COMMUNICATION
Dalits alone can save Sikhism ?
Saran Singh, I.A.S. (retd.), Ex-Chief Secretary, Bihar, & Editor, Sikh Review, 116 - Karnani Mansion,
-A, Park St., Calcutta - 700 016

This refers to your Editorial, "Confessions of a Dalit Editor" (DV Jan.1, 2005). You have no cause to apologize or feel disheartened. You have indeed succeeded in voicing concerns of all Dalits in India time and again. If anyone has failed, it is the political leadership. That includes the Sikh leadership for which the responsibility must be shared by the splintered Shiromani Akali Dal. Despite the shortcomings of Sikhs that you touch upon, I am firmly of the view that a massive induction of Dalits into the Khalsa fold is the best way for the social revolution you have championed all these "lonely" years.
Brahminic exclusivism will evaporate with the Dalits embracing the Amrit of Guru Nanak, and Guru Gobind Singh.
We have come full circle since Babasaheb Ambedkar first decided to enter the kingdom of god at Amritsar. You are now destined to display the same moral courage, and break the shackles of casteist slavery. The Sikh masses are with you.

BID TO MALIGN GURU GOBIND SINGH
Sikhism reels under vaidik attack Dasam Granth to replace Guru Granth
Daljeet Singh

Most of the evidence about the Brahmin-manufactured work called the Dasam Granth is negative. The earliest reference about some writings by the Tenth Master is by one Brahmin Chhibber in his Bansavalinama. Contemporary historians of the period of Guru Gobind Singh make no mention of the Dasam Granth.

Chhibber's Bansavalinama was written 71 years after the Guru's demise. Chhibber himself discounts the historical accuracy of his statements, for, he claims to belong only to the third generation of a Brahmin family whose head was a contemporary of the Tenth Master. Most Brahmin writers always have a strong, natural and understandable bias to give a Brahminical colour to the Sikh religion and its history, even though all the Sikh Gurus were emphatic to proclaim the independence of their system and the Panth. Till the end of the 18th century, there was nothing known about any granth of the Tenth Guru, or any writings now regarded as its chapters or contents. In fact, the only granth or compilation mentioned in the literature is Vidya Sagar or Samundar Sagar Granth, the contents of which have no relation to the present Dasam Granth.

The story of Chhibber stands belied, and that the version that Bhai Mani Singh compiled the Dasam Granth is a distortion that has no historical, ideological or factual basis or possibility.

The existence of Dasam Granth is mentioned for the first time in mid-19th century by Bhai Santokh Singh, and later by Giani Gian Singh and others. Later, Bhai Kahn Singh and others repeat the story of Bhai Santokh Singh, suggesting that the bir of Dasam Granth was compiled by Bhai Mani Singh. If a respected contemporary of the Guru like Bhai Sahib had really compiled the granth, or any part of it, there could ever have been a controversy about it among the Sikhs so as to require them to resort to the chance decision depending on the success of Mehtab Singh and Sukha Singh. Bhai Mani Singh's position being pre-eminent as a trusted scribe and devout Sikh of the Guru, could any Sikh or Panth disregard or doubt his testimony about the Dasam Granth, if it had been there? There is, thus, little doubt that the story of Dasam Granth's compilation by Bhai Sahib has no historical basis. In fact, it is a motivated fabrication to give credence to the story of Dasam Granth compilation.

Fabrication The supportive story of a letter written by Bhai Sahib, about the collection of Charitropakhyan, to Mataji at Delhi is another fabrication. Dr. Jaggi has examined in detail the veracity of this letter and found it to be unreliable.

So there is no evidence whatsoever of the existence of Dasam Granth or any part of it in the 18th or even the 19th century. All we now know is the later appearance of some manuscripts or Birs of the Dasam Granth. Four of them are regarded as the oldest.

Bid to confuse Sikhs The lack of any history of the manuscript for over 200 years, its internal evidence of interpolation, shape of letters and language, together with the heretical change of method in writing gurbani, and its mix-up with Puranic and Avtar-worship literature, conclusively exclude the possibility of the bir being a production of Sikh quarters. On the other hand, the probability is that it is a compilation by those either unconversant with Sikh doctrines, tradition and literature, or those out to confuse the Sikh ideology. In any case, the manuscript has no historical or academic value as an authentic bir.

Hindu humbugs Except for about 70 pages of the Dasam Granth, including Jap Sahib, Swayyas, Akal Ustat (excluding hymns in praise of Durga), Asphotak Chhand and Zaffarnama, the other contents which involve worship of Avtars, Devis and Mahakal are mostly from the Brahmin literature.

Brahminical interpolatations are forcing the Sikhs to accept and involve Devi and Avtar worship which are opposed to the doctrines of the Gurus and the Guru Granth.

There is another important factor suggesting that a major part of the Dasam Granth is actually taken from some other sources, and has been mistakenly or deliberately combined with the bani of the Tenth Guru.

For example, the writings were originally all separate and unconnected pothis, or compilations. For that reason these were first called Dasam Patshah Ka Granth. This name does not suggest any authorship of the Guru, but only seeks to link his name by way of reference to his period or quarters. Later, the granth was called Dasam Granth and still later Sri Dasam Granth, and so on. The frequent changes in name only reflect the evil intentions of the writers or the publishers.

It is a deliberate mix-up is evident from the fact that originally most parts of the granth were called Bachittar Natak Granth. This name appears 151 times in the Puranic parts of the compilation. It is repeated at the end of each composition, story chapter or poem.

Deliberate mixup The mix-up has been done deliberately. For puranic verses, and chhands in praise of Devi are interpolated in the midst of what is clearly the bani of the Tenth Guru, as seen in the light of Guru Granth. Similarly, some couplets, which are the bani of the Tenth Guru, as seen in the context of Guru Granth, stand introduced in the midst of puranic stories.

The bani in the Guru Granth is the sole guru and guide of every Sikh.

Conclusion It is clear that such contents of the Dasam Granth as suggest worship of gods, goddesses and Avtars are opposed to the doctrines of the Guru Granth.
The SGPC has accepted the position that 923 pages of Charitropakhyan are puranic myths, unconnected with the guru.
No Sikh can accept that anything opposed to the categoric rejection of the doctrine of avatarhood in the Guru Granth could ever be from an authentic Sikh source much less from the tenth master.

Shia Iraq will end Saudi dictatorship
Iqbal Ahmad Shariff,Advocate, 94/1 - Tank Garden, Jayanagar, Bangalore - 560 011

The election scheduled for Jan.30, 2005 in Iraq if held it may be the 8th wonder of the world. Contrary to the promised election on Western model in which one elected member represents a particular constituency of a limited area and electorate, the entire Iraq is one single constituency which has to elect 275 members for which 90 lists have been made. A voter has to vote for the list. Ever heard of such an election anywhere? Such things are done in referendums where the entire population has to say "yes" or "no" on one or two issues.

This election system is kept as a top secret. All "embedded" Western journalists have put a blanket ban. Even the UN is not questioning this wonder of the world. Only an Indian journalist, the greatest expert on Arab affairs, brought this to our notice.

Butchering zones This wonderful formula is adopted as it is not possible to make a list of voters all over Iraq. Who are to be the enumerators and how are they to go to each home to enlist voters all over Iraq in which Americans and their inside supporters are being killed wherever they go? Many a times they are invited to the firing and butchering zones and killed. In many places they are hunted and killed. Enlisting means making batches of enlisters and their American protectors. America cannot afford to get its troops killed everywhere.

This was realized by America within a month of its entry into Iraq. The idea of a Western-type of election was ultimately given up. Tribal leaders were made to come together to become puppets. They came together and within hours tactfully adjourned indefinitely and they have never met since then. Next, elections were sought to be done by asking tribal leaders to send their representatives of their own. They did not agree.

Sistani direction And Ayatullah Sistani, the grandest Shia cleric, said "no" to this proposal and demanded Western-type of elections. He meant to tell the Americans go to every village for enumeration and get killed everywhere. This is the method of Iraqi talking. The inner purpose never gets revealed. The outer words are very sweet and pleasing.

Ayotullah Sistani further said "You Americans came to restore Iraq to Shias who are in a majority but ruled by the minority Sunnis. Only a Western-type of election can restore Iraq to Shia hands".

This was the biggest bolt from the blue. It was a warning to the Sunnia Arab rulers that instead of one Shia state of Iran, there will be two Shia states, one among the Arabs too.

This created such a panic among the Arab kings and Shaikhs that they started cursing themselves for helping America to crush Saddam Hussain.

Ritualistic Islam They felt that their fate will also be like that of the Emperor of Iran who was disgracefully toppled in Iran in the name of Islamic Republic which was hailed by the Muslim masses everywhere. The Arab kings and shaikhs feared that the revolutionary "Spirit of Islam" will destroy their "ritualistic Islam". Rulership will pass on from their families to the masses. It was to crush this revolutionary Islamic spirit of the masses they had instigated Saddam to fight Iran and make it a Arab-Iran (non-Arab) struggle.

" Spirit of Islam" But Saddam went on a mock war for eight years and both Ayatullah Khomaini and Saddam fooled the Arab rulers as well as their Western masters, because both Khomaini and Saddam are imbibed with the "Spirit of Islam" not Arabism and non-Arabism and the like. They feel Islam as the only escape route from the chaotic situations of the present day world. Now that Saddam is no more in power, there is no card in the hands of Arab kings and shaikhs. They are terribly afraid that an Arab Shia state of Iraq will snatch away their cards.

Iran's contribution to Islam Shiaism, which took birth in Southern Iraq in the 8th century AD, was adopted by the Iranians only in the 16th century (during Safavi rule).

The contribution of Iranians to Islam is so great that Arabs simply pale into insignificance.
Iraq became the greatest power till the 13th century with the Arab prowess and Iranian intellect. Iraq is a very great amalgam of Persian (Iranian) intellect, Arab prowess and Sunni (Khurdish) war strategies. Iraq has always been an eyesore and today it is the most feared country by all surrounding it Ñ particularly the Arab kings and shaikhs.

Greatness of Shias The Arab rulers have every reason to fear Iraq going Shia. There are Shias in every Arab country. But every Shia anywhere in the world is connected with the other one through the Shia religious leaders headed by the Grand Ayotullah in Tehran. They are as organised as the Catholics under the Pope. This is not at all the case with the Sunnis who are 90% of the entire Muslim world.
These 10% Shias have young men who can become commandoes upon a single command of the Shia Ayotullah. They are trained to spill their own blood at every Moharram.

The Arab kings and shaikhs were contented all these days by branding the Islamic Revolution of Iran as an Iranian affair having nothing to do with Arabs. But the Iraqis are not Iranians. They are Arabs in every sense. They speak Arabic, possess Arab mannerism Ñ Arabs in every respect. The three decade-old mantra of Iranianism will be no more effective.

Sins of Saudi & Kuwait The Arab state of Iraq going Shia will have its effects not only among the Shias in other Arab countries but also among Arab Sunnis.

The fight and sacrifices of the Iraqi masses against America will bring about more and more similar fights in Arab kingdoms and shaikhdoms, and Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in particular who have committed the sins of giving direct military support to America during 1991 American aggression and logistic support now.

Already the fear of Saudi masses has vanished. They have also found out new weapons to fight high-tech military hardware. The IED (improvised explosive devices) being used by Iraqi fighters have created a new type of terror in American troops. They are makeshift roadside bombs. These are primitive contraption and home-made devices which kills few but wound many. About its use, Major Clint Nussbergar, an American intelligence officer in Iraq, says

" It is a classic insurgent tactics. Bleed us and live to fight another day. American navy medic Seamus Marron says these roadside bombs are killing us" (Deccan Herald Dec.6, 2004).

It is for not providing defensive materials against that American troops challenged Rumsfeld in Kuwait camp. These explosive devices are a newly created weapon by the Iraqi scientists, the making of which is taught to every fighter in Iraq. He has only to make it at home like the cartridges of the muzzle-loading guns, and go out for hunting as villagers do to scare away wild animals.

Wahabism Saudi rulers wanted to dominate the Muslim world through Wahabism which considers all Muslims other than Wahabis as infidels. They are not against Shias as misunderstood by the West but against all other Muslims. All these years the Wahabis were passive, but they are active in all Muslim societies now. Their purpose appears to be more to get hated than be accepted as a psychological device to make the general Muslims believe everywhere that since Wahabism is wrong its promoters and supporters are also wrong who are none other than the Saudi rulers.

Hated Saudi royals The Saudi royal family is hated by Muslims everywhere. This had led to a division in the royal family also. This division is to counter balance the Muslim mass anger against the royal family fearing that it may bring doom very soon.

The Shia state of Iraq will be a very welcome development in the present war between the Cross and the Crescent. Welcome for the Crescent and doom for the Cross.

This will lead to great bloodshed particularly in the Arab world similar to the one in Iraq. And Muslims will not feel shy of dying for Islam. These are the birth pangs of a resurgent Islam which the Baath party upholds. Ba'ath means rebirth, resurgence.

Converting a problem into opportunity
V.T. Rajsheka

(Speech delivered at a seminar on "Kanaka Gopura demolition by the Madhwa Brahmin swamis of Udupi Krishna temple" held under the auspices of Karnataka Backward Classes Awareness Forum, in Mysore University on Oct.27, 2004. Ex-Minister H. Viswanath presided).

Before I left for Mysore, I had a call from a Brahmin journalist friend asking me why we were making so much noise on a "simple" issue like Kanaka Gopura. "Don't make it a big issue giving it a communal turn", he said.

I told him we did not demolish the Gopura. "It is your own Madhwa swamis of Udupi led by the Pejawara who demolished it and hurt our feelings. We are only crying over the pain we suffered by your action. Ours is a reaction to your action. Do you mean to say we have no right even to cry over our pain?" The Brahmin journalist was silenced.

This is a typical Brahminical mischief. From centuries these Aryan vaidik forces have been committing aggression upon aggression against our people. But we have been silently suffering their cultural aggression.

Why Kurubas are not angry The demolition of the Kanaka Gopura is part of a vaidik conspiracy.
I hail from the westcoast town of Udupi. I grew up there. I studied there up to Intermediate. When I heard about this tragedy, I felt so bad.

The crime committed by the Madhwa Brahmin swamis is not only an insult to Kurubas but the entire Backward Castes. No, to the whole people of Karnataka. So, the mischief of the Udupi swamis has deeply hurt me.

But I am sorry to say the Kurubas are not getting angry.

Kanaka Dasa is the greatest saint of Kurubas.
And Kurubas form Karnataka's single largest Backward Caste. There is no subcaste among Kurubas unlike all other castes.
In spite of their population strength, they kept silent.

Why Siddaramaiah did not become CM A BJP Kuruba leader conspired with the local Madhwas and poured cold water on the Kurubas who rushed there.

Except Brother H. Viswanath, no Kuruba leader is getting angry. Our respected Dy. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is also silent.

By this time Siddaramaiah should have become the Chief Minister. How can be become CM when his own community is not getting angry?

The Kurubas are not an angry people like the Lingayats, Vokkaligas. Their goodness, docility is exploited by the Pejawara swami.

I will give an interesting example of the Vokkaliga anger. At a Dalit meeting at Sakaleshpur, a local Raitha Sangha leader also spoke. He said when Deve Gowda was the candidate for the CM post, he rushed to Bangalore with stones in his pocket and a stick in hand. Thousands of Vokkaligas came from all parts of the state to Bangalore with sticks and stones.

They attacked four Brahmin leaders who were trying to sabotage Deve Gowda election.That is how Deve Gowda got elected because thousands of Vokkaligas got angry and fought.

But Kurubas are not getting angry. And that is how Siddaramaiah lost the chief ministership twice because his Kuruba community did not get angry. Kurubas may be good people, peace-loving. But these qualities alone are not enough to fight the upper caste aggressors. Self-respect and anger are more important.

Aggression on Shaiva temple Kanaka Gopura demolition now has given the Kurubas a wonderful opportunity.

The Madhwa swamis have created a problem to Kurubas. You have to convert this problem into an opportunity. Organise your jati, strengthen your jati identity.

I have brought with me an important document that discloses the conspiracy of the Madhwa Brahmins. This is an important book published in 1969 Ñ about 50 years back. It is written by a Brahmin only, Achuta Sharma.

The villain is Pejawara The foreword is also written by a Brahmin Dr. M.R. Bhat. The title of the book is The True Picture of Udupi Temple & Its Historical Background.
The book discloses that the Krishna temple was built by the Madhwas. The Madhwas purchased all the books and burnt it.

The Pejawara Swami, the India's top Hindu nazi leader, is the villain.

Udupi as a Shaiva centre The book says Udupi was a Shaiva religious centre. There are two large Shaiva temples there Ñ Ananteswara and Chandra Moulishwara. How did a Madhwa temple come up in a Shaiva religious centre? This is the first conspiracy.

The book, which is a research work, says both the Ananteswara and Chandra Mouliswara temples belong to the Sthanika Brahmins. Sthanika means people who belong to that place Ñ local Brahmins. That means the Madhwa Brahmins are not local Brahmins. They are outsiders.

Brahma Hatya by Madhwas The book describes a big fight that took place between the Madhwas and Sthanikas and the crime committed by the Madhwas.
When these Madhwas are capable of conspiring against their own Brahmins, committing a crime against Kurubas is a petty affair.

It says "The aggression was committed by Madhwacharya's disciple Vadiraja. This happened in the 16th or 17th century" (p.14). He gave a call to kill the Sthanika Brahmins (p.17).
The author says Vadiraja committed Brahma Hatya (killing of Brahmins).
On p.23 there is a reference to Kanaka Gopura. But the Pejawara swami says the temple belongs to the Madhwas. He is wrong. Supreme court verdict (p.38) proves the Pejawara is uttering a falsehood. It is a public property (p. 40).

Why Gopura was demolished So it is clear from these historical records that the Pejawara swami has demolished the Kanaka Gopura to establish that Krishna temple is a private property. This is false.
Let the legal action and govt. steps continue on one side. But on another side people's action must also go on. In fact, people's movement is more important.

Nobody is above the people. Never allow the Kanaka controversy to cool down. Keep the pot boiling. Convert the problem into an opportunity.

I suggest that we take a decision that a jatha of 10,000 Kurubas and other supporters should go to Udupi with bricks and start re-building the Gopura.

As the Editor of Dalit Voice, we assure our full support. I will come with you. Let us have a "Chalo Udupi" programme.

India's most notorious Brahmin PM
Dr. kancha Ilaiah, 510 - RVV, Road no.2, Lane 5, taranaka, secunderabad - 500 017

P.V. Narasimha Rao was born into a feudal family of Karimnagar dt., of AP and his family controlled the biggest feudal estate in the state. When he was the chief minister of the state, the 1973 Land reform Law was enacted. An interesting aspect of PV who steered the AP Land Reform Act was that he himself never declared his own surplus land till his death. The naxalites had to force him to accept a nominal distribution of his feudal estate. As all feudals normally do, the PV family made Hanamkonda Ñthe twin city of Warangal ÑÊtheir own centre of operation. Hanamkonda became one of the Brahmin cities of Telangana, where migrant Brahmins from the rural Telangana districts like Warangal, Karimnagar and Nalgonda migrated and settled for urban education. Particularly during the period of the Razakars and the Telangana armed struggle, a huge Brahminic migration took place. Except for once, Narasimha Rao never won from that constituency. He in fact had never established an electoral base of his own in Andhra Pradesh. The National Congress found him Ramtek, as his adopted constituency. Of course, Nandyal was his Prime Ministerial constituency because the Rayalaseema faction leaders offered him a safe sail during his tenure as the Prime Minister. He had made some sarcastic remarks about caste in The Insider. But he was the most Brahminic Prime Minister that India has ever had. When he was the PM, he was constantly around temples, performing rituals with several swamis around him. The most notorious Chandraswami was said to be his spiritual guru.

He was a bridge between the BJP and the Congress's political cultures. If PV had not become the PM, the BJP could never have come to power. As Prime Minister, he silently watched the demolition of the Babri Masjid by his Hindutva friends. In his death a modern Chanakya died.

(Dr. Kancha Ilaiah has given some additional details about the Chanakya whose obituary we carried in our Jan.16, 2005 (p.6) issue. His article in the Deccan Herald of Jan.7, 2005 describes the Chanakya as India's most Brahminic Prime Minister.}