Brother Neerav Patel’s article in DV June 16, 2002 р.4: “Dalit-Muslim unity not possible even if we are blood brothers”, is nothing but an insult to Dalit Voice which pioneered the Dalit-Muslim unity movement. Sometime I wonder if Neerav is a friend or foe of DV. Neerav says:
“Islam as is practised would hardly attract a humanitarian who happens to be inherently rational”.
An inherently rational person’s approach towards any religion would be to judge the followers by the religion and not to judge the religion by the followers. Today, even after the Sept. 11 incident, report from all over the world says that Islam is the fastest growing religion even in America. In India too, it has the topmost attraction. I do agree that some Muslims ill-treat Dalits. And Neerav will be astonished to know that most of them are from very socio-economic background (don’t tell that it is because of petrodollars). Many Hindu historians have said that the Ramayan and Mahabharat are cock and bull stories. In the Babri Masjid case, historians have said that when Ram and Krishna are imaginary characters, how can there be janma bhoomis? Such a fabrication of history will ruin the Hindus. We should not fall into the same trap.
