Shaikh Hyder, 408, 70 Mornelle Crt ., Scarborough, Ont ., MIE 4S8, Canada: I read your article, “Dalit Voice on Death-bed as the Caravan Enters 11th year” (DV Nov.1, 1991, p.7). I hope the Caravan of Dalit Voice will carry on. God will reward those who struggle in the righteous path. Nothing is permanent on the planet earth except the word of the Creator. Heroes and Zeroes of tyranny will pass away, the “national” toilet papers of India will also pass away. There is certainly an awakening among the Blacks of Africa and suppressed peoples on earth. The Zambian President, Kaunda, is defeated in the elections. Zair’s dictator and robber Mobutu is in trouble though Europeans are giving him help so that they can rob the Africans of their wealth. Kenyan president is out of favour with his white bosses and his days are numbered. Mengistu is already thrown out by the people but he did destroy Ethiopia to please his masters – Russians, Americans in turn, for a long time. The oppressed people of Afghanistan are free, Kashmir, Palestine and the hungry and deprived people of India must not give up hope. The brave people of Afghanistan gave one million martyrs to defeat the Russian invaders. The oppressed peoples of earth must join hands with Kashmiri freedom fighters. The Aryans of India have sent 25 tons of gold to their mother country, England. It does not matter to them whether the poor masses in India need the money or not. They want to mortgage the country to the ex-masters of India so that they will send them arms to control the oppressed people in Kashmir, Punjab, etc. as long as the holy Brahmins rule the hungry Indians.
G. Rajendar, Vizag-20, AP: Your prediction on the so-called privatization has come true. (“If Privatization comes in the Way of Brahminism, ruling class will Scuttle the PVN Move, DV edit. Mar 1.92). You have rightly said that such predictions are possible “when we are close to the hearts of the people”. You are right in saying that brahminism is the curse of India. Whatever reform is brought, it will not work unless it is helpful to brahminism. In the banking industry, the Narasimhan Committee Report favoured that banks should be accorded autonomous status in their commercial dealings ., Overnight Harshad Mehtas were born. Some Dalit leaders asked Dalits to go to the streets to oppose the privatisation moves of the PVN govt. These leaders should read the DV edit (Mar. 92).
We need not be worried about these moves. The ruling class of India cannot face multi-nationals.
Er. S.D. Singh, MIG-101, Avas Vikas colony, Rudrapur, UP-263 153 : The DV edit June 16, 1992 rightly describes the state of Dalit movement. You have mentioned that there are several thousands of all-India SC/ST organisations but without any ideology and followers. But I feel it difficult to accept when you say, “Nothing wrong in having such a plethora of SC/ST organisations. More the merrier. The field is so vast and the work so much, we have scope for many more such SC/ST organisations”. It is said a single son, who is intelligent, sincere and strong, is better than a hundred sons who are fools, lazy and weak. Our thousands of organisations are really of no use to our liberation.
P.K. Abdurrabb, Mazhappilangad, Kerala: This has reference to the letter of Miss Uma AT, Trivandrum (DV July 16), in which she says that so many brothers have offered the subscription of DV to her. I have a suggestion to those brothers who are ready to spend. They can subscribe a DV to their nearest libraries and reading rooms so that the mission of DV may reach more and more Bahujan Samaj (BC/SC/ST/Muslims/ Christians/Buddhists/and Sikhs.
Dalit Voice Readers Circle, C/o Harish Mandal, vill. Agapur, Milan Nagar, New Barrackpore, WB-743276: Since the formation of our “readers circle” about three months ago we the readers of New Barrackpore have become closer. Periodically sitting together, we discuss various topics of DV and DSA books which help us become real Ambedkarites. Our new friends are showing interest to read DV. We desire to have contact with all DV subscribers of WB. Please think over the matter so that at the initiative of any veteran DV admirer a “WB DV Readers Circle” can be formed taking Calcutta as its centre point followed by a seminar/ convention in the presence of the Editor.
Arshad Kalliath, Trivandrum: Illiberal Education is a new book venemously anti-reservationist in the context of US Blacks. It is published in India by Vintage at Rs. 333 and is written by one Dinesh D’Souza. Reviewing the book Ms. Antara Dev Sen has described the author a ‘Coconut’ – brown on the outside and white inside. We may find this term useful in future. This is akin to the word ‘Oreo’ (after a chocolate cream biscuit black on the outside but white inside.
M.R. Vidrohi, 589/A, Sect.2, Avantika, Delhi – 85: I” read your Hindi book, Know the Hindu Mind. It enlightened me on several subjects like Dalit-Muslim unity, India’s unity, and integrity, computer, English language for governing caste, business of beef, who is country’s traitor, advantage and disadvantage of caste system, brahminical pity on animals, their fake vegetarianism, their humbugs like Chipko and Apiko, scheme of Narmada valley, false scientists, beef-eater Aryans, Hinduism and communism, regional goondaism, dual system of law, education, wineshops, sexual peoples, dual thinking on wine-drinking, and meat eaters in India, “American cow”, originals and Aryans, idly-sambar eaters in India.
Pathiripaly George John, Kodapanakunnu, Thiruvananthapuram-5: This is with reference to the letter of T.K. Narayanan, (DV July 1). I agree with the proposal of TKN, a noted Dalit scholar well versed in the watch words of our “First Leader Buddha”. – request you to set apart a page for “Thus Spake Buddha”. TKN will supply the watch words and speeches of Buddha, emancipator of the original inhabitants of India. Buddhism is the only religion that emerged from Indian roots 3,000 years ago to annihilate the barbarian brahminism now known as Hinduism.
Bikash Nag, Bargarh, Orissa: Your God Krishna killed his uncle and aunt, your god Ram banished Sita while she was pregnant, your ancestor Parsuram killed his mother; your brother Godse killed Gandhi, the “nation’s” father; your hero Pandavas killed their relatives; your teacher Drona asked for the thumb with ill-motives. Now you embrace us as brothers, oh cheat. Will you tell, what is your intention behind it?
T.H.P Chentharassery, TKD Road, Pattom, Trivandrum-4: I disagree with Nehru on certain points (DV July 16, 92, p.18) that “the first great cultural synthesis and fusion took place between the incoming Aryans and Dravidians who were probably the representatives of the Indus Valley civilisation”. The only representative of Indus Valley civilisation is the Dravidian race. It cannot be assigned to the Aryans. I am elaborating this in my book, “The history of the original Indians”.
Miss. Uma AT. Trivandrum: There are two Dr. Ambedkar Memorial Residential School in Kerala. One is the Malappura boys UP school and other is girls UP school here. About 90 students are in the school here under the ST dept. The school coaches students to become IAS, IPS, IFS officers. But the problem is though the govt. is running it, Hindu nazis are put in charge of it. Ambika Devi, headmistress of this school, the students say, is a Hindu nazi. She threatens the hapless Dalit students with her brutal behaviour. Dalit students are facing many problems.
A.K. Mandal, 102, Ramlal Bazar, Calcutta-78: Three cheers for Dalit Voice. I am extremely happy to know that our representative is going to the United Nations. I thank Yogesh Varhade, Canada, for taking up our cause. Hope your efforts will be successful so that our age – long bondage will be removed and our right of self-determination is established. In this connection I want to set up the “Council of Dalit Nations” which is a clarion call to all Dalits all over India.
B.K. Roy, 37 – GLT Road, Calcutta-36: This refers to the letter from a Dalit student of JNU (DV July 16, 92) criticising the life-style of BSP president Kanshi Ram. While rebutting the charge, I like to say that Mohan- das Karamchand Gandhi used to stay half naked but was he really a friend of Dalits? Our Dalit brother perhaps saw Kanshi Ram through the eyes of a Brahmin who is addicted to see us as a landless labour, servant/mind servant and not as an elite person. He is playing into the hands of BSO to undermine a man who is a new hope to crores of Dalits of India.
B.K. Nag, Jeypore, Orissa: It is only DV which made me popular throughout India and abroad and united our educated people in Orissa. I am trying to introduce DV in Kalahandi and Koraput districts even though our population is over 70%. I have translated the book, Know the Hindu Mind, in Oriya. Please permit me to publish the book as “Hindu Manasa Manthana”.
Temporary Workers of Madras Christian College, Tambaram, Madras-59: We are in all 140 employees who live as virtual bonded labourers. In spite of service in the college between 1 to 38 years we remain temporary workers on an unbelievably low consolidated pay. In 1991-92, our salary ranged between Rs. 140 and a maximum of Rs. 1050 per month. No provident fund, no pension and nothing to look forward to in life. The treatment meted out to us is illegal and immoral.
P.C. Sethi, Bhubaneswar: There was a big debate in Oriya toilet papers on the statement made by Chief Minister Biju Patnaik to burn the Manusmriti on April 14. Prafulla Kumar Mishra (Brahmin) criticised the CM but advocated abolition of the caste system without harming brahminism. How funny? The nazis want to abolish the caste without destroying brahminism or Manusmriti. Some backward castes also criticised Biju. We are sorry our Backward Caste brothers have not studied the Manusmriti. The BCs think they are Hindus. Slaves enjoying their slavery.
Lok Ratan Gautam, 1072-Block 29, BKS Marg, New Delhi-1: We request you to denounce the brahminical conspiracy at Bodh Gaya and inform the PM and Bihar CM about the black deeds of the Brahmin priests.
Pramod Meshram, State Bank of Indore, MP-452 003: We recently reviewed the SC/ST position in our bank. For this the general secretary of the SC/ST Welfare Council was transferred as a punishment from Kampel (village br.) to Mahidpur (semi-urban br.). This proves that victimisation and vindicative transfers of SC/ST officers, clerks are rampant in this bank. The Parliamentary Committee on the Welfare of SC/ ST visited our head office on Jan. 10 and 11, 1992 but the SC/St employees were not told of this visit. Our bank has no reservation in the officer cadre from junior management grade scale-I to top executive. In the writ petition of the Syndicate Bank SC/ST Employees Association against the Syndicate Bank and Union of India the Supreme Court had passed a historical judgment upholding the writ.
T.N. Arivarasu, Tiruppur, TN-638 602; We are very eager to translate all your books. Those revolutionary ideas of yours must be brought to the notice of the oppressors in Tamil Nadu. There are many Untouchables in villages who have not heard of Periyar. They know only MGR but not Periyar and Dr. Ambedkar. We met Karur lawyer, P.R. Kuppuswamy. He encouraged us to form a “DV Readers Forum. Please explain the meaning of the word “Dalit”. Our comrades wants to see you and hear you. Please give us a date.
Please study DV and our books but don’t start hero- worshipping . This is bad. Hero-worship is a Hindu disease. Aryan / brahminical forces encourage politicians, film stars, sports stars because these people thrive on the weakness of hero worship of the masses. We want you to seriously study our thoughts. Once the thoughts convince that it can liberate you, we will come. Not before that. Politicians, film and sports stars, are all like those flies flocking around the burning lamp. They quickly die. But not thinkers and scholars. They are eternal. So please don’t reduce us to the level of flies like MGR. When the time comes we will come to Tiruppur. Educate, Agitate, Organise. – EDITOR.
All India Catholic Union, New Delhi-17: We have come across a pamphlet by Drakt International, Diamond Harbour Road, Joka-743 512 on “FF 12 – Granulum” to propagate their medical capsules depicting a picture of the Virgin Mary along with the Infant Jesus and the literature, “Consult the doctors – Save your motherhood”. The images depicted are sacred and venerated by Christians all over the world. Therefore it is injuring the Christian religious feeling. So we demand immediate withdrawal of the offensive pamphlet and an apology.
R. Arul, Dr. Ambedkar Study Circle, Chidambaram, TN 608 002: I visited my native place to witness a heart-breaking incident. A Dalit girl was raped right before her husband by five police men including an Inspector here at the Annamalia Nagar police station on June 2 last. Her name is Padmini. Husband Nandagopal was later killed by those criminal police while in custody on June 3. Tamil Nadu’s only revolutionary party, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) has launched an agitation on this. Its leader, Dr. S. Ramadoss, said, “We saw in Keezhvenmani, 44 dalits burntto death by upper castes. The govt. did not take action on those criminals. But Dalits took direct action on them. If the govt. does not punish the criminal policemen, we will punish them. Until then we will continue our struggle”. Under the Bangalore paptti rule we are witnessing state terrorism.
N.K. Rajl, N.M. Puthenpura, Mavattupuzha, Kerala – 686 673: I completed my study at the Calicut Regional Engineering College. Now, I am back at my native place. India is ruled by the upper caste Aryan/Brahmin bureaucrats. Until they rule us we cannot liberate our people. If we mobilise our people against them, they can easily overcome us with the help of their force and media. So, what we have to do is that we have to destroy the bureaucracy first. But that is not an easy task. I have an idea. We have to become AIDS virus and spread it into the body of the bureaucracy. For that our educated youths should take a major role. We have to get into the bureaucracy.
Fr. M.A. James, SJ, Director, National Vocation Service Centre, Pune-14: It is a matter of joy to see that in the changed situation in India, vocations to priesthood and religious life are coming more and more from the hitherto neglected sections of society, specifically Dalits and tribals. The new entrants find life difficult. There is a cultural gap between them and the others. These differences make life difficult for them and they come to the conclusion that they do not fit in here and thus a valuable vocation is lost. The problem is in its early stages. But as days go by and more and more Dalit vocations develop, the problem is likely to get worse. It is our duty to see to it that the new entrant into clerical or religious life feels comfortable and accepted in his new milieu. He has to feel at home. How can we do this? With this in mind we are inviting you for a 3-day consultation here from Sept. 14.
Mrs. Happy, Solan, HP: This is with ref. to the article, “Mass Conversion to Sikhism alone can Save Cowbelt SCs/STs/BCs” by Nand Kishore, Osian, Bighapur, Unnao, UP (DV June 16 p.9). Kishore is quite rational but the following points are to be included in the agenda for possible deliberations with the Sikh leadership before the likely conversion of SC/ST/BCs to Sikhism: Do the Sikh social order (SSO) consider 18 saints, other than the six Gurus, Sikhs whose verses are accommodated in Granth Sahib? These saints cover almost all the communities of India: Muslims, Aryans and Anaryans. If so, their birth anniversaries are to be celebrated, like any other existing gurupurbs to give a feeling to SC/ST/BCs etc. that Sikhs are not a part of Hinduism which is nothing but brahminism that denies the human rights of sudras Dalits and women. A Simple History of the Punjab (1500 to 1858) 1968 edition for BA students has revealed (p.85) that certain “Hindu” sects have been excluded from the Khalsa organization. Is it the writings of Guru Govind Singh or some interpolations made later by some one else? If it is not the work of Guru Govind Singh, then this clause should be amended accordingly. It is surprising that non-martial corrupt and mean Aryans, especially Brahmins, can become Khalsa whereas non-Hindu Jains (perhaps Buddhists) etc. are denied this fundamental right. Bodhies and Jainies had once efficiently ruled this country but defeated by the alien Aryans with deception. Granth Sahibis dead against escapism, irrationalism, hypocrisy etc. The principles of the Khalsa emphasises a three-point strategy: (1) Educate: Media (ii) Agitate and (iii) Organise. Among the perennial weaknesses of the Sikhs/Khalsa (lack of media, leadership, diplomacy, disunity in the cadre etc) media is to be taken up on a war footing. Then only this proposed unity move, put forward by Nand Kishore may become reality. Without a strong media even this likely unity move will fail.
T. Abdullah, 992 – New St ., Vaniyambadi, TN-635 751: This is with ref. to the report: (DV July 16, p.21) “Which Verses in Quran Sanction Violence in Self- defence? am separately sending you a book, Misconceptions about Islam. Please read the book from p.81 to 93. You will find many verses from the Quran about sanction of violence in self-defence.
F. Alam, Bhagalpur: The leakage of question papers of various competitive examinations in the cow-belt of North Indian exposes the hollownes of the so-called “merit and efficiency” propagated by the Hindus. Recently, Tribhuvan Bhatnagar was caught redhanded while getting the photocopies of the General Studies paper of IAS (prelim) examination, 1992, at the request of K.M. Pandey, the Examination Controller of Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission. Press reports say that attempts are being made to hush up the action of the nazis.
Ibne Umar, Maz Neem, Jambusar-392 150: The PTI report about the “Buddhist” demand for banning Geeta chanting inside the temple and Azan offering nearby is indeed strange. No differentiation between an ocupier within and an onlooker nearby.
Kamran Y. Khan, Lucknow-1: In UP/Lucknow, I can hardly find a Dalit who would purchase a book against Hindu thoughts. Dalits like Brahmins think they are Hindus. Therefore, we will have to first educate them about their own roots and not start disapproving what they hold dear. This will only alienate them. A Hindi edition of DV may capture the market. I talked to a couple of Muslims and Dalits and they asked for Hindi DV.
S.P. Singh, Takiapara, Danapore, Patna-800 012: We formed an “All-India Original Inhabitant Kurmi Sabha” on April 21, 1992. Please publish its resolutions to help spread the message of Dalit Voice. All its English-knowing members have become DV subscribers. We are also trying to bring out a Hindi DV. After that each member of this newly-formed “Kurmi Sabha” will automatically become a Dalit Voice subscriber. Out of the three Commandments of Babasaheb, “Educate, Agitate, Organise”, I have taken up the first one only. I consider myself competent to educate the people on two subjects – caste system and religion. As a matter of fact, I do not have to do any research work. I have to only quote from books written by eminent British writers on caste system. These books are an authority on the subject. Their sanctity is more than that of the Vedas. Even Brahma, the so – called creator, who created the four varnas from different parts of his body, shall like to have a peep into the wisdom that these books contain and Brahma shall come out wiser. Shiva was a sudra, Kali was a SC (Bhilni) in one of her incarnations. I can quote from Durga Sapta Sati. Why should worship of Shiva and Kali be given up? They are our father and mother. Worship directly in your own language and not through a Brahmin. So, for SC/ST/BCs a long range of choices may be given. I shall write regular articles on these subjects. Some items of Dalit Voice need immediate publicity in Hindi. I can translate some pieces into Hindi and send it for publication. Hindi version of DSA book, Who is ruling India? Will be sold like hot cakes in Bihar and UP.
Madhu. C ., Kochuvilayil Kattanam, Pallickal P.O ., Alleppy (Dist) Kerala-690503: Marxist attack on Dait workers is not a new thing in Kerala. A former state president of Kerala Dalit Panthers, Ravikumar, P.M ., and his family were attacked by the “marxists” on July 15. Most of the assailants were Dalits and Ezhavas. However, they miserably failed as our Dalit workers retaliated on time. The upper caste “marxists” are using our own blood brothers against us and they reap the harvest. After this attack a police case also was registered against our Dalit workers. This was with the help of a Dalit MLA from Pandalam who said that the organisations like Dalit Panthers and ISS were “communal” and it should not be allowed to take root in Kerala.
M.M.S. Salahuddin, P.B. No.47, Doha, Quatar : The Hindu nazis must stop building a temple at the site where Babri Masjid stands. L.K. Advani says that peoples mandate should be implemented. Why this nazi does not use the same yardstick to the problem of Punjab where people gave mandate to the parties which struggle for self-determination? If referendum is conducted in Kashmir, the majority of the people will surely vote for secession from India and demolition of all the temples in the valley. He (L.K. Advani) also says that the Babri Masjid is unused for decades. In India, there are thousands of temples which are not used for performing daily pooja and no renovation steps have been taken. The only goal of the nazis is to grab power at the Centre. If they try to catch power at the Centre by insulting the faith of the Muslims, demolishing the mosque and killing the innocent Muslims, then there is no way left for Muslims but seccede and form another homeland.
Ookkodu Gopalan, National Dalit (SC/ST) Federation, Trivandrum-20: I had met you at the Dalit editors and writers conference at Whitefield, Bangalore, some years back. I read Dalit Voice at our public library here. I am very much impressed by its writing. In Kerala, Dalits are getting only 10% of the State budget allotment but even this is not utilised properly. I am the general secretary of the Federation and editor of the Bahujana Sabdam. I won the best “Rural Journalist Award” from a noted cultural organisation (Thrussur Sahrudaya Vedi) in Kerala in 1990. Press facilities and accreditations are wholly owned by upper caste groups only. I am trying to form a Dalit Press Club in Kerala.
Jaivir Singh, Advocate, Kanpur – 4 : I have read in DV the “document”: “Parliamentary democracy failed in Pro – India because of Brahmin-Bania tyrannical rule” by Dr. Ambedkar. It reveals the conspiracy of the ruling class. This combine got more strengthened and turned cruel with added muscle power of the shudras and Backward Castes. Especially in UP, the nazi govt. headed by a Lodhi (BC) is having over 100 BC legislators. This Lodhi leader is obeying the Nagpur Chitpavan Brahman orders like a slave. They kept him busy for the past one year on the Babri Masjid issue. The nazis are grabbing the administration and education in a planned way. But the BC ministers are kept busy to make money. They are shortsighted and followers of pig philosophy. I agree with Nand Kishore (DV June 16) suggestion of conversion of Untouchables to Sikhism. Lack of militancy is the root cause of atrocities on Dalits. By adopting Sikhism they will get cultural identity as well as honour. In UP, the Kurmi community is joining the nazi party and becoming slaves of brahminism.
Dr. P.K. Sukumaran, Trichur, Kerala-4: Hindu nazi forces do not really believe in democracy or non- violence. SC/ST/BC/Muslims must get united at any cost. Close cooperation in social, cultural, religious and economic fields must start. An economic blockade of savarnas/Hindus will give definitely a fantastic result. They will come begging before us.
Ismail Shafi, Editor, “Isha Patrike”, Natakal, Asaigoli, Mangalore tq ., DK dt .: The Progressive Lawyers Association of Bangalore had submitted a memorandum to the Karnataka Govt. to withdraw the three criminal cases against me. Besides this, two MLAs had also made the appeal. But disregarding all these appeals, the govt. decided (July 8) not to withdraw the cases but legally proceed against me. This proves the anti- Muslim attitude of the Congress Govt.
Abdurrashid Khan, Najmus Saquib Islamic Publications, 100/B, Modikhana Solapur-413 001: You are an honest, intrepid crusader championing the cause of SC/ST persecuted class, but in fact, your struggle has and ought to have the potential of a humane, universal appeal for mankind, cutting across all barriers, of caste, creed, country, colour or gender because the issue at stake is the extirpation of all form of deprivation, injustice and wickedness.
