J. R. Antwal, Chairman, Federation of All-India SC/ST Employees, P&T Dept., New Delhi:
We are very happy to detect in the DV a journal reflecting our own views, committed fully to safeguard the rights of the Dalits and expose the hypocrisy of the communal Hindus who are shedding crocodile tears over mass conversions of Dalits to Islam. If any noble soul wanted to reform Hindus it was Gandhi but the communal Hindus committed unabashed and diabolical atrocity on him untraceable in history.
B.L. Biswas, Calcutta:
Krishna Kant said (Indian Express, 19 Oct.): “One of the Shankaracharyas recently said if untouchability was removed, Hinduism would vanish. Hindus should revolt against such Acharayas”. While congratulating Krishna Kant for such a statement, we want to remind him what Ambedkar had said that untouchability was part of the caste system. Hindus know that if untouchability goes caste will collapse and with that the property and privileges of high caste Hindus. So when the RSS and their boy Karan Singh organise Virat Hindu sammelan and pass resolutions to destroy untouchability how far they are sincere? Can untouchability be destroyed without destroying Hinduism? Will the Hindus be ready for a suicide?
K.S. K Kumaran, Bangalore:
We are faced with a dilemma. In the bookshops run by the pro-Marxist CPM, CPI, and CPML in Bangalore we do not find Ambedkar, Periyar, Lohia or any other dalit or rationalist literature. Nor do we find any literature of interest to the dalits. But the Dalit Voice has stated editorially that it would support Marxist philosophy. When I inquired at these Marxist book houses, they said Ambedkar, Periyar, Lohia and other Dalit literature, are anti-Marxist. Please solve our dilemma.
B.S. Swamikannu, Madurai, TN:
The “national press” has carried reports and pictures of a German girl becoming a Hindu and marrying one Sreedharan in TN. The high castes are making much of this conversion of a foreign Christian girl. Extra-ordinary publicity was given to this event. But the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, a branch of RSS, which conducted this conversion, did not disclose what caste Katherina was assigned. The “sacred scriptures” say there can be no Hindu without a caste. Dr. M. N. Srinivas, described as India’s topmost social scientist and himself a Brahmin, says Hinduism means caste system. So what is the caste of this converted girl? Has she been made a Brahmin?
A. Ghaffar Shakir, Nagpur:
On behalf of the Dalits and other persecuted minorities of Nagpur, we congratulate DV for its bold stand on our problems. We assure our fullest co-operation.
K Ramdas, Austin Town, Bangalore:
I have just visited some of the villages in South Arcot, TN, where the Dalits are being persecuted by the Hindus. The villages in particular are: Kettapundi, Sindipet, and Segidikuppam where the road work is assigned to outside Hindus betraying the interests of the hundreds of starving, illiterate, jobless local Dalits. Despite repeated protests on this score, no official bothered about the claims of the local Dalits.
N. Elangovan, Cuddalore, TN:
The Oct. 15 DV editorial, “Bid to Throttle Christians in India” is wonderful and captivated us. We are all with you.
Dr. S. A. Mannan, Hyderabad:
DV is very imaginatively produced. We are all captivated by it.
Vinubhai Bhairavia, Ahmedabad:
We have been reading the DV and the literature produced by the Dalit Sahitya Akademy and we are all highly impressed by them.
Tariq Ahmed, Kashmir:
Three cheers to the DV, truly the voice of the Dalits and the persecuted minorities, for badly exposing the RSS crowd of zealots and also the heinous role of India’s puppet press. DV is the need of the hour for Dalits and minorities who together bear the brunt of the violence engineered by the RSS fascists. We join hands to propagate the message of DV.
M Mazharuddin, Illinois, USA:
We have been going through the DV and are much impressed by it. Your introduction to the booklet, “Why Go for Conversion?“, published by the DSA, is simply inspiring and very truthful. The revolution of the Indian Dalits is bound to succeed ultimately. There is no point in begging your government to grant social equality and other rights. Your Dalit leaders must take up the matter directly and liberate the Dalits as we, the American Blacks, have liberated ourselves from the slavery of the White man. They could not still get equality because they remained Christians. Blacks are stilt not welcomed in the White churches. You don’t find any Black clergy leading the mass in White churches. They realised that they ought to change their religion to get equality and respect in the society. They have chosen Islam to free themselves. Now many of the Blacks have become leaders (Imam of masjid) where the Arabs and other old Muslims pray. The US slaves were Christians, but Christianity failed to give them equality. Ambedkar was therefore right in saying that the Indian Untouchables must get converted to other religions to liberate themselves. Dalit leaders must organise the Untouchables and bring them out to the streets. They should not mind facing bullets and sticks. There is a great example for Dalits in the Islamic revolution of Iran where the youths came out to die on the call of Khomeni. The Untouchables can’t be successful until they sacrifice Martyrdom is the triumph of the revolution. Dalits must seek the co-operation and support of the Indian Muslims who are also the victims of Hindu fanaticism. We would like to see the biggest demonstration of Indian history by the Dalits. The Indian Black power Demonstration is one of the weapons of revolution. I pray for the success of the Dalit power.
Amarjit Singh, London:
Without doubt, DV is probably the best rational and scientific journal on the question of Dalits. Not only it is very informative but also it has managed to highlight the path the Dalits must take for their liberation. We are also happy that the DV will unite the Dalits, rationalists and “genuine” Marxists.
M. Mitsuhashi, Tokyo:
We find the study of Devadasi really excellent. Congratulations to Joint Women’s Programme. We can well understand the seriousness of the Devadasi problem. This study should be read widely all over the world and, therefore, we are sending Bhani to the US and France. In Japan also the woman is exploited by man. Her average wage is half of that of man. Japanese capitalism is built on the exploitation of women. Besides, it is reinforced by the division of sexes, Men’s work (which is paid) is reproduced and maintained by women’s unpaid work (such as housework). We are interested in the thought of Dalitastan. This concept largely overlaps Periyar’s Dravidestan. Will Indian revolution begin from the South?
K.S. Bhagwan, Mysore:
The Devadasi system is horrible, inhuman, cruel. To what extent Hindu religion is degenerated. There is no greater heinous crime than this. The JWP team has done a good job. The pictures are heart-rending.
Dr. Mulk Raj Anand, Bombay:
I admire your persisting with your Dalit struggles. I will recommend DV to my friends in India and abroad.
