David Osborne, 630-South, Dayton St., No. 17-201, Denver, Colarado, 80231, USA: Thank you for the Dalit Voice and other reading materials. I am going to study them. I desire to visit your community in the near future. In your book, Brahminism (p.23), under racism in Vedas you have stated the Purusha Sukta contains the “caste system”. Can you direct me those book, chapters and verses? Is this title on the net? I have grown up as a Muslim in the “Nation of Islam” under Elijah Muhammad, and his son W.D. Muhammad. When Imam WDM started teaching he taught about the Dravidians and Aryans, and that racism started in India. He said that these people, the Aryans, distorted the meaning of the original writings, taking spiritual light and darkness and applying these concepts to skin color. Do you agree? I know I can learn a lot from you and the other Dalit brothers and sisters of India.
Mugisa Rathael Fambro, <ethiopianocean.books@ prodigy.net>: Thank you for the mailings of Dalit Voice. It is amusing that the US Postal Service opens them all, but then again, I get mail from many countries, and most of it is at least partially opened. No worry, they don’t scare me. I would like to offer to write for your paper. I think that the struggle of the “African Diaspora” (those millions of Africans that have been displaced throughout the world) is inextricably tied to that of the indigenous peoples of India. We should be fighting together, it will strengthen our total cause. I can start writing as soon as you wish, for no compensation, I just want the indigenous peoples of India to be aware that our struggle continues here, and that a great many of us support them, and that we need their support also.
Diana Kly, Director, Communication, IHRAAM <ihraam@usa.net>: IHRAAM is an international NGO in Consultative Status with ECOSOC, which over the years has maintained an active participation in UN programs as they relate to human rights, and in particular, to the rights of minorities. In furtherance of the UN Working Group on Minorities’ declared interest in encouraging the holding of regional seminars on minority and group rights (paragraph 100 of the report of the Working Group on Minorities, UN document E/ CN.4/Sub.2/1999/21), IHRAAM will co-sponsor The First International Conference on the Right to Self-Determination and the United Nations: Exploring the Peoples’ Fundamental Human Right to Democratic Choice, Ranging From Minority Rights to Political Independence and the effects of just demands for self-determination on the functioning of the international system. The Conference will address the issue of whether such just demands will lead to collective restorative justice and greater democracy or international systemic overload, economic malfunction and chaos. The Conference will be held at the Forum Park Hotel in Geneva on August 11-13, 2000, concurrent to the 52nd session of the UN Sub-Commission. It will attract Government Ministers, N officials, International NGOs, Civil Society Representatives and Representatives from the most salient minority groups and peoples, who will explore a series of Conference Themes introduced by a distinguished roster of experts. Resolutions resulting from the Conference deliberations will be submitted to the UN Commission on Human Rights, as well as to the UN Working Group on Minorities, and other pertinent bodies. We invite you to visit the Conference website at http://www.ihraam.org/conference.html for more information on the Conference an ongoing basis. As you will note, Dalits are one of the prototype groups to which workshop sessions will be devoted. As a respected figure in the search for human justice, we invite you to attend our Conference as one of our Special Guests.
Thank you for your email. Thank you also for the invitation to the Aug. 11-13 conference at Geneva. We fully support all struggles for self- determination. Since our passport remains impounded from 1986 we can’t attend your conference. India’s tiny ruling class is very oppressive and merciless to the Untouchables of India and its Muslims while projecting a false face to outsiders – EDITOR.
Annette Gordon, Business Manager, Clarity Press, Inc. <clarity@islandnet.com>: We are indeed very sorry that there has been such a delay in your receiving copies of your book-DALIT-The Black Untouchable of India-due to shipping by sea. A clear lesson. We have now sent two copies by airmail. The interest in your book in North America remains steady, perhaps by next year it will be time to reprint, and you might want to make some additions just something to keep in mind.
Michael Tobin, PO Box 3226, River View, FL 33569, USA: I have returned safe from a visit to Kosovo. While in Kosovo I witnessed the death and destruction of our Muslim brothers and sisters. I also witnessed in Kosovo “The Spirit of Islam” about which you have written so much. A meeting was held at Pristina, capital of Kosovo, with Islamic community. The results was positive. I will discuss this meeting with you when i arrive in racist India. Your book, Brahminical Conspiracy Behind Masjid Demolition, was given to Kosovo Muslims. Photocopies of this book are being distributed in Middle East. I am planning to meet Brother Daune Bradford of PAA in San Diego soon. I will meet with our Panama brothers in the year 2001. Then I will meet with you in racist India. I love you very much. Also unity and family love from Tampa, Florida’s Dalit Support Group.
Murkoti Srinivasan, Calicut University, Calicut, Kerala: I need an urgent help from DV readers at Aurangabad. I am a regular reader of the monthly English journal, Mulnivasi Times(MT), which I am not getting ever since I read the obituary in DV April 16, 2000 p. 23: “D.K. Khaparde, eminent Dalit intellectual”. Did his death stop this wonderful journal for Dalits? Why Vaman Meshram is not able to continue the journal? When MT is the organ of BAMCEF, it can’t be a one-man show to close down on the death of the Editor. Will the Editor of DV help allay my fears about MT?
Like Brother Srinivasan, we too are not getting MT. Our letter addressed to MT office has come back without being delivered. Running a standard journal that too in English, that too with a crusading zeal like MT is no joke. That is why Dalit journals perish in a year or two. Even language journals have high mortality rate. But we have any number of enthusiasts for leadership. Reservations in politics and jobs are draining the cream of Dalit youth. In the past 20 years we had groomed quite a number of Dalit youngsters to take over the Dalit Voice. But they work for an year or two and then run away to the more lucrative areas of politics. Dalit youths are not attracted to intellectual professions like journalism. This is our tragedy. We hope MT will come out soon overcoming the Initial void created by the death of Brother Khaparde. Will our family members in Aurangabad and Maharashtra help us solve the mystery of MT? – EDITOR.
K.B. Rathod, D/1/5 Officer’s Flats, Opp. Police Stadium, Shahibaug, Ahmedabad 380 006: You are my favourite author and journalist. I religiously read DV since January last. I regret very much that I came to know DV so late. That such a great magazine which is the voice of the “Persecuted Nationalities Denied Human Rights” was not known to me so long. I am ashamed of my ignorance. DV is being published from 1981 and I came to know of it only in 2000. I was totally unaware of its existence. I feel I have lost a great deal in my life. I have been an ardent reader of Ambedkarite literature as well as all other kinds of literature for the liberation of weaker sections. Before I was transferred to Ahmedabad, I was staying in remote rural areas of Saurashtra till 1999 June. Perhaps this is the cause of my not knowing about DV. When I came to Ahmedabad a friend asked me to read DV to know the real India. Your DV Editorial of June 16, 2000: “First Dalit judge enters Supreme Court: Aryan rulers suffer setback in war against Bahujans”, was very interesting, informative and useful. In the Editorial you have cited several references from the back issues of DV. I want to read all of them.
We are sorry for Brother Rathod. Every member of the ruling upper castes has heard of DV and is doing everything to see that we are finished. The enemy is alert because as property-holders and rulers they stand to lose if DV is allowed to continue. But those for whom DV is working are not even aware of the existence of DV-not to speak of reading it. What a tragedy. Brother Rathod can make up the loss by ordering all our books and back issues of DV and then making a serious study of it. Mere study is no use. He can introduce our literature to other friends and then hold weekly meetings to critically discuss the different issues raised in DV and our books. You may meet Praveen Rashtrapal, the new Congress MP, Neerav Patel a noted Gujarati poet and write Valjibhai Patel are our old contacts in Ahmedabad. It all depends upon you. You can rise to any height. Sky is the limit. Please write what you can do for us –EDITOR.
Naval Viyogi, 518-Sita Nagar, Ludhiana, Punjab: Dr. M.D. Nalawade in his presidential address at the Pune Dalit History Conference, which you attended, objected to your universally accepted theory of “Black” although our problem is also of colour (varna). He also presented another divergent theory that Indian history is history of defeated people which is in fact is the history of invaders. He later admitted his mistake. Dr. Nalawade has been appointed “Academic head of Council of Maharashtra”. He will select scholars from his state to work on a 10-volume research project titled “The History of Indigenous People of India”. The Pune conference proved to be a success because we found many scholars in Maharashtra. On the whole your presence at the conference added another feather on its cap. I fully agree with you on the points or issues raised in your speech. I also agree with your pamphlet, “Sunset on the Dalit World”. If Indian politics continues to move in this direction, a “Second Partition of India” is unavoidable.
G. Gopala Rao, Dr. No. 1-61, Rayalam PO, W.G. dt. 534 208: After reading the Letter of Brother Shailendranath Roy (DV May 1, 2000 p. 15) and the reply of Brother Balwant Singh, ex-IAS (DV June 16, 2000 p.12) I am writing this Letter. Gandhi said:
“They (Harijans) do not realise that the separate electorate will create division among Hindus so much that it will lead to bloodshed. Untouchable hooligans will make common cause with Muslim hooligans and kill caste Hindus. Has the British Govt no idea of all this?
This was the conversation between Gandhi and Sardar Patel (Mahdev Desai 1953, p. 301). (Gandhi & Dr. Ambedkar – A Study in Leadership Eleanor Zelliot p. 29). Brother Balwant Singh must be aware of this. A tree must be known by its fruits. So he must explain where and when and in what manner Gandhi championed the cause of the Untouchables. In what manner Gandhi worked for the removal of Untouchability. Did Balwant Singh know the origin of Untouchability, how and why the Hindus do observe caste and Untouchability? Did he know what has ruined the Untouchable? The word Harijan means bastard. It was rejected by Dr. Ambedkar. Then how. Singh is prepared to be called a Harijan? Roy was perfectly right. Dr. M.M. Kothari in his book, Critique of Gandhi, says:
“… Gandhi would stand condemned as the worst of the sinners, who committed the unpardonable sin against god and mankind” (P. 27, Was Gandhi a Mahatma by Nani Gopal Das).
By what norms Balwant Singh hailed Gandhi as the “Father of the Nation?” When did Gandhi fight for the political freedom of the country? Dr. Ambedkar through “Poona Pact”, modified the “Communal Award”, brought the Untouchables to the political map of India. He made them the citizens of India (1935 Act). Thus he liberated the people from the political imperialism. of the British and social imperialism of the Hindus. At the time of “Pooha Pact” Gandhi begged Dr. Ambedkar for his life saying “my life is in your hand. Will you save me”. Gandhi enslaved the Untouchables through the Poona Pact. Who is great? Dr. Ambedkar was not a careerist. But Gandhi was a power-monger. He was the leader of the masters of the slaves. Please do not irritate us. Roy spoke the truth.
S.R. Talukdar, 92-C Pocket-1, Mayur Vihar Phase-I, Delhi-110 091: This refers to Balwant Singh’s Letter (DV June 16, 2000 p. 12). The Letter has hurt me. very much and it has compelled me to write a few sentences against a fellow Dalit. His comments like,
“Dr. Ambedkar surrendered before Gandhi in 1932 when the Poona Pact was signed”
and
“Dr. Ambedkar served as Law Minister in the cabinet of Nehru and thereby accepted a Brahmin as his leader.
are highly objectionable. It seems Balwant Singh is not aware under what circumstances Babasaheb was forced to sign the “Poona Pact”. He served as a Law Minister under Nehru not to improve his own condition but to avail this opportunity for doing something for the benefit of the Depressed Classes. Balwant calls himself an Ambedkarite. It is ridiculous. He has not read even one page of Babasaheb’s Writings, or, if he has read, he has not understood it. He cannot convince us about his intellectual attainment simply by declaring Bertrand Russel as his guru. Such type of false intellectuals should be straightway rejected by the Dalit-Bahujans.
Ram Avatar Singh, Dept. of Political Science, Lucknow University, Lucknow: It was DV which made Balwant Singh famous. And having become “famous”, DV helped him to sell his books which had no message for Dalits. I was deeply hurt when he was not even grateful and graceful when he criticised the respected Editor of DV for his “Caste identity” thesis which is now a universally accepted fact. In UP, to which Balwant belongs, caste alone matters in deciding every issue. Balwant having become “famous” he now reveals himself in his true colour when, as the child of Babasaheb, he has the audaicty to defy the Father of India himself. DV must stop giving publicity to such fakes.
M.L. Mukhi, D-89, Nehru Enclave, New Delhi 110. 019: The cause your paper has undertaken is of ultimate importance, but the way it is being tackled is not correct. By taking a negative attitude, one creates confrontation, which in turn defeats the cause its if. Let us presume for a moment that I am born in a Brahmin family. Does it mean that I am a Brahman? No, I can be a Dalit too. Believe it or not, Manu did not write even a single word of what Brahmans say, nor did he write any Manu Smriti. He based his versions on logic, mathematics and science and his versions can never be negated. If you want to have a stable piece of furniture, you have to have four legs. Similarly humans were divided into four classes, so that this world can have stability or peace of mind and body. The four varnas are based on blood groups. O is the universal donar. A man of O group is a Brahman/ Devta, a research scholar, a philosopher and a philanthopist. A man of A group is a Kshatrya. He takes the knowledge from group O, and distributes among the masses i.e. a practitioner, a consultant, a guide etc. etc. A man of B group is not interested in the walfare of man or state. He is a Bania. Self-centered, interested in himself, his family, his own grandeur and accumulation of wealth. A man of AB group is care-free, not interested in anything except his day-to-day living or the working class. The first two groups serve humanity. The Vaish or Bania creates money for the nation. The working class whether, clerks, labour etc. etc. contribute their physical skill. Believe it or not, over 50% of Dalits are savarna and vice versa. Who is savarna and who is not can be tested by taking a simple blood test. These blood groups are iron clad casts not castes which can’t be undone. So, there is no use condemning any one. The difficulty came because of ingorance, the caste system was broken by the Brahman. The purity of blood was demolished. With variation and degradation blood which is referred to as varan sankat came variations of thoughts, requirements, wishes and self interests. Thus started, the wars of the have and have nots, good and bad, crimes and criminals. What you say as acts of god and nature and even death are actually the result of this one particular act of man. If Muslims have not taken benefit of your offer, you are lucky. You do not know, who a Muslim is? This too is based on science. Negative attitudes never pay. M.K. Gandhi used to say: Don’t hate the criminal, hate the crime”, You say we don’t hate Brahmans, we hate brahminism. I don’t understand, what you mean by this. Who practices, crime or brahminism? Naturally the man. Be firm in your assertion. Say, you hate both crime and criminal. Brhaman and brahminism. If we the common people are living peacefully, then what is wrong in it? Politicians are a vicious brain. To rule, divide is an established fact. To make people fight they will pronounce “Hindu-Muslim bhai bhai”, or “Hindi-Chini bhai bhai. When the politicians want to divide, they insert doubts into the brains of ordinary people by giving slogans. You may or may not believe in god and soul, but they are a scientific fact. Word is more powerful than even god, bewildered. If there were no word, vocabulary and hence language, what meaning does this universe have? Slogan means slow+gun (You too are the victim of slogans). This gun is much more powerful than AK-57 gun. Hence the dictum Talwar ka ghav to bhar sakta hai, zaban ka ghav kabhi nahin bharta. If you want to serve humanity, chart out the good points of each caste and community and delve upon that. Try to untie rather than confront. Even today in this vicious world 90% of the people want to live in peace and harmony. If you succeed congrats to you. Even if you don’t I can give you a simple formula based on science, that can convert this hell into haven and that too for the asking. Rest on hearing from you.
We have received many such Letters from upper castes giving us exactly similar advices during our 20-year-old career as the Editor. We are AmbedkarItes and follow the golden path laid by the “Father of India”, the tallest titan that India produced after the Budha. As Untouchables, we are victims of the existing social system. That is all we say. But what we say in pain and anguish appears as “hate” to Brother Mukhi. DV is meant for the “Persecuted Nationalities Denied Human Rights”. It is not meant for the oppressors. Please have the tolerance to tolerate at least our cry in pain – EDITOR
Anil Rangari, Canara Bank, Om Parisar, Mohan Nagar, Durg-491 001: After seving for a long period of 15 years in a bank in Shahdol dt., the most backwrad tribal belt, I have been transferred to Durg (MP). My friends may note my new address. As an Ambedkarite I have carried on my social activities there as a missionary. When I came here, a Brahmin named Joshi, who also came on transfer from Bhopal to Durg, mistook me to be a savarna because of my surname. He vomitted bucketfull of poison against Dalits. He disclosed that he was living in a rented place belonging to a Dalit. He called his landlord as Jai Bhim wala and he as a Brahmin was as Jai Shriram wala. Both are against each other thought and action. He vowed that he was a born enemy of Dalits and hence he would do his best to eradicate Dalits. After hearing his choicest anti-human words I was neither shocked nor angry but my opinion about vaidiks got re-confirmed. The vaidiks forever will be the enemies of Dalits. They could never, ever tolerate our progress and development of Dalits. They are ready to work, meet, sit, eat, but finally cheat and beat Dalits. They will never live, manage, marry Dalits. Please note: Dalits must always welcome such open, direct enemies who are ready to fight with them. But we must first eliminate our internal and indirect enemies. This is my very first experience with the vaidiks in Durg.
S.V. Humane, 12-Rajiv CHS, Bandra-Kurla Complex, Bandra (E), Bombay – 400 051: 1 saw you for the first time at the Dalit Historians Conference organised by Advocate Bajirao Kamble at Pune on June 5 and 6 2000. In your speech you outlined the boundaries for the historians, their tasks and earmarked the areas of battle the Dalit historians have to fight. The task you placed before them is gigantic and vast. You called a spade a spade but gave them clear directions. How far they will achieve this goal depends upon their sincere efforts and, of course, upon your catalytic action to motivate them. This being the first such conference, it has generated interest and hope as well. You deserve all praise and honour.
Dr. M.N. Javaraiah, President, Karnataka State Colleges SC/ST Teachers’ Association, No. E-47, 1 stage, Kuvempunagar, Mysore 570 023: We were shocked to read in the July 1 Dalit Voice (p. 22) your report: “Bid to gag Prof. Kancha llaiah for criticising caste system”. We know that Osmania University has a great academic heritage, and we are proud that it is the first Indian university which recognised the revolutionary research writings Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and honoured him with the highest degree of “Doctor of Letters”. But it is shocking that such a prestigious university is headed by one Pannalal who does not know his duties as the Registrar of the University. Moreover, it is not known which rule of his University that has empowered him to sit in judgement over the academic work of a research scholar. If this is the tendency of the administration of a University, then what is the fate of the academic freedom and intellectual growth in the campus? Further, if it is a fact that there is some correspondence in this matter between the University and the Union Ministry of HRD, the Prime Minister and the HRD Minister must clarify as to what legal action has been taken against Arun Shourie for writing his nasty book, Worshipping False Gods, on Dr. Ambedkar. Are there two sets of rules in India, one for the upper castes (Hindus) like Arun Shourie and the other for Dalits like Dr. Kancha llaiah? We therefore condemn the dictatorial attitude of the Registrar, whose letter issued to Dr. Ilaiah is against the constitutional freedom of expression. We also appeal to Ven. President K.R. Narayanan to issue a suitable direction to the highest authorities of the Osmania University to dismiss Pannalal as Registrar in the interest of equity and justice.
Satyananda Sethy, Qr. No. B/40, Sector-13, PO Rourkela 769 009: Caste system is killing Orissa (Jagannath Desh). A subcaste within the Scheduled Castes, Kandana, is not allowed to enter the barber’s shop in the “holy” town of Puri (Chandanpur). Caste system is the foundation stone of Hinduism. Every Hindu is conscious of his caste but knows nothing of his religion. I am an employee of the Rourkela Steel Plant and a Dalit activist. From my student days I have been working for the liberation of my community.
T.N. Arivarasu, 64-Housing Unit, Chikkana College Road, PO Tirpur, TN: You are rendering a true social service. I admit that I am not sending money for DV bulk issues still you send it regularly. My wife is also surprised to see your generosity. There are some editors who are completely different from you. They collect life subscriptions but do not send their magazines. Your devotion for the downtrodden and depressed is a marvellous model to the world.
A.L. Ukey, C/129, MPEB Birsingpur, Umariya dt., MP -484 552: I am sorry I have cut off my appearance in DV since 6-8 months. This is because of my preocupation. Your “caste identity” thesis has taken the final shape. Taking the essence of Ambedkarism, you have adopted Budhism. Why not others follow this eternal truth? Raju Thomas and other scholars are silent on this issue. Their religion is dearer to them. In fact, following Dr. Ambedkar, the Mahars acquired “education” and got “agitated” also. Meanwhile. brahminism influenced them. I am not trying to oppose the Maharashtra bid to unite the non-Mahars. But it is totally wrong to blame the Mahars. We want unity but it should not be at the cost of the Mahars. Kanshi Ram’s followers talk of unity first and social change next. This is wrong. Dr. Ambedkar never said this. Mahars were the first to take advantage of the “caste identity” theory. Others acted and reacted when it suited them. The non-Mahars worship Hindu gods but only talk about Ambedkarism. It is the Mahars who follow Budhism which is not a religion. It is a dhamma (agitation) the 2nd Commandment of Dr. Ambedkar. The second caste was the Chamar which had the privilege to follow Dr. Ambedkar. Although they arrived late, they have carried panchsheel flag and marched. And that is why they have made big progress. If some Mahars are against your “caste identity” thesis that does not mean they don’t want to share reservations but they fear something else. They have no fear of losing the reservation. Your “caste identity” theory is good if it suits Budhism. It is based on the principle that poison will cure poison. Your caste theory has proved practical. A caste-conscious people will only become a strong force. All our state or “national” leaders are caste leaders.
D. Shankar, c/o S.M. Dange, Sharaman Nivas, Vidya Nagar, Bramhapuri, Chandrapur dt. 441 206: Bhaskar Wakade, a young teacher and leader of the small Mana Tribe of Maharashtra, spoke at the recent Pune Dalit Historians Conference in which you were present. His Marathi speech impressed you and you wanted its English version. Hence this letter. Bhaskar Wakade belongs to the non-Hindu Mana tribe residing at Geora Buz, Saoli taluk of Chandrapur dt. He read his research paper on June 6 titled “Ancient history of Adivasi Naga-Vanshiya Mana Tribe”. He said the Mana tribe was never part of the chaturvarna (four-fold caste system) but always had its own separate identity. Hence it was historically proved that they were not Hindus and never Hindus. He dealt with the culture of his tribe and said they had their own ideal, ancient culture developed by their Mana King, Bodhisatva Gahilu of the Manikagarh. He told the Maharashtra Govt. that Mana Tribes were backward and hence their constitutional rights as tribes must be restored. He was very happy to note the promise given by the Editor of Dalit Voice to highlight the problem of Manas so that it could get international attention. The Maharashtra Govt. had played a mischief by clubbing the Manas under the SBC (Special Backward Class).
Subhash Chand Musafir, Secretary-General, ASTBRA, C/o NIC Ltd., DO Palampur, Kangra dt. 176 061: This refers to your report “DV introduces a member with guts in SC/ST Commission” (DV March 1, 2000 p.8). Dr. Ambedkar Mission Society, SC/ST Employees Association and the Dalit Sahitya Akademy, HP, celebrated the Ambedkar Jayanti at Hamirpur (HP). They had called Mandyal, MLA of the Brahmana Jati Party (BJP), to preside over the function and had also invited Sardar Harinder Singh Khalsa, a member of the SC/ST Commission as chief guest. After reading the above cited report, I was overjoyed and wanted to meet the bold Sardar and hear him but failed. The next day (April 22) I went through all the manuvadi newspapers and was shocked to see his statement given full publicity. The Sardar fully supported the BJP move to review the Constitution and also condemned the critics of Constitution review. According to him the propaganda regarding Constitution review was merely a political stunt of critics in caste-based parties. I also learnt that Mandyal (Manuvadi) in his speech used the word Harijan. I think Sardar Khalsa does not know the struggle of Babasaheb. I also don’t know if Khalsa is reader of DV but certainly he cannot be called a follower or product of DV. DV proved wrong in praising him. I request you not to introduce anti-Ambedkarite manuvadis and stooges, having no knowledge about Dr. Ambedkar mission.
S.C. Ghatak, G-1320, CR Park, New Delhi-110 019: With ref to Dr. Laxmi Berwa’s Letter in DV (June 16). I want to tell my Dalit brothers and sisters that: If you want to be a ruler you must know English. As principal of the Sanskrit College in Calcutta, Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar wrote:
“That the Vedanta, or Sankya are false systems of philosophy is no more a matter of dispute. While teaching these in the Sanskrit course we should oppose them by sound philosophy in the English course to counteract their influece”. (p. 20).
That is why Michael said of Vidyasagar:
“He has the genius and wisdom of an ancient sage, the energy of an Englishman, and the heart of a Bengali mother”. He also said “we must speak in English, think in English, and even dream in English”.
Bankim Chandra admitted frankly that we got our rationalism from the West through English education.
Prof. Gurtej Singh, 742-Sector 8, Chandigarh 160008: This is just to request you not to get too disheartened.
“Though cloud upon cloud hangs ominous, it may but distill in gentle rain.”
May be the Sun is not setting on the Dalit World. The Sikhs and Sikhism will be the greatest losers should the Dalits accept their miserable condition. The Gurus came for them more than for others. I am of the opinion that the Dalits are in a sorry state because they have ignored the Guru’s message and have ignored the miracles they brought about in the North of India once they accepted the amrit. Their salvation is here and they have to work it out themselves. Could they find salvation in Islam, Christianity or Budhism then that situation would have been suggested by the Guru. Honest enough, he was to do that. I have written two good pieces on why and who prevented Dr. Ambedkar from converting to Sikhism. One was published in the April-June 2000 issue of the Abstracts of Sikh Studies, the other is coming in the July-September 2000 number. Dalits have failed to lift themselves by the boot strings because they did not follow the Sikh model of organisation. I have this and couple of allied suggestions. May be they are worth a discussion.
We doubt if Brother Gurtej Singh has gone through our Debate, “Slow death of Sikhism” which began with our Editorial of Nov. 1, 1998: “BSO using internal enemies to destroy Sikh identity: Slow death of a brave community” and the guest editorial by Dr. Mrs. K.K. Sidhu: “Sikhism manipulated and massacred by upper caste Sikh intellectuals to help Aryan” (DV Jan. 1, 1999). From the Debate, we don’t get the impression that Dallts have ignored the message of the Sikh gurus. The Sardar has put the blame on the Dalits only “for not following the Sikh madel of organisation” We don’t know what he menas by this. Will the Dalit sikhs answer this point? It will be good if the Sardar answers the different points made by Dalit Sikhs in the course of the Debate. The seminar organised by Sardar Gurtej Singh at Chandigarh last year was good. Why not he organise a similar one inviting Dalit Sikhs and other Dalits so that we have a frank exchange of views. Be that as it may, we are seriously worried over the state of Sikhism which liberated the oppressed once but today gradually being swallowed by brahminism –EDITOR.
M.A. Mohamad, s/o Abdul Azeez, Kolakeri Village & Post, S. Coorg-571 214: I am very much inspired by your writings and would like to congratulate you on behalf of the Muslim masses. You are absolutely right. Muslims have failed to use the services of DV and also they have failed to understand the kindness and sofiness of the Dalits. (DV June 16, 2000 p. 9: “Muslim leadership failure to use DV services”). The Muslim masses are uneducated people. Their interest towards literature in general and English in particular is very poor. Take the example of myself only. I am a MA student, though I can’t write in English without mistakes. I think, their (Muslims) academic backwardness is a major reason for their failure. I admire you for your boldness in highlighting the problems of Muslims as well as other Bahujans. Your book, India’s Muslim Problem, and other works on Muslims are wonderful. I know that you are trying your best to establish unity between Dalits and Muslims.
But what is the Muslim leadership doing? Our moulvis and Muslim elites are still sleeping. DV is the best advocate of “Dalit-Muslim unity”. Instead of uniting the 15-crore Muslims, our Muslim priests are accusing. each other. By branding the federations like Salafi, Tablig, Jamate-Islami as non-Muslim organisations and by asking their innocent (Muslim) followers not wish (salam) members of such organisations. Our moulvis are misleading the Muslims. Such a hegemony of the moulvis is one of the major obstacles to the “Dalit-Muslim unity”. Please expose the exploiters among our moulvis. Please ask them to stop groupism and not to divide the Muslim community.
