Jayes, C/o Mrs. S. william, Flat-5, Woburn Court, New Writtle Street, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 ORZ, UK: 1 came here with my wife on Sept.5 to leave our grandson (10) with his mother (our daughter), a graduate staff nurse in a hospital since one year. We would be shortly back to our home at Mathur (TN). I am glad to enclose an interesting news copied from the newspaper, Daily Mail. for which I request you to give your comments if possible. My daughter’s two African colleagues met us here one from Nigeria and the other from Kenya. The situation in both countries is no better than in India. 1 gave each a copy of DV and told them about you (our Editor) and the Dalit Voice which fights for all “Persecuted Nationalities Denied Human Rights“. They eagerly went through the magazine. I hope they will join our family. Enclosed a report in a British daily: “Nun tortured girl”:-
Calcutta: A charity set up by Mother Teresa to look after destitute children faces allegation that a senior nun tortured a seven year-old girl.
Sister Francesco from the Calcutta-based Missionaries of Charity is alleged to have held the girl’s hand over a hotplate after she was accused of stealing jewellery. The burns were so serious the girl will need skin grafts. The nun fled and is set to be in hiding after the girl’s father brought the charges last week. The head of the charity, Sister Nirmala, who took over after Mother Teresa’s death in 1997, was taken into custody. She was bailed and ordered to appear in court next month. (Daily Mail, Sept.21, 2000).
Dr. Jyotirmay Mandal, No.G-69/36, South TT Nagar, Bhopal 462 003: I am not able to understand the cry raised by politicians for separate Chhatishgarh, Uttarkhand and Jharkhand. The new states though “independent” will be under the administrative control of the old employees of the former unified state and there may not be a chance of placement in govt, machinery for the youth of new states for another 15-20 years i.e. till the retirement of old employees. That means the oppressed will be further deprived of the benefits as a result of this operation. The SC/STs were neglected while in the combined states and separation was intended for achievement of better opportunities in every field of development. Employment is the foremost one. But the present advocacy of the central policy breaking big states to create smaller states helps only political leaders. Creating smaller states is against “national unity and integrity”. Chhattishgarh is a tribal-dominated state but their claim is never accepted by the upper caste rulers. History says that India came under repeated foreign invasions only due to aborigines hatred against each other because of their inherent cultural differences. After 50 years of “independence”, again we have developed the same tendency of disintegration due to the cultural. linguistic, occupational differences and the habitation. So, we may again be victim of fresh foreign invasion.
Brother Jyotirmay has been a DV family member for 5 years. But in spite of his academic qualification and training under DV, he has not been able to understand India’s “nationality question”. India is not a nation. All our problems arise from the fact that one “nation” is dominating over the others. Foreign invasions -Muslims, Christians etc. made us more civilised. Oppressed nationalities welcomed “foreign invasions”. The current breakup of larger state is a step towards “disintegration of India into small “nations”. Until each “nation” governs itself, the oppression will continue, (DV Jan 16, 1995. p.21 T.K. Narayanan: “Is India a nation?. DV Oct. 1, 1992 p.20:”Constitution recognises 18 nations within India”, DV Sept. 1, 1991: “India is not yet a nation: Dr. Ambedkar’s historic speech in the Constituent Assembly on Nov 4, 1948 and DV Oct. 16. 2000 р. 14-15, J. Subramaniam. “Break backbone of BSO by dividing India into smaller states” – EDITOR.
Ch. Krishna Rao, Research Scholar, Men’s Hostel – E, Room No. C#102, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500 046: I met Dr. Yadaiah, your Hyderabad representative here, and came to know a lot about you. I am just waiting to see you in person. You were rendering a great service to our Dalit community. I read some of your books which created a new hope, inspiration and self-confidence in me. Dr. Yadaiah told to me about that “Conclave of 100 Best Brains” which you are proposing. I am ready to support this meeting to be held here. In my University of Hyderabad we have Dr. B.R.. Ambedkar Students Association (200 strong members). When you come to our University, I want you to address our Association.
Dr. R.P. Harsh, Harsh Clinic, Barnala Road, Sirsa, Haryana 125 055: Hindu nazis are dividing Bahujans in the name of states to further strengthen the Brahminical Social Order. They have already killed the “Spirit of Constitution” and reduced the golden India into a beggar nation.
They have made India into the world’s most 1. Illiterate country, 2. most poor, 3. most corrupt, 4. globally top in blindness, TB, polio, Aids, 5. it occupies the 125th position in human development, and 6. in medical services India’s position comes after Bangla Desh.
Despite such a miserable performance, upper caste rulers of India describe themselves as the most efficient and meritorious. For their mistakes, they blame the SC/ST reservation.
“A study revealed that only 3% SC/STs were employed in Governments of Centre and also in PSUs”. (Hindu, April 19, 2000).
Did India become illiterate, poor, corrupt, beggar, inefficient because of this 3% reservation? Recently they created three more states- Uttarkhand, Jharkhand and Chhatisgarh on the basis of caste and region to capture power and natural resources by dividing Bahujans. Uttarkhand came to prominence when it opposed the 27% reservation of BCs in Mandal Commission. Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, both tribal dominated, possess vast natural resources. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was India’s only intellectual giant who opposed the creation of states on the basis language. He knew that race, religion, caste, sex, region are anti-democratic forces and they are the basic fundamentals brahminical philosophy to “divide and rule” the Bahujans. Dr. Ambedkar therefore warned Hindus:
“If no thought was given to the possibility that it might introduce a disruptive force in the already loose structure of social life in India with the language of the province as the official language which would lead the development of provincial cultures. This will lead to disunity of India”. (Social and Political Ideas of B.R. Ambedkar by Chandra Bharill p. 317).
Region, caste, religion etc. are anti-democratic.
“Pakistan was created on the basis of religion. In India, Punjab and Haryana was created on basis of language. In Punjab and Haryana, 85% Bahujans are socially, economically, politically and educationally backward. All the power, land and natural resources are monopolised by one caste. Those Muslims of India who migrated to Pakistan in the name of religion have not been accepted equally. They are called Mohajirs”.
Democracy is based on the principle of equality. Equality means social, political, economic equality. The Muslim elites and brahminism do no believe in equality. President K.R. Narayanan says:
Mere suggestion that we need Dalits and women in judiciary is seen as a joke by upholders of “merit”, which is mere euphemism for birth into an upper caste household. It is this culture of Brahmin-friendly meritocracy that has produced judges who shamelessly declaim, as in Bhanwari Devi case, that an upper caste man could not have defiled himself by raping a lower caste woman and not surprisingly the supreme judicial authority of the country declared hindutva to be a way of life, after all it is the way of life of judges who pronounce such verdicts as caste Hindus and not simple as judges. Such anti-human ruling might not be possible if more Dalits and women occupy judicial position”. (From the booklet “A Dalit President Speaks”, Thamukku, March-April 2000).
In India caste has become a reality.
“A man is born in caste, grown up in a caste, married in a caste, think about the caste, when he becomes a judge or administrator protects his caste, dies in the caste. Therefore, entire personality of Indians are governed by the caste”.
Dr. Ambedkar therefore remarked:
“India is not a nation. It is a union of castes and every caste is a separate nation”.
No nation has a right to rule and suppress other nation. Equality means social, political, economical, educational equality. There is no place for equality under Hinduism. Therefore, we have no faith in the Hindus. To protect our social, political, economical and educational right, we must demand an amendment in the Constitution to scrap all states created on the basis of language, caste, region etc. and create only two zones Avarna Zone and Savarna Zone.
Dr. M.M. Kothari, 87-Ajit Colony, Jodhpur-342 001: I can understand your despair caused by lack of appreciation from those for whom you have been fighting with such a great zeal and dedication for decades. The Dalits are so much divided and jealous of each other on caste lines. Muslims in general do not trust non-Muslims, however much you try to convince them of the purity of your motives. Dr. Ambedkar’s greatest contribution lies in his emphasis to generate a feeling of fraternity. The end is noble but we have not been able to discover the right means to achieve it. The Prophet tried but succeeded only in creating limited fraternities. The priests and the politicians continue to strengthen those walls of separation. No one, whether an individual or a sect or a nation can turn a deaf ear when others proclaim him to be their sworn enemy deserving destruction from the face of the earth. Those who are nice but ineffective continue to suffer from frustration.
K.L. Biswas, 44/1098, New Colony, Nadkarni Park, Wadala (E). Bombay 400 037: I am very much interested in the back issues of DV. But your office is not supplying me. When you addressed the Pune BAMCEF Conference last year, I met you and you promised the back issues but you were unable to deliver it. Shifting to Delhi and then back must have dislocated the whole thing. The DV guest editorial of Aug. 16 by Nagesh Chaudhary was a real and truthful analysis of today’s situation. It should be circulated widely so that it should reach many people, especially our leaders who can take some lesson from it.
Chaman Lal. M-II/C-17, Sector-C. Janaki Puram. Lucknow, UP: I have been a reader of Dalit Voice since two years and impressed upon many peoples to follow your “caste identity” thesis. If we simply go on reading DV, nothing will come out until all the DV readers get united, at best in their local areas, and chalk out programmes and strategies to spread brotherhood among the Dalit subcastes so that differences on the basis of caste may be rooted out. After consultation and deep thinking I have decided to convey some guidelines to be followed to generate brotherhood among the Dalit-Bahujans. The task is difficult but not impossible: (1) SC/ST/BCs must be told to not to follow any superstition highlighted by electronic and print media. (2) Those who have become prosperous must leave their pride and must note despite their wealth they are still hated by the Hindus. They should join birthday, marriage, death ceremonies of Dalits in their area. (3) Ambedkarite literature must be distributed, discussed and spread to create scientific view. (4) We should monitor justice and injustice rendered by the upper castes. (5) Affluent Dalits must come forward to start educational institutions.
Thank you for your series of “guidelines” to unite the Bahujans. Like this, dally we get “guidelines” from different corners of India. We are not interested in “guidelines”. We are interested in your following your own guidelines, then implementing those guidelines and results produced in your area. We are good at advising others but not following the same advice. Babasaheb, our Master has given us all the “guidelines” There is no need to add or delete anything. “Three Separations“, and his “Three Commandments are the best guidelines so far given by anybody Please write how many among the above six guidelines given by our Master you have followed and the results produced. We are interested in that – EDITOR.
Sonu Maru, H.No. 37/502, “Sreebhavan”, Temple Road, Kadavanthra, Ernakulam, Cochin-682 020: This refers to the kidnap of Kannada film star Rajkumar allegedly by Veerappan. All the “national” toilet papers cry for his blood and criticise the Karnataka and TN Govts. for “surrendering to the bandit”. But the toilet papers are deliberately ignoring the other side of story such as the genuine problems faced by the people of Tamil Nadu: discharge of adequate Cauveri waters to Tamil farmers, release of innocent persons detained under TADA, award of compensation to Tamils who lost their lives during Bangalore riots. The demands made by the Veerappan are not illegal or unconstitutional. It is only after the sober elements of Tamil “nationalist” forces realised that they would not be able to get these demands met through democratic means they kidnapped Rajkumar. Are the above demands of Veerappan illegal or unconstitutional? Even some political parties of TN, Karnataka have supported these demands. What are the offences committed by those held under TADA? TADA itself has been repealed by Parliament few years back, still these innocent people are in jail for the last 8 years without trial as if they have no basic human rights. The toilet papers are calling Veerappan and his associates as criminals because they happen to be SC/ST/BCs. Where have all our human rightwalas gone? Where is our so- called vigilant judiciary?
Anil Rangari, Budha Kuti Road, Shankar Nagar, Durg, MP-491 001: This refers to the Editor’s heart pain, “Sunset on the Dalit World” (DV Edit March 1, 2000 and March 16, 2000). You have rightly said that “reservation in politics and jobs are draining the best of our brains”. I am a simple clerk looking after a full load of family, none knowing English. I am far away from the “100 Best Brains” you are envisaging. Reservations is one of the legal means to secure our human rights and become equal to upper castes. But both politics and job reservationwalas have failed to represent their own society and became the slaves of upper castes even as the nazi rulers killed the reservation itself. These reservationwalas fooled themselves by calling themselves “middle class”. Babasaheb never had any hope in this “middle class”. Only the poor can revolt against the established order. All the demands. demonstrations, strikes, dharnas of SC/ST/BC unions/ associations failed to achieve and save the human rights of our society. They themselves became the curse of our society. Why? Because all their leaders and agitations were not revolutionary. If your wife or daughter is raped, how can even the Supreme Court stop you from shooting the culprit? Phoolan Devi was a real revolutionary. Why cannot our SC/ST/BCs follow Phoolan Devi? Because they have no self-respect. They have become slaves. Why Ram Raj and all other SC/ST associations failed to shootdown the 5 OMs of the DoPT? Because their agitations were not revolutionary. Nobody died for the cause. Why the Lok Sabha session was stopped only for two days? Why not till the passing of SC/ST Act and forced to put it in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution? Because no SC/ST MP was prepared to die for this cause Nobody was revolutionary. Take the case of the strike of Nagpur University students against the steep rise in fees by University. Hundreds of students entered in university. One student sat on the vice-chancellor’s chair prepared a new list of fees and signed the order as vice-chancellor. Then he telephoned to the chancellor at his residence and told all that had happened and warned that even if one article in his order was changed the whole university would be set on fire. After that, all the students courted arrest. Why? They were ready to die for the sake of thousands of other poor students. What happened? The students won the battle. The oppressor would never give justice. When injustice is the order of the day, disorder is the beginning of justice. When there is a oppression there is a revolution. Bertrand Russel said:
“Without rebellion, mankind would stagnate, and injustice would be irremediable”. Babasaheb also said: “Revolt and rebellion against the established order is a natural part of the history of the poor in all countries of the world”.
After Babasaheb, SC/ST/BC have not produced a single revolutionary. Because the existing Dalit media (periodicals) could not make the reservationwalas. revolutionary. No Dalit media touched the “caste identity” Debate raised forcefully by DV. No Dalit journal speaks of strategies for revolution and rebellion against nazis except DV. Only DV welcomes more and more nazi attacks so that the sleeping slaves could wake up and revolt. Today, reservations are dead due to privatisation. Babasaheb had warned:
“America with her huge capital is enslaving the world and in particular India. America is more our enemy than Britain. Even American philosophy is based broadly on democracy but in practice it is capitalistic, I fear our native capitalists. They will deceive us any moment”.
Did not India’s nazis deceive us? When the nazis turned India’s economy towards capitalism how any social justice is possible without producing a Lenin or Mao in India? Unless we die in thousands how it is possible to get social justice for crores of citizens? And India’s SC/ ST/BCs (Dalit movement) are not prepared to die. How then there will be sunrise on the Dalit world? We want not only “100 Best Brains” but also 100 best heads to lead the Dalit-Bahujan revolution and force the “sunrise on Dalit world”.
B.V. Saoji, Qtr. No. B/21, University Campus, Dr. P.D. KV, Akola, MS: I request you to call a meeting of all Bahujan editors of various papers and writers working for social change and put before them the proposal for a TV channel station.
Surjit Kumar Pal, Anthropological Survey of India. Central Regional Centre, CGO Complex, Block A, First Floor, Seminary Hills. Nagpur 440 006: I have read your booklet, Christians & Dalit Liberation (DSA, 2000) and found it very thought provoking. Your arguments cannot be over-looked. The question how the church leadership will react on your views on liberating the Dalits from the shackles of caste system which is deeply embedded in the church? The church leadership is still hesitant to fight caste within the church. I don’t think any church has taken any initiative to execute your views. My knowledge is very limited on this aspect. Can you enlighten me in this regard? I want to have a copy of The Unchristian Side of the Indian Church (by A.M. Azariah, DSA 1985) for my studies. I want Azariah address. I also want to read Major Vedantam’s book, Christianity, a Political Problem. Your book, Dalit Movement in Karnataka, is not available here. I also need Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s book. Why Go for Conversion?
Committee on Dalit Viewpoint on Constitutional Review, Motilal Bhimraj Charity Trust, A732-Modern Society, Sector-15, Rohini, Delhi 110 085: We the undersigned Dalit organizations are pained that a committee to review the Constitution has been formed with the consent of a Dalit President of India. The committee as constituted does not have a credible Dalit representative and it has at least two members with a record of anti-Dalit views. The committee comprises mostly retired salaried persons. Being salaried, they are more likely to toe the line of the govt. Being retired they have already passed the peak of their abilities. The commission should have been formed of active persons not depending on govt. services. The reviewers are neither serving officially elected MPs nor person independent of the govt. for their livelihood. The constitution does not have a built-in procedure for a review. The review is against the spirit of the Constitution. The committee itself has been formed undemocratically. It lacks credibility. Our suggestions have been evolved after four meetings of selected Dalit intellectuals.
Dr. M.N. Javaraiah, Professor of Kannada, Mysore University, No. E-47, Ist Stage, Kuvempunagar, Mysore -570 023: We have propose to establishing here a media centre (Bahujan Media Centre). It will have (1) press media, (2) computer media, (3) electronic media and (4) theatre media. We also have a plan to publish a weekly in Kannada. We want to have you on our advisory committee. Dr. Ambedkar has established with all possible historical evidences in his research work. The Untouchables, that today’s Untouchables were originally Budhists before the Adi Shankara appeared on the scene. Shankara by using the military of local kings of his time had butchered thousands of such Budhists and those who begged for life were ordered to live only on the outside of the civic settlement of Hindu villages. The life history of Shankara himself in Sanskrit, Shankara Digvijaya (the victory of Shanakra over Budhists) by a Sanskrit poet called Madhava Vidyaranya of 14th century AD confirms this statement. Swami Vivekananda is regarded by Hindus as the revolutionary saint of India worshipped by Hindu nazis. But nowhere we have evidences of Vivekananda criticising the British or their rule. Similarly, another is Rabindranatha Tagore, the first and the only Nobel laureate of India. In his famous poem, he called “where the mind is without fear”. Did. Tagore support any freedom struggle against the British. My research reveals that Tagore has not supported any such struggle for freedom against the British. Are we to then conclude that Tagore was a traitor to the nationalist cause? Some Hindu nazi leaders have invented a new trick i.e.. to conceal the truth that the killer of Gandhi was an RSS Brahmin, they have coined a new slogan. saying that Dr. Ambedkar was a critic of Gandhi and conspired with the British to destroy this movement. But historical records show that the nazi leaders were the life-long enemies of Gandhi. The killers of Gandhi are now trying to embrace Gandhi. But the enemies of Babasaheb calling him a stooge of the British should read his following statement. He reminded the Dalits that there had been “no fundamental alteration in your position” under the colonial government, and he concluded:
“I am afraid that the British chose to advocate your unfortunate conditions not with the object of removing them, but only because such a concern serves as well as an excuse for retarding the political progress of India. Nobody can remove your grievances as well as you can and you cannot remove them unless you get political power… No share of this political power can come to you as long as British Government remains as it is. It is only in swaraj constitution that you stand andychance of getting political power into your own hands without which you cannot bring salvation to your people”. (G.S. Lokhande, Bhimrao Ramji Lokhande, p. 159 and p. 161-2, 1977).
The entire august house of the Round Table Conference was stunned at Dr. Ambedkar’s speech. Especially the British imperialists of both the colonial rulers in India and the state executive heads in England who were present there had never expected that they would be made to confront with the challenges by a formidable legal luminary like Babasaheb. The Congress did not participate in the First Round Table Conference. The Untouchables of India were represented by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Rao Bahadur T. Sreenivasan. When Dr. Ambedkar raised some fundamental questions at the RTC against the British rule the English leaders were taken a back and they were shocked to such an extent that they had to recollect their past misdeeds and mal- administration. In fact, they had neither experienced such a legal battle in the past, that too a legal battle waged by a subject of their own colonial rule, nor any Indian leader before Dr. Ambedkar had waged such a constitutional war against the British imperialism. One must also remember that words came to this world first, and the sword came next, and therefore, it is to be imagined as to what is the power of words with an excellent man of words. Similarly the fundamental question roused by Dr. Ambedkar against the rule of administrative law is more powerful than any weapon against the British colonial rulers in India, they were made to face a constitutional battle for the first time in the history of 150 years of their colonial rule in India. Dr. Ambedkar firmly and finally said in his speech that:
“We feel that nobody can remove our grievances as well as we can, and we cannot remove them unless we get political power in our hands. No share of this political power can evidently come to us so long as the British government remains as it is. It is only in Swaraj Constitution that we stand any chance of getting the political power into our own hands”. (Thus Spake Ambedkar p. 23).
Is there anybody in the whole of India who attacked the British right on their face and on their very soil?
Tej Singh, 304- Mandakini Enclave, Alaknanda, Delhi -110 019: The mockery of the “greatest democracy of the world” that is India is in installing a Brahmin as the Prime Minister who otherwise on his own strength could not be a village panchayat head. Our media, rather the Hindu media, has always played a very crucial role in promoting Brahmin rule. All our movements have suffered because of non-cooperation of the media. Our “national” media is destructive. The Baniya money and Brahmin pen is the “national media”. There has been no sincere effort to counter this brahminical mischief-mongering in media. For quite some time the need of our own media was felt. V.T. Rajshekar has been long. crying for the establishment of a “Media Centre” but none listened to him. He had to pack up and go back to Bangalore from Delhi. One of the reasons for his failure is his heavy dependence on pseudo Ambedkarites. Secondly, the Hindi edition of DV could not produce the quality needed to fill the void in the northern part of India. Simple Hindi was needed. But it was just a translation of English DV to Hindi which could not appeal to our semiliterate masses of North India. In the absence of our own media, we could not reach our people. Hence a tabloid, Ahwal-e-Mission, a Hindi monthly, is being launched shortly.
Brigadier Jaswant Singh Sandhu, The Sikh House, 113-Green Avenue, Amritsar: I had the occasion to read the article, “Dr. Ambedkar refused to embrace Sikhism because of casteism“, by Subhash Chand Musaffir (DV May 16, 2000 p.19). I would like to correct some of his mis-statements. He refers to Bhagat Kabir and Bhagat Ravidas as gurus. Nowhere in the whole of Guru Granth Sahib any of the Bhagats has been called guru. Guru Arjan Sahib, the compiler of the holy Granth, has used the word “Shri” with the name of every Bhagat although he has not used this world with the name of any of the Sikh gurus. All the Bhagats and their Bani are treated with utmost respect and reference in the Sikh circles but to refer them as Sikh gurus, as stated in this article, is misleading and is likely to create confusion which may start a controversy. That would not be in the interests of Dalits or others.
O.T. Bodhale, Post Master, Mahabubnagar HO, AP- 509 001: I have been denied promotion to the Postal Suptd, cadre for the 1996 vacancy for SC candidate. Despite my winning a case favourably in Central Administrative Tribunal, Hyderabad, in July, 2000, the Director-General of Posts, New Delhi, has not considered me for filling up of one SC vacancy of 1996. He is filing a writ in the AP High Court against the favourable judgment. I want your book, Merit My Foot (DSA 1996) to fight my case.
Dr. Ashok Adhav, MHB Colony, M 36/2521, Yerawada, Pune 411 006: The vaidiks have studied Babasaheb very carefully. They follow each and every word written and uttered by him. Dr. Ambedkar once at a Shiddarth College gathering, Bombay, had talked that ideal democracy could be there by breaking the heads or counting the heads but by appealing thoughts inside our heads vaidiks cunningly started the process of breaking the heads. Naturam Godse, a vaidik from Poona, killed Gandhi by growing beard and undertaking circumcision, and launched anti-Muslim riots. Many Muslims were killed. Luckily, he was identified by another Brahmin, Kakasaheb Gadgil, and the killings were stopped. But Muslims did not learn any lesson out of it. The charm of a Kashmiri pandit kept them aligned with the brahminical party, the Congress. The next vaidik target was Untouchables converted to Budhism. They asserted that conversion was anti-national. Vaidiks began counting the heads. They sunk all their differences between their subcastes. Previously, vaidik subcastes were fighting with each other. Deshastha Brahmins were dominant during the Yadava rule of Devagiri, while during the Maratha rule Kokanastas came up. There were wars between these two. There were no marriages between the two. Now they intermarry. They have given equal status to Saraswat, Karade and other Brahmin subcastes. Not only that, even Shudra Kayasthas (CKP) are accepted. All Brahmin subcastes intermarry with the CKPs. Shudra castes call themselves Kshatriyas or Brahmins. But the vaidiks are silent. Vaidiks had sensed the danger of democracy. They saw danger in Babasaheb and Muslims. They wanted somebody to die for them. So, they nurtured the ego of shudra castes and allowed it to grow into false super ego. By this they made them puppets and pawns in their hands. So, shudras and BCs have developed a complex. They hate SC/ST/Muslims/Christians but they are timid before Brahmins. They kill lower castes, Muslims or Christians but they dare not to touch a vaidik even if he spits on their face,
Dr. Roshan Minz, Dangratoli, Neear Sandhya Cinema, Gwala Lane, Purulia Road, Ranchi 834 001: I have read your Editorial, Second Partition of India: Sunset on the Dalit World. It is really sorrowful that many our Dalit brothers are sleeping and enjoying their slavery. They have been brainwashed by the vaidiks. This tiny 15% Aryans have blocked our progress. In political, religious, literary fields they occupy all the seats. How to fight them? You have given the clear message.
M. Subba Rao, Advocate, 3-15, Housing Board Colony, Moula Ali, Hyderabad-500 040: I sent Rs. 790 by MO to the Director, Government Printing, Stationary and Publications, Maharashtra Govt., on May 6 last from Nallakunta post office here. As per the acknowledgment received by me the MO was received on June 30, 2000. The said amount was towards the Babasaheb Ambedkar Writings & Speeches Volumes 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15 and 16. I sent four reminders May 30, June 15 and 28 and again on July 19. No response. As a last resort I have decided to approach the Consumer Court.
Raju Thomas, 30-Somasundaram Ist Street, Madras – 600 023: 1 strongly believe that there are only two weapons to fight and defeat the Aryan enemy oppressors: (1) strengthen each caste/community identity and (2) religious conversion. However, even after strengthening and consolidating each caste and community, conversion is a must. Babasaheb’s call for conversion must be given first priority. Nothing is possible without conversion. The religious, cultural and spiritual revolution about which Babasaheb spoke was nothing but conversion (W&S Vol.1, 1979 pp. 43-44). If the SC/STs and the BCs do not and will not understand this, then there is no hope for them and their future generation. They will be dubbed self-betrayers and cheats. They deserve to be annihilated by the Aryans. But the American Blacks will go ahead and succeed in their battle against their enemy oppressors because they have not only identified their enemy but also are fighting against their enemy. Here in India, the situation is entirely different. What to do? I have no hope in the Scheduled Castes and the BCs because the cream of these people is neither honest nor committed and dedicated to the missionary task. It pains me a lot. I can only weep and cry in the same way Babasaheb had been crying with a broken heart. (Life & Mission, 1981, p. 60). I liked the Aug. 1 Editorial. I cannot keep silent the moment I get my DV and read it. You are putting fire in our veins and it makes our blood boil. Yes, the Blacks are angry. They are extremely angry. Why they are angry? Because they are not ruined by Hinduism. You convert the Blacks to Hinduism they also will become slaves and they too will develop a kind of servility in their inner man. That is the end. Any SC/ST/BC man who thinks and writes that his religion is Hinduism is a slave of the Aryans. Even if he is told that he is a slave he will not revolt because Hinduism destroyed the spirit of revolution in him. These people who constitute 65% of the total population of India must openly declare who their enemy is. Will they do that? There is no point in writing so much in the pages of DV, no point in holding so many seminars and meetings without identifying our enemy and openly tell the name of the enemy also. Are they ready to do that? If not stop calling themselves as the children of Babasaheb.
Baldev Singh, E-190, E-Block, Ranjit Avenue, Amritsar, Punjab 143 001: True to their character, no Sikh has responded to your comments in DV of June 16, 2000, Late Sardar Kapur Singh, a great philosopher-politician of the Sikhs, was the staunchest protagonist of Sikh political and religious rights. He used to say that those who are demanding Khalistan, an independent Sikh state, are either ignorant of ground realities or govt. agents. He know it was impossible to fight the cruel brahminical state power, especially when the Sikhs are divided and no one to help. Moreover, Sikhism with its universal appeal has roots in the Indian culture. Spiritually also it would be advisable to convince others to understand Sikh thought of love, brotherhood of mankind and other values in life. Those who demanded Khalistan are safe in their homes. I quote from Ram Narain Kumar’s book The Sikh Unrest and the Indian State, (p. 124):
Sanjiv Gaur also observed that, even as Bhindranwale insisted on the Anandpur resolution, he consistently refused to demand Khalistan. Thus, Sanjiv Gaur remembers an episode: “Dr. Sohan Singh, who later became the head of a Panthik Committee to spearhead. the movement for Khalistan, used to be a frequent visitor to Bhindranwale. Every time he came to see him, he would offer ten rupees at his feet and bow his head. Once, Dr. Sohan Singh came and, as it was usual with him, sat down in the congregation after making an offering of ten rupees. Bhindranwale was suffering from blisters in his mouth. He had difficulties eating and even speaking. He asked Sohan Singh whether he could suggest some medicine that would cure the blisters. Dr. Sohan Singh’s prescription was hilarious. He said, Mahapursho! Eik bar Khalistan kah do, challe dur ho javenge (O, great man, say Khalistan once, your blisters would be cured). Bhindranwale was not amused. He told Sohan Singh: You are a very intelligent man. You were an officer of the government at a high level. I am an illiterate Jat, a man of no consequence. It would make no difference if I give a call to Khalistan. You are a great man, and you believe in Khalistan. If you give the clarion call, it would have some weight…”
A. Balu Vardha Raju, 11-5-113/7, 1st Floor, Near IB Last Bus Stop, Kodical, Mangalore 575 006: We are happy to know that you are willing to come to Mangalore to discuss the “Sunset on the Dalit World”. A large number of our Confederation members are real thinking people. The copies of you sent me earlier were distributed and also I have discussed the matter. I will put the proposal in our monthly executive committee meeting and finalise the modalities for your visit.
Nanki Ram Baghel, at: Bandhanpur, PO Sonepur, Raigarh dt., MP496 118: I have made a study that revealed that Aryans are foreigners. Since their arrival about 3,500 years ago they did not embrace the native Bahujans but kept them as slaves. This is a historical fact. The work of equality which could not be done in 3,500 long years, how can we do this in a short time? Until Hindu religion is in existence brotherhood is impossible. We are wasting our valuable time and energy trying to eradicate caste. What we must do is to work for the eradication of Hindu religion itself. Hindus never want equality and that is why they will never be able to eradicate their caste. So the DV Editor’s “caste identity” and “Dalit-Muslim-Christian unity” are very necessary. The Bahujans who are opposing his “caste identity” theory must note my warning.
Indrajit Kr. Halder, Asst. Gen. Secretary, Bank of India SC/ST/BC and MC Emp. Assn., 56/1-D, Santosh Roy Road. (Jameslong Sarani & Santosh Roy Road Crossing), Calcutta 700 008: This refers to the Letter of Brother Shailendra Nath Roy (DV May 16,2000 p. 15) and Balwant Singh (June 16, 2000 p. 12). Roy was right in criticising Singh. Balwant Singh has no self-respect and basic knowledge about Dr. Ambedkar and Ambedkarism. He has been praising Gandhi, Nehru and also the Congress. A true Ambedkarite has to hate Gandhi, Nehru and the Congress but Singh is proud to be the product of Nehru era which is a matter of shame.
Harbinder S. Baidwan, VPO Sohana, Teh. Mohali, Ropar, Punjab: I got a copy of DV from a friend, son of Advocate M.S. Rahi, an upper caste Jat sikh. I am a follower of Guru Gobind Singh. After being selected for NDA (1990), I tried my best to support BSP in Punjab. I am the president of BSP of Ropar dt. And now practice law along with my father at Chandigarh where we have broken the Hindu nazi party through BSP. When I joined BSP, upper caste Sikhs laughed but now they see a bright future in me. Please answer my questions: Should I consolidate my jati identity? (2) In Punjab, consolidation of Sikhism is appropriate or that of jati? (3) Should I leave BSP to consolidate my jati ?
Whether you like to strengthen your jati (ethnic) Identity or not, your Jati will not leave you. Jati is the one and the only Identity in India. That the jati identity cannot and will not be destroyed is proved in Punjab where Sikhism did such a great liberating job. Still Sikhism failed to destroy the “Jati identity”. Every Sikh jati in Punjab is having separate Gurudwaras. Even devout upper caste Sikhs will not inter-marry with Dalit Sikhs. Read the Sunday matrimonials in the Identity can never be destroyed, neither in India nor in any other part of the world. Rather the ethnic identity is getting strengthened and it is the single most important factor in today’s world remaking both history and geography. As you are a new reader of DV you have to make a deep study of the “nationality question” in India, Jati is the one thing that comes nearest to the concept of a “nation”. Sikhism failed to make the Sikhs one “nation”. Dalit Sikhs took no interest in Sant Bhindranwale’s movement. When you attend the Chandigarh seminar on Sikhism and caste (Nov. 4 and 5) you will know yourself whether the upper caste Sikhs are Interested in Sikhism or their Jati. BSP in Punjab is the party of Dalits and BCs – EDITOR.
Dr. Jugal Kishore, dr_jugalkoshore@hotmail.com>; I am shocked to read Sunder Yesuvadian’s Letter in Dalit Voice. Don’t say that our Editor has come back from Aryavarta. Either your history is poor or you have prejudice against North India. The whole of India/Bharat does not belong to the Aryan. They came very late. Before their arrival, Budhist culture and Tribal people were the real inhabitant of this land. The whole India belonged to us. Never call Anaryavarta. However, it is good to use Dravidstan or Bharatvarsha or India. Anaryavarta is still infected with the word Arya. I feel we can’t destroy the caste if we continue to discuss it. The caste is totally promoting Hinduism. More you discuss it more it is strengthened. Tell to your heart and mind that you are not Hindu. Originally we all were Budhist. Vali and Ravana were Budhist. They never believed in god. They fought and defeate hey are to v d Hindu gods in wars. However, their defeat by Rama was through unfair means, everybody knows it. More native Indians are living in North. And they can’t win without your support and you must consider that we are Indian and India belongs to us. The ruling class is not Indian. Rather they are foreigners.
Manjoor Gopalan, Kanakkary PO, Kerala 686 632: This refers to the Letter of S.P. Singh (DV Aug. 1, 2,000). I fully agree with his views. He says “freedom of thought and freedom of expression is my religion”. He deserves congratulations as he has given more importance to the freedom of thought and freedom of expression than that of rigid religion. Babasheb said:
“The Untouchables must retain their right to freedom of speech and freedom of action on the floor of the legislature if they are to ventilate their grievances and obtain redress of their wrongs by political action”. (W&S Vol.5, p. 344).
He had specific outlook on religion. He said:
“Religion can help produce justice within a community. Religion cannot produce justice between communities. At any rate, religion has failed to produce justice between Negroes and Whites, in the United States. It has failed to produce justice between Germans and French and between them and the other nations. The call of nation and the call of community has proved more powerful than the call of religion for justice” (W&S Vol. 5. p. 398).
Our Editor says anybody challenging the Aryans are being dubbed as terrorists. The Aryans are the real enemies of the original inhabitants of India (SC/ST/BCs). While the original inhabitants were living in peace without any animosity towards each other, the Aryans entered India between 2000 BC and 1500 BC. They divided the toilers into four groups (Chaturvarna). “The only religion that is bad from the very beginning is Hinduism”, says S.P. Singh.
Balakrishnan C. Mavilan, President, Mavilan Cultural Movement, Chamakochi House, Echikanam PO-671 531: After studying DV we have found that the Mavilan Untouchables of North Kerala are a distinct “ethnic identity.” Convinced by your “ethnic identity” thesis we are propagating it among our jati people. The entire Mavilan community is grateful to you for publishing an article on the Mavilan community in Dalit Voice. This was the first time any article on Mavilan community was out in print.
S.P. Singh. Takiapar, Danapur, PO Digha, Patna 800 012: Since the Dalits and Backward Castes of India do not know the origin of Indian caste and their own down-gradation, I find it necessary to quote something from the most authentic book of Indian history. The Vedic Age, Vol.1, by R.C. Majumdar:
p. 363: “The different parts of the Rigveda Samhita. were composed at different times and it should be regarded not as a single text by one author, but rather a whole literature accumulating for centuries, a library as it were in the making for years. Nay, although the hymns of the Rigveda represent in the main, the product of that period of intellectual activity, when the Aryans found their way into India from their original home, it is not beyond the realm of probability that some of them were composed or at least existed in the minds of Indian poets, even before they entered India”.
Points of controversy are many: (1) Today’s Brahmins do not want to admit that they are foreigners. (2) To maintain the sacrosanct character of the Vedas they maintain (of course falsely) that the hymns of the Rigveda are not the works of poets but that they are revealed texts and that the drashta (seers) were the rishies. (3) To befool the masses, they have selected one Gayatri Mantra out of it and thrown the rest of the 11,000 mantras in the dustbin.
p. 364: “When the imagination interprets a natural event as the action of a personified being resembling a human agent, a myth is born”.
“The closely allied mythology of the Iranians is illuminating at times, but mythological affinities are not as numerous as one would be led to expect from the striking linguistic affinity of the oldest form of the Avesta with the Rigveda dialect in vocabulary. metre, syntax, diction and general poetic spirit”.
We can safely wind up this debate with a simple assertion that the original Aryans, a nomadic tribe, who invaded India about 5,000 years ago, were Iranians. They are known as Indo-Aryans. What has become of their Tribe or race, it is for the Brahmins to search out because the Sakaldipt or Sakadurpi Brahmins are late arrivals. They came as men of medicine from Sakadwepa after the Mahabharat war to cure the leprosy of one of the grandsons of Krishna. The Maithil and Kashmiri Brahmins are of Chinese or Mongolian origin. Sanskrit as a language had spread up to China during Budhist and even pre-Budhist times. Specimens of best classical Sanskrit we have from the Kashmiri Pandits, the stories of Panchatantra and Hitopadesh which were translated into all the known languages of the world long long ago. It is for the Brahmins to know that vast majority of their kinsmen have become potters, weavers, smiths, carpenters, chamars. Doms and Mehtars under forced circumstances. Many of them have become Rajputs, because in the early stages of the merger of the two races, a Kshatriya could become a Brahmin and vice-versa. That many of the Brahmins acted as soldiers during British regime is well known. They served as soldiers even under the Muslims and the Marathas. I have found my own origin. I belong to the Bhil, Gond, Oraon, Munda, Santal, Mala, Madiga, Holeya, Pariah, Pulayan stock of the Dravidians.
p. 373: “Indra, favourite national god of the Rigveda, has the largest number of hymns (nearly 250), i.e. about one-fourth of the total number of hymns in the Rigveda He is not a purely Indian creation and his name is pre- Indian (a demon in the Avesta)”.
Indra is shown as a character less person in many of the puranas. He raped Ahalya, wife of Gautam Rishi. Vyas in his Bhagwata Purana says that this long hair, a bead of Rudraksha and vermilion mark on the forehead were all adopted by Indra to show himself as a holy person. The favourite rishi of Indian fools (the Backward Castes of India) is Dayanand, who tried to re-establish the sanctity of Rigveda in the last century by making many bad, faulty, mischievous interpretations of the mantras of Rigveda and has tried to equate Indra with Brahman the undefined, unknown, source of all existence.
p. 374: “He protects the Aryan colour and subjects the black Skins the Dasyus. Indra with his physical superiority, his excesses in eating and drinking and his cruelty in killing his own father forms a marked contrast to Varuna, the upholder of moral order”.
p. 387: “The elaborate institution known as the caste system among the Hindus in India, may almost be said to be without a parallel in the world. A common origin, name, tutelary deity, occupation and ceremonies generally distinguish one homogenous caste-group from another but today caste is rigidly fixed by birth, and exclusive commensality (eating at the same table) and connubium (pertaining to marriage) between the members of one caste group to the exclusion of all others are its fundamental and out-standing characteristics”.
p. 388: “There are various speculations in later brahminical literature regarding the origin of caste. The most common is that which represents the Brahmins, the Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Sudras to have been created respectively from the head, breast or arm, the thighs and the feet of the creator.” (Rigveda X-90).
That the X Mandal of Rigveda is an interpolation is evident from the following statement of A.A. Macdonell in his book, India’s Past (p.16):
“The hymns of the tenth book clearly date from a later period than those of the first mine, because their composers were evidently familiar with the latter. That is a collection of supplementary hymns is indicated by their being made up to the number (191) of those in the first book. It bears the general stamp of latness, of which there is internal evidence of various kinds. The subject matter, the mythology, and the language all show signs of a later age”
I simply wonder how educated Dalits (even IAS officers) stick to Arya Samaj, a baseless institution started by Dayanand in the last century, to counter the revolutionary movement started by Mahatma Phuley. Babasaheb has clearly indicated in his writings, the mischief committed by the wily Brahmins in making interpolations in various Sanskrit texts. What relation a Chamar Arya Samaji has with a Brahmin after he has adopted the Aryan faith or how many Backward Caste people who call themselves Arya Samajis have embraced the Chamars as their blood relations?
p. 389; “The evidence of the Purush Sukta, an admittedly late hymn, is not valid for the bulk of the Rigveda which was produced by the as yet unbrahminical tribes, of vedic Indians in the Indus region and the Punjab. The caste system was developed only later when a section of these vedic tribes migrated farther east”
Babasaheb in his writings has noted that Sunah-Shepa was a Sudra Rishi. It is well known that Vishwamitra and Vitahavya were Kshatriya rishis.
p. 390: “As regards the fourth class, the Sudra is mentioned for the first time and only time in the Purush Sukta. But Dasyu and Das are known to the Rigveda, both as aborigines, independent of Aryan control and as conquered slaves. The later may reasonably be supposed to represent the sudras of the later text. In the earliest society the priestly and warrior classes were not hereditary”
p. 396: “Meat also formed part of the diet. The flesh of the ox, the sheep and goat was normally taken. Sura was the popular drink.”
p. 411-12: “But the priestly classes, in course of time, got control of the originally non-brahminical gribya sacrifices. The tone of the Rigveda is mainly one of begging and pursuading. But the tone of the Atharva Veda is altogether different. Here the Brahmin priest is addressing his social inferiors from whom he need not turn off the shady side of his character”.
p. 422: “The grasping greed of the Brahmin, so much in evidence already in the Atharva Veda has passed all bounds in the Brahmanas (ritualistic portion of Vedas). Here the Brahman coolly claims that in every dispute between a Brahman and a non-Brahman the judgment be given in favour of the Brahman with a cheerful disregard of other people’s interest. A Brahman author has declared a murder is no murder at all if the victim. is not a Brahman. And another declares with the same cool confidence that the Sudra is Yatha kam vadhya i.e. one who can be killed at will”.
The Constitution amendment plan is probably to make the Brahmins immune from all criminal prosecution. The above quotation from Atharva Veda and the Brahmanas proves my point. My problem is simple. No BC in India trusts me. The Dalits have also forsaken me. I shall stop writing and all social work. If I have enough shlokas in Sanskrit literature (writings of Vyas and Vashishta) to blast brahminism, why should I take the help of any other religion?
Brother S.P. Singh while explaining the “origin of caste” provides ample quotations from Historian R.C. Majumdar. Fine. But all these refer to the caste among the Aryans/Hindus or the 15% upper castes who are today’s rulers. He has to explain the origin, meaning of caste (jati) among the non-Hindu Bahujans comprising the SC/ST/BCs (65%). Whether the caste among the Bahujans is the same as that of Hindus or Indicates their ethnic identity to kill which the vaidiks graded them in an ascending order of reverence and descending degree of contempt? EDITOR
Mrs. Surinder Kaur, Flat No. 32, 247/1 Minto Park, Alipore, Calcutta 700 027: Muslims of West Bengal kept “Hindu marxists” in power over the last 24 years, now hybrid-marxists have repaid their gratitude by hacking to death 11 Muslims on July 27 in Nanoor in Birbhum dt. Md. Babu Mian took his relatives and friends to take possession of his 111 bigha plot of land, when lumpen cadres of duplicate-marxists pounced upon them. Their hacked bodies were found in four villages (Suchpur, Sehala, Khujuti-Para, and Nabasta). After killing them, CPM declared them as “a gang of criminals” hired by Md. Babu Mian, who have several criminal cases pending against them. Certainly to kill such an organised gang of criminals, if at all it is true, you require well equipped, fully-armed gang of professional criminals to eliminate them within two hours. Such gangs of professional criminals, patronised by Jyoti Basu, are found all over West Bengal. But their days are numbered before the rising wave of discontent, led by Mamata Banerjee. With Muslims having tasted affection of manuwadi marxists towards the minority community. their fate is sealed. This democratic killing of the Muslims will no more be tolerated in W. Bengal.
Ms. Sangat, F-15/3, HVF Estate, Madras – 600 054: So happy to read your report: “Editor to attend Chandigarh seminar on Sikhism”, by Gurtej Singh (DV Sept: 16, 2000 p.6) and Editor’s comment. The ruling class of India, less than 15% Aryans (Hindus) headed by 3.5% Brahmins, can declare a dirty donkey as a race horse and a race horse as a donkey by virtue of their hold over media. Who can question the mighty rulers? M.Κ. Gandhi, who acted more loyal than the king to BSO. was declared a Mahatma hiding all his shortcomings and weakness because he fought Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, fooled Sikh leaders (Master Tara Singh, Giani Kartar Singh, Baldev Singh and Harnam Singh) and made them to embrace Hinduism and made the Bahujans to fight the British who were forced to quit India and then paved the way for the vaidiks to occupy the Delhi throne in 1947. All those who suffered, struggled and sacrificed for the freedom of India were sidelined. As a reward/ award, he was called a mahatma. Gandhi was at least better than our Sikh leaders. He was at least loyal to the Brahminical Social Order whereas most of our Sikh sants/gianis were not loyal even to the Sikh social order. As a result such saints, gianis etc. made a mess of the principles of the Khalsa under the influence of brahminism. It is ridiculous on the part of Ravana (Bandai/Sant Bhindranwale Khalsa) to talk about direct military actions or on the part of Bhibshana (Tatt/Sant Longowal Khalsa) to play politics without an independent “Media Centre” (nirmala) of their own. This was the biggest flaw in the Sikh tactics/strategies adopted to free one and all concerned from the cruel clutches of brahminism etc. It was crystal clear before/after 1947 that the Sikhs specially the Khalsa along with other segments of Bahujan had been deceived by the ruling class of India. What such sants, bhais, gianis, principals, professors etc. had been doing then onwards to organise and mobilise the Bahujans militrally/politically, through a “Media Centre”? Not to speak of 85% Bahujans, they could not educate even their own 2% cadre due to lack of communication (media). The Aryans/Hindus worship the rising sun and crush the weaker ones militarily, politically and economically through their tactics and statistics. Khalsa and other segments are being bullied because they are much weaker, individually, despite being a majority group. Under such conditions showing muscle power alone to the ruling class of India cannot be justified.
Pradip Sethi, Atharnala, Puri, Orissa-752 002: In DV (July 1, 2000 p. 10), our Editor has rightly appealed to DV family members, Dalit Varta readers and Ambedkarites of Orissa to revive the Oriya edition of DV. He also wrote personal letters to the editor of Dalit Varta and noted Ambedkarites to revive the Oriya DV. His appeal had magic results. At a small meeting on July 3, 2000, we set up a co-ordination committee to manage the publication of Dalit Varta which will be revived soon.
Col. (Retd) Kishan Singh, C-26, Defence Colony, Mawana Road, Meerut 250 001: I came to know of Dalit Voice from S.P. Singh of Patna and very keen to know about the publications. I am also very keen to know the ancient past of the indigenous peoples of India and their subjugation by few subsequent invading tribes.
Trilochan Jena, Lecturer in History, MPC Morning College, Takatpur, Baripada, Mayurbhanj – 757 003: You went into Ambedkarism through a bypass that is marxism. You laboured hard to discover the road to Ambedkarism because at that time Dalit scientists were few to guide you on the right path. Thank you for your labour. Because of you, we are now able to make a direct road to Ambedkarism. I want to build a Dalit library in my area to teach myself as well as other Dalits on Ambedkarism.
J. Subramaniam, Advocate, 627/1, 2nd Floor, 2nd Main, 11th Cross, Indiranagar 1st Stage, Bangalore – 560038: Will somebody from DV family help me get the information on Ambassadors and High Commissioners appointed since “independence”, language-wise and caste-wise. This is an area which is completely dominated by the Brahmins with minor exceptions.
Er. G.S. Raju, 70-III Main, Visvesvaraya Nagar, Arabic College PO, Bangalore560 045: Your analysis of the Lankan issue is perfect and right (DV July 16, p.9). To understand your analysis a normal mind requires little- inputs like the understanding of the Law of Contradictions. 1 need a photocopy of the Law of Contradictions by Mao Tse-tung.
Dr. D.V. Bhosale, Reader, Sociology Dept., Bombay University Campus, Vidyanagari, Santacruz (E), Bombay -400 098: I am much happy to inform that I have joined the Bombay University on June 9. We met at the Pune University national seminar on “Mobilisation of Backward Communities in India: Problems and Prospects” on Feb.28, 29 last.
