Brahminical racists deserved Australian kick

DENNIS WALKER, 1/1 - EDNEY COURT, NOBLE PARK, MELBOURNE-3174, AUSTRALIA

There is a strong feeling against Indians who speak Hindi, Tamil etc. in public places. This is cultural intolerance in Australia. And Anglo racists are assaulting Indians, Sudanese and Arabs. Some Hindu (upper caste) immigrant professionals are trying to assert their superiority over ordinary Australians in hospitals etc. where they work. For instance, when they invite born Australians to their houses they serve snacks and soft-drinks but only pretend to sip from their own mug. Thus there is some fault on both sides. There are traces of the racism on both sides.

Dr. Goldie Osuri , Dept. of Critical and Cultural Studies, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW 2109, adds: I am not surprised by the racist attacks on Indian students in Australia. Who should be targeted on a racial and/or religious basis appears to change depending on specific economic, social or political conditions. During the Howard years, Muslims of all nationalities/ethnicities appeared to be a favorite target. In recent years, there is an influx of Indian students, who have been recruited as full fee paying international students, are attractive for Australian Universities. Among certain segments of domestic student populations, and even staff, there are expressions of resentment against these students as they are seen to be ‘taking over’ universities. At the University of New South Wales (UNSW), I know of at least one student group (composed of domestic and international students) which has campaigned against the specific kind of racism which targets international students. Students from countries like China, Hong Kong, Singapore and other Asian countries also face racism—so this is not unique to Indian students.

Racism inside India: Students from India must examine how racism functions inside India. An insular view that we need to be concerned with racism only when it affects us will not help in the long run. For example, the recent documentary on call centres in Gurgaon, diverted to Delhi, shows a call centre instructor in India educating students about Australian culture saying that only the Lebanese and Chinese in Australia are involved in drugs or violence and that Australians (meaning White Australians) are really friendly. Trading in racist stereotypes and screaming racism when we’re affected is not the answer if we are genuinely concerned about racism.

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That Hindu India is the world’s original racist country is a fact of history. The Indian Untouchables complained about it at the Durban conference of the UN Human Rights Commission. But India’s Hindu Govt. joined hands with Zionists and US and scotched our efforts. South Africa demolished Aparthied long back but India’s Hindu Apartheid is going strong.

Brahminical rulers have no right to complain of racism in Australia. Why did those Hindu racists go to Australia to study when India has over 250 universities run by their jatwalas? Repair your house first before complaining that the Australian house is leaking.

The racists deserved the kick and got a taste of their own bitter Brahminical brew — EDITOR.

DEBATE ON BUDHISM

Brahmins die for Brahminism but we die to save our enemy

ANIL RANGARI, BHARTI APTS. GURU NANAK NAGAR, DURG - 491 001

Brother Er. Ram Awtar Ram, Lucknow, wrote in DV (Nov.16, 2008, p.9) that: (1)Vipassana is the real Budhism. Without it the society will go astray and become characterless. But Babasaheb Ambedkar did not practice Vipassana. Does it mean Dr. Ambedkar did not become real Budhist and he was characterless because he did not practice Vipassana?

(2) He said that he was from a scientific background and an experienced person on Vipassana and that those who did not practice Vipassana were telling lies.

Does it mean Babasaheb always told lies but only Vipassana guru Goenka was telling the truth?

I have repeatedly cautioned the people about Vipassana and its worst effects. But our hypnotized Budhists do not want to learn a lesson. S.N. Goenka is an upper caste Bania and once a big industrialist. Why he does not want to teach Vipassana to his own upper caste industrialists who live under tension?

Killing our anger: Budhism is based on morality, equality and justice. Why Goenka is not teaching this to his upper caste millionaires who are growing richer by drinking our blood? Goenka wants to destroy all revolutionary work done by Babasaheb.

Brahmanvadis, RSS, Goenka and their counter-revolutionary army are using Vipassana, yoga, religious karmakands etc. to kill our anger, hatred and revolution against Brahminism and capitalism.

Prof. Hardayal warning: Prof. Hardayal said:

“Metaphysics (including Rajnish and Goenka’s Vipassana) had been the curse of India. It has blighted her history and compassed her ruin. It has converted her great men into miserable quibblers, and led them into useless channels of inquiry and efforts. It has been the dangerous will-o’-the-wisp of Indian intellect during many centuries. It has elevated sophistry to the rank of an art, and substituted vain fancies for a knowledge. It has condemned Indian intellect to run the same old roove for hundreds of years. It has blinded her seers and led them to mistake phantoms for realities... Arrogant, pretentious, verbose and purblind, it has taken its cackling for an oracle and its fantastic word towers for solid piles of thought masonry....

“... The Upanishads claim to expound that by knowing which a very thing is known. This mediaeval quest for the absolute is the basic of all the superior metaphysics of India. The treaties are full of absurd conceits, quaint fancies, and chaotic speculations. And we have not yet learned that they are worthless. “Samadi” or trance is regarded as the acme of spiritual progress. How strange it is that a capacity for swooning away should be considered the rank of wisdom. It is very easy to lose consciousness if one has strong emotions and a feeble intellect. That is why ladies faint so often on the slightest provocations. But in India Samadhi is the eighth stage of yoga, which only Paramhans can reach. These be thy gods, O, Israel. To look upon an abnormal psychological condition produced by artificial means as the sign of enlightenment was a folly reserved for Indian philosophers. (BAW&S Vol.5, p.137).

Vasant Moon warning: Most of today’s Budhist literature is anti-Budhist. Already Vasant Moon the great editor of all the works of Babasaheb, has warned about this but nobody is listening.

Know the Hindu Mind: Budhism is not only mere Dhamma, it is also a revolutionary movement (saddhamma). It teaches how to live a righteous life effectively and at the same time it teaches to fight injustice, inequalities, exploitations, tyranny, and discriminations. Without this there is no Budhism.

Why our people do not want to understand Hindu-Brahmin mind? Read carefully Know The Hindu Mind by Editor V.T. Rasjhekar.

Henpecked DV readers: Budhist paramitas are the basic conditions and effective virtues of socio-religious workers (bhikkhus) for Budhist movement but no Budhists wants to understand its real revolutionary meaning and follow accordingly. DV is the movement of Budhism. It brings revolution in the minds of its readers. When the minds of Dalit-Bahujan Samaj boil and revolt, it shakes all centers of power (knowledge, socio-culture, politics, bureaucracy, judiciary land, financial institutions, media etc.).

But our readers are henpecked, slaves enjoying their slavery. Mental slavery is worse than all other tyrannies. They do not want to take pain, responsibility and lead the movement and die for it.

Brahmins die for Brahminism. But Dalit-Bahujans die to save our enemies. This is the tragedy of the Moolniwasi Bahujan Samaj. How to remove this mental slavery of our “educated” Dalit Bahujans? The Editor is deeply worried.

Goenka & Nichiren cults not suitable to India

DR. V.D. CHANDANSHIVE, COTTAGE VAISHALI, SHAHU NAGAR,NANDED - 431 602

The DV Debate on Budhism, and particularly on the Japanese Nichiren sect and Lotus Sutra has been going for quite some time. The Debate has been oscillating between two poles of active and passive Budhism. As such the writers either concentrate on Nichiren’s active and offensive cult or on Goenka’s passive and defensive cult. The participants in this Debate seem to have lost sight of Ambedkarite Budhism which unequivocally claims that in the Indian context it is Budhism alone than can counter Brahminism if the followers of Babasaheb honestly care to tread the guidelines given by him.

Outside India wherever Budhism is practised, it doesn’t have to face the challenge of Brahminism. So in whatever form Budhism is practised in other countries, mostly it is used by its adherents to generate inner peace by emphasizing such techniques as meditation and Vipassana.

Defects of monks: But in India Ambedkarite Budhism has been assigned an altogether different mission which people outside don’t have to bother much. We must remember that Babasaheb was not very happy about international Budhist brotherhood. Neither he wanted his Indian counterparts to follow Budhist monks of Budhist countries. He had very clearly aired his views about monks when he had visited Sri Lanka. Again in 1954, at Khathmandu (Nepal) he had touched upon the philosophical differences between Karl Marx and the Budha. In his opinion marxism was replacing Budhism only because of the passivity and lack of vision on the part of the community of monks which constitutes the backbone of Budhist mission of propagation.

Babasaheb introduced Budhism to his followers in India and abroad with a purpose, with a mission. This mission cannot be accomplished by following Nichiren cult or by following Goenka cult. But the mission of defeating Brahminism can be materialized by following the guidelines given by Babasaheb through his writings and speeches. It will indeed be beneficial if writers in the DV Debate on Budhism become vocal on Ambedkarite Budhism instead of giving so much space to Nichiren and Goenka. In fact we have no concern with them.

Goenka has intentionally brought the meditative cult of Budhism which is absolutely unsuited in the Indian context. So, why don’t we have a rational, balanced and lively debate on Ambedkarite Budhism in DV?

DEBATE ON PRIESTHOOD

When Dalits failed to liberate Bodh Gaya, how can they capture temples ?

DR. G GANESH, AKANKSHA APTS, RING ROAD, TRIMURTI NAGAR, NAGPUR - 440 022

This refers to Brother Kuldip Kumar’s question “Why Dalits must capture temples? (DV April 16, 2009, p.25).

He says Dalits being “Hindu”, they have every right to capture the priesthood. But the Editor has rightly reminded him the statement of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar that the “Untouchables are not Hindu and were never Hindu”. Dalits who embraced Budhism as directed by Dr. Ambedkar could achieve at least something. Only those who follow Babasaheb Ambedkar but are not Budhists but believe in Hinduism, may be willing to be temple priests. Babasaheb wanted to seek assimilation of Untouchables with Hindus. But in vain. Those Dalit castes who were copted to serve the Hindus were misguided by M.K. Gandhi. Why they did not follow Babasaheb to Budhism? Only such castes may be eager to become priests. Brahmins never allow Dalits even to enter temple but Kuldip Kumar is thinking of making them temple priests. Brahmins will not permit it because priesthood is their bread and butter. The Govt. of India should nationalize all the temples, masjids, churches, Jain mandirs, gurudwaras and Budha Vihars just as it nationalised the banks. However the priesthood may continue with respective religious group.Even to this date Bodha Gaya temple, where Budha achieved enlightenment, is still in the hands of Brahmins. So how can we think of priesthood of Brahmin temples without bloodshed.

DEBATE ON ARMED STRUGGLE

Indian Muslims not revolutionary being Dalit & sudra converts

DR. MOINUDDIN CHISTY, 43/36 - C.N. ROY ROAD,CALCUTTA - 700 039

This refers to your Editorial in response to Com. Ayyankali’s call for armed struggle (DV May 1, 2009). Rationalists and philosophers hesitate to act for want of deep faith. They do not believe in the Almighty and the life after death. They dare not sacrifice their property and life as they have no faith that the prophet and his true followers can do this.

Abraham, Budha, Jesus and Mohammad made supreme sacrifices and brought about the revolution. After the downfall of Budhism in India Islam came with a prophetic mission under the leadership of Mohammad Ghori, Kutubuddin, Ikhtiar Uddin, Mohammad bin Bakhtiar to free the people from the bondage of Brahmin and Kshatriya rulers.

Slave king: Kutududdin was a slave. Ghori taught his slave and made him a scholar, organiser and fighter. Kutub freed himself from bondage by his wisdom and service. He became the slave of god and fought in his cause and god made him king of the Brahmins. Brahmins were dethroned within a year. He fed people through donation. He invited his master, Khaja Kutubuddin Kaki to come to Delhi to free the people from Brahminism. Religious, social, political and military campaigns were his weapons.

Beef-eating: Today’s Dalits and shudras do not like to be freed by gaining knowledge and wisdom. They do not like to be Kutubuddins. They do not like to eat beef. They don’t like to cut the extra skin of their sex. How they will fight their enemy? They do not like to be militant because they are inwardly cowards.

Even Dr. Ambedkar hated Islam for its militancy. Unless you are militant, unless you have your own personal law, unless you hate marrying fair-skinned Brahmin girls, unless you have separate society and separate political party, separate electorate, separate religion like Islam you can do nothing.

Muslims of India also failed to liberate themselves from the clutches of Brahminism because they were originally Dalits and sudras before conversion.

Pathans and Turks were fighters. All the early sufis were also fighters from Afghanistan. Now they have lost the original Islam.

Of late Muslims are awakening from their deep slumber. They are emerging as fighters. They will free the people of the globe. Because they have faith in the Almighty and life after death. They believe in the revealed scripture; they believe in all the prophets who were fighters. They can sacrifice their lives for the emancipation of themselves and the humankind.

The Tamil Tigers failed because they were bound to fail. Nepali Marxists also failed. Pakistanis and Bangladeshis are also failed people.

Don’t close down DV: Turks, Iranians, Arabians, Afghans will never fail due to the Quran and Mohammad. Mohammad was not a philosopher and rationalist. We should be the follower of the Prophet to win the race. They should be men of action.

The Editor of Dalit Voice himself has to be changed first and so also Com. Ayyankali. If they are unable to rise to the occasion, then wait for a man on the horse back.

Don’t close down DV. Pearls will grow from the Editor’s tears. If the people are not aroused, they will be doomed. They will be thrown to the fire after their death. But the fighter for the Almighty Allah will go to the heaven. Be the true servant of Allah just like Mohammad, you will be the saviour of your nation in this world and will go to heaven for this great deed.

This is our answer to Com. Ayyankali.

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Did DV fail in its mission?

KULDIP KUMAR, HISAR, HARYANA

This refers to Com. Ayyankali’s blunt attack on DV and its Editor: “DV failed to inspire people to fight Brahminism” (DV May 1, 2009, p.6).

I agree that DV failed from its very inception because it is read only by those English Dalit babus who would simply give a look at it and then forget it. At the most a few “Ayyankalis” would write in it, get kudos and that is all.

DV never became a paper for the masses. It is confined to the so-called “intellectual group”. Most of its readers are retired and, also, as VTR says, tired persons. I do not know if VTR ever tried to sell DV to the young. Had DV been a paper of masses, particularly students, by now many of us would have been facing civil and criminal cases for writing such “provocative matter against public peace and order”.

Only thing that DV has achieved is that it has made connections or made known Dalit writers of the world to each other. I think this one achievement can wash off all other failures of DV.

So far as VTR is concerned I have known him since he wrote the book, Why Godse Killed Gandhi?. He is one of very few persons whom I revere. Another one, Kanshi Ram. I admired Mayawati also till she joined hands with BJP to become the CM. Like Kanshi Ram, VTR never deviated from the mission. His Editorials, his books never repeat, never overlooked the Dalit cause. Had he decided in the 80s to compromise, perhaps, today he would have been the super chief editor of some toilet paper earning millions, moving in luxury cars, residing in spa villas. He sacrificed every bit of his life for our mission. And still we allege failure on his part.

VIPASSANA

If we the so-called Budhists claim Vipassana is real Budhism, should Budha be blamed for it? If we the Ambedkarites join BJP should Babasaheb be blamed for it? If we failed to achieve our mission, it is we who are to blamed.

VTR warned and forewarned us at every step of our life. He has kept the Ambedkarite torch burning with his blood. If we failed to see the holes on the road it is our fault. Why blame our fatherly figure?

I fully endorse the criticism of Com. Ayyankali. But the Comrade’s theory of armed struggle appears to be impractical for the following reasons:

(1) Who will launch the armed struggle? (2) Against whom? And (3) how to do armed struggle?

(i) Every one will tell you to hit back but who will do the hitting? Our people are enjoying their slavery. We are completely brahminised. We do Vipassana but our youth merrily chant Ganapati Bappa Morya. Can Com. Ayyankali destroy these socio-cultural mindsets and habits through gun?

(ii) A majority of our literate people dare not disclose their caste. Most of our Dalit babus carry false surname. Will they take to armed struggle?

(iii) There is a very big segment of our population who have not even heard the name of Dr. Ambedkar or Budha. Barely 5-10% of our people know what Ambedkarism and Budhism is. And those who practice it can be numbered. So who is there to launch the armed struggle?

AGARWAL COLONIES

Look at our youth. Many of those who make it to civil services or plum posts desire to or actually marry upper caste girls and settle in Agarwal colonies. Most of them remember Babasaheb only when they fail to get promotion through reservation.

Mayawati desires to be PM. She is not only ready but has in fact joined hands with our age-old foe i.e. Brahmin and the Brahmana Jati Party. Can Brahminism exist without the Brahmin? See the record of our Dalit legislators. How many of hem have not defected to other parties for the sake of ministry? The founder of Dalit Panthers is now in some RSS party.

Will these time-servers carry arms for the cause of Dalits?

I have serious doubts if Com. Ayyankali can get enough numbers to start an armed struggle. During the Kanshi Ram era (before joining hands with BJP) it was possible and feasible.

BHINDRANWALE ARMED STRUGGLE

(2) The second question is the more important. On what principles this armed struggle should be carried on? Supposing we get arms, against whom should we use them?

See what happened to Sant Bhindranwale armed struggle. What did he achieve by sacrificing lives of tens of thousands of Sikh youths? On the other hand, see the status of Brahmins of Kashmir. They exploited Kashmiri youths in Kashmir. Today they are enjoying super luxury in Delhi.

If Bhindranwale movement died without achieving anything what will be the fate of our armed struggle?

MEDIA CENTRE GLOOM

The third factor is how to carry on the armed struggle.

Besides manpower, it needs lots of money. We lack both. Due to lack of funds alone our Editor has not been able to start a “media centre” in Delhi. I offered my services but I have no money. He replied, “it is all gloomy”. If VTR can think that a person like Kuldip without money is all gloom, there is substance in it. Let us be practical.

No armed struggle of one group against another has ever been successful. Examples of IRA, LTTE, Khalistan, al Qaida, Hamas etc. are before us. It is successful only when it is targeted against the state. Examples: Nepal, French Revolution etc.

KADGADHARI BUDHA

That is how Budha was always more stable and successful than Marx.

Can we wipe out all Brahminic forces through violence? Even Pushyamitra was not successful with his sword alone in wiping out defenseless Budhists. His gang infiltrated Bikhu Sangh and distorted Budha Dhamma from within beyond repair. What his sword could not achieve was achieved thru declaring Budha an avatar of Vishnu. S.N. Goenka is not using armed struggle.

We have not been able to climb the first floor: “Educate”. Forget about “Agitate” and “Organise”. Kanshi Ram “educated” us a bit. But the Dalit Voice drive to “educate” our people in Ambedkarism is not meeting with success.

Let us first “educate” our people, then think of raising arms.

I believe Brahminism can be destroyed — only the way it destroyed us. We need “Budhas with swords”. We will have to destroy their monopoly on priesthood. Kanshi Ram cracked their domain of political supremacy. He broke its legs. Now head has to be crushed. For this. Ayyankalis, Kuldips will have to play the role of Goenkas.

Let us start a movement: jitni jis ki sankhya bhari utni uski hissedari. Our constitution says we (Budhists) are Hindu. Let us claim our share in priesthood. Out of the four Shankaracharyas, three should be from among SC and BC. For the one post Brahmins, Banias, Kshatriyas may compete.

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DV welcomes honest criticisms

The outright atack on DV started by Com. Ayyankali is part of an honest intellectual debate which we welcome. Even the dirty Ganga water gets cleaned and made drinkable if it flows a hundred miles. Hence honest discussions are important. As Ambedkarites, we like honest criticisms and even bouncers — EDITOR.

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DV is shock proof rock

RAM PARSHAD, DR. AMBEDKAR WELFARE MISSION, 436, PH-4 (SECTOR-59), SAS NAGAR, MOHALI - 160 059

This refers to Ayyankali’s article (DV May 1, 2009, p.6). I am not only surprised but pained to read it. He is pouring his immature advice. Please do not take it to heart. Dalit Voice is firm and stood like a mighty shock proof rock of the Himalayas.

Anti-conversion law violates Dalit’s right to choose his religion

AASTHA SUMAN, 2ND YEAR STUDENT, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF JURIDICAL SCIENCES, CALCUTTA - 700 098

Hindu terrorist parties are trying to block the road of Dalits to liberation through conversion. All the Muslims, Christians and Sikhs are converts and liberated from Hinduism.

True, there have been mass conversions since 1956 but the spirit of conversions seemed to have been indented with political aspirations of some. Politics of numbers (vote bank politics) has become order of the day. Most conversions are made as a result of force or fraud and are politically motivated .Illiterate, impoverished and vulnerable; Scheduled Castes are being misled into converting to a particular religion. This is the major premise based on which anti-conversion laws have been passed in Orrisa, Arunachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and now Rajasthan. Thus, though the aim of such acts was to prohibit forced conversions, it made even genuine conversions very difficult.

Reconversions welcomed: The recent Rajasthan Dharam Swatantrya (Religious Freedom) Bill (2008) has provisions that are very stringent and arbitrary. For instance, Section 4(2) of the Bill, states that if a society or trust is found to be “contemplating” the use of money for converting people, its registration can be cancelled. In addition, Section 5(1) makes it mandatory for anyone intending to convert to send notice at least 30 days in advance or face a fine of up to Rs. 1,000. It adds that the same requirement and penalty will not be applied to a person wishing to “revert” to her or his “original religion” and so re-conversions are kept out of the ambit of the Bill. This is based on an unfounded assumption that a person who renounces a religion always does so out of some pressure or financial benefit.

Such legislations question the very act of religious conversions which have formed an important part of various religious communities for a very long time. Emperor Asoka had embarked upon this endeavour in the third century BC. Then Christ and his missionaries had done the same. Similarly, Dr. Ambedkar had directed the Dalits onto the same path. Then, were these people wrong in doing so? Could you have imprisoned and punished Dr. Ambedkar for wanting to convert Dalits to Budhism?

As per the present anti-conversion laws of the various states, it seemed like he could as well be implicated for such acts. Then are such laws justified? Doesn’t the preamble to our constitution speak of liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship? Then how can a leader directing a Dalit into conversion be convicted as an offender or how can a Dalit’s right to choose his own destiny be curbed by a mere legislation? The right to faith and belief is an essential human right and an important fundamental right. One should be free to choose ones religion after weighing the pros and cons of various religions. Thus, there should be no place for anti-conversion laws in India.

COMMUNICATION

Muslims never thought of media

T.K. KIDWAI, 529-K/39 - KHURRAM NAGAR, LUCKNOW - 226 022

Muslims have never given a serious thought to the very fact that those who control the media, also shape and mould opinions, turn lies into absolute truths, black into white and vice-versa. Arabs have money, but neither own banks nor media (Al-Jazeera is an exception). What they own: grand palaces in American and European cities, fleet of limousines, an army of concubines and rest have left to the Americans and Europeans to manage for them, especially defence and foreign policy.

Syed Hamid, ex-VC of AMU, tried to raise Rs. 1 crore to start an English daily, but couldn’t. That was in early eighties. Since then so much blood of Muslims has been shed, but nothing moved the community except call for prayers (azan), emotional outburst by political and so-called religious leaders on emotive issues. And thinking itself came to a complete halt.

Muslim intellectual poverty: Dalit-Muslim unity would have changed the political contours, political equations. Muslim leaders, mostly of the so-called Ashraf, treat our Dalit brothers as Arzal and never tried for Dalit-Muslim unity.

Rs. 3 crore to start a newspaper is not a big amount. Tehelka raised close to Rs. 2 crores. The weekly published a list of 185 persons who donated Rs. 1 lakh each. There were few Muslims in the list. One can collect millions and millions from Muslims for construction of a grand mosque but never few thousand for a newspaper. Such is the sordid state of Muslim mentality.

You are absolutely right that it is enjoined on a Muslim to stand up against injustice to whomsoever it is done. Fight against the oppressor and help the oppressed. Unfortunately such a dynamic and revolutionary religion has been reduced to a set of rituals, and reverence for Prophet and Caliph. I remember a meeting which was organised to condemn Israel and express solidarity with Palestenians after the end of six-day Arab-Israel war. Noted speakers were Krishna Menon, Aruna Asif Ali, Shanti Bhushan, Asad Madani, Bhagwat Jha Azad. But when CPI and other leftists organised meetings to protest against US aggression in Vietnam, never a single Muslim speaker was there.

What can we expect from these Ashrafs to exhort Muslims to fight along with Dalits against upper caste oppressors as a religious duty as important as performance of any other ritual? I am totally disappointed and have lost all hopes.

Dalit-Muslim movement

MOHAMMAD SHAHANSHAH ANSARI, INDIAN DALIT-MUSLIM VOICE, USIA RESORT,
QUEEN’S HOME, KOH-E-FIZA, AHMEDABAD PALACE ROAD, BHOPAL, MP

We are proposing a directory of those promoting Dalit-OBC-Muslims issues, specially Dalit Muslims, their address, phone/mobile, fax, email and website address. Details of literature dealing with Dalit-Muslims problems and the contact details of its authors.

Our new blog, www.dalitmuslims.com, is the voice against upper caste atrocities.

Your suggestions to evolve a common agenda policy and strategies for an all-round upliftment of Dalit-Muslims are needed.

We want to unite all Dalits irrespective of their religion.

To promote reservation for Dalit-Muslim/OBC Muslim separately and for the Centre as well as States to amend the Constitution.

Fight the false argument of “unity” among Muslims against reservation for Dalits. Where is the unity among Muslims when Muslims as a whole suffer from socio-economic, educational and political backwardness?

The ruling/upper caste strategy to promote their interests and frustrate Dalit rights must be challenged. A great conspiracy has been hatched against all Dalits to deny justice to them.

For al political parties to see that the Sachar Committee and Ranganath Mishra Commission reports are implemented.

We are grateful to V.T. Rajshekar, Editor, Dalit Voice, Bangalore. Khalid Anis Ansari, Ashok Yadav, Irshadul Haque, Prof. Imtiaz Ahmad, Tanvir Salim, Kasheef (editor twocircles.net), Masood Ahmed Falahi, Altaf Ahmad, Adv. Irfan Engg. and many others for supporting this cause.

(shahanshah.java@gmail.com, http://ww.dalitmuslims.com)

Hindu terrorists turning India into bloody battlefield

V.T. RAJSHEKAR

My speech coming immediately after an RSS leader’s talk may appear shocking.

Mangalore city has suddenly hit the national headlines because of the RSS-BJP atrocities on churches and lately on Hindu women itself. Here we find a classic case of Hindu religion itself oppressing people.

As the Editor of Dalit Voice, we have been in the forefront fighting such terrorist forces for over 30 years.

But the Christian leaders of Mangalore never invited me — though I belong to Mangalore and my father was a distinguished student of this very famous college and later became a Collector of this district.

CHRISTIANS REFUSE TO SUPPORT MUSLIMS

When the same Hindu terrorist forces attacked the Muslims in Mangalore, our Muslim friends here asked me to request the Christians of Mangalore to support them. Mangalore has a fairly big Christian, particularly Roman Catholic, population. They are a very good people.

But when I requested them to support Muslims, under attack, they said, “sorry”. They wanted to remain “neutral”.

I asked them how on the question of Justice and Truth, there could be neutrality.

This time the Christians themselves came under very serious attack. And they called me seeking Muslim support. Then I told them that Muslims would like to be neutral. (laughter). Any way Muslims stood by Christians.

Last evening I attended a big Town Hall meeting here, fully packed. The Muslims are getting ready to meet the Brahminical aggression.

BRAHMINISM AS OUR COMMON ENEMY

Muslims and Christians are not foreigners to India. They are all converts from the original inhabitants of India, namely SC/ST/BCs. We are all blood brothers. All of us have a common enemy. This is the enemy that killed even Gandhi, the “Father of the nation”.

Dr. Ambedkar identified this enemy as Brahminism which today disguises itself as Hinduism.

My father studied in this very St. Aloysius Christian College, I also studied in a Christian school at Udupi, so also my son at St. Joseph’s College in Bangalore. His children also went to Christian school.

But none got converted. L.K. Advani, Arun Jetly, Arun Shourie and hundreds of BJP-RSS leaders went to Christian schools. None got converted.

Christian services to the society and particularly to our Dalit people can be written only in letter of gold. (cheers).

But our enemy says the only job of Christians is conversion. If what they are saying is true by this time India should have gone Christian. But India’s Christian population remains at a standstill — at 2.5%.

These upper caste Hindus say they are the only “merited” people and yet they are the most ignorant people. Recently in Bangalore RSS leaders held a seminar on conversion and I was present. I heard funny speeches.

The speeches made there expressed the fear that Christians and Muslims are going to soon take over India. The so-called Hindus are today living under a fear psychosis that Hindus will soon be a minority.

DALITS AS VICTIMS OF HINDUISM

The same Hindu leaders in another breath say that Hindus form 85% of the Indian population. If so why this fear?

As the Editor of Dalit Voice, the largest circulated English journal of Dalits, 30 years old, I want to repeat what Dr. Ambedkar said: “Untouchables are victims of Hinduism”. SC/ST/BCs put together form about 65% of the population. They are the original inhabitants of India.

Such a large population comprising 65% of the population is persecuted not by the Christians, Muslims or Sikhs. They are all victims of Hinduism or Brahminism.

And that is why they are seeking salvation under liberating religions. What is wrong? The constitution gives the right to convert.

Dr. Ambedkar himself advocated conversion and became a Budhist. I also got converted to Budhism 20 years ago at Patna.

I am also not a Hindu.

If the Hindu religious and political leaders do not read the writings on the wall, India will cease to be a Hindu country in another 20 years.(cheers).

BANNING CONVERSION

We know that the current BJP Govt. in Karnataka is preparing to ban conversions. But a legal ban cannot prevent conversions.

And for your information the constitution of India does not ban conversions.

They say India is a Hindu country and Hindus form 85% of the population. If so why then the Hindu rulers are afraid of the minority Muslims and Christians?

Malaysia and Indonesia have also a big Muslim majority. They are not afraid of their minorities.

England has a small Roman Catholic minority but the Protestant Christians are not afraid of them.

But why only in India the “massive majority” Hindus are afraid of the micro-minority and want to ban conversion? Does it not prove that the so-called massive majority is indeed a micro-minority? (cheers)

SALVATION THROUGH CONVERSIONS

Please read the Indian history, study its oppressive caste system, you will get the answer.

The intolerant Brahminical rulers are themselves forcing the oppressed SC/ST/BCs to seek salvation through conversion.

Today India has about 15% Muslims and 2.5% Christians. Did they come from Arabia or from Rome?

Are the Brahminical rulers ready to turn India into a bloody battlefield? We the Dalits, Muslims, Backward Castes and Tribals are ready. Because we have nothing to lose. It is the upper caste property-holders who have everything to lose. If you are ready, we are ever ready because we have nothing to lose.

MANGALORE CITY WILL COLLAPSE

As a Dalit writer and journalist, my request to Hindu religious leaders is: please don’t convert this country into a bloody battlefield.

After seeing the packed Mangalore Town Hall last night, I am afraid this district will soon turn into a bloody battlefield.

Mangalore today is the second biggest city of the state after Bangalore. All this progress will collapse if the RSS-BJP Rama Sena rampage continues.

Up to my college days, I was in this district. We had no problem. All religionists lived like brothers and sisters. But today man has started hating the other man. Caste and religion have destroyed the once peaceful district.

If the RSS and the emerging super RSS, Abhinav Bharat, fail to heed this warning, I am afraid we will be in for more and more violence —with Dalits joining Muslims and Christians. (cheers)

For over 61 years, we have wasted our time and energy fighting, quarreling on Babri Masjid, conversion, cow slaughter, caste, all silly things. That is why India has become a laughing stock.

This is what I witnessed at the Mangalore Town Hall. Thank you for your invitation to St. Aloysius College.

[ Speech delivered at the national conference on religion: functions and dysfunctions, organised by Aloysius College, Mangalore, Karnataka, on Feb.6, 2009. ]