Raghuthaman Opeh, C-006, Pragati Vihar Hostel, Lodhi Road, New Delhi -110 003, (docopeh@vsnl.com): In the village of Kadapakkam, 100 km south of Madras and 50 km north of Pondicherry, along the East-Coast, some interesting sociological phenomena are noted. There are Vanniyars belonging to the Patali Makkal Katchi and Dalit Panthers of the Tirumavalavan party. Then there are 1/4 fishermen, some Muslims and a handful of Christians. The seaside island village is full of fishermen (1,000) and the mainland people are farmers, goat/sheep herders and sellers of coconut, mango, palm fruit, firewood, charcoal and ago labour. The men on the island go to sea fishing, their women sell the fish twice daily. The farmers buy fish from the women. When I4ooked for a house for rent, I could not find even one with a latrine. So, I left the place and migrated to Pondicherry. Only latrines were in the children’s home and clinic of an NRI foundation run by my colleagues of JIPMER, Pondicherry. Latrine with a septic tank would cost about Rs. 5,000 which is more than the cost of building a house. So, the job of cleaning the toilet became a very delicate affair. For fear of losing their jobs, the Vanniar women working as cleaners, cook etc. took up the additional work of cleaning the toilet twice a week. I had taken one of them to Madras to work in a friend’s home. She returned since cleaning the latrine was one of the jobs. Now people look down upon this woman as the latrine cleaner. Their daughter is having difficulty finding a groom from their own caste. Before they took up the work of cleaning, two prospective grooms had come.
Hasan Chand Nandaniwale, C-1683, Ganji Galli, Somwarpet, Kolhapur – 416 002: I am a Dalit Voice family member almost since its inception, I am now 83 suffering from asthama, bronchitis and respiratory trouble. Above all I have lost 75% of my eyesight and as such practically unable to read even bold letters. With heavy heart and tearful eyes, I respectfully request you to discontinue sending DV to me. I feel very unfortunate to part which such a precious magazine. Please bear with me. I pray God for a long, healthy and prosperous life for you to serve the cause you have undertaken.
M.S. Shaikh, Tawakkal Society-1, Sarkhej, Ahmedabad – 382 210: Your proposal to devote a full issue of Dalit Voice on Iraqi war is praiseworthy. It is only the DV which gives the correct and true facts, boldly and bravely on the Iraqi war. DV publishes not only reports but the comments and criticism of the arrogant Bush and stupid Blair. We cannot call it a war. It was not a war declared by the concerned parties but was a one-sided foolish, senseless, shameful attack by an arrogant lion on an innocent rabbit. During this war the most astonishing matter is that the Arab world which in fact is powerful and wealthy enough to counter the attack on Iraq, could have created a big mountain-like obstacle and put brake on America’s naked attack on Iraq. But why did it go behind the curtain? Why so timid? It could have stopped the oil to the aggressors. But the Arabs enjoyed their sound sleep, drinks and dinners while their brothers were ruthlessly being killed. Saudi Arabia is a puppet of America. It has allowed thousands of American soldiers on its pious land, the land which is made impious by the American soldiers who are addicted to drinks, wine and women and that too being carried on in the Wahhabi Saudi before their eyes. I congratulate Shamsul Arifin ‘of New Delhi who has given a call to the Arabs (DV May1, 2003, p.8).
Nishikant Waghmare, Bombay, nishinirvana@yahoo.com : For years they walked together to Little Star English High School. Or waited to use common toilets or lined up to reach the only tap in Parsiwadi slums, Ghatkopar. Then Nitin Jawale .got into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). His childhood buddies are hawkers, contract labourers and some -are still without a job. It happened on the first of the month when his Ayurvidya doctor found the UPSC rank 56 went to 048655-Nitin Bhanudas Jawale. From that day, the 160 sq. ft. chawl of the Jawale family has been thick with relatives, bosses of relatives, friends, media persons, social workers, local politicians and strangers. Outside in the marriage market, the Jawale stock prices took a bulk run. “It was Rs. 2 lakhs when I was a doctor. Now, a couple of influential politicians have approached my brother quoting Rs. 20 lakhs. But we have decided — no dowry”, says Jawale. Marriage will have to wait. In August, Nitin will be packing his bags to Mussoorie for training. The son of a factory worker and youngest in the family of six girls and two boys, Nitin’s early interest in staff indies saw him go to an English medium school while the rest went to a municipal Marathi school. For years, Madhukar Jawale (42), his brother, wife and three children have been Nitin’s family. “They never forced me to earn”, he says. He studied up to 17 hours a day when the exams were near and lost six kg in a year. His inspiration is Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. His police constable brother eked out Rs. 1,500 every month for his education at Baisaheb Sawant Ayurvidya College of Medicine, Sawantwadi. Nitin says the way society is treating him is changing dangerously fast. He noticed it first when seated with 780 IAS aspirants in Delhi for the interview. “The examiners came to our table to give us Rs. 850, the travel allowance. We didn’t have to wait in a queue. That’s royal treatment for a boy who has always waited in queue, even if it is just to go to the loo”. Felicitation functions are lined up. And now, Nitin needs a- diary to keep track of it.
Dr. K. Jamanadas, “Shalimar” Main Road, Chandrapur – 442 402: 1 wanted to know your views on one point about Periyar E.V. Ramaswamy. I had criticised Dalit writer Chandra Bhan Prasad (CBP) when he wrote that Dalits should now ¥ throw away the yoke of the Periyar. On that one of our Dalit friends had said CBP was rather right because BCs, as followers of the Periyar, were fighting against Dalits. I argued that just because today the followers of Babasaheb within the RPIs were also fighting among themselves without respecting Babasaheb’s views, we could not blame Babasaheb for the actions of his followers. Similarly, because followers of the Periyar were not respecting his views today, why should we blame him for that? It is said that the Periyar was against the Brahmins and not against Brahminism. Is that a correct assessment of the Periyar and has the great movement of the Periyar finished from South India?
You. have raised an important question roar which we had replied in our Editorial of June 1, 2002: “Who is enemy of Dalits? Vaidiks or Backwards: Babasaheb thoughts distorted” Among ‘independent” India’s three greatest personalities, we had ranked Periyar next only to Babasaheb, third place going to Dr. Lohia. Periyar’s thoughts are confined to mostly Tami Naau and he had inspired not only the BCs but the Dalits also. Every revolutionary thought has limitations of time. Marxism suited a particular fime and liberated motions to & particulor age. When a more revolutionary thought comes, its Take’s over. Babasaheb’s thoughts were more revolutionary and more advanced. That does not mean the Mahatma Phule thoughts, which preceded, have to be condemned. Babasaheb had acknowledged Phule as one of his gurus. Babasaheb was a product of Backward Caste Movement (DV May 16, 2001, p.23, Gurnam Singh). Those who condemn Periyar and the BCs suffer from lack of ideological clarity arising out of their intellectual dishonesty. Brahminical rulers want to bring about a split between the SCs and BCs and between SCs and Muslims. This is part of their divide and rule game. Babasaheb stressed Bahujan unity, meaning unity of SC/ST/ BCs and Muslim/ Christian/Sikhs. This is the meaning of Bahujan Samaj. Those talking against ·it is Brahminical agents – EDITOR.
Pitambar Naik, Lead, Christian Street, Jeypore (K), Orissa – 764 001: I read DV and some literature. Previously DV looked ugly but spoke very sharp and stood unbeaten. Today, it does either thing, attractive in apperance, most adamant at merit. It is only because of you. Being a Dalit, I am very much eager to be introduced with my traditions, culture and lifestyle as well as much excited to be involved with my people’s plight. I want to join the DV family.
