Fr. Ignatius Pinto, St John’s Medical College, Bangalore:
Your editorial, “Bid to Throttle Christians in India“, is a very fine piece of objective thinking and we congratulate the Dalit Voice on the correct analysis you have made of the whole problem. We wish there are more people like you who could enlighten others with equal clarity.
Santosh Kumar, Philadelphia, USA:
I am a member of the VISION and had a chance to read the booklet, “Why Go For Conversion?” published by the Dalit Sahitya Akademy. We are very much impressed by the contents, therefore, want to send a copy each to every member of our organisation. We feel this booklet will bring more awareness among the Dalits.
Dr. P Arokiaswamy, Archbishop of Bangalore:
Congratulations on your excellent editorial, “Bid to Throttle Christians in India.”, (DV Oct. 15.)
M. Kumaran, Nagpur:
Press reports say that the Sankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti has distributed certificates to 26 non-Brahmin pujaris at Cochin. Why can’t the acharya convert the untouchables into Brahmins and give them sacred thread and the status? The sanatanists are doing all these tricks as they are very much worried about the conversion of untouchables to Islam.
Fatima Akhtar, Madras:
Will you define the the word “Dalit”? Which sections of the country come under it? It is said that Hinduism embraces all sections of the society except Muslims and Christians. Muslims are yet to be recognised as forming an integral part of India by the majority community. It is recognised only as a religious minority. Whether the Dalit movement adopts the same position?.
M.K. Subramanian, Erode (TN):
DV writings are really very fiery. But I have certain doubts. You say Muslims and Christians are persecuted minorities. But in some educational institutions run by these minorities, its employees are suppressed. The government is unable to to interfere in the affairs of these colleges as they enjoy constitutional protection. College teachers are not feeling secure. Regarding conversion, we can’t fight Hinduism if we leave it. Our aim is to abolish caste system. Periyar advised Ambedkar not to embrace Buddhism only because of this. Hinduism survived but Buddhism declined. Periyar worked for social, atheistic revolution.
R. M. Premanandanam, I.I.C.S. , Secunderabad:
We congratulate you on your editorial “Bid to throttle Christians in India“, with reference to the action of the communal groups against the most prestigious medical institution of India St John’s Medical College, Bangalore. We thank you for the bold editorial and for the clarion call given to the Dalits for unity. Prior to this incident several other attempts have been made by communal groups and biased govts to put down progressive programmes of the minority communities. So St John’s College affair should not be taken as a stray incident but as one reflecting on the whole minority population of India. We call upon you to mobilize the strength of Dalits throughout the country and rally them under a single banner so that the ruling community might reckon with the strength of the minorities. We assure you of our unstinted support in all your efforts.
M. A Razakh, Vizag:
Muslims are being edged out of government services. Their representation is about 2 per cent, while their population is more than 12 per cent. Is it justice? The Muslims in this area are very poor. The educated youth are not getting jobs because of some objection or other.
“Kalyan”, Iskapalli (AP):
“Kick off these Hindu crumbs of bread given in the shape of reservations, and seek salvation by getting out of this gas chamber of Hinduism”. This (DV Sept. 15) warning against the traps laid by their high caste oppressors sums up the dreams and expectations of the Dalit front. Two suggestions may be pertinent. 1) Those dalits who enjoy financial security need not avail of reservations thus enabling their less fortunate brothers to get jobs and other benefits. They should not use their sub-caste names as this could lead to class discrimination, and give their children a feeling of insecurity and unwantedness. 2) We should promote an awareness of the benefit of humanising education. Dr. K. Wilson says: “Humanising education is the premium which the nation cannot afford not to invest for the establishment of a just society”. This kind of education has more chances to give birth to a new humanised political race it is the duty of educated dalits to share this message with their rural counterparts to help develop and organise themselves against oppression. Dr. Ambedkar said that dalits must renounce Hinduism. Today those who leave the fold are justified. But they need not join another religion. They could create a society for the development of a “meaningful life” in the social structure and thus help root out the caste system. Hopefully this could be the solution rather than any other religion.
S. Sudheer, (AP):
After 33 years of Independence, and in spite of constitutional guarantees, Untouchables continue to be segregated and oppressed. About 70-80% exist below the poverty line. Opportunities are denied to them by Hindus. Social indignities and oppression have resulted in the Meenakshipuram conversions to Islam, a lesson to Hinduism and caste system.
