G.B. Singh, 112 – Auburn Road Dr ., Waynes Ville, MS, 655 83 US : One thing for sure is your message to the western world must go through. Western world needs to know what is going on in India against the minorities. For that purpose, your publications are of vital importance. Had it not been for the World Sikh News, I would have never known the Dalit Voice.
Murtain Billah Jasir, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: I am regularly receiving my favourite journal, Dalit Voice – a true voice of the oppressed peoples all over the world coming out of the mouth of a great lover of humanity at large. The enormous service being rendered by you to the cause of fraternity, justice and humanity working in an environment as it is, remind me the stories of those great sons of Adam who became immortal for their outstanding contribution to furtherance of the human dignity. I would like to say, if you allow me, that in you, I find a classic example of such a personality. I often feel worried that hard work and hostile environment might cause any harm to your health and that is why I pray to God to give you a long life with excellent health. The present-day world is badly in need of a torch-bearer of human dignity like you.
M.M.S. Salahuddin, Doha, Qatar: I am a semi- literate and do a menial job in Qatar. I studied up to pre-university class (PUC) in Trichirappally, TN. Four years ago, when I visited an Islamic library here, I found your books. Since then I have been subscribing to DV. What I learnt from DV is that “socialist brahmins” are the enemies of the minorities and proportional representation is our human rights. The most important reason why | subscribe to DV is that I do not find any other Islamic journal as bold as DV. I would request you to kindly introduce short stories (like the oppressed vs. oppressor), questions and answer column, superstitious beliefs of Hindus epics etc. regularly. There are some 55,000 Keralites working in Qatar out of 75,000 Indian expatriates. English-knowing Kerala Syrian Christians. They do not support our cause because they believe that they are Namboodiri (papans of Kerala as EVR said it). I talk to whomever | meet about DV.
Parwaaz Rahmani, Editor “Dawat”, Okhla, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi-25: Your editorial, “How to Exterminate Muslims in India”, was reproduced in our paper of Aug. 19.
S.M. Rehman, Manjeswar, Kerala- 671 323: Here Dalits (40%), Muslims (45%) and Hindus (15%) are living peacefully. But the situation is worsening. The “uneducated” Dalits “educated” in Hindu naziideology have started hating Muslims. Dalits do not know that they are not Hindus. So, they are joining Hindu nazi organisations. They are “enjoying their slavery”. They avoid Muslims and even spurn Dr. Ambedkar literature. A lone Ambedkarite Dalit is facing boycott. They consider themselves as Hindus and Muslims as their enemy.
Antony Vellara, All-India Catholic Union, Bangalore – 52: Over 2,000 catholic nuns, priests, teachers of Mysore took out a march on Sept.20 to against the assault on a sister at Mandya recently. The procession was led by the Catholic Association President, A. Susairaj.
Mohammad Riyazuddin, 4-2-55, Kothoor, Hanamkonda, AP-506 001: I read some Dalit Voice issues and I am highly impressed by your scientific analysis of the society past, present and future. I fully agree on the Hindu nazi oppression of Scheduled Castes, tribes, minorities and other ethnic nationalities. I am an advocate associated with civil liberties and “left” activist groups for some time.
Dr. M. Nuruzzaman, Editor, “Al-Hilal”, 2, – Ripon Square, Calcutta-16: Your idea of Dalit-Muslim unity is very much correct to fight the Nazis.
M.M. Khureshi, Brahmavar, Karnataka: With ref. to the debate on the Jamate-Islami, the piece of article in DV Aug. 1, 92 by Qurban Ali, Hamdardnagar, Delhi- 25 is the correct articulation of what the Muslim masses in India feel. The Jamat can take note of it. It is not for the Dalit Voiceto repair the Jamat. I want to thank Dr. Kaleem Siddique of London for his piece, “Muslims and the New World Order or “Why, the West is Afraid of Islam”. (DV Aug. 16).
E Sadaq, Kanchipuram, TN: 631 501: I have decided to get myself wholeheartedly involved in your fight for the upliftment of the oppressed in India. First, I want to make my friends and relatives DV subscribers.
Md. Ghouse, Yusufguda, Hyderabad-45: I read your article in the local Urdu daily, Rahnuma-e-Deccan, (Aug.31, 92) giving the real picture of India.
S.P. Singh, Patna: With reference to article of Nand Kishore (DV, June 16, 92, p.9) and letters of Mrs. Happy and Jasvir Singh (DV Aug. 16), I have to add that Nanak’s crusade was not against Hinduism or Islam or any religion as such but against what is false in every religion. I have not gone through the Guru Granth Saheb but I know the spiritual depth of the Sikh Panth. The Untouchables who embraced Sikhism were soon sidelined as “Scheduled Castes”. The depressed among Muslims are still called Momins – meaning lower strata. “Dalit Christians” have more or less the same fate. The days of conversion are over. Don’t burden the new generation with a fresh load of ideas and new gurus. The tribal form of worship is neither inferior nor shall ever be inferior to any established religions of the world. Jasvir Singh may note that we have formed a separate Kurmi Sabha – to delink them from the evil designs of the nazis and the brahmanvad in general.
Sant Isher Singh Rarewala Education Trust, 179 – Modle Gram, Ludhiana-141 002: As for having a press for the oppressed Indians, our trustee, Principal Gurdial Singh, had been for long fighting for it. However, the people of US when he was there asked him to start a weekly from San Francisco which he did under the title Suraj (rising sun). But due to the death of his son in Phillipines he had to return to India after publishing some 32 issues. Now, even the volume II of his book, Freedom Struggle of India by Sikhs and Sikhs in India, contains good many pages on the need for a press. Again in 1977, the Principal had suggested the same. We fully agree with the your argument for a press for the persecuted Indians. In your struggle we are with you. I am grateful to Mrs. Happy, Solan, and Ms. Pritan, Rupar, for sending me their letters that are full of sympathy and sincerity. They are faithful followers of the path shown by the Dalit Voice.
Andrews, 213-Pycroft Road, Madras – 5: I belong to a backward caste and regular reader of Dalit Voice. I appreciate your sagacity and far-sightedness in correctly predicting matters relating to our society. On Sept. 6, the Hindu nazis took out a big procession here of, 1,501 Ganesh idols. Unfortunately, Dalits from 304 slums in Madras were in the forefront in playing the mischief near the Ice House Mosque before which the procession passed. They shouted ugly slogans to hurt and provoke the Muslims who refused to be provoked. The procession remained near the Mosque for over an hour shouting obscene slogans and firing a lorry-load of crackers. Luckily no anti-Muslim riot broke out as Muslims observed total restraint. On: Sept. 10, when Muslims took out a peaceful procession of Meelad they threw stones injuring many and at the instigation of the Marwaries of Ellis Road and Hindu Munnani, they murdered three Muslims. I regret to find the SCs actually rejoicing over their 4,000 years of slavery imposed on them willingly, as you say. On Sept. 12, a small mosque on the Bells Road corner was stoned in the morning. The PMK procession taken out on the same day has to be appreciated as its followers did not join the nazis unlike the Madras city SCs.
Maj-Gen. Narinder Singh (retd.) Chandigarh: I have not renewed the subscription to Dalit Voice after June 1, 1991. I’ do not recollect about the particular writings or comments which made me do so but as far as I remember the impression I gained from some writings was the Sikhs were anti-Dalit and you appeared to far too much concerned about the unity and integrity of the country. I may be entirely wrong having formed this opinion. Start sending Dalit Voice.
B.K. Nag, Jeypore, Orissa: Our prediction has come true. “Kaling Kesari” (Biju Patnaik) has once again proved to be a “Kaling Bakri”. He declared 38% reservation in educational institutions for Dalits (SC 15%+ST23%) against the existing the 28% (SC 8% + ST 20%) reservation. Upper caste students (including the BCs) protested violently which compelled Biju Pattanik to surrender. He quickly withdrew the order. Chintamani Majhi, Education Minister, however, exposed the hidden truth. He said the upper caste students need not be upset about the increase in the reservation quota as no SC/ST student is there even to fill up the old quota percentage . During the anti-Mandal agitation these very people were demanding “better education” to the SC/ST/BCs instead of reservation in service. Now, the same fellows are against the education of SC/ST. This they call as their dharma.
N.G. Uke, New Delhi: In DV (Vol.11 No. 18, p.18), Qurban Ali Zameenzad states “Dr. Ambedkar was of the view that one of the necessary pre-requisites to liberate the Dalits was religious conversion”. There is lot of confusion on this subject. Lot of people take it that conversion to any religion as long as it is an abandonment of Hinduism was acceptable to Dr. Ambedkar. Dr. Ambedkar studied many religions in depth for over 21 years and found only Buddhism to be the right religion to which people should get themselves converted. No other religion was acceptable to him. If we even obliquely suggest conversion to any religion other than Buddhism, we will be doing a great damage to the Ambedkar mission. In the same issue on page 5, B.K. Ghatak writes about Namasudras who are a great people with a great past, and great future. Namasudras in Bengal were a strong Buddhist community. Some might have taken to a different course. It is time to revive Buddhism and provide the badly needed lead to the people.
M. Aravind, Samata Sainik Dal, Dharwar: After the admission season was over, I started listing the Dalit students. I was shocked to find that over 80% of the Dalit students, who are in post-metric and undergraduate classes, have got admission only in arts and in that over 75% got only humanity subjects like history, political science, sociology etc. Why our students are not taking to technical course? Because most educational institutions run by the upper castes are cheating Dalits. Over 90% of such colleges are not at all implementing SC/ST reservations. The rule is the college must provide 18% of the total seats to SC/STs. It does not specify the subjects and Hindus take advantage of this lapse. After selling or providing seats to Hindus, the unwanted subjects are given to SC/STs. The govt. must direct that in each subjects taught, the college must carry a minimum of 20% SC/ ST students. If this is violated the grant to the institute should be stopped.
S. Rajhansa, Rourkela: Most of our Dalits now-a- days prefer to have a Brahmin priest for their marriage purpose. But Ekka Garud, an Asst. Bank Manager of Rourkela, Uditnagar, refused to allow a Brahmin for his brother’s marriage. This shocked other Dalits. We Ambedkarites of Rourkela are proud of Ekka Garud. A similar thing happened at Birmitrapür, about 30 km .. away
Diman Singh, Goraknath, Gorakhpur, UP: I am not competent to comment on your revolutionary work. I can only say that you have given a new line of action to Ambedkarites. But it is sad that most of our “educated” Dalits in service, have no taste for serious and thought – provoking literature like yours. Even then, it is sure that your hard work and sacrifice will not go in vain. Your literature will play a major and important role in transforming our society.
Dr. Aruna Rajagopal, T N Agri. University, Coimbatore- 691003: To condemn Karunanidhi as ‘Cut-Throat’ is bit hurting. I do not object criticism but not with this term. Please unite Karunanidhi, Veeramani and Dr. Ramadoss. We look up to you, our great theoretician, for this work. We do agree that the three have both strength and weakness. Unless the three join hands, nothing could be achieved in TN as our enemy is stronger and hence our defeat should not be construed as failure of our philosphy.
We are for the unity of all Adi-Dravidas and Dravidian forces in TN. Dr. Ramadoss wanted to join the National Front before the last general election to forge such a unity but it was Karunanidhi who refused to join hands with Dr. Ramadoss. It is up to him to forge a united front even at this stage. Veeramani has already joined hands with PMK – EDITOR.
Jogesh Sarkar, Calcutta-63: Population, impurity caused during birth, menses, death etc. is freed after certain fixed days of religious rituals. But the stigma of Untouchability is irremovable, eternal. The system of “Untouch” was skillfully introduced in the name of devine rules fabricated in the fictitious religious books to cripple, disable exploit, deprive us of education, shelter, wealth, land, livelihood, social relation, equality, fraternity, humanity. No god has the power to purify, emancipate the Untouchables.
As long as the Untouchables, who are not Hindus and never Hindus, consider themselves Hindus this stigma will continue . Hinduism means racism and we are not part of this racist religion. The remedy. is simple and assures quick action. – EDITOR.
Nani Gopal Das, Calcutta: 64: Our Kayasth Chief Minister of West Bengal says with pride that there is no caste discrimination in his State. Here is a report from the Ananda Bazar (Sept. 11, ’92): “One Brahmin (Banerjee) employee fell ill. His colleagues saw him at home. Among them there was a SC colleague. When the servant of the house came to collect the cups, the Brahmin gentleman (?) asked the servant to throw out the cup through the window in which the SC colleague took tea. At a function in his home, all his colleagues were invited except the SC one whose title is Sardar”.
Naseeb Singh Verma, Saharanpur, UP-247 001: A Chamar of my village working as a farm labour was beaten and abused by the landlord. Although the farmer is a BC, in our area the BCs think they are upper castes and follow the brahminic traditions. The Chamar called a meeting at night and the Chamar youths were furious on hearing the story. They decided to seek the apology of the farmer, who when refused, was beatenup as by the SC youths. I admire these SCs. I want our SC brothers all over to follow this example. I belong to a Backward community and since 6 years | am active in journalism. Please appoint me as your correspondent here.
Dr. Y.L. Mingthing, Tangkhul Theological Association, Mission Ground, Ukhrul-795142: It was nice meeting you in Bangalore after a lapse of 13 years. Ever since we met in 1979 during the Christian Fellowship for Justice Concern in Delhi, you have been close in my mind. I am trying to interest some of my friends about your work.
Jesudas, C/o Catholic church, Assam-785 008: Thank you for the service you are doing towards awakening among Dalits. We Christians are terribly persecuted first by the govt. by denying all kinds of privileges allotted to Dalits. Secondly, we face all kinds of discriminations from upper caste Christians. Thirdly, we have been ill-treated inside the church. Even though the Bible says all are equal and all must be treated equally, the influence of brahminism in India is so much that the upper caste Christians even after conversion are not free from the influence of caste.
V.B. Rawat, New Delhi: I have seen the so-called Gandhians who are more hypocrites than M.K. Gandhi. I am now doing journalism and working for PUCL. I know that PUCL has failed to take up the Dalit issue and you are right in criticising it.
Adv. U.N. Khobragade, Pune: Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar fought for all minorities and Dalits. Nay, it was his life mission can very well be ascertained from the Central Legislative Assembly debates as reproduced in Vol. 10 of the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Writings and Speeches under the caption ‘Muslims have fared much better” (p. 352-3). He says, “I have no idea how many Hon’ble members of the Muslim League Party know what I played in the issue of this Communal Ratio Resolution. I think if any member of the Muslim League Party was present when the Round Table Conference was held in London, he would very well realise that among those who fought for securing these privileges to the minority communities, I claim that I have played a considerable part. ‘It cannot therefore be said that I am out of sympathy with the demand of the Muslim or the demand of any other minority community. It is for this that I have fought, it is for this I have been fighting, and it is for this that I will fight”.
Abilash, K.B. Calicut-673 601: I am a Dalit student now studying Communication Engineering al the Regional Engineering College, Calicut. I met you first at Mahabalikara (Kerala) at the first State convention of the Kerala Dalit Panthers. But when I started reading DV (and your DSA books) I was moved and got the real insight. Now, I bought some some volumes of our great Babasaheb’s writings. We found Ambedkarism and Dalit ideology the most suitable tool. I have also studied your “cream theory”.
Y.K. Chandra, Indian Airlines, New Delhi: | approached you with a promise to collect a big amount to reprint your valuable book, Merit, My Foot. But I could collect only Rs. 1,200 for which I am sending a cheque. This is due to lack of interest and indifferent attitude of our people.
N.K. Sonare, Secretary-Gen. Babasaheb Ambedkar National Association of Engineers, “Tushar”, 19th Road, Khar, Bombay-52: I am preparing a report on the court case against Doordarshan TV serial on Dr. Ambedkar. The govt. announced on July 9, 1990 the decision to link post matric scholarship with dearness index and its monthly distribution. However, the govt. order in this regard has not been issued so far, although two years have already passed. SC/ST students are facing enormous hardships in pursuing their post-matric and higher education due to meager amount of scholarship being given to them at present. Thus, a monthly scholarship of Rs. 1,200 is absolutely necessary to sustain the students. Chandrakant Tapkire studying in the Mahatma Phule Backward Class Hostel, Bombay, committed suicide because the amount of scholarship was very meagre and due to starvation and humiliation he committed suicide.
Dwarika Prasad, Ex-Chairman, All-India SC/ST Emp. Welfare Association, ONGC, Bombay-81: Happy to note for the first time a staunch and proven Ambedkarite was appointed Member (Personnel) in ONGC – a giant public-sector enterprise. Jauhari Lal is a proved manager with proved competence. His message to all SC/STs is (i) hard work to acquire professional competence and (ii) do not forget the society to which we belong.
Sheikh Shumsuzzoh, Bhagalpur city, Bihar-812 602: Your Hindi translation of the Know the Hindu Mind is wonderful. But the title of the booklet is not appropriate in the context of Bihar. The title should be changed to “Mentality of upper caste Hindus”. This will have a better impact on the prospective readers as first impression is the best impression. I have been a subscriber of DV for the last six years.
Mohd. Ashraf, Lucknow: Its very heartening to learn that you started printing Hindi translation of several books. You have given a new turn to Babasaheb’s thoughts. However, the good effort will be more effective if educated Dalits know that the Aryans and Savarnas have perpetuated their grip over the Dalits. If you do not promote conversion, there will be no revolution and DV movement will fail. The Dalits must convert as Babasaheb did. For this, all Dalits must change their names first. Their names must not have any words from Hindi, Sanskrit or Hinduism. Do like Babasaheb said but do in a manner that shocks the Brahmin-Bania combine and do what they hate most. Get out of the Hindu fold.
Siddiq Ali Thamin Ansari, Pallipadai, Chidambaram, Tq ., TN 608 001: You predicted that the entire disillussioned DMK grassroot workers will soon jump to PMK, the revolutionary party based on the triple philosophies of Babasaheb Ambedkar, Periyar and Marxism. You proved right because I am one such example. I was a DMK cadre before the banning of LTTE. Today, I am in DMK. You are right in calling Karunanidhi a cut-throat. His party is not for Tamilians.
His party is only for his family.
M.A. Mujahid, Kerebilchi-577 218: This is a 100% Muslim village and I started reading DV when DV agency was started in my village. I like it. I want it. It is a book of Truth.
A.R.M. Hakim, Bombay-17: I suggest that Dalit Voice may be converted into a monthly instead of being a fortnightly and the annual subscription be retained at Rs. 90 as at present. Readers of Dalit Voice cannot afford to allow its closure at any cost.
Arshad Kalliath, Trivandrum: DV printing has improved much over the last few issues. It seems that you are using desk top publishing (DTP). To be perfect in any well meaning field of activity is welcome. Some suggestions: you may score off and rearrange the foreign air mail rate as printed on your front and back. cover so as to read simply “Foreign Airmail US $40”. Also, as your reach is international, you may quote your Tel. No. 366 771 and STD code. You may list now and then all the DSA books available.
Harish Chandra Mandal, New Barrackpur, WB-743 276: I support Prof. Abul Qasem’s proposal endorsed by Amulya Kumar Bal (DV July 16, p.7) that Islam has the capacity to kill brahminism. And as such, I also feel that all the indigenous peoples of India should convert to Islam to enable them to resist the tyranny of Hindu nazis. Islam has both the ideal virtues of social egalitarianism as well as revolutionary zeal in their religion. For these reasons, many great men converted themselves to Islam. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar has shown us the path.
T. Louis, Taliparambu, Kerala – 670 141: I am a Dalit Catholic. So many hurdles we are facing in North Kerala (Malabar Area).
Khristo Jyoti, Sason-768 200: As you have rightly said Orissa is predominantly a SC/ST/BC State. But unfortunately so far very little is done for their cause. However, the awareness of this gross negligence is already running high in some circles in these days. Orissa Christian Church is one of them. Keeping the above factors in mind, we decided to dedicate this academic year (1992-93) as Dalit year. It may be a fitting tribute to Babasaheb on his birth centenary. We plan to study the Dalit reality from their own perspective by identifying with them, by siding with their aspirations and struggles, by bringing to limelight the Dalit art, folklore, oral traditions and research into different areas of Dalit life. It is our maiden attempt. Perhaps with your vast experience and contact, you may be able to enlighten us with regard to resource persons on Dalit themes, writings on and by Dalits etc. We may be contacted on phone 21950.
