J. R. Antwel, Chairman, Fed. of All-India SC/ST Emp., P&T. Dept., Bombay:
DV has successfully aligned the scattered Dalits. We have not learnt the art of dying like the Sikhs and Muslims. The rights are procured and not begged for. Gandhi is repeating history and making Hindus more happy. Attenborough ignored India’s working class leader, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, and yet bagged the Oscar. DV is progressing rapidly. Don’t you think that it is time you brief the readers and seek their suggestions? Your financial problems will be solved by the readers if only you make an appeal. Congratulations for introducing us Dr. Laxmi Berwa, a Dalit of uncommon calibre. The whole of India shall bow to him for taking a step towards its liberation.
Murad Chavda, Radhanpur, Gujarat:
My friend Kalekhan Pathan introduced DV to me. It is a masterpiece. The need of the hour is the unity of Dalits and minorities.
Bajirao Kamble, Ex-MLA, Pune:
Congratulations for taking up Justice Bhimiah’s cause [DV, April 16] We condemn the communal lawyers of Bangalore. The All-India Advocates Assn. will have its conference at Nagpur on June 14 when we will discuss this issue.
M. C. Das, Dt. SC Youth Assn. Sibsagar, Assam:
DV is creating history here. Besides, your valuable books have made tremendous impact on us. Meanwhile, the Assam violence has placed a dilemma before us Dalits. Over 1,000 people were killed during the Assembly elections. We do support the Assam movement, although many Dalits were also killed. Dalits constitute a major chunk – about 14 lakhs of the Assam population. Though no atrocities on us as in the rest of India, we are very poor and backward. But Dalits here hardly know their saviour, Ambedkar. We want you to tour this area. The situation is still explosive.
L. S. Mani, A. Gopal, president and gen. secretary, BEML SC/ST Emp. Assn. KGF:
The Dalit employees of the Karnataka Electricity Board here are facing trouble from their Hindu colleagues & the recognised trade union is siding with the Hindus. On March 14, Ramachandriah, secretary of the KEB Dalit Emp. Union, was assaulted by his Hindu colleagues and abused by using caste name.
Prof. Jogendra Kawade, Nagpur:
We took out a big procession of Dalits reaching Delhi on April 25 and decided that we should take up the case of torture of Dalits in India, before the UN Human Rights Commission.
Mansa Ram, Delhi:
You are right in saying that Dalits must take to English language. Hindi, Sanskrit and all other Indian languages are blocking our progress. They are the biggest divisive factors because our children go only to the cheap municipal schools where only Indian languages are used. Brahmins and other high caste children study in convents where English is the medium. When our children reach degree classes they find it difficult to compete with the high caste & thus fail. I am a postgraduate in maths but unable to write an application in English. Naturally I will never get a good job. DV must appeal to Dalits to study only English and master that language. English alone shall unite us and hence English must be considered “the Dalit language”. Dalits must talk to each other in English, write in English.
Prof. Surendra Ajnat, Banga, Punjab:
I read your booklet, Hinduism vs Movement of Untouchables. It is a fine piece that must reach the hands of every young Indian. The style is very simple and convincing.
Man Mohan, Asst. editor, Doosra Paksh, New Delhi:
In DV [March 16] | was shocked to read that EMS Namboodiri Pad is the topmost Marxist leader of India. The fact is that people like him are responsible for the degeneration of Marxism. Don’t you know that during the Chikmagalur by election he said the “Jan Sangh is democratic?”. Did he not openly support the Emergency and the 20 point? His party invited the multinationals and took money from the World Bank. His party government in West Bengal opened fire on dock and port employees. On 31 March, 5 people were killed in police firing at Calcutta. The private life of EMS is pure Brahmin. You should change your opinion on him.
Pirre Mouterde, Quebec, Canada:
I met you last year and got really interested in the militant work you are doing for the Untouchables. I have finalised my book on India – ‘The India of the oppressed’. One chapter is devoted to Dalits and specially your viewpoint. I have profusely quoted from your book, ‘Apartheid in India’.
Moulana Abul Hasan Ali Nadvi, Lucknow:
I have read your book, Ambedkar & His Conversion (new edition) which is written with great courage and conviction. It would be better its Hindi edition is brought out.
Dr. Barbara Joshi, New York:
Congratulations for your editorial, “Bombay, Whose Grandfather’s Property? (DV, April 1). I was reminded of a recently published article about Dalit resistance in the “slums”‘ of Patna and I thought you my be interested in this hence I am enclosing it taken from India Abroad, a journal published monthly by an organisation of Indian immigrants. I will also send them a copy of your editorial.
H Punja, London :
I have been reading DV with great interest. I share your rage against the vile in human practices meted out to Dalits. Despite the enormity of the crime, the forces of justice, truth cannot be suppressed. DV has encouraged me & increased my determination to be part of this struggle. In UK, the Blacks [both Asians & Africans] are facing racist practices which destroy our families, maime & even kill us. Our fight here against injustice & for human progress makes us keen to all forms of oppression and exploitation all over the world. Hence we are with you.
Madhukar Shinde, Delhi :
The Gandhi film looks like the last-ditch battle of the Indian Ruling Class to save its philosophy .so ably revived by M. K. Gandhi. You are right in saying that with the end of the 20th century the Gandhian Era would come to an end. Gandhi testifies this. Any way, Gandhi woke up the slumbering Dalits & made them get angry.
Vinubhai Bhairavia, High Court Advocate, Ahmedabad:
Shocked to read in DV the communal Hindu treatment to a Dalit Chief Justice. We have written to Chief Justice Chandrachud of the Supreme Court and also the Bar Council of India (copies enclosed) demanding that the sanads of these communal lawyers be cancelled and they suspended from the Council until they apologise in public.
