Dalits must stop hating converted Dalits : Brahminism making brothers fight brothers
GURNAM SINGH MUKTSAR, 2 - BHAGAT SINGH NAGAR, B/H BUS STAND, MUKTSAR - 152 026

Dalit-Backwards, declared Untouchables but originally Budhists, for the first time went over to Islam. Large-scale conversions took place. Their today's population in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan is not less than 78% of the population of these countries. Later the Untouchables got converted to Sikhism and then to Christianity. They are now above 20% of India's population. Untouchables resorted to conversion into Budhism after "independence". During a short period of three months Babasaheb Ambedkar had converted many lakhs to Budhism. In 2005, there was another wave of conversion from the Hindu Marathas to Shiva Dharma. (DV Feb.16, 2005 p.11: "Marathas quit Hinduism & embrace Shiva Dharma").

DALITS HATE HINDUISM
All these conversions were only from Hindu into other religions. If the original inhabitants of India get a good chance half of India's Hindu masses will quit Hinduism and cross over to other egalitarian religions. All past conversions prove that India's Moolnivasis, wherever they are hate to live in the varna-caste-based Hindu religion.

Whenever a section of "low caste" society passes through the severe shocks of atrocities by the upper castes they are forced to resort to conversion as a solution. But I find no use in such conversions. A 6th part of India's Hindu population comprises the 60 castes which converted to Islam. It has a history of 1,000 years started with the human teachings of Sufi saints like Baba Farid, Nizamuddin Aulia and sants of Ajmeri Sharif as Moinuddin Chisti (Rajasthan). The Sufi saints preached equality, love and brotherhood ultimately converted the "low castes" to Islam in billions.

BROTHERHOOD FORGOTTEN
Like Budhism, Sikhism was also a religion of brotherhood and a revolt against Brahminism. People in lakhs converted to Sikhism. When Christianity preached the message of love, equality, brotherhood and freedom, once again there was an exodus kicking out the Brahmana Dharma (Hinduism).

After conversion of about 200 millions of Indian masses, why India could not free itself from the caste-based Brahminism? Did the masses who converted to these egalitarian religions get rid of their caste consciousness of high and low? Those who converted to Islam did not like Sikhs and Christians and Budhists and vice-versa.

Before conversion the Untouchables were all living like brothers. But why they forgot this brotherhood after conversion?

No religious society which revolted against Brahminism had any love for their own brethren of other religions. Originally they were all one big society belonging to the same persecuted, insulted, oppressed, depressed and exploited Indian society. But after the conversion they turned into different sections having diverse faith and customs. They started hating their own brothers who got converted to the other faith. Before the Untouchables collectively hated Brahminism. But after conversion they hated other religions much more than they hated the Brahmins.

The one universal common brotherhood vanished after this conversion. None talks of their common origin. None thinks of the basic socio-cultural causes of their conversion from Hindu religion.

D. V. CRITICISED FOR SUPPORTING MUSLIMS
The common enemy (Brahminism) is forgotten. We are busy quarreling between ourselves. Brother hating bother. Once converted, they all forgot that which compelled them to quit Hinduism

Even all those Untouchables who converted to Budhism as commanded by Babasaheb Ambedkar today hate Sikhism, Islam and Christianity.

I have seen our Untouchable brothers criticising our Editor V.T. Rajshekar for supporting Muslims, Christians and Sikhs. These Budhist brothers don't hate Brahminism/Hinduism based on hate philosophy against which they revolted and went over to Budhism.

What then is the use of such conversions which makes a person hate his own brother? Our people got converted to these egalitarian religions to gain love and brotherhood. They got converted to other religions as a protest and gain brotherhood but the religion they sought is caste-based. In every religion we find castes as strong as in Hinduism. The Sikh religion is full of castes. They keep permanent caste-based, hate-based jealousies against each other.

Dalit Christians are segregated into separate churches. Dalit-Budhists are not liked by Brahmin Budhists. But Dalit Budhists also hate Muslims.

All these religions and their big institutions are captured by Brahmins and other upper caste converts. Islam is under the control of Khans, Pathans, Syeds.

Sikhism is controlled by the Jats and Khatris with the full support of Brahmins.

TEARS OF A DALIT SIKH
Indian Christianity, all its institutions and churches are totally captured by Syrian Christians who claim Brahmin origin. Christianity has served Brahmins with high level education system, medical care.

What then is the use of such conversions? I am a Sikh but I don't like to be a member of this caste-based Sikh society though I like Sikh philosophy. So what should I do? Where should I go? I found Budhism as my original Dharma but the Budhists don't like me because I am a Sikh. But Sikhs also don't like me because I am a "low caste" Sikh. Muslims and Christians also don't like me. I am in a terrible fix.
But, believe me, as a Sikh I love Islam and Christianity for their egalitarian principles. Our forefathers had left Hinduism and joined Sikhism only to gain equal human status. But here in the Sikh society we are still Dalits of low castes Ð hated by the upper caste Sikhs.

INDIA FILLED WITH HATRED
Where should we go? What is the use of such conversions which provide no equal status in Indian society of all different religions. Honestly, the Brahmins have corrupted every religion and made brothers hate each other. So much so, whole India is filled with hatred.

Our Editor, a Budhist, loves Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, but I find Dalits harshly criticising him for supporting Muslim, Christian and Sikhs. They want him to hate Muslims? Can a Budhist talk like this? Can he preach hatred against Islam, a religion of brotherhood?

The Marathas quit Hinduism. Will they accept the other 20 crore masses as their born brothers who once had converted (like the Marathas) into other religion for their total emancipation?

My argument is all those victims of Hinduism (except upper caste hate-mongers) who convert to any religions must strongly stand by the human principle of love, equality and brotherhood. They all left Hinduism of hate and joined other religion to seek permanent social and human equality. But once they converted they forgot the very object of conversion. Not only that. They are gripped by a new hate philosophy.

Even Budhists converts, who followed Babasaheb, did not show any love for Muslims and Christians.
Our change of religion has become just like the change of clothes and nothing else.

Budha talked of no god. Budhists don't believe in god. Fine. Do they at least believe in the principles of love, equality, brotherhood and liberty? Do they practise these as universal truths? Why don't they like Sikh, Muslim, Christian people as their born brothers?

If I love Budhists, Sikhs, Muslims, Christians as my equals but in different faiths, I am not liked by other Sikhs.

My point is if there is no ideological object of love and brotherhood, will any conversion assure emancipation of the masses?

We are enslaved by Hinduism. On this point all converts agree. If we throw this religion of hatred and then we meet another religion of hatred what is the use of such conversions? When a Dalit is in Hinduism he is the victim of hatred but even after he gets converted to a religion of love he is still hated. What then is the use of this conversion?

Conversions' sole object is human love, equality, brotherhood and liberty in practical social life. Otherwise it is all a game of deception giving false satisfaction.

Editor V.T. Rajshekar got back his passport ÑÊconfiscated by the govt. 19 years ago Ñ in the first week of March 2005.

Latest Hindi book
JOOTH NA BHOL PANDE
Gurnam Singh Muktsar
The author of the book and a brilliant Ambedkarite, emerges as the sole spokesman of Dalit Sikhs and point blank tells the upper caste Sikhs not to speak falsehood but acknowledge what is said in the Guru Granth itself that the founders of Sikh religion are the Dalit saints. Guru Nanak's admission that Guru Ravidas is his guru is mentioned in the Guru Granth.
The book was released at the Chandigarh workshop
of DV family members on
March 11, 2005 by Editor V.T. Rajshekar.
The scholarly work helps bridge misunderstanding between the Dalits and Sikhs.
2005 pp.446 Rs. 250
Write to author
No.2 - Bhagat Singh Nagar, b/h Bus Stand
Muktsar - 152 026

LETTERS TO EDITOR
Usman Khalid, 15-The Hamlet, Champion Hill, London, SE5 8AW: The USA killed 100,000 Iraqis and 30,000 Afghans (majority of who were old and infirm, women and children) and occupied their countries. None of their victims had hurt the US; they were chosen randomly in order to instill fear. The action of the US is unlawful as well as immoral. Those resisting occupation are the salt of the earth doing their patriotic duty. It is because of them that America has not succeeded; Afghans and Iraqis are more determined than afraid. Since America is a democracy (which Iraq and Afghanistans were not) should all Americans be held responsible for the wanton destruction and killings carried out by their soldiers and their government? Since the advent of the total war, civilians of the enemy nation or country have been targets. That was the case in the First and Second world Wars and all the wars that have been fought ever since. Since Israel is a "democracy", its citizens share the blame for the diabolical politics of their state. Islam does not permit non-billigerents to be targeted. In Israel, where civilians are the instrument of occupation and every one is trained as a soldier it is impossible to identify non-billigerents among occupiers. Dr. El Masry is being honest when he says that in the eyes of law, every occupier in occupied Palestine ÑÊsoldiers or civilians ÑÊis a legitimate target.

Vaibhav Wansik, (wasnik@physics.arizona.edu): I don't quite understand Chandrabhan Prasad's argument. His main thesis is that the Brahmin Raj was the best and any other form of Raj is really bad for the country. I don't quite understand how is it ever possible for Dalits to get any power in share to its population, without at the same time other castes such as the OBCs or about any other community having a share in power. He even condemns the Mandal Commission report but it should be remembered that BSP emerged because of the changes in the political atmosphere in the country following the Mandal Commission.

This is what we have been saying all these years. Castes with good population strength have started consolidating themselves to acquire political power. Since caste (or subcaste to be precise) comes closest to the concept of a "nation", such a process is natural. Chamar consolidation in UP, Yadavas in Bihar are good examples. The Mandal Commission might have helped promote such a consolidation. But even without the Mandal such a development is inevitable in caste-ridden India. Caste consolidation kills casteism (caste system). That is why Brahmins are worried. And Brahmins use Dalit writers to confuse us. But only those willing to be confused can be confused ÑÊEDITOR.

Rajendra, Ambedkar Pratishtana, Thoralakki PO, Malur tq., Kolar dt. -: I have just completed reading the book, Dr. Ambedkar on Muslims, by Anand Teltumbde (Vikas Adhyayan Kendra, D-1, Shivdham. 62- Link Road, Malad (W), Bombay - 400 064, pp.94, Rs. 75). The publishers say that the author.

" quotes profusely from Dr. Ambedkar's writings and speeches to set the record straight and to counter the distortions".

" Hindutva elements cynically try to appropriate Dr. Ambedkar through its known tactics of lies, double- speak, misrepresentation and misquotes.

The danger is that some sections of the Dalit masses may be misled by these tricks".

The author cites 11 points on which controversies are created and Dr. Ambedkar is damaged by the Hindu nazis who also co-opt him to confuse Dalits and Muslims. Hindus have already experimented this in Gujarat and may use the same method in other parts of India. Naming these points as "myths", he presents the "truths". Following are the 11 chapters: Ambedkar was against Muslims, Called Muslims terrorists, Believed in two-nation theory, believed in cultural nationalism, Pakistan or partition of India is an anti-Muslim text, Muslims always sung hymn of hate for Hindu and India, Hindus and Muslims cannot co-exist, Muslims are vandals, they are anti-reform. Dr. Ambedkar was on the side of the Hindus. Dr. Ambedkar was a nationalist. The titles clearly prove how biased the Hindu nazis are . In the concluding chapter, the author says that:

" Dalits must understand the evil scheme of Sangh Parivar. Dr. Ambedkar was too great a person to be projected against a particular people. Showing him as so is not only a falsehood but a deliberate act of insult.

Dr. Ambedkar thought that every oppressed person, no matter which country, race, religion he or she belong to, is a friend of Dalit and every oppressor his foe.

I confess that my writing on the contents of the book may not do justice to the scholarship and the spirit in which the writing of the author flows. Therefore, I am presenting the book and request Dalits, Muslims in particular all Bahujans in general to read this book for themselves. This may be the first book of its kind on the subject. It is a great service done by Anand Teltumbde to the cause, "unity of Dalits and Muslims".