Mrs. Garda Gista, Wrold Prout Assembly, USA, (wpaeditor@gmail.com): you are the most wonderful person I met in the six months I was in India. In addition you helped me with conference work more than anyone else. I won’t forget it.
History bears testimony
“History bears testimony that whenever a person states the absolute truth in any sphere of life, whether it be spiritual, social, economic or otherwise, sought clarification of doubts or protested against injustice and wrongs, the evil forces forthwith plotted against the person, administered poison, slandered and assaulted that person with rage, misused authority and mercilessly dealt blow after blow; but the blows boomeranged and ultimately the evil forces were annihilated by those very blows. Remember, by an unalterable decree of history, the evil forces are destined to meet their final doom.
We are sure the above words have come from the bottom of your heart, During our two meetings here with you, we did not reveal our agony as your problems at Hyderabad were uppermost in our mind. We will tell you that when you call us as you promised- before you leave India. We also want to make a short report for DV on your mission to India and your disappointments-EDITOR.
Nadra Enzi aka Capt. Black, 22-West Bryan St., #133, Savannah, GA.31401, USA: I am an African- American writer, NAACP life member and safety rights activist (look up Nadra Enzi aka Capt. Black on any search engine) who has supported your cause for years. My poem, Jim Crow is Jim crow, compares the Dalit situation to that of fellow Black people in America. “Jim Crow” is the term for racist policies in the Southern region of America where I live. Aryan Brahminical racism you face in India is White racism we face here. Our struggle is the same, only separate language, customs and distance. I will lobby on your behalf and have the caption “Black supports Dalits Human rights” atop all my email. Your pain is my pain. I read your famous book published from USA, Dalit -The Black Untouchables of India, years ago in college while learning about our people around the world. It was profound. I can assist in publicizing your cause (rather our cause actually) in local media and make our people aware of the racism you face in “Hindu India”. Many of us here complain about how some Hindu merchants treat us in their stores in our neighbourhoods. I can also attempt to arrange internet radio interviews on some Black and other stations I’ve been on.
Jason Mathhews, USA (kinmut@yahoo.com): I got your email answer abut the Blacks of India. 1 heard that before but never met someone from Indian blacks. All the Indians in the USI asked never admit the facts about the Black Indians but you are the only one who confirmed it. Also for the last couple of years I have been thinking about moving to India for good to learn the culture of the Blacks of India and help out in and support them. But a few fears were holding me back. Being a Black American would the Black people in India show me respect or do still have self- hatred and would they treat me badly? Also how expensive would be it be to live in India and what part is the best one to live in to support my Black Dalit people? I don’t want to live in an area where mostly fair-skinned Hindus or Aryans live. Also would you say 7,000 US dollars would be enough for me to live in India and are there jobs for English- speaking Black Americans such as myself so I can support myself and live in India forever? Also if 1 come there I would love to meet a person like you because you are one of the only few people I know who shed light on the Black Untouchables and their situation.
Those Indians living in US are mostly upper castes (Hindus), our oppressors, who will never admit of racism. Please get hold of my book, Dalit The Black Untouchables of India (you can order It from the Clarity Press Atlanta, USA), That will give you a correct picture. India is the world’s worst and the most violent racist country. So we don’t advice you to take up a job which you will not get here. Blacks are hated here. But you can certainly make a study trip and for a deeper discussion with us. But before coming please make a deep study of our books which you will have to order from us. However, there is one advantage: you can write a book on India- EDITOR.
Annette Gordon, Clarity Press Inc, Ste. 469, 3277 Rosewell Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30305, USA (clarity@islandnet.com): Francis Boyle is an extraordinary personality. Boyle acts pro bono on behalf of many groups all over the world who are in deepest trouble: Chechens, Tamils, Bosnians etc. He is off to Malayasia this month. He already has a very big international reputation. He is too tied up to respond further regarding the situation of India.
As we were reading your latest book by Francis Boyle, we could make out that he was a fantastic person with amazing courage. Only a country like the US con produce such a person who could challenge the mightiest of the Americans including its President, antagonising the powerful zionist circle. India did not produce such persons barring Dr. Ambedkar. What provoked us to write this was we in India have a monster called Narendra Modi who in 2002 killed 2.500 Muslims in cold blood. Nothing happened to him. This fellow is the Chief Minister heading a state called Gujarat and belongs to a Brahminical party. As the whole of India is controlled by 2% Brahmins he is merrily going round. The American Govt. refused to give himm the visa for his crimes. The legal fraternity and the judicial set-up here are all Brahminical. So who can pin him down except a person like Francis Bayle? Tell us how you can help us in persuading a busy person like Boyle to book this monster for the International Criminal Court. That would bring Boyle international reputation. As you have published many of his books we are sure you could persuade him fo accept our offer. And thereby make history -EDITOR.
Prof. Yousaf Irfan. SGRHF, Agarwal Ashram, 2 -Court Street, Lower Mall, Lahore – 54000, Pakistan: You and your friends live in our hearts. We feel that this friendship should take some practical roots. The resistance against the US in Pakistan is increasing day by day. The Supreme Court verdict on NRO (National Reconciliation Ordinance issued by Pervez Mushraf) is quite encouraging. Even Federal Ministers for Interior and Defence are on the list of ECL. (Exit Control List). They now cannot go abroad. The cases against Zardari and Altaf Hussain (MQM) are reopened in Pakistan and abroad. Visas for US nationals, even diplomats, are not only restricted but stopped. I share the same view about the Islamabad meeting you had in Anwar-ul-Haq’s residence. But such people are in minority in Pakistan. They don’t represent the public minds and hearts of Pakistan. The situation is not totally disappointing. Islam is, no doubt, a powerful ideology and will emerge as power not only in the region but also in the whole world. Pakistan is an ideological state and needs an ideological socio-political system which is weak at present but gaining ground day by day. New geo-strategies and tactica are also being adopted and you will see it yourself with the passage of time. Muslim saints and scholars are fully aware of the Indo-Israeli-Jewish presence in the region. They know when and how to hit and hurt. Nariman Centre in Bombay is a glaring example of it. You are right when you say that we are not making use of our friends in India. No doubt, we are slow and sluggish but this cooperation will certainly strengthen and work in future. The Muslim spiritualists in Pakistan and India have repeatedly said that in the near future, there will be an independent Muslim-Dalit State in South India. The situation is developing towards that.
Imagine, you are fighting a centuries-old time- tested enemy that fights you not from the front but In all mysterious ways, If we have to believe your words, the victims of the zionist-Brahminical joint oppressors must prove It by producing sparks of brilliance for which there is no evidence. The Indian rulers have suddenly fallen in love with Bangladesh by cultivating and encouraging its current PM and her stooges? They want to use BD against you – EDITOR.
Usman Khalid, 3 Blacklands Drive, Hayes (Mddx), UB4 8EU, UK: 1 agree with your impression of Pakistan. There are no intellectuals in Pakistan; it is an intellectual desert. The guests you met at the dinner of Anwarul Haq were all very old and well past the sell by date. It was not a representative sample. You might have noticed that I was kept away from making a speech and act as an interface which was so necessary for the visit to be successful. What was the idea of the visit, I do not know. If you do not either, I am not surprised.
K. Madhava Rao, IAS (retd.), former Chief Secretary to AP State Govt., Hyderabad: Who does not remember and recognise your services to the community? We formed a forum of SC/ST officers and meet on first Friday of every month at 6.30 pm in Ambedkar Bhavan, Hyderabad, to discuss the problems of our community. Can you join us and address our forum? It will stir some indifferent and selfish members. I will be in touch with you from now on.
Educated Dalits are enjoying their slavery, Imitating the Brahminical fellows forgetting (or cheating) their own Father. Babasaheb Ambedkar. Such a betrayal has not happened even with the Blacks (Afro-Americans) in the US The Chief Justice of Kamataka, who never thought of his brothers in his happy days, is in deep trouble just because he is a Dallt. Dalit movement Itself is dead. We will be too happy to address your forum – EDITOR.
R.L. Francis, President, Poor Christian Liberation Movement, New Delhi: A careful examination of the Rangnath Mishra Report indicates that it will create problems for the Christian community. Currently the job share percentage of Christians in services like teachers, nursing, clerical and junior level CEO is more than their numerical percentage. This is due to their sincerity, honesty and better education. The reservation policy based on the Rangnath Mishra Commission would dilute the job opportunities of the Christians who believe in equal opportunity based on the opportunity. Reservation based on religion would ghettoise the minorities. Hence the report is “a pill worst than disease”. “The reservation-based on religion is not only unconstitutional but it would also create bad blood between minorities and the Hindu Dalits and OBCs. No sane minority person would like to reduce the reservation pie of the Dalit “Hindus” and take a slice out of it”.
All these years when Dalit Christians were fighting for reservations, you did not raise the objection mentioned in your staternent. Why this sudden objection?-EDITOR
H. Shreyaskar, 2 -565. Bhim Nagar, Jagat, B. Shyam Sunder Marg, Gulbarga-585 105: I want to say something about the English book, They Burn, by B. Shyam Sunder, leader of the Bhim Sena, translated to Telugu and released at Hyderabad on Dec.20, 2009. A journalist from France met B. Shyam Sunder in 1968 just after he started the Bharatiya Bhim Sena, a non-political organisation to fight Brahminism. The AP Govt. had filed a case against Shyam Sunder, Murtuza Mustahadi and some advocates took up the case. Shyam Sunder was acquitted. Shyam Sunder summarised the whole episode in the above book and wanted to publish it but had no money. Dr. R. Rudraiah, Director of Animal Husbandary, Karnataka Govt., Bangalore, and Dr. D.R. Nanjaiah, editor of Bhim Wani were approached when we found the MS of the book in Nanjaiah’s house and gave it to Editor V.T, Rajshekar of Dalit Voice for scrutiny. He found the MS wonderful and said it must be published. And he did it himself. He read the script day and night and completed the job. And the book was ready for release. The releasing function was held in Madras. It was released by K. Veeramani, Gen. Secretary of Dravida Kazhagam. I went to Madras with a dozen social workers, lecturers and journalists to attend the function. Editor Rajshekar arranged the release of the book once again at Hyderabad with the help of Bojja Tharakam. They Burn received great acclaim in India and abroad. It was later translated to Tamil, Kannada and now the Telugu edition was released at Hyderabad on Dec.20. Shyam Sunder was born on Dec 21, 1908 at Aurangabad. He moved to Hyderabad for higher studies and earned by giving tuition, joined the Depressed Classes Association headed by B.S. Venkatrao. In 1942, the Scheduled Castes of Hyderabad state met at Parbhani. About 50,000 people attended the conference. Shyam Sunder presided over it. He was just 34 then. In his speech he said the Scheduled Castes were not Hindu but a separate entity. Hindu religion was alien to this land. From time immemorial the Untouchables have been kept out by the Hindus whose religion was based on inhumanity and degradation of human beings. Only the Govt. of Nizam in Hyderabad had made special provisions for the protection of Untouchables. The Govt. of India wanted to merge the Hyderabad State with India. The Nizam Govt. sent a delegation to the United Nations headed by Shyam Sunder Saheb to plead against this merger. But the Govt. of India forcibly captured Hyderabad state and forced their Hindu rule on the state. Shyam Sunder Saheb started the Bharatiya Bhim Sena to protect the Scheduled Castes from Hindu tyranny. The credit goes to Editor V.T. Rajshekar for the publication of the They Burn, the photocopies of which may be had from the Dalit Voice office. The book was acclaimed in India and abroad and was quickly sold out. Its Kannada version was done by Pote and Jaganath Rao Shinde of Gulbarga University, Gulbarga, Mrs. S. Varun Kumar and Modanda Ramaiah of Hyderabad did the Telugu version
Shamsul Arifin, M-91, Abul Fazl Enclave, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi-110 025: The Bombay drama of 26/11 is fairly well exposed in the book, Who Killed Karkare?, by a former LG. police of Maharashtra. S.M. Mushrif (DV Dec.1, 2009). Actually what is happening in India is beyond the mind of even an intelligent person. Only an intellectual can understand this evil design of the Indian Brahminists. The astonishing fact behind the Bombay drama is it was not a conspiracy hatched only by the Indian Brahminists. The Pakistan Govt. appears to have played an important role in it. Rather a more important role than India’s Brahminists. It played very important role to protect the interests of Indian Brahminists for instance Kargil war etc. The Pakistan Govt. has been harming not only its own nationals but also the entire Muslims of the world. Muslims of India have been falling victims to the treachery and betrayal. We must not forget that they are the ruling class and the masses are the ruled one. All the rulers of the world are dearer and nearer to each other more than their own brothers. And to protect their interests Pakistan or any other these rulers help each other. The point is how to save India from the destruction and disaster towards which the devilish Brahminist rulers are taking us. These rulers have decided to turn the country upside down. The Brahminists played on 26/11 to shield themselves and cover their devilish design. In the name of terrorism they are only serving their evil purposes. be it America, India, Today they have made the word “terrorism” the most sophisticated weapon.
Mohindri Sanghamitra, C-256, Govindpuram, Ghaziabad 201 002: After establishing an engineering college Alpine College of Engineering totally on the lines of Dr. Ambedkar and Budha (Kabir, Ravidas and all great men), I want to establish one more college, Global College of Law, in the National Capital Territory (NCR). I am reading all your books afresh including the old issues of Dalit Voice (am a life member of DV). The writings of Babasaheb enables me to understand your viewpoint quickly. Your writings are unparalleled and to understand it one should shed the slavery from his mind.
When you say you are a great admirer of our work, you should have shown great solidarity with our mission. When you have three colleges you must make all the three to subscribe to DV and order full set of our books to each of them. As your institutions are located in a rural area, the, students will have better thinking and deeper understanding unlike those in metropolitan Delhi. You can also order back couples of Dalit Voice for your library- EDITOR.
Dinesh, (dineshj9@yahoo.com): I agree with you that reading paper as opposed to reading online. I am a Telugu from Hyderabad, aged 28. Engineer by qualification. I studied at Osmania University College of Engineering. Hyderabad. Before that I was at JNTU, Anantapur, for few months when I had my first brush with caste discrimination, caste politics, role of caste outside big urban centres. I have always liked physics apart from some other things likes social sciences, languages and mathematics. My questioning nature combined with inclination towards physics is what eventually turned me into atheist when I was just 20. Prior to that I was a believer in god though never very religious compared to my classmates. I agree with your interpretations of caste and Hinduism. Quite surprisingly I came to the same conclusion about caste as you did that it is a nation in itself. I haven’t read your book, Caste – A Nation Within Nation, and I am definitely waiting to read that.
Dalip Singh Pandhi, Member, Punjab Schedueld Caste Commission, Room No.26-3rd Floor, Punjab Civil Secretariat, Chandigarh-160 003: The criteria to identify a Scheduled Caste has a long history. These people even now are not allowed to have equal status in society and are badly hated and treated. They are not being given due representation in the govt. services according to their population and qualification. Our state was the first to pass Compulsory Education Act, 1960, to enroll students when they attain the age of 6. But the Congress Party nullified the Act. Upper castes were included in the list of Scheduled Castes ignoring the interest of the genuine SCs. Bazigars, Sirkiband, Siklighars and Rai Sikhs. These 3 were included despite their upper caste status. The Rai Sikhs also have been put under the SC. The Prime Minister’s Office in Delhi never bothers about our representation. We want removal of these castes.
M. Naushad Ansari, B-5-522, Godavari Block, Koramangla, Bangalore-560 047: Your article, “If Sikhism is inspired by Islam, then why did it turn against Muslims?” was very informative, timely and provides food for thought to all, particularly to Muslims and Sikhs (DV, Dec.1, 2009). The learned author has rightly asked why did Sikhs turn against Muslims? It is a fact of history that Sikhism is the closest to Islam. The message of the Guru, as said in the Guru Granth, is rooted in the devotion to One God (monotheism), which is called tauheed i.e. there is no God except Allah, in Islam. Dr. Mohammad Iqbal says:
“Chisti ne jis zamin mein paigham-e-haq sunaya
Nanak ne jis chaman mein vahdat ka geet gaya”.
About Guru Nanak, the spiritual father of Sikhism, Dr. Iqbal, in his famous poem, Nanak, says:
“Phir uthi aakhir sada tauheed ki Punjab se
Hind ko ek mard-e-kamil ne jagaya khwab se”
Guru Nanak performed the Hajj to Makkah, and built a Gurdwara in Baghdad, which exists even today. Guru Nanak’s life-long companion, Bhai Mardana, a Muslim, sang the hymns of divine love to carve out a permanent place in the hearts of every devout Sikh. Further, Guru Arjun honoured Hazrat Mian Mir of Lahore by asking him to lay the cornerstone of the holy Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple), Amritsar. Pir Burhanuddin, also called Budhu Shah of Sadhaura, fought the Mughal hordes side by side with Guru Gobind Singh, losing his sons in the battlefield – a conflict that did not involve any territorial ambitions on the part of the 10th Guru. And who can forget the daring deed of the Pathan brothers, Ghani Khan and Nabi Khan, who helped Guru Gobind Singh to escape the Mughal dragnet in the early years of 18th century? The Guru Granth incorporates the kalam not only of the gurus, and saints like Kabir, but of the Sufi seer, Sheikh Baba Farid. For the execution of Guru Arjan Das, even historian like Jadunath Sarkar, who is quite biased against Mughal emperors, has considered it a political act, not a communally or religiously motivated act. Emperors did not differentiate between Hindus and Muslims if they felt threatened from any quarter. It is a historical fact that Jehangir also imprisoned Shaikh Ibrahim Baba Afghani in the fort of Chunar (near Allahabad) and Mujaddad Alf Sani in the fort of Gwalior. These facts need to be reminded to the new generation of Sikhs and Muslims. It is very unfortune that because of certain political reasons there had been clashes between Muslim and Sikh rulers. Mughal atrocities against Sikhs and Sikhs atrocities against Muslims during Sikh rule over Punjab before the British rule and again during the partition created a deep gulf between the two communities. A new thought has emerged among Sikhs and Muslims in recent years, which is very heartening. Recently the Muslims prayed for justice to the 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims. Responding to an appeal by Shahi Imam Maulana Habibur Rahman Saani Ludhianvi, prayer meetings were held at the mosques of Punjab, while Akali Dal and SGPC organized Ardas Divas to demand justice to the victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots. As reported in the Milli Gazette (Dec. 1, 2009), the meetings were attended by a large gatherings at Muktsar, Firozpur, Maler Kotla, Jallandhar, Kapurthala, Moga, Amritsar and Pathankot Masjids. Later, the Punjab deputy chief minister, Sukhbir Singh Badal, thanked Shahi Imam for his appeal to Muslims to hold prayer meetings all over Punjab on the occasion of Ardas Divas. This is a positive concrete step towards friendship and cooperation between Muslims and Sikhs, two major minorities of India.
Vaseem Qureshi, Lecturer, 1453/3- Aamena Mansion, Lodhwad, Mirzapur, Ahmedabad – 380 001: I am an English lecturer in B.S. Patel Polytechnic, Kherva (Mehsana) and doing MPhil in English Lit. My area is comparative literature between Dalit literature and Black (Negro) lit. I have taken for study Richard Wright, an African-American author. I need your valuable suggestions.
Please order full set of our books that will throw light on your work (Rs. 1,700) Sample literature posted separately-EDITOR
Samatha, (samathain@gmail.com): Fault lies in most of the “educated Dalits” getting disconnected from their native place where there is oppression and the discrimination on a day to day basis. Once in the cities and the towns, they are more preoccupied in hiding their identity. Most of the time, they don’t handle the indirect harassment in the cities and at jobs as well. Our education system is totally faulty suppressing Dalit issues. Parents are equally responsible for hiding Dalitness. They don’t even bother to talk about Dr. Ambedkar. They are afraid of being found out. My family used to subscribe to Dalit Voice for quite some time. I used to be one who was too focused on academic performance to even bother reading it. However, the fact that some of my brothers used to discuss these issues, definitely helped me to broaden myself and try to be more of help to others. So I have to thank the Editor very much. We respect your courage and single- mindedness in reporting at huge costs. It is a privilege and honor to be communicating with you, sir. Within our family, we have lots of respect in our hearts for your work and sacrifices. Has the govt. done anything to find out why govt. posts are remaining vacant ? Has it taken any action against officials who are not interested in filling up these posts? Has it set any minimum goals in filling these posts? Has it bothered to publish the vacancy in the posts anywhere? Did it give reasons why the applications are rejected ? Most of the time, welfare schemes for Dalits and job availability are not published. There is no effort to increase the awareness about the schemes. In fact, every attempt is made to block/discourage deserving candidates. Is there any data about number of applicants, reasons why they were rejected on a case by case basis, record of attempts to increase awareness about the posts among the target population, access to information about vacancy etc.? Can we say the govt. itself is subverting the reservation? It is a backdoor policy to remove reservation in jobs effectively by encouraging violation of constitutional guidelines. Every Dalit should oppose it. This is a lesson to all those selfish Dalits who are not bothered to safeguard the rights guaranteed by the constitution. Those ineffective Dalit MPs need to ask themselves why they are powerless. Meanwhile there is a report in the Deccan Herald, Bangalore (Dec. 14, 2009). It says:
The Centre has worked out a plan to de-reserve posts which are otherwise meant only for those belonging to the SC/STs and Other Backward Classes (OBC). A ministry of personnel, P.G. and pensions, Department of Personnel and Training, office memorandum (OM) says such an unlocking of quota could be done in the “larger public interest as many posts in the government lie vacant despite the numerous special recruitment drives to hire SCs, STs and OBCs. The government, in its OM, has told all ministries and departments that they might propose de-reserving such posts. While conceding that there is a “general han on de-reservation of reserved Vacancies in cases of direct recruitment, the OM. a copy of which is with this newspaper, says “However, in rare and exceptional cases, when a vacancy cannot be allowed to remain vacant in public interest, the administrative ministry or department may prepare a proposal for de reservation of vacancy.” The government has left the issue to the subjective wisdom of the authorities to take a call.
The Govt. we have in India, both the Union and ST the states are controlled by the Hindus. When is a govt, of our oppressors, how can you expect justice to its victims? Reservation to SC/ St is not implemented even to the extent of 5%. Yet our resevationwalas are not getting angry. Most of them have themselves become Hindus meaning cowarcis, it will be good if the SC/ST reservations are totally scrapped so that the fish is thrown out of the waters and it learns to survive without the water. Hindu rulers will not render justice as long as the SC/ST educated lot remain as beggars – EDITOR
Rakesh Kumar, Student, C-320, Hall-8, IIT Kanpur, Kanpur 208 016: I have been going through your DV website since last six months but dissatisfied by the way the content of the website are maintained. There should be some more information so that the people can get some benefit from it. There should be option for putting our opinion and sharing views by visitors of this website as this will help to create interaction among Dalits all over the world. I want to get some direction for my quest for doing something for our people. Today my result is declared and also I have performed well in my first semester. But I am much more happy after seeing your reply rather than seeing my good result. I don’t know how to give shape to my vision, as I am from a very poor family and reaching here (IIT Kanpur) has been a very hard journey. First of all 1 need to find some livelihood for my family and simultaneously have to do something for the Dalits. However, I am thinking in this direction and trying to plan out something which I will follow. But after getting your reply it is really a dream come true for me that a visionary like you has replied to my mail. I will keep on sending. Please guide me for completion of my vision.
The entire Dallt Voice is not put on our website We have at least 5-6 pages of Letters to Editor where you can tear the Editor to pieces Brahminical people never allow questioning because they suffer from guilty conscience. We are not like that. You can hammer us- EDITOR
S. Akhtar Patel, Khanpur Deh-392 150: An honest and unprejudiced scholar from Nasik, Prabhakar Vaidya, has written a thought-provoking Marathi book, Vande Mataram/Jana Gana Mana explaining in depth (325 pages) why Muslims (and even broad- minded non-Muslims) can never be expected to appreciate the song, Vande Mataram.
