to define or dig out the origin of the word Hindu. But he has referred many times to “caste Hindu” people. Who then are these Hindus? Recently some savarna (Hindu) people tried to clarify who the Hindu are. According to them the Hindu is one with his own body, but his brain and reasoning are mortgaged to the Vaidik Brahmins. If the Brahmin asks him to sit, he sits, if the Brahmin asks him to stand, he stands. If the Brahmin asks him to bend, he simply obeys. If the Brahmin insults him, he thinks it a great honour. If the Brahmin abuses him, he takes it as a reward. If the Brahmin kicks him, he takes it as a pat on his back and bends down and touches the feet of the Brahmin. If the Brahmin says the bull is pregnant, he nods his head and takes it as a gospel truth. Such people are “Hindu people”. And who is the Brahmin? All definitions are not as correct as follows:
” Fukkat udar bhavan nohe janiji yagna karma”.
Fukkat means free of cost or without any effort. It means those who eat without doing any work and think this is the only yagna. In short, the Brahmin may have land but will never go to till it. The Brahmin will have house, but he will get it built by others. The Brahmin will have clothes but will get it manufactured and stitched by others. The Brahmin would like to have a child but…. This is sufficient to know who Hindus are and their makers.
Dillip Ku. Jena, 1 – Forest Park, Bhubaneswar – 751 009: I am now convinced that without the media nothing is possible. Only DV prepares our people with heart and soul. We have to prepare a network through which we can have contact with the entire Bahujan Samaj. Due to lack of education and money our people have remained ignorant but what about our financially stronger, educated people? They are not showing their interest in our movement.
C.C. Hadke, SE (C), ONGC, Civil Section, IEOT (GF), Panvel, New Bombay – 410 221: Recently the postal authorities (govt.) have released a postal stamp of Rs. 3 of Babasaheb, on the eve of Babasaheb’s 110th birth anniversary. I have purchased stamps worth Rs. 1,500 so that I may use for long just as the Hindu nazi RSS people use it Hegdewar’s stamp for their use. Why don’t we also use our Saviour’s stamp and also preserve it. I call upon DV readers to purchase this stamp in bulk.
Sudesh Tanavar, Aastha, 224-A, Rajokari Pahari, New Delhi – 110 038: My heartiest congratulations to you for writing the second edition of your hit book, Aggression on Indian Culture. 1 have listened to your speech two- three times on various occasions. Whenever I listen to your speeches, I feel proud of your sincere and powerful feelings about Dalits. I am looking after the Hindi Dalit Voice here. We have to be more serious about the circulation of Hindi DV in the rural and slum areas of Delhi and neighbourhood. I think we should have a meeting with some serious thinkers, educators and social workers of Dalit.
Dharam Pal Rawat, 7/364, Malaviya Nagar, Jaipur – 302 017: We will be very happy to organise a function to release your latest book, Aggression on Indian Culture (DSA, 2001) followed by a seminar on the book here. Brother Puran Singh Mourya, who is a prominent Dalit leader here and a great admirer of your work, has taken up this responsibility. We will call a meeting of Ambedkarites soon to finalise the arrangements. We are readers of Hindi DV.
A.L. Ukey, C/129, MPEB, Birsinghpur, Umariya dt., – 484 552: Here at the Sanjay Gandhi Thermal Power Station,MPEB, Birsinghpur, a lot Tribals have come in search of their daily livelihood. They join different contractors and are pushed into slums and live in huts along with the stinking drainage. They have no basic civil amenities, not even drinking water. Fortunately, we got hold of a plot of land nearby and started socio- cultural-religious activities. Slum children were attracted to whom we started primary school. We secured slates/ books/pencils for the slum children. With my family members, I started two classes and arranged two teachers. Our emancipator said: “Educate, Agitate, Organise”. Are we doing? Are we following his Three Commandments? What is the meaning of “Educate”? Why has it been put first? We are pre-occupied with political issues forgetting Babasaheb’s “Three Commandments”. In fact, “Educate” means teaching our people the burning thoughts of Dr. Babasaheb. Ambedkarite thinking automatically leads to Budhism. But instead of doing this our people become Budhists without understanding Budhism. My friend, Dr. Anand, an eye specialist, hails from Datiya (MP) and runs the All-India Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Missionary Society, (BAMS) New Delhi -110083. He left his home and parents and started BAMS to Educate our people. In Madarsa, the Muslims teach what suits them. In gurdwara, the Sikhs teach what suits them. Vidhya Bharti teaches in their Saraswati schools what suits the nazis. Dr. Anand has published a number of books. These are revolutionary books.
K.B. Ram, Rajkamal, I-CH-13, Sector-1, Jawahar Nagar, Jaipur – 302 004: This refers to the Letter of R.H. Das (DV June 16, 2001). He is not aware of the latest development in the RPIL. For the information of all Bahujans, the RPI is divided into two political parties —the RPI and the Bharatiya Republican Party of Bahujan Mahasangh. Party elections of the second one are now going on in Maharashtra. The head of the old party, RPI, is Ramdas Athwale, MP. Makharam Pawar joined the second party and was elected MLA. But soon he rebelled, for which he was expelled from the party.
Santosh Behera, at Bhandi Street, PO/dt. Koraput – 764 020: A seminar was held on May 27 at Nabarangpur on the “Position of Dalits after 54 years of independence”. It was organised by the Nabarangpur SC/ST/BC/ Minorities Emp. Welfare Assn., together with Nabarangpur Dalit Jati Vikas Parishad. About 1,000 delegates from different parts of Orissa such as Koraput, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Sonpur districts etc. attended the seminar. Important speakers were Kumaramani Tanti, OAS (I) SB, Project Director,
DRDA, Sonpur, Jagannath Pani, Asst. Engineer, Mukhiguda of Indravati Project, Habibulla Khan, Congress MLA of Nabarangpur constituency and a former state cabinet minister, and Srinivas Rao, founder of Orissa Dalit Samaj. About 30 Dalit Voice family members were also present. A new building named Dalit Bhawan was opened on that day by Bhagawan Majhi, ex-MP of Nabarnagpur, and in the evening a film on Dr. Ambedkar was shown. Tanti, a prominent member of the DV family, advocated a second revolution for the liberation of the Dalit society to fight brahminism. He presented the many vital points in a simple and scientific manner which was very much appreciated. Pani, an intellectual in the Dalit Voice family, said one who did not know history would not be able to create history. As DV was in English, the different DV family members spoke in the local language and explained the philosophy of DV. Their arguments were very much appreciated by the audience. Srinivasa Rao, a noted intellectual of Orissa, is also a good speaker and practical worker. Our cowardly educated Dalit employees are so much afraid of his views that they make it a point not to attend his meetings. Today, if at all we know about DV, Dalit literature and Dr. Ambedkar it is due to his contribution.
- Akhtar, Kanpur – 392 150: Gujarati journalist Fazal Muhammad Fazal has written to the collector of Bharuch about display of arms on roads of Bharuch by Hindu nazi Bajrang Dal on 7/6/2001 despite a ban. His letter is also published in Gujarati monthly Anjuman Voice (Furjaa Rd., Bharuch – 392 001).
Rizvi Syed Haider Abbas, 390/29/5 – New Model Colony, Rustam Nagar, Lucknow – 226 003: If I am made to de-construct Indian journalism then it is you who have shown the world how a respectable journalist can not only live but can even call the shots. My association with you is quite old. It is I who offered to open a “Media Centre” at Lucknow way back in 1994. I am now working as a freelancer, but I find myself almost exasperated when I analyse through the Brahmin-machinations of media. I have been involved in book-reviewing and have written on topics related to history and sociology. I just can’t write on pressure cookers and lingeries (the order of the day). I’ll be highly thankful if you could send me a complimentary copy of the evergreen Dalit Voice. I am also involved in the human rights movement in Lucknow. Please send me your magnum opus — India’s Muslim Problem and India’s Intellectual Desert.
