Editor gets “international award” in London for “caste” book: Toilet papers blackout PTI report
A CORRESPONDENT

London: A reputed organisation called London Institute of South Asia (LISA) conferred the "International Award-2005" on V.T. Rajshekar, Editor of Dalit Voice, for his epoch-making book, Caste — A Nation Within the Nation, at a function here on April 30, 2005.

The Rev. David Haslam, a distinguished British intellectual heading a Dalit organisation in London, presented the award on behalf of LISA at a function held in the historic institution, Toynbee Hall, 28-Commercial Street, London, founded by former British Prime Minister Atlee in Bricklane, London.

The function was attended by intellectuals from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and also England.

Popularity of DV in London: Brig. Usman Khalid who heads LISA read out the citation (published on p.6). In his welcome speech, Brig. Khalid, Editor of the just published book, Authentic Voices of South Asia (DV Feb.16, 2005 p.28) described V.T. Rajshekar as the "voice of all Bahujans of the world" and that was how Dalit Voice had become so popular in London's intellectual circles.

The award was given to the book, Caste — A Nation Within the Nation, (Books for Change, 2004) because LISA considered it a "ground-breaking book", he said.

Rev. David Haslam said it was V.T. Rajshekar's book, Dalit — the Black Untouchables of India, (Clarity Press, 1995) that helped him to turn his attention on India's Dalits.

The function was arranged at a very short notice as LISA came to know of the Editor's sudden arrival in London — that too in the midst of the tension created by the British parliament election.

A PTI report pout out by H.S. Rao, its London bureau chief, was blackedout by the Brahminical dailies of Bangalore. However, a DV family member from Madras called the Editor to say that he read a report on the award in the Madras edition of the Indian Express.

Such is the deep prejudice boiling within the hate-filled hearts of our upper castes. Is it possible to build a society, let alone a healthy one, with such hate?

The Brahminical media has taken a decision to blackout our Editor in toto. But is it possible to suppress truth and justice?

Even if a vaidik donkey gets award it becomes a front-page news in India's toilet papers. Look at the way this vaidik vampire has united to oust Lalu Prasad Yadav. But the poor fellows are not able to touch even his one single hair.

The vaidiks claim they are the leaders of thought and give importance only to "merit" but not caste. But when a rare "international award" is conferred on a leading journalist and writer of India, who is also the Editor of the country's oldest Dalit journal, the upper castes gang up to bury "merit" but uphold their caste. Such is their double-standards in judging merit (read our Editor's book, Merit, My Foot, DSA-1987).

The book for which he received the international award speaks of caste (identity) and advocates use of caste to kill vaidik casteism. The thesis of the book has been universally accepted in India and is expected to change the very face of this country — despite all the vaidik hate-mongers bid to blackout our Editor.

Despite all this suppression and oppression, the denial of passport for 20 long years, V.T. Rajshekar has been able to make history in London where he was invited by many important institutions to deliver talks. Three Dalits turned up at the airport with placards to welcome him as he landed in the London (Heathrow) airport.