Mugisa Rathael Fambro, 200 – WindWood Lake Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701: Well, My Black brothers and sisters of India, we have gotten off to a start. I proposed to Editor V.T. Rajshekar that to gain publicity for the Dalits I would try and arrange a national broadcast. I contacted Tony Brown’s journal, which is a Black nationally syndicated TV journal program. Brown assured me that myself, Runoko Rashidi, Dr. Y.N. Kly and Kenneth Cooper would be the guests on the show. Runoko informed that he had a good taping, one with a debate with a South Indian Brahmin, whom he said he had to “blast”, on the nature, history, and impact of Hinduism. On the next program, he discussed the general African Presence in Asia with many photos. The programs will air here in the US in late July or early August. I will send taped copies as soon as I obtain one for myself. Runoko is a scholar on Africans in Asia, and 1 couldn’t have picked anyone better to present “our” case. I will continue to put together events like this and maybe I’ll get my chance to speak someday.
Mohammad Kashif Yunus: In my life, first time I have gone through Dalit Voice. Your Voice is energetic, your talks are very, very near to Truth. But unfortunately, very few people are receiving it on receiving end. I pray to Allah that your voice must go from the villages of India to international world. I am a student of information technology. If you don’t have any website for your magazine. I am ready to build one for your magazine. Of course, free of cost.
Runoko Rashidi, P O Box 201662, San Antonio, TX 78220, USA: On June 27, 2001, I addressed the United African Movement Forum in Harlem, New York. I just returned from a ten-day research trip to Peru, South America, where I visited the major communities, museums and cathedrals in search of the African presence in ancient and modern times. I also went to the Andean highlands to visit the Inca ruins around Cusco and Machu Picchu.
Dr. Prakash Louis, Executive Director, Indian Social Institute, No.10 – Institutional Area, Lodi Road, New Delhi – 110 003: The Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission has brought out a report, Caste Based Prostitution in Madhya Pradesh. The report says caste- based prostitution, prevalent in some parts of the state, is a socially sanctioned system, specifically among the three Dalit communities, namely Banchharas, Bedias and Sansias. The report is based on “detailed and authentic information and is the result of a serious and comprehensive study of the subject”. A copy may be obtained from us.
Dr. B.S. Sandhu, Kothi No.2, Sector-2, Chandigarh – 160 002: I was at the Akal Takhat during the most crucial and horrific days of June 4, 5, and 6 with my two companions, Prof. M.S. Dhaliwal and S. Charanjit Singh Talwandi. We were deputed on top of the deori on the left side of Akal Takhat behind the two nishan sahibs. Looking at the whole scenario in retrospect I have no doubt that Sant Bhindranwale achieved martyrdom. Escaping from Akal Takhat and its surroundings, especially for those who were armed was no less than a betrayal. That was the atmosphere and environment in and around Akal Takhat. 1 with my two accomplices escaped on June 6 morning with heavy heart and guilty conscious. How could the Sant escape from there? No one from the Damdami Taksal, who are spreading canards about the Sant, was there at the time. If anybody wants to discuss the events of that eventful time he can come and meet me any time. I can tell him the actual facts. These people seem to be playing knowingly or unknowingly in the hands of the government agencies. The best way to clear the doubt would be to constitute a committee of witnesses to the whole situation rather than passing on arbitrary and authoritarian false decisions which would lower the image of Damdami Taksal in the eyes of the Sikh people. The Damdami Taksal should respect the feelings of the Sikh sangat and settle the controversy once for all after proper investigation. (DV July 1, 2001, p.23: “Bhindranwale hailed martyr).
Katti Padma Rao, Andhra Pradesh Dalit Mahasabha, Lumbini Vanam, Ambedkar Colony, Ponnur – 522 124: Reports of the social boycott of the Dalits of the Guruvareddypalem village, near Ongole, once again provides the hate philosophy of Hindus. Dalits are living in a state of fear amidst rumours that the Reddis are mobilising their strength to attack them. Dalits have been facing a social boycott ever since they stood up against untouchability, practised so brazenly in the village for decades and gained access to the drinking water well much to the chagrin of the Reddis. They are sulking that their caste hegemony has been challenged. The tobacco- rich Guravareddypaleum is a Reddi-dominated village with a population of about 5,000 where untouchability is practised in a strange manner.
Upendra Nag, At/PO Boden, Nuapada dt., Orissa: Why the Bahujans are unable to declare India as Budhasthan? Our national emblem is Budhist: Ashoka pillar of A Sarnath. Our national seal is the Budhist emblem lion. Our national flag is decorated with the Budhist wheel of law (Dhamma Chakra). Our Constitution was written by a great Budhist, Dr. Ambedkar. There are many Budhist shrines in India. With all these, why the Bahujans constituting over 85% are not declaring India as “Budhastan”? Only 3.5% Aryan Brahmins are calling Bharat as Hindustan.
A.S. Rajan, 797 – 17th F-2 Main Road, 6th Block, Koramangala, Bangalore – 560 095: Despite the Atrocities Act or Civil Rights Enforcement Act, varied and ever-increasing atrocities against SC/STs have become a daily feature throughout India. In “independent” India, the plight of the Dalits has worsened. This is because the law-enforcing authorities are Hindus and our enemies. These Hindus are controlling the three wings of the state viz., legislature, executive and judiciary. Not-only that. These Hindus dominate the economic, cultural and religious spheres also.
Suresh Jadhav, Mukti Dham, Ch’s No.2, R.No.1, Konkannagar, Jogeshwari (E), Bombay – 400 060: This refers to the article of Dr. Ejaz Ali (DV June 1, 2001, p.23: “If Dalits want power, they must support Dalit- Muslim demand for quota”). He says:
A Dalit can never be the Prime minister until and unless there develops a strong binding between Dalits and Muslims.
This is what our Editor also says. That is why the Dalits fought for the Mandal Commission so that there will be unity between the SC/ST/BCs. Dalits never opposed a BC for the prime ministership but the BCs blindly voted to Hindu nazis. The Mandal Commission benefited the BCs only. We know that Muslims had demanded prime ministership to Babasaheb Ambedkar to avert the partition of India. But the situation now has totally changed because of the caste-based parties. Dr. Ejaz Ali writes:
This (prime ministership to Dalits) can be done by bringing them (Dalits and Muslims) under one quota.
This is what the Hindu nazis also want. Hindu nazis also want to put us under a general quota. Dr. Ejazi Ali says:
The condition of Muslims is worse than that of Dalits and Adivasis.
Yes. If so, Dalit and Muslims must get separate quota. Babasaheb too was in favour of caste-wise quota. During the Simon Commission, Hindu nazis found fault with Babasaheb and criticised him for promoting differences between different Dalit castes by demanding caste-wise quota. Babasaheb replied in his Editorial (Feb:1, 1929 Bakishkrit Bharat) titled, “This inequality to equality”:
Our opponents do not know what the aim-purpose of equalising (humanist). The aim is not to treat all human beings equally but only the establishment of equality where all persons are equals and out of them some are treated as unequals. Then inequality arises. But when all persons are unequals, in that case to treat all as equals is not in favour of all. Therefore, not to treat equals as unequals and unequals as equals, this is the aim of a humanist.
General quota never attracts the Bahujans. Only caste- wise quota will bring them under one flag of revolution (not political party) to fight the Hindu nazis. A caste having many subcastes is not the important issue. Brahmins have 1,886 subcastes. But they are never disturbed by it. Every Brahmin subcaste is represented in the government, private and public services. Demand for separate quota for every subcaste of SC/ST/BCs and Muslims as advocated by DV will help confine Hindu nazis to their population quota in all sectors.
B.K. Ghatak, G-1320 (GF), CR Park, New Delhi – 110 019: I have gone through the DV June 16, 2001. There are several contradictory statements, and many readers will be confused to read different articles. Dalit Voice has taken so much interest in Muslims and Islam that some Dalits call it “Muslim Voice”. In one article, it tells “religion did not untie Muslims” though it is true in the sense that this religion is not in the hands of intellectuals but with some fundamentalists. Syed Shahabuddin writes:
The Muslim are not prepared to serve as the palanquin- bearers of the shudras or the SC/ST”.
For them, it is better to serve under Brahmins. Sometimes they show sympathy in the interest of conversion. But those Dalits who converted to Islam continue to remain Dalits.
Nani Gopal Das, 17 – Dattabad Road, Salt Lake, Calcutta – 700 064 This refers to the comments of Gurnam Singh Muktsar (DV May 16, 2001, p. 23). He quotes Dr. Ambedkar saying that to cross the seven seas successfully the Backward Castes should sit on the back of the SCs. But it is pathetic that the BCs think themselves to be equal to Hindus and consequently hate the SCs. Then how can they become the ruling class of the land? They are so ignorant that they cannot understand and do not want to understand that with the help of the SCs they can become the rulers of this land because they have education, intelligence and money and the SCs have the physical strength. And by combining the two, the character of this. land can be changed, and India can become a first-class country in the world. But who can make this unwilling horse drink water?
If the Backward Castes have become Awkward Castes and continue to fight Dalits rather than target their principal enemy, the Brahminical Social Order, the brain behind engineering this brother fighting brother, is the vaidik conspiracy. We have referred to this in our Editorial Note (DV June 1, 2001, p.13) in our reply to the Letter of Brother Gama Ram of Lucknow. India is a huge sub-continent of several “nations” comprising hundreds of castes. Contradictions between them are natural. But the contradictions between the BCs and SCs or SCs and Muslims is not antogonistic but “non-antogonistic”. A study of the Law of Contradictions will make this clear. The vaidiks through their monopoly media, only go on highlighting and sharpening this non- antogonistic contradiction and thereby forcing the two brothers to fight each other. This is what is happening all over India in every state. Since the Bahujans have no media to correctly place the facts and explain the all-important Law of Contradictions, we are failing and the vaidiks are winning in keeping the two brothers fighting – EDITOR.
Dr. E.V. Chinnaiah, Plot No.2, flat 206, Surya Saroj Apartments, Hyderabad – 500 035: Revolution is not possible, says Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, in two places where people are too rich and also where the people are too poor. Where the people are too rich, they don’t need revolution and in the second place where the people are too poor, they will be too weak to rebel against the well-established system. The process of LPG (liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation) very speedily being implemented by our State and Central Governments is pushing the poor, particularly the SC/ST and other weaker sections of the society, to the second stage as explained by the veteran socialist Dr. Lohia. (DV June 16, 2001, p.10: “Privatisation, globalisation are Aryan weapons to further enslave us”, V.T. Rajshekar). Under mechanisation the agricultural labour, among whom the majority are the SC/STs, will go without work for over nine months in a year. Privatising the education means it would be impossible for a common man, let alone the poor, to send his children to schools. And there will be no jobs for others except the rich who invariably are upper castes. That means the parties in power are taking the society back to the days of Manu dharma by which the Shudras and the ati-sudras should do whatever the upper castes command them to do and in return they should accept whatever is thrown at them as charity. There are the “educated” among the SC/ST/BCs in lakhs who call themselves as Ambedkarites, socialists, communists and so on. But when it comes to the time of action they meekly submit to the parties in power.
Dr. Sanal Das, President, Kerala Dalit Medical Assn. & Lecturer in Nephrology, Medical College, Trivandrum – 695 011: In the latest Assembly elections held in May last SC/ST have no member elected from any general seat. Dalits are not a deciding factor in any constituency. If Dalits can secure at least 15,000 votes in a constituency, they can become an important group. After Mahatma Ayyankalis we have no dedicated Dalit leader, no honest intellectual. There is no intellectual growth or intellectual debate in Kerala as far as Dalits are concerned. There is absolutely no active, live, creative Dalit literature in Kerala. The failure of Dalit movement is so pathetic that it totally failed to produce even a single scholar in Dalit studies. The existing leaders quarrel on petty issues for personal gains. They have only one agenda: noise pollution. Savarna comrades are responsible for the defeat of LDF in Kerala. Savarnas (Hindus) tried to defeat V.S. Achuthanandan, an Ezhava liked by the working class. Earlier the Hindus tried to stop Achuthanandan becoming the chief minister. The LDF (marxist) Government ignored Ezhavas, Muslims, Dalits. Ezhavas and Dalits are the vote banks of LDE Fortunately, this time both the Ezhava and Dalit leadership turned against the LDF. Prominent Hindus, notorious for their anti-Dalit and Ezhava stand, lost this time. Speaker M. Vijayakumar who was dead against instailing the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar statue before legislature complex, was defeated. He was not even permitted to enter Dalit colonies in Thiruvananthapuram. K.E. Ismail, the man behind the Bill to annihilate the poor Tribals in Kerala, was also defeated. Those savarna comrades opposing SNDP and Sri Narayanan Guru were also defeated. P.J. Joseph, the notorious man behind DPEP and educational business, was also defeated. Chief Minister Antony has taken only one Dalit member Dr. M.A. Kutt Appan (Pulaya) into the cabinet. Of the 20 members in the Cabinet, there are five Nairs, five Christians, four Ezhavas but only one Dalit. All the important portfolios are allotted to Nair, Christian and Muslim group. Though Dr. M.A. Kuttappan is MBBS and MS (General Surgery) health portfolio is allotted to somebody else. The entire Dalit community is getting hinduised. The danger ahead must be corrected immediately.
Syed Muzaffar Mir, Sarwajanik Muslim Library, Bhusawal – 425 201: This is the sad story of oppression and suppression of a Muslim employee by the upper caste officials of National Textile Corp. at Bombay. My son, junior assistant in New Hind Textile Mills, Bombay-33 tried to get voluntary retirement to escape from the clutches of Hindu nazi bosses in the mill. But they want to terminate his services without any pension benefits amounting to Rs. 10 lakhs. Meanwhile, I too suffered and underwent open heart surgery incurring over Rs. 1 lakh expenditure. All this has added to my worries.
Nyyar Ahmed, Vijaynagar Nursing Home, Vijaynagar Colony, Hyderabad – 500 057: It was pathetic to observe that many DV family members have the same impression of Islam like any other enemies of Islam. It is due to lack of Islamic knowledge. Enemies of Islam were always of two kinds. One, who rejected openly, the other hypocrites. Today, the hypocrites are of two types. One who understood fully what Islam is, others have vague idea about it. The majority is from the latter. They too tune with enemies on points which are raised since Islamic origin. They forget that people of that period were also human beings like us with all feelings what we possess. They were intelligent, foolish, sincere and greedy as we find today.
The deep-rooted prejudice against Muslims and Islam – so common among Dalits and Backward Castes, who too are victims of the Brahminical Social Order (BSO) like the Muslims- is due to the long-drawn powerful brahminical propaganda against Muslims. The spectacular success of this propaganda can be judged from the fact that the Hindu nazis, the perpetrators of this crime, are now occupying the seat in Delhi. The Dalits or Backward Castes cannot be blamed for developing such a prejudice. Any innocent mind when brainwashed can be made to believe any damn thing. The BSO today possesses not only the illegally acquired power and wealth but the media to convince the innocent minds about their correctness. The BSO has divided the society into Hindu and Muslims putting the non-Hindu Dalits and BCs under the Hindus. This divide is total and complete with the Muslims as its worst victims. The BSO achieves “Hindu unity” only by annexing the non-Hindu SC/ST/BCs under the Hindu. As we have no media of our own, we must simply suffer and surrender. No other go – EDITOR.
Syed Basheer Ahmed, 1929, South End “C” Road, 9th Block East, Jayanagar, Bangalore – 560 069: Reserving 5% seats to Kannada medium students in technical educational institutions has caused anxiety among educationists who are in favour of giving primary education in their mother tongue. The High Court of Karnataka, after considering the constitutional provision and universal demand to give primary education in mother tongue, gave its verdict in favour of giving primary education in mother tongue. The Karnataka Govt. accepted this in principle and issued orders for giving primary education in mother tongue from 1st standard. Kannada being the state language to be taught from 3rd standard and English being link language to be taught from 5th standard onwards. In the 10th standard all the students irrespective of which medium of instruction they have studied have to answer 100 marks paper in Kannada. This is an effective step taken to make all the students well conversant with Kannada, the state official language. Now the State Govt. has decided to give education in mother tongue compulsory in the higher primary school level also i.e. up to 8th standard. This looks like an effort to discourage students craving for education in English medium.
- Haque, Patna: The Muslims are trapped in a secret conspiracy hatched by the brahminical toilet papers. When Muslims write about our burning problems like share in power, justice etc., the media do not publish such articles. But when Muslims write on films. pollution, flood etc. the media highlights them. Many newspaper/TV channels have employed Muslims to write on films. Very unhealthy things are shown on Urdu TV pulling the community back day by day. No Muslim leaders or religious persons are coming out to protest such garbage.
Isa Haque, Madhupur, PO Hoerah, Hooghly – 712 147: This refers to the Letter of N.G. Das (DV March 16, 2001) accusing me of vomiting poison against Mamata Banerjee in my article, “Mamata Banerjee can never topple Left Govt. in Bengal“. It is absolutely incorrect that I had vomited poison against Mamata. Far from it. Rather, what I had done in my article is that I had placed some cold facts about her, facts known to everybody in and outside the state. Das has alleged that the Left Govt. is a repressive regime. This is his personal view, and I think it is not based upon facts. I do not accept and endorse his view. On the contrary, I think this govt. is a progressive one, more progressive than any other govts. of the past. I had seen the govts. of Dr. B.C.Ray, P.C. Sen, Ajay Mukherjee, Dr. Prafulla Ghosh and lately the govt. of Jyoti Basu under no govt. of the Congress party did the downtrodden people of the rural Bengal comprising about 70% of the total population enjoy so much right, honour and status as they are doing now under the marxists. I have been in social service since 1954 and I had seen the magnitude of their plight and hardship, degradation, ‘humiliation and exploitation at the hands of the upper castes. They were treated like human-beasts, live beasts of burden being deprived of the fruit they themselves produced with their own robust hands. Now the picture has altogether changed. Under the Left rule they have learnt to hold their heads high, undaunted and unfazed. They also have learnt to stand erect, even before their one-time masters. This is what Das wants to change with Mamata at the helm of a new govt. even when he knows too well what the track record of this erstwhile Congress leader is. Is not Das aware that when during ignoble rule of Siddhartha Shankar Ray, marxists and naxalites of-the state were butchered in hundreds, educational institutions were raided by Congress hoodlums and teachers were brutally murdered in broad daylight, women having been raped became daily routine, communists were obstructed in every possible way to exercise their right to expression and association at the hour of gunroom and terror. This lady, who was then a leader of the student wing of the Congress Party, reportedly prevented Jayaprakash Narayan from’ addressing an audience in the Muslim Institute Hall at Calcutta by dancing atop his car? Despite these hard facts, if Das still thinks that Mamata is the right person who can deliver the goods, he has every right to think so. But we consider her more terrible than a fascist and her coming to power needs to be prevented at all costs.
Dr. K.K. Usman, Forum for Faith & Fraternity, Vanchinad Residency, Post Box – 4239, Kaloor, Cochin – 682 017: Ours is a Muslim cultural organization which draws its sustenance from an intellectually dynamic core located primarily in the Greater Cochin area of Kerala. We had successfully conducted an essay contest on the ” topic — Islam as I Know —among the non-Muslim students at Indian university. Now we have widened the scope of the contest (having the same topic: “Islam as I Know”), inviting the participation of:
(1) non-Muslim students (category A),
(2) Muslim students (category B) and
(3) non-Muslim teachers (category C).
However, the essays received will be assigned to one of the three categories and will be evaluated accordingly for the purpose of deciding the prize winners. We wish to stress that the evaluation criteria will be different for each category of contestants. Winners of each category are offered the following prizes:
1st prize: Rs. 50,000 + set of Encyclopedia Britannica,
2nd prize: Rs. 35,000 + a collection of English classics,
3rd prize: Rs. 25,000 +a collection of English classics. 10 consolation prizes of Rs. 3,000 each.
Muhammad Ali, c/o Md. Faruk Choudhury, Banskandi Junior College, PO Banskandi, Cachar, Assam – 788 101: After returning from a long tour of Northern India in the company of Tablighe-Jamat religious people, I suffered two shocks. The first one was on the Gauhati overbridge when I became the victim of Army (read Hindu) soldiers. They pulled out my little luggage, violently questioned me as if I was a Pakistani agent. These Army men and policemen, most of them SC/ST/BC original inhabitants of India are very low paid and badly treated by their Hindu officers. Yet with Muslims they behave very badly and rudely as if we are enemies of India. Whenever there is any violence in Kashmir or Northeast, these non-Aryan Army soldiers die in the name of protecting Bharat Mata. They kill, rape and destroy Muslims to protect their Aryan oppressors without knowing that they too are victims of Aryan oppression. On the same day I suffered a bigger shock at the Patten Bazar Mosque. Being very late, I begged the mosque incharge (Khadim) to give me shelter in the night as I feared insecurity if I check into a hotel. The mosque-incharge denied shelter saying that as the situation was very bad. Alas! the Muslims also are implementing the upper caste orders against Muslims. Hinduism has polluted the Muslim hearts also. Muslims in this part of India live under constant terror. Even the place of God (mosque) cannot protect us.
Altaf Hussain Mithai, R/o Naseem-Abad, Hazaratbal, Srinagar – 190 006: I am very ashamed to tell you, but I have to tell the fact. It was in the year 1995, I use to communicate with you. At that time, I was studying at Aligarh. I once asked for the price of the book, Gandhi- Saint or Sinner; by Fazlul Haq. To my surprise, you sent the book itself instead of quoting the price. At that time, I was not in a position to pay the amount Rs. 50. After some time, I forgot that I had to send you the money. It was today (April 18,2001) that I was going through some books in my library, I turned the page of this book apd found your slip inside the book dated 1.8.1995 and at once remembered that I still owe you Rs. 50. I am very sorry and don’t know how I should apologise for this lapse. I am now sending Rs. 100 through money order since this book may cost more now. If its current price is more than Rs. 100 then please inform me so that I can pay it.
Brother Altaf’s is a classic case of Muslim honesty. Six years have passed since you got the book. And the normal tendency is just 1o forget. But you did not. That Is your greatness. We salute you — EDITOR.
Inayat-Ullah, Advocate, 850 – Chandni Mahal, Darya Gaj, New Delhi – 110 002: I have your literature which is very informative. I am of the considered opinion that we cannot achieve the objective unless we bring the two oppressed sections of Indian society, Dalits and Muslims, on a common platform. The task is very difficult but not impossible.
Prof. A.M. Khatib, 44 – Azad Colony, Keshvapur, Hubli – 580 023: This refers to the Letter of R.P. Harsh (DV March 16, 2001, p.18). Muslims have never been cowards or enchanted by Brahmins as made out in the elaborate letter of Dr. Harsh. Muslims have been and are largely tolerant and patient all along irrespective of skirmishes here and there in human history. Sabir means patience and tolerance. Sabrun Jameelun means patience is elegance and is the dictum in the Quran. Enduring and yet struggling. Coming to Akbar the “Great” in our Indian story, he did go astray in his Deene Elahi which died with him. He repented for that. But then he was a devoted Muslim fond of sufis. As Jodha Bai, his beloved queen and mother of Jahangeer, in her letter preserved in the Brtish Museum writes:
“Akbar woke up early round about 4 a.m. Said his prayers (Tahjud) went round his stables of horses, took round of fort walls and was ever alert all along.”
Birbal and Mulla Dupiyaaja were counterparts in fun- £are and jokes. In a book published about these two royal entertainers, this anecdote, referred to as follows:
Akbar who appreciated very much Birbal’s knowledge and regard for Islam once asked him: “Birbal, when you appreciate Islam so much and have regard for its preachings why you should not embrace it?” Birbal replied “Jahn Panah, my heart in its depth is still so dark, like a she-ass, how can I become a pure white cow’”
I am told about this as published in a book of anecdotes about these two people (Mulla Dupiyaaja and Birbal). Muslim saints spread Islam only through persuasion and affectionate discussions. Akbar too thought of such conversions of intellectual’s round about him without compulsion. The Quran also is against compulsion. Akbar never had a cabinet of ministers of which Birbal is aided to have been one. He had a sole adviser in political matters, Raja Mansingh, brother of Jodha Bai, if I recollect correctly, the Queen of Akbar.
Dr. Nafis A. Siddiqui, Secretary, Indian Association of Muslim Social Scientists, Post Box No. 9725, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi – 110 025: I draw your kind attention to an urgent issue facing the Indian education system damaging the “national” harmony by saffronizing the education. Education being a concurrent subject and the NCERT not being a representative agency, its recommendations and proposals should not be implemented without the effective consent of the state and the Central Governments. So, we in the IOS had organized a seminar on curriculum framework in New Delhi in March 2001.
Faizi, Consultant Ecologist, 4D, Emerald Apt. PO 5409, Vikas Bhavan PO, Trivandrum – 696 033: We are planning an international conference on biodiversity and indigenous people at Calicut University by the beginning of 2002. We would welcome your involvement in the conference process. Dr. Dasan of Calicut University, a very forward-looking Dalit intellectual specialising in indigenous literatures, is incharge of the conference. Your involvement in the conference is important because as the Editor of Dalit Voice, you are the fountainhead of the Dalit liberation thought. DV is also an important vehicle to reach a huge network of conscientious Dalit/ Adivasi groups. India’s conservation movement will become meaningful only when the indigenous communities who are carefully kept away by the ruling class/castes, come to the forefront of the movement.
