Dr. (Mrs.) Dorothy Anne Masters, Anthropologist, c/o J. Wilkinson, 28-Bridge Rd, Woolston, Southampton, SO19 7GQ, UK: I just saw a video “Durga: The Goddess comes to London”, a film shown on Channel 5 on Dec.14, 2006. In the name of Durga, the Hindus commit all sorts of violence. The names of Durga and Kali are associated with all sorts of atrocities. I have lived in India for 15 years; my daughter is married to a Brahmin.
V.K. Hankare, United India Ins. Co. Ltd., Divisional Office No.4, Mercantile Bank Chambers, 19 – Cawasji Patel Street, Fort, Bombay – 400 001: The Bhujan Samaj victory in UP proves that “Gandhian Era” has ended and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Era has begun.
Dr. Satinath Choudhary, 1358 MS Type Apartments, Timarpur, Delhi — 11054: Those criticizing Mayawati are those who want to claim success of social engineering of their own brand sponsored by the Pioneer Editor. To please Brahmins, these anti-Mayawati writers say that OBC is the Dalit’s biggest enemy and that the enmity is irreconcilable. But it is just a few OBC land-owning castes like Jats that have been tormentors of the Dalit. We need to single them out as our enemies, but not the whole OBC segment. When we are under attack by them, we should hit back but not when they are fighting for the cause of reservation which is clearly in our own self-interest to join them in the fight of reservation. Without reservation for the OBCs, reservation for Dalits will be eventually rolled back. With reservation for OBCs in place, reservation system will never be rolled back. Further, reservation system is a good principle to live by in peace and amity for a segmented society. Without reservations we will be perpetually fighting among ourselves like cats and dogs. Possibly, relatively less bigoted Brahmins have accepted Mayawati while the RSS-minded ones have gone with Mulayam. I don’t believe she has won too many Brahmin or upper caste votes (this time at least) by declaration of Sarwa Samaj Party. However, it has definitely softened the media against her. You say it is a victory of DV’s “caste identity” thesis. Mayawati’s allegiance to Sarwa Samaj is the other side of the coin that carries the slogan, “jis ki jitni sankhyaa bhaaree uskee utne kee bhagidaaree”. The latter slogan has always been closest to my heart. It is another way of making 100% reservation — to each segment according to its population. To that end we must have quota within the quota. Each caste must strengthen itself, to be able to be strong enough, to demand its share of power. Nobody else is going to give them their share. Each caste has to be able to demand and fight for its own share of power. However, there is a danger too in caste-based nationalism — in over-glorification of one’s caste. A caste may want to grab more than its share of power. That’s where we need to join “obligation” symbiotically with “rights”. Anytime we are taught about our rights, our “obligations” also must be impressed upon us. While we are on the deficit side of power, we should be fighting for our rights. As soon as we find ourselves on the surplus side in the division of power, we need to have fairness of taking the lead in surrendering some of our power and join others fighting for their equitable share of power. However, proselytizing about fairness is easier than practicing. For that reason, it is essential for those on the deficit side of power to organize and fight for their equitable share of power. Further, they should keep leadership of the fight in their own hands. Leaders from the other side of the fence may easily ditch the weaker sections at the crucial moment.
Dr. M.N. Javaraiah, M-13, II Main, IInd Cross, IInd Stage, E&F Block, Dattagalli, Ramakrishna Nagar, Mysore – 570 022: This refers to Brother Sher Singh’s victory over the Brahminical lobby (DV May 1, 2007). The victory is indeed an ever-living symbol of a rebel for justice against the Brahminical bureaucracy. My hearty congratulations. I am very much annoyed when I read that he was let down by none other than Dalit leaders. My experience of 35 long years as a writer is the same. No revolutionary Dalit thinker can depend on or trust Dalit politicians.
Harmesh Manav Advocate, Lamba Pind, Ravi Nagar, Jalandhar – 144 009: DV silver jubilee is a historic event. DV is a model magazine compared to all other magazines in India. The Editor treats the readers as his family members. DV has been fulfilling the mission of Dr. Ambedkar by Educating, Agitating and Organising .
M. Ali, (recent Dalit convert to Islam), Varanasi: It seems the “national toilet paper” owners have started reading DV and the books of our Editor. One of them was bold enough recently to accept an “upper caste conspiracy”: I refer to Business Standard of Lucknow (April 30, 2007). It admits that the BJP MP, Babubhai Katara, has been caught red-handed in female human trafficking, and yet not suspended from the Lok Sabha while in the past 11 MPs belonging to SC/ST/Dalit class were expelled from the house promptly without even being given the opportunity to explain their behaviour about not so serious case of “cash-for-question”. It is a case of naked biased justice in favour of Manuwadi party BJP and at the same time against the entire Dalit communities. Nothing has been done against the monstrous Hindu terrorist CM, Narendra Modi, whose Govt. has closed 2,000 cases about the cold-blooded murders of Muslims in Gujarat. It was at the intervention of the Supreme Court that cases were reopened, and it now proved that the Muslim, Sohrabuddin, was murdered by police and was declared a Pakistani terrorist and killed in encounter. Now the killers admitted that Gauhar Bi, the wife of Sohrabuddin, was killed three days after killing her husband, and her body was burnt to remove any evidence. Bravo Advani- Joshi-Singal-Vajpayee. Bravo Hindu terrorists and their Hindu terrorist state of Gujarat. They may pat themselves for Killing innocent Muslims but this great country has many, many more millions and crores of downtrodden Dalits who hate them and continue to hate their kind of tandava and nar-balis trying to establish their notorious anti-Dalit, anti-Muslim rule in this great country in which they will never succeed.
Devendra Nikale, Bombay : I am studying at Siddhartha College in Bombay. During my school education I got some good teachers for history. That is how I started reading history books. I have read most of the literature of Dr. Ambedkar. I came to know of Dalit Voice when some years ago I heard your speech in Shankukhananda Hall at the Daily Samrat function. Dalit Voice if published from Bombay will energize the Ambedkarite movement. DV is the only one paper in English which is being published regularly. Social revolution will begin with the lead given by Dalit Voice.
Sher Singh, IAS (Retd.), Flat No.32, 247/1 – Minto Park, Alipore, Calcutta – 700 027: Indian Muslims are descendants of indigenous Dalits. They converted to Islam to escape the cruelties of the caste system. Genetic findings by scientists in Spain, USA and India confirm the same, showing Sunnis have higher genetic affinity to North Indian castes.
Greater foreign ancestry was found among Shias who are very conscious about the purity of their blood. However, the Shias cannot claim 100% purity. Thus, both Sunnis and Shias are descendants from the local caste groups. With this finding, chances of Dalits and Muslims coifing together have further brightened. Why the Muslims in India are the most hated community? This hatred was reserved for the Dalits. Since Dalit-Muslims tried to escape this Brahminic hatred through conversion and later joined the Muslim rulers they were made the target of their utmost hatred. Even some Muslim rickshaw pullers in Calcutta never wanted to associate with Dalits mistaking themselves to be the descendants of the Mugil rulers. I now think they will be cured of this narcissism.
Farooq Abdul Gaffar Bawani, “Bawani Mansion”, Bhidbhanjan Street No.1, Rajkot -360 001: This refers to the Editor’s article, “Pakistan as a failed state?” (DV May 16, 2007, p.19). He has suggested that “healthy minds on both sides think of a confederation of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh for a better and speedier development of the subcontinent”. I beg to differ. Such a confederation including both the Kashmirs (Pok and IoK) would undo the partition and place he Hindu majority (Brahmins) in a dominant and decisive position. Such a confederation would be negation of the two-nation theory. Will the Editor give assurance on behalf of Hindus (Brahmins) that Muslims inclusive of all the weaker sections will be given equal share and treatment? There will be no discrimination on the basis of caste, religion or region?
In the same issue (May 16, 2007), immediately below our article, we published the article of Brother N. Haq from Islamabad rejecting our suggestion. It is true the same hate-mongers are ruling India even today but as the Bahujans become more conscious the demand for such a confederation is bound to increase. Caste system caused the partition of India (DV May 16, 2007, p.21). Over 85% of Indians are victims of the same system even today. So, the “healthy minds” will be driven to embrace their separated blood brothers as the upper caste oppression is bound to increase. — EDITOR
Naushad Ansari, New Delhi : I attended the silver jubilee function of Dalit Voice in Delhi on April 8, 2007. Along with M. Kamran, Advocate of Patna, and Rashid Hussain, software engineer of Jaipur, we met many DV members. Your speech on the occasion contained usual mark of research and scholarship. You have rightly summed up that the elite among Dalits have forgotten and betrayed the unfortunate among them. However, though the programme was named non-political, presence of a politician on the dais was contradictory.
EDITOR’s reply:
You are right. A Muslim politician, whom we did not know, came and straight away occupied the dais. The organisers of the meeting said they had invited him. Yet it was a mistake to invite him to the stage when our meeting was non-political .
Ratnesh Kumar, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar National Inst. of Social Sciences, A.B. Road, Dongargaon, Mhow – 453 441: There are many books on Budhism usually portraying Budha as mystical figure and sometimes as a god. His teachings are presented in such a manner that it becomes impossible for any rational mind to accept. Therefore Dr. Ambedkar was the first to compile The Buddha & His Dhamma. Yet modern writers including many so-called Dalits/Ambedkarites are ignoring Babasaheb’s warning but keep on presenting Budhism like any other Hindu traditional manner, emphasizing rebirth, karma, ritualism and vipassana as the core teachings of Budha.
To counter such misinterpretations and perversions I have written a short book, Buddha Ke Mool Siddhant (original doctrines of Budha), to provide relief to all Ambedkarites to propagate their dhamma (mission). This book presents seven themes:
(1) Life of Budha, (2) Budha’s Dhamma, (3) no-God doctrine, (4) no-soul doctrine,(5) concept of rebirth,(6) rationality, (7) after Budha.
The first chapter starts with the concept of Budha and briefly explains that Budhahood is a mental/moral stage of development that could be achieved by any individual in her/his lifetime provided they firmly believe in and practise liberty, equality and fraternity and think and act rationally. In this chapter Budha’s brief biography has been presented which is based on The Buddha & His Dhamma. The second theme deals with the essence of Dhamma, i.e., his rejection of caste system, gender-class-race discrimination and his social philosophy, “relation between man and man” by quoting examples from day-to-day life. The main theme starts with chapters on non-existence of God- and soul where I used different approaches such as sociological, anthropological, psychological and our Dalit writer’s argument along with Budha’s argument against concept of God and soul. In these themes arguments and facts are presented in such manner that even hardcore theist (provided he is not extremist) can became atheist, after reading this book. On the question of rebirth, book denies any form of life after death of any individual, but scientifically explains Babasaheb’s view on rebirth, that can be accepted by any rational and modern mind. Book believes that rationality is the essence of all the teachings of Budha, therefore it has given special attention to it and explains that ‘use of our own mind” is the only way to prevent us from any kind of exploitation. The book sums up the causes of decline of Budhism and says that present-day Dalits and OBCs are original Budhists who are forced into lower social strata by violent Brahmins who tactically killed and destroyed our missionaries. Besides, this decline in rational thinking i.e. rise of Thervada, Mahayan, Tanttayan, Vajrayan sects, also played a big role in destroying Budhism. – (These sects were also creation of Brahmins). This book has avoided all forms of Brahminic terminology such as deva, preta, Bhagwan etc. which are now frequently used in our Budhist literature. And the book is written in simple language so that it can be easily understood. (see p.28).
N.G. Das, 20-C/1, Dattabad Road, Bidhan Nagar PO, Salt Lake, Calcutta – 700 064: I support the suggestion given by Brother Ali (DV Feb. 1, 2007, p.15). If as suggested by Brother Sher Singh Bains, we construct temples of our own, then which gods we must install there? Have we any god of our own? That means we must establish Hindu gods. All the gods are imaginations of the people. During natural calamities people seek refuge in a god. But have you ever heard that in a boat disaster, Ganga Devi saving a devout Hindu? Did the Agni Dev spare an innocent person from being burnt alive when his house was on fire? Then why shall we waste our valuable time and money worshipping them? So, remember the commands of the great Periyar Ramaswami:
“There is no god, there is no god and there is no god at all. He who created God was a fool. He who propagated about the god is a scoundrel and he who worships a god is a barbarian.”
Sanjay Choudhary: A friend from Bombay, Swati Kamble, has made history among Dalit academics getting offers from two leading European Universities: Stockholm University, Sweden, and the Central University, The Hague for a master program in social policy and work. She graduated from a Christian institute, Nirmala Niketan, Bombay, and went to Sweden in an exchange program to complete her studies. There she was selected by two universities. Daughter of a poor Dalit family, Swati wants to devote her life for oppressed people, women and Dalits in particular. Buddha gave the principles of equality and liberty but today Buddhists do not assure equality to women. She wants to strengthen the hands of “Iron Lady” Mayawati who has become the second most powerful leader after Sonia Gandhi. Swati needs full support.
S.M. Khobragade, 138-Thaware Colony, PO Jaripatka, Nagpur – 440014: The Buddha declared war on Brahmins. Vedic India was secular. Nagas and Deva Brahmins lived peacefully. Sachi, wife of Indra, the King of Brahmins, was the daughter of Asuras. Krishna of the 2nd epoch fought against Indra. Krishna of the 3rd epoch, bribed by the Brahmins, subdued Kaliya Naga. Brahmin Pandits have no explanation. India that is Bharat is named after Bharata, the eldest son of Rushbha. Brahmins were cunning. They excelled in the art of speaking. Brahmins declared themselves of top colour (Vanno). Monopoly hurts free men, the Kshatriyas. The feud continued generation after generation. Intellect becomes cruel when it refuses defeat at the hands of the hated. Brahmins refused to invest the warrior enemies with sacred thread. Enemies no longer remained the 2nd varna class by color. They were despised. They were called Shudras, the insignificant two pence, the lowest 4th class, without caste. Brahmins interpolated Purusha Sukta into the Vedas, concocted the history. Chaturvarnya division and gradation for the society became the seal of the Law. At the Naga University of Takshashila, tomb of the Great King of Naga people, Ayiyans (wise) — Takshak by name. Siddhartha imitated Naga Samana Athabbana and became Mahasamana. The Buddha left the sweet home at 29. For six long years, he walked on foot thousands of miles, organized 1,250 men and women — an association of volunteers he called Sangha. He trained them in shamanism (vide the first sermon Samana Sannsutta, Samana name-giving ceremony). Who are you? I am a Samana: you are to know and to reply — we are classless and casteless. He reminded them “Vevanniymhi” (we are without caste). He built the organization. Firstly, he was the lone preacher when he was 29; 1,250 when he was 35. Everyone he sent to preach. From 35 to 80, for full 45 years, he walked and preached for the welfare of the many, for the happiness of the many. The Buddha was the just man the Earth ever saw. Indeed, it is the revolution started by the Compassionate One.
Buddha: 563–483 BC.
What you are saying may be true. Buddhism revolutionized India but the Brahmins killed this revolution. Babasaheb revived it but the Brahmins are now trying to co-opt Babasaheb. We are being thrown back into the dark ages. — EDITOR
