Brig. (Retd.) Usman Khalid, 15 – The Hamlet, Champion Hill, London SE5 8AW, UK: Your Dec.1. 2003 Editorial says: “Saudi regime may be toppled if it refuses to apply oil shock to squeeze America“. The title is the gist of your warning. It is a warning, not a prediction. No one of right mind would court bloodshed and instability that attend revolutions. It is much better if America delivers the revolution, its revolutions would not be attended by internal or civil war but by international war that would consolidate the unity of the people. It takes much less time to direct the zeal of externally imposed war or revolutions to strengthen the forces of freedom and democracy. Every country does not undergo a revolution to change; much of the world has been reformed in response to revolutions elsewhere. In the short term, revolutions rarely deliver on the promise they make. The French Revolution that marked the dawn of the era of democracy in Europe installed Napoleon as Emperor whose reign ended in ignominious defeat. It was subsequent changes that made France a great country. The Communist Revolution in Russia did not deliver freedom or democracy, it delivered neo- imperialist communist dictatorship. It was not until the coming to power of Gorbachev that the Soviet empire began to break up and the Russians secured freedom and democracy. Revolutions are not good or bad, they sometimes become a necessity. A country flourishes when its leaders are just, and they make the right decisions to respond to internal or external situations. It does not matter what the name or the nature of the system in a country is as long as it is able to remove from power an individual or a group from leadership that is incompetent, unfair or evil in mind or methods. When a country has no mechanism to purge itself of evil and injustice, revolutions become necessary. The French as well as the Russian Revolutions were necessary because of the total control over power and callous disregard of the people by the entrenched ruling classes. Europe changed rapidly in response to the French Revolution and avoided bloodshed; the Russian Revolution had global impact and brought colonialism to an end relatively peacefully. China had an entrenched feudal ruling class; its revolution took the form of a protracted civil war. But it was fortunate in having an external enemy that allied itself to the internal enemy. The revolution was led by the Communist Party that had astute leadership and an Army. Its victory did not only restore order quickly, but it also put in place a mechanism for reform and change that paved the way for protracted reform on the same lines as protracted war. In contrast, Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan that underwent rapid and revolutionary changes in the wake of the First World war, the new socio-political order proved to be inadequate and inappropriate. Iran and Afghanistan have overthrown monarchies after bloody civil war, but similar bloodshed has been avoided in Turkey because mechanisms do exist for it to change course. The map of the Middle East was drawn up by the British and French in the wake of the First World War, but Saudi Arabia was an exception. It was set up as a “Wahabi State”. Let this not be forgotten that Abdul Wahab of Nejd was a true revolutionary who restored tauheed to the status of focal point of Islam and his influence was felt all around the Muslim world – particularly in India. Shah Waliullah, who is the founder of sans imperial Islam in India – the precursor of Pakistan – was the disciple of Abdul Wahab. The question therefore arises, would Saudi Arabians evolve a democratic constitution and become true followers of the real founder of their country or continue as an absolute monarchy? The answer has been provided by DV. If the reform in Saudi Arabia came about in the wake of a reform in its role, it would be peaceful and good for the world. If “liberal democracy” is imposed, it would be destabilising, painful and destructive. Saudi Arabia has a pivotal role in the world as the country that can end the domination of the dollar and rob the US of the main weapon in its arsenal to dominate the world. It is not only Dalits in India but oppressed all over the world who have a stake in the emergence of a multi-polar world that can stand up to zionist-Brahmin machinations. Saudi Arabia has been dealt a few cards that it could play to assuage America to save the skin of its princes, or it could play them to end the dominance of the dollar. I agree with DV that if it chose the former course, it would only hasten the end of monarchy in that country.
Edward C. Corrigan, 171 – Queens Avenue, Suite 506, London, Ontorio, N6A 5J7, Canada: “Anti-zionism is not antisemitism”. Here is an important article by Brian Klug (Dec.3, 2003) in the Guardian. The author is senior research fellow in philosophy at St. Benet’s Hall, Oxford, and a founder-member of the Jewish Forum for Justice and Human Rights. He says: As an idea, a Jewish homeland was always controversial. As a reality, Israel still is – and it is not anti-Jewish to say so. From the beginning, a political zionism was a controversial movement even among Jews. So strong was the opposition of German orthodox and reform rabbis to the zionist idea in the name of Judaism that Theodor Herzl changed the venue of the First Zionist Congress in 1897 from Munich to Basle in Switzerland. Twenty years later, when the British foreign secretary, Aurthor Balfour (sponsor of the 1905 Aliens Act to restrict Jewish immigration to the UK), wanted the government to commit. Itself to a Jewish homeland in Palestine, his declaration was delayed — not by anti-Semites but by leading figures in the British Jewish community. They included a Jewish member of the cabinet who called Balfour’s pro-zionism antisemitic in result. The creation of the state of Israel in 1948 has not put an end to the debate though the issue has changed. Today, the question is about Israel’s future. Should it become a post-zionist state, one that defines itself in terms of the sum of its citizens, rather than seeing itself as belonging to the entire Jewish people? This is a perfectly legitimate question and not anti-semitic in the least. When people suggest otherwise (as Emanuele Ottolenghi did on these pages last Saturday) they simply add to the growing confusion. Ottolenghi says zionism comprises a belief that Jews are a nation and as such are entitled to self- determination as all other nations are. This is doubly confusing. First, the ideology of Jewish nationalism was irrelevant to many of the Jews, as well as non-Jewish sympathisers who were drawn to the zionist goal of creating a Jewish state in Palestine. They saw Israel in purely humanitarian or practical terms: as a haven where Jews could live as Jews after centuries of being marginalised and persecuted. This motive was strengthened by the nazi murder of one-third of the world’s Jewish population, the wholesale destruction of Jewish communities in Europe and the plight of masses of Jewish refugees with nowhere to go. Second, you do not have to be an anti-semite to reject the belief that Jews constitute a separate nation in the modern sense of the word or that Israel is the Jewish nation state. There is an irony here: it is a staple of anti-semitic discourse that Jews are a people apart, who form “a state within a state”. Partly for this reason, some European anti-semites thought that the solution to “the Jewish question” might be for Jews to have a state of their own. Herzl certainly thought he could count on the support of anti-semites.
What is anti-semitism? Although the word only goes back to the 1870s, anti-semitism is an old European fantasy about Jews. The composer Richard Wagner exemplified it when he said: “I hold the Jewish race to be the born enemy of pure humanity and everything noble in it”. An anti-semite sees Jews this way: they are an alien presence. a parasite that preys on humanity and seeks to dominate the world. Across the globe, their hidden hand controls the banks, the markets and the media. Even governments are under their sway. And when revolutions occur or nations go to war, it is the Jews -clever, ruthless and cohesive – who invariably pull the strings and reap the rewards. When this fantasy is projected on to Israel because it is a Jewish state, then anti-zionism is anti-semitic. And when zealous critics of Israel, without themselves being anti-semitic, carelessly use language, such as “Jewish influence”, that conjures up this fantasy they are fuelling an anti-semitic current in the wider culture. But Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip is no fantasy. Nor is the spread of Jewish settlements in these territories. Nor the unequal treatment of Jewish colonisers and Palestinian inhabitants. Nor the institutionalised discrimination against Israeli Arab citizens in various spheres of life. These are realities. It is one thing to oppose Israel or zionism based on an anti-semitic fantasy, quite another to do so based on reality. The latter is not anti-semitism. But isn’t excessive criticism of Israel or zionism evidence of an anti-semitic bias? In his book, The Case for Israel, Alan Dershowtiz argues that when criticism of Israel “crosses the line from fair to foul” it goes “from acceptable to anti-semitic”. People who take this view say the line is crossed when critics single out Israel unfairly when they apply a double standard and judge Israel by harsher criteria than they use for other states when they misrepresent the facts so as to put Israel in a bamand light when they vilify the Jewish state, and so on. All of which undoubtedly is foul. But is it necessarily anti-semitic? No, it is not. The Israeli Palestinian conflict is a bitter political struggle. The issues are complex, passions are inflamed, and the suffering is great. In such circumstances, people on both sides are liable to be partisan and to “cross the line from fair to foul”. When people who side with Israel cross that line, they are not necessarily anti-Muslim. And when others cross the line on behalf of the Palestinian cause, this does not make them anti-Jewish. It cuts both ways. There is something else that cuts both ways: racism. Both anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim feeling appear to be growing. Each has its own peculiarities, but both are exacerbated by the Israeli- Palestinian conflict, the invasion of Iraq, the “war against terror”, and other conflicts. We should unite in rejecting racism in all its forms: the Islamophobia that demonises Muslims, as well as the anti-semitic discourse that can infect anti-zionism and poison the political debate. However, people of goodwill can disagree politically – even to the extent of arguing over Israel’s future as a Jewish state. Equating anti-zionism with anti-semitism can also, in its own way, poison the political debate.
M. Sukumar, Immanuel Prayer House, 71/22 – Rajamangalam, Villivakkam,Madras – 600 049: DV is very informative and useful. Thanks for publishing my Letter (Dec.1, 2003). Like other liberating religions, Christianity also liberated many in India and outside. Its leaders may be corrupted and damage the name of the religion. But on the other side there are plenty of genius people. You wanted to know why 80% of Dalit Christians are oppressed within the church. It is true that there are more Syrian and other upper caste leaders within the church. But it is not correct to say that 80% are oppressed under the upper castes. There are caste feelings within the church. Whatever is found in real life is found in the church. But there is no suppression. It is also not true that church leaders are all upper castes. In fact, the leaders belong to the Bahujan Samaj. In AP, most of the leaders are Dalits. In TN, both SCs and BCs. In the North- East, it is the Tribals. In many other parts, the Bahujans. Except Kerala and some places, all the leaders are Bahujans. That way leadership goes to Bahujan, not upper caste. It is true, the upper castes are ahead of Dalits and others. Christianity liberated Dalits and others. But they have to grow by themselves. Simply, because they became Christian, automatically they can’t come up. They must work hard to come up. No upper caste Christian is working against Dalits. As a pastor I know both Dalits and others. I move here and in AP. Everywhere; I find Dalits lagging. They lack commitment and sacrifice. This is our weakness. Hence it is not good to blame them. In the Catholic church the majority are from Kerala and some other upper castes. There are two reasons for this. Christianity first came to Kerala and spread fast. Upper castes especially Brahmins were the first to embrace Christianity. Naturally, they became leaders. Their hard work and sacrifice have to be appreciated. Even in Kashmir, they are found. The leadership goes to the capable people. Wherever capable people were there it gave them leadership. Of course, grumbling on both sides is common in any religion, politics, govt. To improve ourselves let us work among our people. Let us motivate them, help them and do whatever is needful. In my church I do this. They are coming up. I am able to see the result. I am not angry with you, nor you be with me. As a Christian I am impartial from the Bible point of view. As a Dalit I like to work for them. Whether they are Christian or not, I like to support them.
Udit Raj, 478 – Laxmi Bai Nagar, New Delhi – 110 023: Big rallies of different sections have been held but such a mammoth rally of Dalit employees and officers has been never held like the one here on Dec.14, 2003. By 2 pm, the Ram Lila ground was full. The participants were really angry with the govt. policy of globalization and privatization. They argued not only in the interest of Dalits but for others as well. Farmers are the worst sufferers of globalization policy, dictated by international organizations like WTO, IMF and World Bank etc. New labour policy is dictated by international agencies. VRS, downsizing of govt. depts, and non-filling up of backlog vacancies are by-product of this policy. Due to this, the job opportunities are shrinking fast. From the Ram Lila ground itself I had announced the launching of Indian Justice Party on Nov.24, 2002 but also promised that fight for social and cultural cause would continue. The Confederation was founded in 1997 to fight for the cause of reservation, and it was always facilitated through rallies and other democratic methods in subsequent years i.e. in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2002. This will continue. The demands raised in the rally were Dalit reservation in private sector and higher judiciary, land reforms, compulsory and equal education, withdrawal of remaining anti-reservation orders, enactment of Reservation Act and placing it in 9th Schedule of the Constitution, to give recognition to SC/ST organisations like the Railway Dept. etc. ., time-bound promotion to the Safai karmacharies, reservation in govt. contracts and giving recognition to caste certificate of one state in other states as well.
Dr. P.C. Ray, A-76, Shalimar Garden-II, Sahibabad, UP – 201 005: Sakhila Begum, the Van Gogh of collage art, has been selected “Woman of the year -2003” by the Bharatiya Vyaktitva Adhyayan Kendra of Sahibabad, UP. Since 1989, she has been practising collage art. She lives in a remote, unknown village, Noorpur, under the Mograhat Police Station of 24 Pargana (South), West Bengal. She is the mother of three sons. Her husband, Akbar Sheikh, is a vegetable vendor. Poverty is a big problem for their families.
Jyothi Raj and M.C. Raj, Booshakti Kendra, Nelahal PO, Tumkur tq ., Karnataka: We celebrated the “Festival of Dalit Ancestors” at Tumkur on Dec.6. The celebration of the festival of our ancestors was one of the most fulfilling experiences for most people who gathered at the Booshakthi Kendra. We expected about 1,500 people. However, over 3,000 people turned up. The local MLA gave rice to feed all the people. There were six Dalit swamijis to grace the function. These swamijis are already with one or the other upper caste swamijis. These swamijis belonging to the Left and Right came together to claim five acres of land to each Dalit family. The MLA who responded promised that he would introduce it in the State Assembly for discussion. Jyoti asked the swamijis to give up their saffron dress and take up the Dalit color of Black and Blue. M.C. Raj announced the second phase of our land struggle. The Dalits should cast their votes in the next elections only to that party which includes in its manifesto a promise to give five acres of land to each Dalit family. People have started visiting the Booshakti Kendra. A liberator will soon be born who will ultimately establish the reign of the Dalit people based on Dalitism for the peace and prosperity of the entire world.
Surendra Kumar, Ph.D. Student, R.N. 330, Jhelum Hostel, JNU, New Delhi – 110 067: The varna system (division of laborers) was the main basis of social stratification during the Vedic period and gradually paved the way for caste-based occupation. The very nature of varna system was discriminatory, according to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. This system deprived the access to natural resources for the large segment of society but ensured smooth functioning of knowledge capital and muscle nexus (Brahmin-Vaishya-Kshatriya) against the Untouchables. The Brahmins restricted the access to knowledge only to the Brahmin. Strict provision was made to keep out the sudra and Untouchable from education. The ideology of exploitation (karma theory) was propagated by the Brahmins to maintain their position. It was the Brahmin who acted as an interpreter in very corner for day-to-day phenomena. The same people even now control the knowledge. Islam challenged this Brahminical system. The Untouchables in large number, converted to Islam to escape the exploitative system. It was a great change for them. It was the first stage of liberation from the caste system. Though discrimination on other basis existed in Islam but discrimination on social basis was always absent. Even in “independent” India, the Brahmin still holds command over knowledge and religious institution. The purity and pollution of nature is carried on due to the caste- based occupations which determine the access to natural resources. Nobody can find a Brahmin, Vaisya, Rajput working as sweeper, leather worker and skin remover of dead animal etc. Thus, the discriminatory system (caste system) is perpetuated due to prevalence of caste-based occupations.
Dr. Thummapudi Bharathi, English Dept., S.P. Mahila University, Tirupati – 517 502: The Dalit movement in Andhra Pradesh is part of the nationwide movement. Hence the teachings of Dr. Ambedkar are the guidelines to AP Dalit movement also. In the post-independent India, the atrocities on Dalits in the villages like Karamchedu, Neerukonda, Chundur and Padirikuppam etc. are the immediate influences on the AP Dalit movement. It is against this background that the Telugu Dalit literature gained momentum. Before 1980, Telugu Dalit literature was mostly gandhian and focused on the misery of Dalits. Later it tried to assert the identity of Dalits more vigorously. The writers voiced the anger and protest by questioning the Hindu injustice. Untouchability is still in practice. Literature is used as one of the weapons in the struggle. In the 20th century Telugu literature, Balijepalli Lakshmikantha Kavi in his play Harichandriyam used the word Dalit in 1912. The creation of Dalit literature started with Kusuma Darmanna Kavi (1898-1948) in 1920s. He was the first voice for Dalits and worked entirely for their liberation. After him came a more popular Dalit poet, Gurram Joshuva. A separate Dalit movement emerged in 1920s in the 11 districts of AP (seven of coastal Andhra and four of Rayalaseema). English education and missionary conversions of Untouchables gave inspiration to a few Hindu social reformers. During 1920s and 1930s the “extremist” Dalits rejected their identity of Panchama and Harijan and preferred to identify themselves as Adi Andhra. Bhagya Reddy Verma, president of Panchama Maha Sabha, demanded the removal of the word Panchama and the next day the delegates renamed it as the “First Adi Andhra Mahajana Sabha”. From then onwards every year the Adi Andhra conferences were conducted till the early 1930s. Kusuma Dharmanna Kavi, an active participant of the Ambedkarite group, was also the president of the Adi Andhra Sahba conferences a few times. He was not only an activist but also a revolutionary writer, powerful speaker and also the founder of Jayabheri, a weekly journal. He became popular with his popular poem Nalladoratanamu (brown bureaucracy). This perhaps is the first Dalit revolutionary poem in Telugu. He was the first Dalit writer who grew from the Adi Andhra movement and torchbearer in creating awareness among Dalits. Kusuma Dharmanna Kavi was so courageous to declare that Dalits will suffer more under the upper caste rulers. And he voiced that we do not want the rule of “brown bureaucracy” in his poem Nalladoratanam in 1921. During the 1930s, the Congress took the initiative in organising the Andhra branch of Harijan Seva Sangh. Harijan was the name given to the Untouchables by M.K. Gandhi hence it became very popular even much against the approval of Dalits themselves. A large section of Adi Andhra leadership slowly absorbed in Harijan Seva Sanghas of the Congress. Of course, a few staunch writers like Kusuma Dharmanna opposed it and showed their pro-Muslim stance. Perhaps Gurram Joshuva, another important Dalit writer during this period represents the gandhian thinking in his poetry. Though he was well aware of Dr. Ambedkar and his movement, his poetry was mild. In his popular poem, Gabbilam (a bat), he elected a bat (ill omen according to Hinduism) as his messenger to Hindu god Siva. Boyi Bhimana was a favoured poet of the Congress during 1930s and 1940s. His writings focused on the need for the establishment of a socialistic pattern in society. He not only showed the struggle and suffering of the Dalits in the hands of landlords in Paaleru (a farm boy) in 1940 but also argued for a “casteless” Hindu society in his Raaga Vasishtam (1940). In this work he wanted to prove that the Harijans are Aryans by writing about the marriage of Vasista and Arundhati. The powerful Dalit literature in Telugu today is the reaction to and the result of the atrocities on Dalits in Padirikuppam (1983), Karamchedu (1985), Neerukonda (1987), Chunduru (1991) etc. Dalit literature produced after 1980 is revolutionary and militant in its presentation. The first Andhra Dalit Mahasabha (1985) after the Karamchedu massacre is the turning point in Dalit literature. The literature aims at Brahminism and its injustice towards Dalits. The protest the hegemony of upper castes, anger, self-respect, in search of roots, social exploitation etc. are the themes of Dalit literature. Certainly, all the writers of this category are much influenced by Ambedkarism. Dr. Ambedkar is the first Dalit to realise and denounce Hindu Dharma Sastras. In 1995 Chikkanavutunna Pata (thickening song), an anthology of about 60 poets, created an upheaval in the history of Telugu Dalit literature. Later, Nisani, Gunde Dappu, Bahuvachanam (several voices) etc. followed the path. There are many powerful Dalit writers who have created an important place for Dalit literature in the mainstream Telugu literature. A few among them are Gaddar, Katti Padma Rao, Bojja Tharakam, Satish Chander, Madduri Nagesh Babu, Jooluri Gowri Shankar, Masterji, Kolakaluri Enoch, Sky Baba, Challapalli Swaroopa Rani etc. Dalit writers are not only creating awareness about their miserable condition in the society but also demanding political power with which alone they will enjoy equal status and better life in the society. It is not enough if the writers try to establish their rightful roots in Indian soil, but they must prove that they are the shareholders of Indian economy and socio-political life.
Mrs. Ruth Manorama, Convenor, National Federation of Dalit Women. 392 – “Mythili”, 11th Main Road, 3rd Block, Jayanagar, Bangalore – 560 011: Forty young Dalit women from various parts of India received their certificates for successfully completing the course at the first “National leadership training institute for Dalit women” held here for 10 days from Nov.25 to Dec.4, 2003. Organised by the NFDW, the institute brought experts in social movements and senior academics from all over India to share their knowledge and insights with the participants. NFDW was born in 1980. Despite their large presence and effective participation in struggle, no Dalit woman emerged as leader in any of these movements. The women’s movement, though it articulates all issues of women, failed to take up the oppression which is unique to Dalit women. It also has not helped the emergence of Dalit women’s leadership. Women from upper castes continued to lead and do not encourage or accept the leadership of Dalit women. Similarly, the Dalit movement has also marginalized women around leadership and decision making.
Jeji Muneyya, No. 572 – 12th “A” Cross, 8th Main, 2nd Phase, JP Nagar, Bangalore – 560 078: I want to know from where I can get the CD of the film, Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (Hindi and other regional languages), produced by Jabbar of Bombay with the collaboration of the Govt. of India in which film Mummutty acted as Babasaheb. Will somebody help?
Iqbal Ahmed Shariff, Advocate, 94/1- Tank Garden, Jayanagar 1st Block, Bangalore – 560 011: Zionist Chief Ariel Sharon’s recent visit to India on the invitation of his vaidik cousins is the most welcome development of -post-independent” India. The first generation vaidiks who had learnt some elementary lessons of politics and diplomacy from the English hesitated for long under the wily Gujarati Bania’s Congress. Responding to the heart- felt wishes of Hindu nazis, their Brahmana Jati Party wanted to establish an axis of the world’s two most blood- thirsty anti-Muslims on earth-vaidiks and zionists — before they lost the next elections. They have done a wonderful job. Fine. We welcome this development because it is only in India that the zionists can meet their end just like the Americans in Iraq. DV was the only journal in the world to welcome the Americans to Iraq to meet their graveyard. Its beginning started since April 2003 when the Americans received hearty welcome from the Iraqis in Baghdad – to face a slow death. Sept.8, 2003 was the beginning of the end of the zionists and that would be in India. That would also be a slow death. With the aid of some sections of the Protestant Christians, particularly the evangelists, the zionists managed to fool the West for four centuries. The Protestants have acted as their shield. Their initial efforts were to destroy the Roman Catholic religion and the Vatican which they very successfully managed. The Catholics under the leadership of the Pope were confused until the Protestant- Zionist axis got exposed when the two powerful Protestant countries – US and Britain – both under the grip of zionists decided to launch a full scale war on Muslims in the name of “Clash of civilisations” (DV Jan.1, 2004 p. 20: “Pope must crush Zionist-Protestant gangup in anti-Muslim war“). The war came to a head in Iraq which under Saddam was the most powerful Arab country. They thought that once Iraq was subjugated, other Arab countries would simply fall. The Arab intellectuals also knew this. Saddam and Osama bin Laden knew this much better. They knew how to tame their traitors and stooges. They formed the bin Laden-) Saddam axis, an axis of irregular fighters to fight the new type of war – “the mother of all wars” – a war between regular armies with conventional weapons (USA) and irregular fighters through unconventional weapons and strategies (fidayeen, mujahideen, suicide bombers, Islamists or terrorists). You give any name it has no meaning. It is achievements that matter. The Protestant-zionist axis can only invent new words and phrases. The very use of these musical words and phrases is an indicator of the defeat of the zionist-Protestant axis. New and newer words are being invented to cover up their defeats. Many of these words are supplied by the vaidiks who expert wordmongers are. The most wonderful strategy of these Muslim leaders is shunning political power and authority which restricts presidents, prime ministers through international law, conventions and treaties. The three most important people shaking the world are fugitives – Mullah Omar, bin Laden and the latest Saddam Hussain. Could any other power destroy WTC? Only a fugitive bin Laden could do it. The UN, which is in the pocket of US, could not be attacked by Saddam Hussein as President of Iraq to expose its subordination to US. But a fugitive could do. Yasser Arafat as chairman of Palestine Authority cannot send suicide bombers, but fugitives can. Fugitiveness is the biggest strategy which is the invention of the Muslim genius. The Kashmiri militants have shed gallons of tears for the Palestinians and dreamt of avenging with the Israelis. Being far away they could do nothing. That was so with the Iraqis for the Americans. But the Americans went to Iraq like the sheep going to the slaughterhouse. So also, the Israelis are coming to India. Bin Laden has warned India long ago. That was only on the plight of Indian Muslims. Now the sworn enemies of bin Laden have decided to come to India to become his easy targets. Zionists will be fought on the soil of India. Vaidiks are helping India to become a battlefield for Muslim-zionist war. That apart. India’s interests in the Arab (Muslim) world will be in jeopardy. This will anger the entire lot of non-vaidiks particularly the Malayalees in India. Vaidiks may not care for it. Their hearts are in the US where their zionist cousins are the rulers. Intrigues, falsehood, media control, mind- manipulation, share brokerage, market economy, capital control are the means used by both. Both are hated in their respective domains. They may form a new axis for their survival. The aim of both is to loot India and loot US – together. But in this, both will suffer together at the hands of their victims soon. This will help the victims to come together. The American Blacks, the coloured and the minority Catholics will also soon form an axis of Blacks and Dalits which will change many things in their favour. Dalits will also be compelled to go militant. The loss of power of the vaidiks will be hastened. More than this, the vaidik and zionists will bite each other like scorpion. If the vaidiks use the treacheries taught by the Arthashastra, the zionists have their bag of tricks in their Protocols. Already American companies – Pepsi and Coca Cola – have been blacklisted for adulterating their products in India. These multinational companies did not resort to adulterating their soft drinks in other countries ever since they came to the market. One vaidik agent is enough to bring bad name to the American products. Their mutual destruction is the best result of the zionists- vaidik axis. That is why we welcomed Sharon’s visit to India.
D. Prabathirajan, c/o Mrs. Poongal, Chittoor village, via Achundan Vayal, Ramanathapuram dt., – 623 502: I have an elder sister (dependent) who is doing BA. My father Duraipandi died in 1993 due to lack of medical aid. The church authorities gave Rs. 2,000 to my mother after seeing our condition. She bought two goats and struggled hard to feed me and my sister. She is suffering from TB. I entered 7th standard in Schwartz Higher Secondary School (school in which Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam studied). My teacher helped me. But the teacher got transferred. I entered the 8th standard. There was a competition in Thirukkural. My new teacher gave me the said book. I bagged the 1st prize in the competition. I reached the 10th standard. As my mother’s health collapsed, I was forced to look after the goats at the cost of my study. My ambition is to do BE. But I have no money. If I cannot do BE, I want to join BSc and become a scientist like Dr. Abdul Kalam. My elder sister is in final year of BA. I need support.
We have received the above letter from S. Dachinamoorthy, EIL (Ph: 261 021 21, extn. 2398, Mobile: 981 0984 746, email: sd.moorthy@eil.co.in) who says he hails from the same village of Duraipandi. Those interested in support may contact him – EDITOR.
Revanasidda Koli, at Gulagunjanal, PO – Ko Bobalad, Sangli – 416 412: I recently came to know of Dalit Voice from a friend, Anil Sutar, professor at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Bombay. His articles were published in DV. I am a BA graduate and would like to study Dalit literature, but my poverty is coming in the way to reach you. I read your articles. Since then, I became a Dalit. When I heard and read about you and your articles, I decided to plunge into the Dalit movement and serve the Dalit people. As you rightly said already about 95% of the Dalit people have lost their culture, tradition and identity. The Brahmins have snatched them away. My father and mother are illiterate. With great sacrifice, they brought me up. They are farm labour. I want to meet you but have no money. I want to buy your books, but I have no money. Send me some books as a gift.
Brother Bharat Patankar, husband of Dr. Gail Omvedt (both noted Dalit scholars) lives in Sangli. Brother. Revanna Sidda may meet them. They have all the literature to satisfy your intellectual hunger – EDITOR.
G.S. Bal, 14 – BB, Old Baradari, Jalandhar – 144 001: I read your Editorial, “How 3% Brahmins are ruling India?” (DV Aug.1, 2003) with interest. You are also right in saying that the Dalit movement in India is dead. We are busy criticising and fighting each other. Holding responsible our “educated” Dalits is not fully right. The political movement, which has occupied the centre stage of Dalit movement for the last about 20 years, was created with the all-round support of our educated class (BAMCEF) and the different associations of Dalit employees. But our Dalit movement neglected religious conversion, educational reform (setting up of schools etc. in rural areas), self-respect movement. On the whole the socio-cultural aspect of the revolution was neglected. As far as Punjab is concerned the pace of Ambedkarites movement has slowed down. Why? Because the BSP leaders have been shouting for the past 20 years that once they get “political power” all other problems of Dalits will be automatically solved. They have been saying that there is no need to work on socio-cultural revolution. You are a great intellectual. Do you think they are right? Do you think “political power” will come just like that? It takes centuries to break the unjust system created by Brahminism. For that, an all-all-round attack on it is a must. In Punjab, the Dalits gave unprecedented support to Kanshi Ram. But what are the results? You cannot come to power only in Punjab. There is no established single leader of Dalits in Punjab. The dropout status of Dalit childran in rural areas is terrible. In fact, in most primary schools only Dalit children are studying. Upper caste children go to private schools. Dalits are buried deep in superstition. Nothing is being done to save them from Hindu mind manipulation. All subcastes of Dalits are maintaining their identities. One subcaste does not trust the other. To bring about unity and awareness, we need a powerful cultural movement first. But our Dalit movement does not take interest in socio-cultural education. It is very easy to enter politics. Once a Dalit becomes a political leader, he forgets everything about Ambedkarism. In Malwa and Majha region of Punjab, the Ambedkarite movement is equated with Sikhism only. This is the present scene in Punjab where Dalit population is sizeable compared to all other states. Hence, I particularly blame our Dalit political leadership.
Anees Chisti, Editor, Alpjan. 1144, Sector-A, Pocket- B, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi – 110 070: Your criticism + about the name of our journal, Alpjan, is well taken. We will publish it. We must emphasise the alp-ness of those covered by us and we are trying to include a very large section of disadvantaged people in our sweep. I have been an independent journalist for quite some time and the journals for which I have written or worked for include the Mainstream, Seminar, Shankar’s Weekly, Point of View, Secular Democracy, Sunday Observer, Economic & Political Weekly, News time (Hyderabad) etc. You may have noted my name in the context of the Bhopal Gas tragedy which I have reported for the Eenadu-Newstime group. My dispatches were published as a book, Dateline Bhopal: A Newsmans Diary of the Gas Disaster. I had known you through your writings even before you gave up your surname and started Dalit Voice. In fact, soon after you left the Indian Express, I was in Bangalore and tried to contact you. But I did not succeed. My wife was born in Arsikere (Hassan) and brought up and educated in Mysore. That is why we occasionally visit Mysore-Bangalore. I appreciate your effort at Dalit Voice and am aware of your past sufferings because of your bold writings and actions. Yoginder Sikand has done a very good job of writing in the EPW on DV writings on Muslims.
B. Ramaswamy, Chairman, AP Budhist Trust, H.No. 10-4-771/3 – Flat No. 403, Maphar Sheelings, Sreeram Nagar Colony, Hyderabad – 500 028: Your dynamic thesis, Caste – a nation within the Nation (Books for Change, 2002) was sufficiently discussed at a lengthy day-long seminar (14 hours from 9 am to 9 pm) here on Jan.26, 2003 and the majority endorsed your thesis. Your thesis to strengthen every caste requires no more theoretical discussion but the need of the hour is to swing into an action plan to capture the political power (the master key to solve all our problems). A lot of field work at a grassroot level is needed to mobilise each caste (6,000 castes) and educate them to share the power in proportion to the population of each caste. I like the daring demand of PMK leader, Dr. P. Ramadoss, of forming “caste-based states”. This is also not an easy job but requires rigorous missionary work.
Mansur Rahman Khan, Dekachang, PO Dekchang via Chamaria, Kamrup, Assam – 781 136: I am so surprised, if not shocked, how you are able to predict things so accurately. Every prediction proves true -one after another. What is the secret of your power to predict?
M. Venkatesan, Thiruvalluvar Illam, Athimanjeri PO, TN – 631 202: B. Narayana Swamy’s question in DV Aug.1, 2003 (p.3) is pertinent and the reasons put forth by you for not converting mass majority into votes is quite justifying. The fact is that there is no unity among SC/ST/BCs and Muslim/Christians though they may be united politically, socially they are divided. To propagate and popularise any thought a powerful media is a must. This we are lacking. Even if one or two are there in regional languages, proper circulation is not there. Only the Brahmin media is popular and Bahujans are brain- washed by this media only. Hence the speech delivered by the Editor on May 25, 2003, at Bangalore on Dalit literature is extremely important. A community suppressed for centuries will be naturally angry and hence has to be anti-Brahminism. Your speech, therefore, is thought-provoking.
Balwant Singh Bohoru, B-257, Ranjit Avenue, Amritsar – 143 001: To promote the Ambedkarite-Sikh unity, I remained associated with the Jalandhar-based Dr. Ambedkar Mission for the past 10-12 years. Although I was their well-wisher, I kept my Sikh identity intact. Sikhism always supports the oppressed. As Brahminism is the enemy of them and the Sikhs and considering the enemy’s enemy as our friend, I associated with them. I admired Dr. Ambedkar and always quoted him in my writings. After my long association with this Mission, I found it one sided and nothing was written about the Sikh interests in the Bhim Patrika, a monthly of the Mission. Still, I supported them. When I attended a meeting at Jalandhar on March 30, 2003, with another Sikh after travelling from Amritsar in connection with Dr. Ambedkar birth centenary on April 14, 2003, I found the atmosphere anti-Sikh due to the Talhan incident. An important member of the Mission made angry gestures at us. He made some remarks against the Guru Granth. We protested and left the meeting saying good-bye to the Ambedkar Mission with which we wanted to have unity. This incident was published in the Dalit Voice in the July 1, 2003 (p. 5). One Ambedkarite, Gurnam Singh Muktsar, in his comments and in an article in the Dalit Voice (Aug.1, 2003 p. 21) has made frivolous and false allegations against the upper caste Sikhs and tried to create a mountain out of mole hill which are as follows: –
“When a Sikh problem is raised by its intellectual class that problem pertains to the upper caste Sikhs. Our people (lower caste Sikhs) are meant to be beaten up, humiliated, insulted, killed, raped, boycotted, banned. This is so in the whole Punjab though this problem (racism) is not as serious as in other Hindu states”.
There may be some stray incidents of such incidents of such happenings which generally take place everywhere, but such a mass crime of carnage does not go unnoticed in this age. Secondly, Dalits of Punjab are not sitting ducks as shown by our learned Gurnam Singh. In most of the cases the Dalits have been found more aggressive than non-Dalits as happened in village Talhan and at Jalandhar in the first week of June 2003 and the Bhim Patrika (July 2003) has appreciated and encouraged the rioting. In the same issue of Dalit Voice, the learned Gurnam Singh Muktsar (“Sarpanch as slaves”) writes;
“The people who want free water, free vehicles, free electricity, free bus passes, do not allow reservations to those oppressed and degraded for centuries. Now we have at least 40% reserved sarpanchs. But these are mostly slaves of upper castes”.
No sane person can believe that the Dalit sarpanches are slaves of the upper castes. In some cases, they proved better than the non-Dalit sarpanches. I am a retired officer of the Panchayat Department. So, I can speak with authority. Gurnam Singh again on p. 14 of the same Dalit Voice pretends to be a Sikh when he writes:
“We the Dalit Sikhs, who have fully understood the truth, will not allow any work to hand over Sikhism to Brahminical forces. To be Budhist, a Sikh and Ambedkarite is one thing”.
According to the Sikh tenets (Sikh Rahat Maryada), a person can be called a Sikh if he believes in one God, have faith in the teachings of the ten Sikh gurus and the Guru Granth. Any person who believes other than as prescribed above cannot be called a Sikh. But Gurnam Singh believes in Budhism which believes in atheism; therefore, he cannot be called a Sikh as claimed by him as his code of life is not according to the Sikh tenets. This was the main reason of the conflict which happened and resulted in the clash between the Sikhs and non- Sikh Dalits who were instigated by the Ambedkarites to take over the Sikh shrine or have a share in its management which the Sikhs opposed at Talhan. The Dalits of Talhan are not Sikhs as they do not follow the Sikh tenets. The Ambedkarites fully encouraged it. The BJP/RSS, the champion of Brahminism, misguided and instigated the Dalits (non-Sikhs) to have a control on Sikh shrines but failed miserably. It is for the Editor of Dalit Voice to see if the Dalit-Sikh unity is needed to fight Brahminism.
Mrs. Sujata Wasnik, 14 – Thaware Colony, Nagpur – 440 014: You have been always an inspiration for us. You express your feelings and opinions boldly and criticize exploiters and their agents without any fear. We derive courage from this most valuable characteristic of yours which is rarely found elsewhere. Therefore, you will always remain an important source of our inspiration. If such little awareness work, we common people are doing can impress you, then undoubtedly Bahujan mission will grow and spread very rapidly and can successfully retaliate the Tri-Iblisi if every awakened Bahujan actively performs his role in mission (of his choice) and coordinates his actions with others. We are trying our best to accelerate this process. I am an ordinary housewife; I must look after the needs of my two little daughters. My husband, Dr. B.K. Wasnik, is a Sr …lecturer in psychology in a govt. institute at Amravati, 150 km away. After all these family responsibilities, I have to handle all mail, post awareness books and reply to letters. Apart from our basic activity (awareness-building campaign), we try our best to coordinate with the activities of other similar people. Shivpriya Raju Y Kumare’s Swapna-Sandesh in Dalit Voice Hindustani is extremely important from the point of view of the mission. We have included it in Tri-Iblisi Part-II to popularize it. Ms. Sunita’s letter on Dhandhe Mataram in DV, Shanta Mundare’s and Shankar Gedam’s pamphlets on the Dhandhe Mataram topic are also very important. We are distributing these pamphlets. We have to undertake such additional activities because such literature weakens Brahminists and strengthens our mission. We have explained everything including our own role in the Tri-Iblisi, part-II books. Chapter 12, 26, 27. 28 and 29 of the bookcases are important. Daily we receive letters demanding both the parts of the book. Buddha Saran Hans of Ambedkar Mission Patrika, Patna, wanted books worth 10,000 from us. We could not send even a single copy of Tri-Iblisi – Part-I. We always try to learn and pick up anything that facilitates our mission. Therefore, we always eagerly wait for each copy of Dalit Voice. We are always with you in mission.
K. Karuppiah, 63 – Thirunagar, Karumandapam, Trichy – 620 001: With reference to S.R. Biswas article about “Three exceptional Dalit IAS officers”, I must state that if the Dalit officials are Ambedkarites they will face all sorts of trouble from Hindus. Nobody can touch him if he is honest and able. We can take S.R. Biswas himself as an example. I have heard about the activities of Dr. A.K. Biswas, IAS of Bihar. As a regular reader of Dalit Voice, I also know about the intellectual qualities of Sher Singh, IAS. I am proud of him and his wife. Balwant Singh, IAS, of UP should not have resigned from the IAS. He should have challenged the Hindu officials and created history. I read the first two books written by him. Because he was not an Ambedkarite he enjoyed the slavery. He has high regards for the (Brahmin) Nehru family. What was the contribution of Nehru family for the liberation of the Dalits? They used the Dalits as their vote bank. In one book he says he had read all the works of Babasaheb. Despite this he is not an admirer of Babasaheb and his Dalit policy. This is what S.R. Biswas is pointing out. After reading his two books, I wrote to him. I asked him to write about his practice as a lawyer. But he had no courtesy to reply to a brother. With my 35 years of official experience, I must state that most of the Dalit officials are cowards and selfish. Their sole interest is their promotion. They are well-versed in the reservation rules with the latest corrections. But they are least bothered to read even the biography of Babasaheb as a gratitude for the Father of India who brought them reservations which made them what they are today. They are unconcerned about the plight of our people. But they are very proud about observing the rituals under Brahminism. They spend hundreds of rupees for such rituals. But they hesitate to purchase even a single book about Dalits. To overcome this situation, necessary missionary work must begin when a Dalit is at the student level. RSS-type mission work is a must.
Sorry, Brother Karuppiah. Who is to do this missionary work? When not even 5% of our English-knowing Dalits have become DV family members, will they agree to join a missionary work like the RSS which needs tremendous self- sacrifice, dedication and concentration? In TN, Periyar E.V. Ramaswamy, whom we have rated next only to Babasaheb, himself has been forgotten. The two principal Dalit subcastes, Paraiahs and Pallars, hate each other. Despite the population strength, Dalits have not been able to throw up a strong leader. Dalit politicians are busy making money like Hindu leaders. We have been receiving requests from different states to hold DV workshop after hearing reports about the big success of the Bangalore DV workshop (DV July 16, 2003, p.11). But from TN, we did not get a single request. IN Dalits are fast sinking and their support for the Bangalore Papatti proves it. Our circulation in TN also has gone down. We are sorry that the purest Dravidian land of Thiruvalluvar and Periyar has fallen a prey to Brahminical intrigues – EDITOR.
