Dalit NGOs must get out of their fascination for the "poor"

Brother Ashok Bharati of the NACDOR (National Conference of Dalit Organisations) had assured us that he was once a member of the DV family and continued to derive inspiration from it. The report (see inset) he sent, however, speaks of the "poverty" of an Untouchable jati — Mushars —who have become the "poorest" among the "poor" Dalits only because of their jati.

What is to be noted here is that they are born in the Musahar jati is the cause of their poverty and not vice-versa. While we compliment Ashok for organising a Musahar jati conference and thereby strengthening the "identity" of that particular jati, the focus of the rally was not on "jati identity" but on its "poverty". In our long Editorial of Dec.1, 2005: "DV extends caste identity to economic planning: Development redefined", we had predicted the failure of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) and Ashok Bharati here testifies to our statement. The scheme failed because it used "poverty yardstick" while the disease afflicting the Indian society is not "poverty" but the "caste system". We had communicated all these to him and urged him to impress the political leadership in Delhi and planners the need to shift from "poverty" to "caste yardstick".

We had met Union Rural Development Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh at Patna and warned him that the govt.'s "most prestigious" and the much-publicised scheme (NREGS) would go down the drain if "caste" was not taken to identify the "poor". Identity in India goes with caste. Caste is our identity. There is no other identity. The Constitution itself has said it. Everything is decided on the basis of caste —not poverty.

We have completed a book itself on the subject, Development Redefined, It would be ready in a month. NACDOR is one of the country's apex organisations of the Dalit movement and hence it must be seriously concerned with NREGS which, if not saved right now, would go to further bloat the stomach of our oppressors. Once again we call upon NACDOR through Ashok Bharati to hold a one or two-day seminar in Delhi to highlight this problem to help recast the NREGS in the interest of Dalits. Remember, the manuwadi marxists successfully killed communism in India by singing the sweet song of "poverty" which continues to be the favourite theme of all upper castes. The "poverty" song helps them to lift the "poor" among their jatwalas. Bengal offers the best proof for this Bhadralok experiment to keep Dalits, Muslims and Tribals totally and permanently enslaved. Yet our people have not been able to discover the mischief behind their "lover for the poor".

The problem of the Dalits, Backward Castes and for that matter the entire oppressed Bahujans is not poverty but caste. But NGOs to please their upper caste masters stick to poverty song and hence deceive our people. NACDOR must be different and get out of its fascination for the "poor" and turn to caste (identity). We are here to assist you in social engineering —EDITOR.

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"Poorest" left out of NREGS in UP

Kasia (Kushi Nagar-UP): over three and a half thousand men and women of the Musahars and other Dalit castes held a rally at Pardona, near here, to demand steps to remove their poverty. The rally was led by Ashok Bharati, National coordination of National Conference of Dalit Organisations (NACDOR). Vibhuti Chowhan of Musahar Vikas Manch organised the rally. Musahars are the most backward caste among the Dalits. Kushi Nagar is one of the 26 districts in UP where National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) is being implemented. Since Feb.2 when it was launched no Musahar got any job under this scheme. In Kushi Nagar, NREGS was launched by the District Collector in a prosperous village with undeserving population.

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LETTERS TO EDITOR

Siva Tanuku, (tanukus@gmail.com): Few more things I have to say before concluding the two-month-long debate on Brahmins.

(1) I agree with you on the following:

(a) Majority of Indians are still poor and don't have anything. (b) The current Constitution (written by Dr. Ambedkar) is outdated and not enough to provide justice to all (example - Jassica Lal case). (c) Casteism is the worst form of discrimination and still very prevalent in India. (d) For generations Dalits, BCs and up to some extent sudras suffered a great deal under this unequal caste system. (e) Based on the Vedas, Brahmins are one who created this system. (f) There are many Brahmins, upper castes, creamy layer BC/STs etc. who are the current problems to India. (g) Overall, India is a failed state (because of discriminatory culture, ego, jealousy etc.).

(2) Based on my analysis the following are ground realities:

(A) Today, Brahmins control very few thing in India (politics, power, land, money etc.). (B) Less than 1% Brahmins are filthy rich and powerful. All the oppressive Brahmins do not represent the entire Brahmin community —just like Muslims. (C) Today, shudras and upto some extent BCs control majority of assets in India. (D) People such as Reddy, Khamma, Kapu, Rajus, Velama, Vokkaliga, Shetty (I think your ex.caste), radical Muslims, many Christian etc. can never be called brahminical — but currently they are the rulers and worst oppressors of Dalits, poor people including upper caste poor and poor Brahmins. (E) Inter-caste marriages in Brahmins are much more compared to the above castes. (F) So many Brahmins (many my relatives) encouraged and married Mala, Madiga (SC/STs). So, one can't say these Brahmins are casteists. (G) Today, Brahmins are facing the worst form of hatred from people like you and Kancha Ilaiah even though they don't control anything. You can only fight against weak people such as Brahmins as you are afraid of the current oppressors, who are deadly (described above). Why BC writers like Kancha Ilaiah write only against Brahmins and not about Khamma, Reddy, Raju, Velama (who control AP)? (H) Brahmins allow you to debate and they also change if necessary. But Bihar Yadavas and other upper castes don't allow even a debate. Conduct a survey you will know the facts.

(3) You said the upper castes tried to closed down your paper and put you in jail etc. Why don't you follow the path shown by Dr. Ambedkar and try to be constructive and try to bring the change by playing within the system? (4) Why don't you first bring about a change in your community (BC) first, before attacking Brahmins? (5) Why don't you convince BCs to marry Dalits and treat them like brothers/sisters? (6) Why BC leaders like Lalu, Mulayam hate Dalit leaders like Ram Vilas Paswan, Mayawati etc.? There is so much mess in your own house to clean. Unless you clean your mess, you are nobody to ask others to clean their stuff. I am very confused with the twisted words you use such as Brahminism (I don't think such things exists —if sudra politicians control everything in India today, why give our name to them?). I am fed up with your branded judgement. As you are taking a firm stand on something and unwilling to find the ground realities, I never agree that Brahmins (surely I can say about 70 to 80% of them are really just average people and not bad) are bad or powerful to do any harm to anybody as majority of them are middle class. A majority of the Brahmins in AP are just middle class. I agree they may be better off compared to Dalits/OBCs but they control nothing in AP and many other states. Unless you find the real strategy and try to bring everybody together (in this process everybody need to fight the rich and powerful who don't want to lose their caste) nothing will change. I will form my own research company in India and conduct surveys. As our paths are different, I have to say good-bye.

Brother Shiva was very much afraid of allowing us to publish his "letters". Finally, he agreed. (DV March 16, 2006 p.15). There are lakhs of Brahmins like him honestly believing in what they are saying. The problem with people like Shiva is their up bringing and their supreme caste status which make them blind to the realities of life. They want to learn nothing, forget nothing and see nothing—closed minds. They have not read the history of India itself because they don't want to read it. Look at Shiva telling why in the whole of India only DV and Kancha Ilaiah are criticising Brahminism. Poor Shiva does not know that ever since the Aryans set foot on India, the one and the only struggle that was been continuously going on from centuries after centuries is against Brahminism. Every sage and saint of India from Budha till this day has been writing and fighting against Brahminism. Brahmin historians themselves have written about all this. Yet they don't want to know this. They suffer from a closed mind which again is not their fault. Brahminism made them a prisoner of their own jati. This is clearly evident from Shiva refusing to give us his address to send our literature and refusing even to agree with us. He does not want to receive our literature even when we wanted to send it free. He can't tolerate our argument because it is based on facts, rational, scientific, logical analysis. Their own man, Arun Shourie, has denounced the entire Brahminical "sacred scriptures" and called it bullshit. Hence the need to save Brahmins from Brahminism —EDITOR.

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Gurubux Singh Bagha, (wakeupcall_1@yahoo.com): My ancestors were Sikhs and most of them served in the military and after me everybody came into civilian life. I had a chance from my childhood in my village to be in contact with wide spectrum of Sikhs. I wonder some time that the great gurus gave so much to Sikhism but in vain. Hinduism still controls Sikhism. All the castes still have hierarchy. Either you become Christian, Budhist or even Muslim this division is going to stay. Sikhism is only confined to gurdwaras. Once you come out you are again Hindu. From my own personal experience and contact with the preacher of Golden Temple, a Sikh Brigadier who instituted one of the Sikh regiments, the Sikh ministers, the papas, Jats and all the 100% Sikhs practice untouchability and discrimination. Sikh preachers know what is going on but they rarely try to enforce what they preach because they are doing business. It is going to stay like this. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar has summed up one million words into three words. Educate Agitate, Organise. This is the path to riches, glory and happiness. That is the end of the game.

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Vijay Sonawane, C-2, IMTECH Colony, Sector-39A, Chandigarh - 160 036: The Sikh gurus envisioned a non-Brahminical society free from discrimination and exploitation. However, this message has not been carried to masses as an appeal for social change. The creation of Nirbhay and Nirweir (free from fear and free from enemity) society has been clearly envisioned in the mool mantra. It can happen only when hatred and discrimination is eliminated. The mool mantra needs to be practiced in life rigorously by the Gurus' followers. Financial growth is not possible immediately. The reasons for untouchability in Sikh society are not financial. Bant Singh was attacked not because he is poor but because he is a Dalit. There may be lakhs of mazdoors like Bant Singh but they don't have to undergo such torture. It is because they are not Dalits hence are not as vulnerable as Bant Singh. Dalit means vulnerable and weak with respect to basic level in the society. Dr. Ambedkar's message is Educate, Agitate, Organise, sequence is important.