Naveed Hameed, 3539-Carter Hill Road, Apt #C211, Montgomery, Al 36111, USA: There are several ways we can improve our media but this requires corporate funding to support at national level and unfortunately there are hardly any among us who understand. Those few who have the means will not venture to come forward unless they see some extra benefit for them- selves in it. This is unfortunate but still I have some hope we need to do door-to-door campaign, start educating people and also funding for it and not feel shy of what we do. The few rich among us are only fence- sitters in any struggle to watch which side wins and immediately they will jump into the bandwagon of winning party. When Islam is victorious after the hard sacrifices of Muslims the political-minded greedy, crooked elements will soon jump into the fray and try to take leading roles where they get power and benefits and then mislead people by cooperating with the very enemies with whom the Mujahids are fighting. Afghanistan is a very good example where sincere dedicated people are nowhere to be seen in the scene of responsibilities. Coming forward to grab the power from greedy people is by itself not greed when the authority is handed to the right kind of people. It is necessary to have a record of what one was in the past and the people’s memory is short. This is also important in politics and any struggle (jehad). This is also true of non-Muslim Dalits who walk away from responsibilities when the time comes to rule. Conditioned slaves remain faithful and are not ready to lead. Asking for power is taboo and greed. This is the thinking of most good Muslims in India and they remain alienated from the “national mainstream”. I am from Madras and spent nearly seven years in Bombay doing my masters and then my research and earned a Ph.D. from IIT, Bombay, and after that I applied several places within India for govt. jobs etc. even private companies but got no response. It was not just my case but it is true of my other Muslim colleagues as well who were ignored for being Muslims. Dr. Ram Puniyani, head of Bio-medical Engineering, IIT, Bombay, will appreciate what I say as he has many Muslim Dalit students who completed their Ph.D. are now in other countries very successful and recognized for their merit. They are not meritless idiots. In Bombay, I visited Islamic Research Foundation and came in touch with Dalit Voice which impressed me and also shook me off my feet. DV has truly a very high quality and an intellectual masterpiece unfortunately printed on poor quality paper for wider circulation and cutting down of costs. During those days I could not even afford to buy it as a student and myself and my colleagues purchased it together tew copies, got some free and read it with great interest and it served as an eye-opener for us. We started an Islamic counselling center in Madras but are stranded due to lack of funds and that is one among the several other reasons for me to move to USA. We plan to trans late the works of Ahmed Deedat and IRF into Tamil. That is why we plan to give more importance to the TV and we will have to organize shows in Tamil. Vaidik distraction on TV, I do not expect people to come. and see programmes that will be meaningful to them. To be able to contribute for such a cause I am planning to start some consultancy work in software or just switch to trade here in US or on returning back to In- dia. It is very essential for us to be financially strong and Islam lays great stress for that and zakat is one of the financial pillars of Islam and also we may have to motivate people for a struggle. I am not prepared to listen to rich greedy vaidik Muslims who keep on harping that money is not everything in life. Money is not everything in life but still it is so important that we cannot afford to ignore it. I request you to throw some more light on sufism which to me appears very similar to brahminism. Sufism is a tool established by Aryan Muslims to enslave the Dalit Muslims who will not fall prey to the BSO.
Dr. V. Prakash, 1-3-75/45/1, Rajendranagar, Mahabubnagar AP 509 001: All SC/ST (Dalit) employees in all departments, either public or private, must publicly announce that they will quit Hinduism en bloc immediately as a protest against the Supreme Court judgment against our resevation. This is the only way to teach a lesson to our Hindu oppressors and their guardians in Supreme Court. If you want to live in self-respect and as honourable children of Babasaheb, we must quit Hinduism.
Rev. Dr. Badem Sundar Raju, CSI Church, Muddanuru, Cuddapah dt. 576 380: I met Raju Thomas in Madras on Nov. 12 and saw with him the 16 bound volumes of Babasaheb’s Writings and Speeches. Its total cost comes to Rs. 1,250. How to get all the books. The Maharashtra Govt. does not have the full set.
Please write to Gautam Book Centre, C-263, Chandan Sadan, Hardevpuri, Delhi-110 093. They have the full set of books-EDITOR.
Tapan Markame, C/O Trilok Bhaiji, 1812-Wright Town, Jabalpur 482 002: I got a copy of Navdadhichi Krishnarao Spare special issue, Vanswar, a research journal of Vanasahitya Academy, published from Jabalpur. C.S. Mohanty is the director and editor of the journal. He was also the personal secretary of the late Krishnarao, a noted Hindu nazi leader who died on Jan. 27, 1999. Nazi chief K.S. Sudarshan released the journal on Sept. 27. 99. In the front cover of the journal they maligned Dalits by publishing a picture of a blue elephant (Dalit symbol). The Vanswar people must be warned not to hurt our people.
Pradip Sethi, Atharnala, Puri, Orissa 752 002: Orissa, the most backward state of the country, is facing the worst from of natural calamity in post- independent India. (DV Dec. 1, 1999 p. 7: “Aryans rejoice as Bahujans die in lakhs in orissa”). The Nov, 29, 1999 super-cyclone affected one-fourth of the state population, The worst affected are the Dalits and the Backward Castes. Eleven thousand schools are destroyed which means the already illiterate communities will forever remain illiterate, Five lakh fishermen living the east coast were the badly hit. Natural calamities occur all over the world. India is no exception but what aggravated the situation is the total indifference of the upper caste officials. Our people suffered because of the upper castes. These enemies of our people failed to give us the cyclone warning and later refused to take up the relief operations. Our people died like those winged ants.
The upper caste (Hindu) rulers were quick enough to send Army headed by Gen. Sunderji to the Golden Temple and did a quick job of killing thousands of Sikhs in the infamous “Blue Star in 1984. That means these rulers are capabale of using Army when their Aryan Jatis are threatened. But the same Aryans are not Interested in sending the Army to do some constructive work when Orissa people were dying. The same Aryans are today waging a war in whole of Kashmir but they are not in interested in deploying the Army in Orissa. This is called Hindu tolerance. Orissa is forgotten – EDITOR
Achyut Yagnik, Setu-Centre for Social Knowledge and Action, 1-Punyashlok, Near Liberty Bus stop, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, 380 009: We are sending our report of the round table, “Development, Equity & Justice: Adivasi Communities in India in the era of Liberalisation and Globalisation”, which was jointly organised in New Delhi by Setu and Minority Rights Group, London, on April, 6-9, 1998. The round table covered issues such as displacement, land alienation, intellectual property rights, erosion of indigenous culture and the impact of India’s new economic policy on Tribal women. To secure development with equity and justice for Tribals, advocacy strategies should focus on Article 21 of the Indian Constitution which guarantees the right to life and livelihood to all citizens. We met again at Nagpur in March this year and established a forum for the protection of Article 21.
This forum will bring together activists, academics, media persons and concerned citizens to strengthen the right to life and livelihood. Participants also recognised that the forces of liberalisation and golbalisation, with their emphasis on the exploitation of natural resources, adversely affect not only Adivasis but also other minority communities whose lives are directly linked with access to natural resources. Therefore, the Forum-21, as this new forum was christened, aims to protect and strengthen the right to life and livelihood through the consolidated efforts for Adivasis, Dalits and other vulnerable minority communities. It was acknowledged that the vast and powerful processes for liberalisation and globalisation, where state and market forces unite in their appropriation of natural resources, could be successfully resisted only by such collective action. Hindi version of the report is available.
We are sorry that we are disappointed with our NGOs mostly controlled by the upper castes, who when they talk of “development actually mean their own development. Quite a number of NGOs are upper caste, natak companies to fool our people. We don’t know about your NGO. However, we are ready to offer our support-EDITOR.
Rajinder Kaur, Sant Isher Singh Rarewala Education Trust, 179-Model Gram, Ludhiana-141 002: This refers to the article of Gobind Roy of Nanded, (DV Nov. 16, 1999 p.15). Gobind Roy says “did he (Principal Gurdial Singh) no criticise the Kukas, Namdharis, (one of the sect of Sikhism) in his book, Freedom Struggle of India by Sikhs and Sikhs in India. Gobind Roy should note that in the said book there is all praise for the Kukas/ Namdharis from page 107 to page 162. Not a single word is there against any Namdhari and nowhere is there any kind of criticism. The head of the Namdhari sect, Satguru Jagjit Singh, had nominated our Principal as vice-president of the Satguru Pratap Singh Academy at Bhaini Sahib. No sensible person can be angry with the principles of Sikhism. Gobind Roy should know the sincere services and efforts for the cause of Dalits by Principal Gurdial Singh through our Trust. From where Gobind Roy learnt that our noble saint threatened the Dalits and other readers and writers of DV. He is in his 88th year and works. spending his military pension for the service of Dalits and DV. History says Sikhs never ate meat or beef or any bird or animal. It is totally banned. This is clear in Gurbani and commands of Guru Sahibaan. Please refer to our rejoinder to Mithbain Singh of Jammu and H.P. Harsh of Sirsa.
J.D. Bhave, C/o Dr. Karuna Kamble, 29/477, “Vasundhara”, ONGC Officer’s Flats, Navghar Road, Mulund (East), Bombay – 400 081: I hail from Nagpur but nowadays I stay in Bombay. I happened to read the “brief report of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Vichar Man- than Seminar” held in Nagpur in July 1999. I am greatly pleased with the contents. The Bahujan Samaj must heave a sigh of relief to know that there are people who understand their woes, miseries and frustrations and have positive deliberations to wipe out the same. I myself feel proud of each of the speakers at the seminar, I have chosen to write to you because of your thoughts on social, cultural status of the Bahujan masses and the Ambedkarite movement because I also think the same way. Not myself alone but those who have the same thinking must agree with your thunder that the beneficiaries of reservations have become pleasure-loving people and the “educated”: Dalits became reason for decline and fall of Ambedkarite movement. (V.T. Rajshekar: Brahminism swallowing Ambedkarite movement, DSA 1999). The Dalits are the most poverty-stricken people. When they get a job and some money they get separated from their society. The “educated” Dalits forget their society. The result is only a small per cent of Dalits enjoy life while a vast majority is sticking in mud with mountains of difficulties. It is because of this attitude of the “educated” Dalits, our youth is nervous and roaming in wilderness and some of them have turned towards crimes. The “educated” Dalits are responsible to a great extent for the downfall of the youths/society. If nothing is done right now the future would be very dangerous, burying the sweet dream which our believed Babasaheb possessed lifelong. Your assessment of the “educated,” employed Dalits is fully correct.
S.K. Ram, president, Central Bank SC/ST/BC Employees Welfare Assn., 335-Faithful Ganj, Cantt. Kanpur-208 004: There are several anomalies in the engagement and payment to casual workers/daily wagers/safai karmacharis engaged by our bank branches in UP. They are paying as ‘little as Rs. 15 to Rs. 25 a day.
C. Rangaswamy, 4701, Dhammadeepa, 7th cross, 11th Main, Vijayanagar 2nd stage, Mysore – 570 017: For the last 8 months I was moving between Ganeshgudi and Mysore in connection with the house I constructed. The house, ‘Dhammadeepa,” was opened as per Budhist custom The ceremony was conducted by Dr. Rajananda Murthy of Mysore. I am asking for a transfer to Mysore or Bangalore. Though I have worked for more than 25 years in the Project Area and have less than 3 years of service, I have not been given a transfer so far. I had not forgotten you. I was under the impression that you had forgotten me after shifting to Delhi. I am happy that I got your address.
Brother Rangaswamy’s is a typical case how even those who have been closest and associated with DV from its inception just forget us. At least half of our family members after one or two years fail to renew their subscription. How can out circulation go up at this rate? EDITOR.
Keraleeya Kala Kendram, Pokyara, PO Udma, Kasargod-671 319: We highlight Dalit aboriginal culture, the original culture of Kerala, and to fight the invading savarna cultural elements, we have started library and request you to send a free copy of Dalit Voice for one year. We are too poor to buy your books.
Will a DV family member come forward to gift can year’s DV subscription and our full set of books to these deserving Kerala brothers ? – EDITOR.
Balakrishnan C., Chamakochi House, Achikanam post, Anandashram, Kerala 671 531: As per your call in DV, we have decided to form a caste-based. organisation here. We are SC (Mavilans). We are prepared to form a “Mavilan cultural forum” to enable its members to cooperate with all-India Dalit movements. And as a first step we are thinking of translating your folder on SC/ST Confederation.
B. Ramaswamy, Chairman, Andhra Pradesh Buddhist Trust, 10-4-771/3, Flat No. 403, Maphar Sheelings, Sreeram Nagar Colony, Hyderabad 500 028: This refers to the DV article “How brahminism swallowed Budhism and came to be called Hinduism,” by S. Subbanna (DV Nov. 16, 1999). This is a very great and most useful information to the Budhists and it also opened our eyes. It is a shame on the part of our Ambedkarites still lingering and loitering but yet to decide on embracing Budhism, the final goal shown by our Saviour Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. We have already wasted our precious time of 43 long years. By this time we should have launched an organised agitation for the restoration of misappropriated vihars and shrines on the lines of Hindu nazis demanding Rama Janmabhoomi, Mathura and Kashi etc. I have full confidence in the most daring Budhist upasaka, V.T. Rajshekar. He must seriously draw a blueprint for an all-India agitation. We will follow you. It is a fact that I have promised you to work for Budhism (DV Jan.1, 1995).
Secretary, Babasaheb Ambedkar Human Resource Development Centre, At/PO: Kasimpur, via Asurali, Bhadrak dt. 756 137: Orissa suffered the worst cyclone and those who died and suffered are mostly Dalits but the Aryan upper caste officials and other relief organisers have not bothered to rescue our people. About 1.5 crores of people have become homeless and thousands killed. Since DV has international circulation, please request them to send cheques in favourable of us payable at:
State Bank of India, Bhadrak Branch, Bhadrak, Orissa 756 100 or Bhadrak Head Post Office, Bhadrak, Pass Book No. 631277, At/PO: Bhadrak, Orissa 756 100.
Kirti Chandra Mahananda, At: Qtr. No. CA/16, Chitrakonda, PO: Chitrakonda, Dt: Malkangiri, Orissa -768 202: DV speaks the words of my heart. I belong to a village Saintala in Bolangir dt., I am a Dalit – subcaste Ganda. In our block, the majority of people are SC/ST/BC. Once our family had organised our Dalit people and contested for the post of block chairman. But due to lack of knowledge and guidance we lost it. My family people know something about Dr. Ambedkar. Here at Chitrakonda, I work as a junior Engineer (C) in a govt. establishment and luckily I came across with Dayanidhi Dhangda Majhi, who is your staunch follower. DV and D.D. Majhi are the source of inspiration to our people here.
C.C. Hadke, Dy. SE (Civil), ONGC, Civil Engg. Section, IEOT Bldg., (GF), Panvel, New Bombay-410 221: Prof. Seshraj Krishnarao Gajbhiye got doctorate degree of Nagpur university. The thesis for his doctorate was “Dr. Ambedkar – Social and economic justice”. This was the first thesis in Nagpur University of its kind. At present, he is teaching “Ambedkar Thoughts at People’s Welfare Society’s College, Nagpur, and connected with many social/missionary organisations.
Nani Gopal Das, 17-Dattabad Road, Salt Lake, Calcutta 700 064: Our Editor is right on “caste identity”. The Ananda Bazar, a Bengali daily (Nov. 10, 1999) says if Kalyan Singh is removed as chief minister of UP, the Scheduled Castes will be offended and not to give the post to a Brahmin, Kalraj Mishra, will annoy Brahmins. So, BJP was in a fix and lastly suggested the name of Ramprakash Gupta, a Baniya. I fully agree with your Nagpur speech (DV Aug. 1, 1999 p. 14 & 15). Our SC/ST MPs from reserved constituencies are selected by non-SC/STs who are in majority. That is why they lack guts. They can only raise their hands up and down as per the direction of the Hindu leaders of the parties which select them. So, these MPs are no use to us. A very strong agitation should be launched against the behaviour of Menaka Gandhi.
K.N. Kuttan, TC-13/1445, Burma Road, Kumarapuram, Trivandrum-695 011: I was present on Nov. 14 at Trivandrum when you released the Malayalam version of Dalit Voice, when I had the honour to meet you in person. From 1982 onwards I have been a read- er of the Dalit Voice and many of your books. My son, K. Anilkumar, is also a subscriber of DV as well your admirer. I also read your latest book, India’s intellectual Desert, which I would like to translate into Malayalam. I will complete the translation within three months. Please give the permission.
Please contact our Kerala representative V. Prabhakaran in this connection- EDITOR
Shaji K. Cheraman, Advocate, Chirayil House, Muttom, Kerala-690 511: A meeting is fixed for Dec. 12 at Trivandrum to form a preparatory committee to finalise the T.K. Narayanan Memorial Foundation. An announcement to that effect will come in the December issue of Malayalam DV and separate letters are also posted. We plan to conduct the seminar on TKN in the last week of February. For the December issue, I have translated your speech at Hyderabad NCCI seminar. Malayalam DV has generated high hopes. From January we are shifting to Cochin.
Tata Institute of Social Sciences, ST/ST Emp. Assn.. Sion-Trombay Road, Deonar, Bombay – 400 088: The two judgments of the Supreme Court, one negating reservation in the super speciality courses and another denying reservation in promotions for the SC/ST candidates, cut the very roots of the spirit behind these constitutional safeguards. We may now look at the context and validity of the two judgments in the light of the unwritten reservation policy provided for the upper caste people by Manu (the Hindu law-giver) through his Manusmriti. Manu says, “the whole world is his (Brahmin) property and others live on his charity”. The two arbitrary judgments indicate the need to introduce reservation in the Supreme Court and the need to have SC/ST judges to decide issues pertaining to the SC/STs. We demand that the two judgments. are kept in abeyance. The matter should be discussed in Parliament by representatives of the people.
Bhante Prajna Sheel, Secretary, Buddhagay Temple Management Committee, Bodhgaya, Bihar-824 231: This has reference to the anti-national activities of a Lankan citizen, Ven. Maitipe Wimalasara Thero, asst. gen. secretary and the Bhikku-in-charge, Mahabodhi Society of India, Bodh Gaya Centre and gen. secretary, International Buddhist Council, Bodh Gaya. We demand a high level investigation and legal action against Thero who tried to kill me with the help of some anti-social elements. He creates problem in the Mahabodhi Temple and its premises and takes away the offerings from the temple. Why he misguides the Lankan devotees? Is he in India for religious work or to create dispute among the Budhists?
Dr. Shiv Kant, Associate Proffessor, Narendra Dev University of Agri. & Tech., Kumarganj, Faizabad – 224 229. This concerns a serious case of racism in our university. There was an advt. for pre-Vet. Sc., Test (PVT) made for 30 seats by our university. On March 7 last, the pre entrance test was conducted at different centres in UP. Out of the 30 seats, 15 from general, 8 seats from other BC and 7 seats from SC/ST categories aught to have been filled as per the rule. But only 6 seats instead of 7 went to SC/ST. One seat was left vacant due to non-availability of SC candidates. Later, the seats were increased from 30 to 50 by the Vice-Chancellor Rakesh Yamdagni without advt. as per rule. So, out of the 50 seats, 13 must go to OBC and 12 to SC/ST. But he filled 25 from general and 13 from OBC categories despite objections from the SC representatives. So, 6 seats of SC/STs were not raised to 12 as per the reservation policy. Such 12 seats could be filled up from SC/STs who appeared for the entrance test of PVT of ICAR, Pantnagar and C.S. Azad Universities of Kanpur SC/ STs lost 12 seats. Such a discrimination against SC/ ST has been committed deliberately by the Hindus. Action must be taken against the Vice-Chancellor/ Registrar for racism.
Neerav Patel, 4-Hemang Park, Vejalpur, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380 051: This refers to your signed article DV Dec. 1,1999. P6: “How long DV can run as a one- man show?“. I began reading my first love, DV, only to find that it made most pathetic rending, tears rolled out from my eyes when I read phrases like: “silently weep.. converting our blood into sweat.. struggling to exist.. abuses and curses from those who have long association with us.. extremely over worked.. feeling tired.. the back broken…” The despair and frustration were never so tragic. Tragic for you and for the Dalits. I withdraw my words that you have no poetry, no philosophy in you. My dear Titan, the show, however, must go on.
Ambedkar Mission, Chitkohra, PO Anisabad, Patna -800 001: Your attention is invited to an effort to stop publication of our book, Hindi translation of Periyar E. V. Ramaswamy’s Ramayana True. Buddha Sharan Hans is the translator. The Editor of Janahit, Malati Prasad Mishra, has filed a writ on 18.8.99 to ban our publication, circulation and sales. To help fight this case please send DD/Cheque/MO to: Ambedkar Mission.
Ramdeo Paswan, K/165 Hanuman Nagar, Patna- 800 020: It is good that DV has proved a common platform for different thinkers. Almost every writer is attacking brahminism. The subject is very old. But why brahminism is not eradicated? In my previous article, I had said the so-called Aryans were not even seven in 1,000 population of India. And yet they are controlling the country. Kanshi Ram says political power will liberate Dalits and Muslims. But brahminism is not a political power. Rather, it is at the root of it. What is the force behind brahminism? I have dealt with it in my books in detail. In short, it is a spirit of Ayodhya and a Jewish girl, named Dev Yani, haunting the temples of the country. Dr. Ambedkar alone had a clear vision of it. But we are ignorant.
A. Patrick, 204-2nd cross, 9th Main, Arekere Mico Layout, Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore 560 076: 1 demand clemency to Nalini, Murugan, Perarivalan and Chinna Santhan who are facing death sentence in the Rajiv Gandhi murder case. The trial in a TADA court was not fair and free.
M. Subba Rao, Advocate, 3-15, Housing Board Colony, Moula Ali, Hyderabad-500 040: I just read a reprint of your great book, How Marx Failed in Hindu India (DSA 1999). You have correctly said that de- casting is more important than de-classing. You have correctly assessed that caste system ranks No.1 among the different counter-revolutionary forces working against revolution. You have correctly said that even a “low caste” person derives lot of consolation in the fact that in the scale of castes, he is above some other “castes”. You also say that the karma theory or fate, is the second most dangerous counter-revolutionary force which killed the spirit of reasoning and inquiry, revolutionary thinking and outlook. The book is marvellous, thought-provoking.
C.C. Hadke, ONGC, Civil Engg., Section, IEOT Bldg (GF), Panvel, New Bombay 410 221: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar had delivered an extempore speech on Dec. 17, 1946 in the Constituent Assembly (I possess the audio cassette) in which he had appealed or Dalit- Muslim unity. It is a historical speech defending Muslims at a time when the Congress Party was trying to keep the Muslim League out while framing future constitution of the united India. Dr. Ambedkar had been elected from the Jassore-Khulna Constituency (now part of Bangladesh) during 1946 with the holy alliance of the Scheduled Caste Federation and the Muslim League by defeating the mighty Congress Party. A top Dalit leader, Jogendra Nath Mondal, was the chief architect to brighten Dr. Ambedkar on the Indian horizon and the people of Jassore-Khulna Constituency who lost their nationality subsequently as a retaliation of the Hindus. Their fault was they elected Dr. Ambedkar. Subsequently, Dr. Ambedkar became the first Law Minister of India and Jogendra Nath Mondal of Pakistan. Indeed, this was a historic struggle of Dalit (Namosudra)-Muslim unity which could make a difference during those days. So, let all of us solemnly learn the lesson from this real history and make such attempts in this age also for Dalit- Muslim unity.
V.R. Ambedkar, 48-Saraswati Vihar, Gurgaon, Haryana 122 002: I am a new subscriber of Dalit Voice. For the first time I read it at the residence of Prakash Ambedkar, MP, at his 136, South Avenue, New Delhi residence. I like DV very much because I am also a Dalit and this is the Voice of Dalit. When I met you at your residence I felt very proud that there were some dedicated persons like you working for the deprived and give them new direction.
Syed Shahabuddin, Flat 404, Block-8, East End Apts.. Mayur Vihar-1 Ext., Delhi 110 096: As a citizen, I wonder at Vajpayee’s political compulsion in elevating Arun Shourie to the ministership, as if nomination to the Rajya sabha was not an adequate reward for the vast “contribution” he made to the Hindu nazi mission by vilifying the religious minorities, bringing them down in the eyes of the “majority community”, widening the gulf of mutual distrust and suspicion and thus vitiating the social environment in the country. Shourie has attributed motives to the Christian missionaries and questioned their faith. He has vilified the Muslim ulema and mocked at Muslim’s faith in the Holy Quran. He has accused the Dalits of “worshipping false gods”. He has questioned the motive and standing of eminent historians and thus provided tactical support for the Hindu nazi objective of saffronisation of history books: He has tried to redefine secularism to suit the philosophy of Hindutva. Shourie has made an enormous contribution under the garb of scholarship to put the religious minorities, as it were, in their place and to tell them where they stand. Shourie has played to the gallery, one cannot credit him with promoting mutual understanding or contributing to academic discourse. Shourie may be considered an intellectual giant by his admirers but as an individual he is persona non grata with the religious minorities and the secular intelligentsia. Such a controversial person is totally unfit to be a minister. Yet, he had chosen Shourie perhaps deliberately. By so doing, the govt. has identified itself with his views and approach which rubbishes. everything the religious minorities, the Dalits and those committed to secularism hold dear and sacred. The including of Arun Shourie in the council of ministers is yet another evidence of the current of anti-minorityism which permeates through the mind and structure of the Hindu nazi-led govt.
“Darvesh“, Book Room, Opp. MIT, PO Manipal-576 119: The “Spirit of Islam, which you say is more important than the rituals of Islam, is still yearning for good leaders here. Masses cannot be fooled for a long period of time. Belief (Iman) without good deed (amalan salih) is futile as Quran says, Juhaiman who questioned Fahd (1979). Dr. Ali Shariati who questioned the Shah of Iran, Syed Qutb who dared to speak out against Gamal Abdul Nasser, Malcolm X who stood up against the wretched US racial system, were the real honest intellectuals, who imbibed the “Spirit of Islam“. They wrote the shortest and sweetest possible article on Islam. That was with blood. They all got martyred. When a learned man’s ink was equated to blood by prophet, he meant exactly this. Thank you for pointing the stark truth about the “Spirit of Islam hidden from our eyes by the peddlers of “Rituals of Islam”. (Curse of Allah: Articles on the Spirit of Islam, DSA, 1997). Your book on intellectual cacophoney (India’s Intellectual Desert) is marvellous, daring and second to none.
Abdulwahab Ali Bijle, PO Ashti, Taluk Khed, Ratnagiri dt., MS 415 709: I read your book, India’s Muslim Problem (DSA 1998), and Dalit Voice. Earlier, I had read many books on Dalits and Muslims problem but your book gave me entirely new information. Around our village there are lots of Dalit but they call themselves Hindus. I am a Muslim and I know what type of atrocities they face daily. I had succeeded in telling the same Dalits that they are not Hindus. The word “Hindu” itself is wrong because in their religious books this word is not found anywhere.
Ahmed Ali c/o Ahmed Pasha, Popular Transport, Opp. Saat Kachehari, PO Raichur-584 101: DV is going a better service to the cause of Islam than other Islamic journals put together.
“Every political revolution almost always is preceded by cultural revolution. If we study the history of world revolutions we come to this conclusion.
This is what DV says. This advice of DV and other Letters published in DV from various Muslims inspired us to start an Islamic cultural movement. By this, we mean a complete and radical change in persons beliefs, values and attitudes. We feel that the Indian Muslims are not Islamised in the true Quranic sense, so we have started an Islamic movement named “Movement for Moral Reform”. This movement is part of the larger Islamic movement which is going on in India. We need dedicated activists from Hyderabad, Bombay and other cities who will be responsible for getting these things done (1) preparation of type – setting for the movement’s literature, (2) getting its literature printed on offset printing, (3) distribution of its literature. Those interested should possess a good English knowledge. This is a non-profit movement, and hence workers must work free. Today, Muslims have sunk to the lowest depths of immorality. The situation is already alarming and dangerous and it should not be allowed to continue.
