Homer A. Jack, Secretary-General, World Conference on Religion and Peace, New York : We are glad you published (Oct. 16 & Nov. 1, 1983) the speech of Bhagwan Das to the UN Sub-Commission on Human Rights, Geneva.
Ronald J. Sider, Philadelphia : 1 trust justice and equality for all people will , move ahead as a result of your efforts.
Kovai Sukumaran, Hyderabad : The high caste Hindus (less than 10% of our population) lose no opportunity to oppose reservations to Dalits/OBCs. They use all sorts of abusive words against us saying that we have no “merit”. But these very enemies of Dalits/OBCs, now busy organizing the Hindu Ekatmata Yagna ”to unite Hindus”, also shout that all Hindus are one and they must all unite against Muslims, Christians and Sikhs.” Blowing hot and cold in the same breath ? Dalits/OBCs (forming 80% of the population) should not be fooled by this “Hindu unity” slogan. If Hindus are all one and if these Brahmins and others “‘love’ us so much, why are they opposing the Mandal Commission recommending reservations to OBCs? Are OBCs not Hindus ? When will the OBCs learn ? Your editorial is right (DV Dec. 1).
R. Elumalai, SC/ST Employees Coordination Council, Madras : Dalits in East Ramnad dt. are terrorised by the TN police for their conversion to Islam (DV Dec. 1). Such a police action violates the Constiutional right of conversion, A legislator’s team that toured the area has confirmed the police terror (Indian Express, Nov.25). Will the Justice Bhagawati Committee for Legal Rights intervene ? Will human rights committees take interest in us ?
Abhimanya D ., Ambedkar Memorial Cultural Centre, Port Bair, Andamans : DV and DSA books are helping us a lot. We fully support your struggle.
Laxman Kamble, Bangalore: In a village near Bagalkot (Karnataka) I witnessed a shocking scene. Teenage Untouchable girls are almost stripped naked by lustful Hindu boys who pour coloured water on these girls during the Okali festival. This Hindu festival affords opportunity for Hindus to get sexual excitement. This annual feature in summer is conducted after sunset on a full-moon night. This obnoxious practice must stop. Such festivals are also conducted in Bidar, Gulbarga dts. Will your readers organise themselves this year and stop this in human practice with police help and book these Hindus under Untouchability Act ? Will some womens organisations send a team to prevent exploitation of Dalit girls ?
Sadasiva, Dy. Registrar, Mysore University : DV is very informative and serves a useful purpose.
Ignatius De’Souza, Chairman Extn ., Lecture Com ., Jnana Deep Vidya Pith, Pune : We thank you for your speech on Role of Christians in Liberating Dalits to us on Nov. 25. Our students were very happy with your frankness and commitment to the Dalits. You gave us a few points for reflections particularly on. “Indianising” Christian form of worship. This point was very well noted by all those present. Already three of our Houses are subscribing to DV. More will follow following your inspiring talk.
Saju Zachariah, Leonard Theological College, Jabalpur: You are doing a great task which Christians have failed to do in India to face the socio-economic religious challenges. Most of the Christian church heads in my State of Kerala have been reduced as sycophants of the RSS fascists to fight the Marxists.
Ejaz Ahemad Aslam, Jamat Islami, TN, Madras : On Oct. 14, over 100 Dalits out of their free will embraced Islam at Saiyalur, near Ramnad. They have only used their fundamental right to profess any religion of their choice. But some people think it is crime to embrace Islam. The police support such people and they have been torturing these converted Muslims. Lovers of freedom should protest this.
Kalimuddin Shams, Deputy Speaker, West Bengal Assembly, Calcutta : Dalit Movement is in conformity with the long-standing demands of Indian Muslims. Both are persecuted and poor. Therefore, both must join hands and fight for common cause.
A. R. Shervani, New Delhi : I have full sympathy for the aspirations of Dalits. Although I may not fully agree with you, yet I respect and admire your boldness and courage.
Surendra Ajant, Banka, Punjab : The Delhi Adm. filed a criminal case against my wife, Soma Sublok, in 1978 for her article, “Soul & Rebirth”, in Sarita, a Hindi sister journal of the Caravan. The article was on the lines of Ambedkar philosophy. But the Hindu chauvenists, RSS, etc. filed the complaint, On Dec.2, the Dt. Judge dismissed the case. This is a victory to rationalists and Ambedkarites. They wanted to crush the Dalit Voice but it is now the Dalit Voice that crushed them. “
Vazir Wankhede, Suptd. Engineer, Thane, Bombay : I was transferred from Nagpur in Aug. 1982 after I emrbaced Islam on Jan. 1, 1982. They thought it dangerous to keep me at Nagpur. Ramnad dt is back in the news (DV. Dec. 1) as Dalits are embracing Islam to raise their status leaving their inferiority compelx. They are brave and deserve all support for standing on their legs. Islam liberates Dalits.
R. V. Kamalakar, Bangalore : You are right in saying “Beware of Socialist Brahmins.” I realised the truth of it on reading V. R. Krishna lyer’s speech (Deccan Herald, Dec. 8) calling upon Indian communists to propagate communism using Hinduism. Already our communist parties are controlled. by Brahmins and they have seen to it that India does not go communist. We Daltis & persecuted minorities are victims of Hinduism. These communists are refomists & not revolutionaries like Ambedkar. Several attempts are being made by these “socialist Brahmins”” to reform Brahminism, In Kannada two pictures have came out recently Paniamma and Ananda Bhairavi. Both warn Brahmins to reform themselves lest the angry Dalits devour them. Expose “Socialist Brahmins” like E.M.S Namboodiripad, Bahuguna, S.A. Dange, Indira Gandhi etc.
Mamman Hoshiarpuri, Jalandhar : Your editorial ( Nov. 16 ) is great. Jagjivan Ram is dead for us. Let him stick on to Hinduism.
