Those opposing Sonia, are they not wanting quota in PM post ?

Union HRD Minister Arjun Singh announced 27.50% reservation in higher education which provoked upper caste protest. Enemies of reservation are misleading the youth. But the beneficiaries of the proposed reservation being poor and unconscious are not aware of the upper caste mischief.

SC/ST/OBC/Bahujan movement has many limitations. The masses are still not aware of their legitimate rights. The media mischief has worsened the situation. Both the print and electronic media are supporting the anti-reservation racists. If we have to abolish reservation then we must first establish justice and equality in every sector like education, economy, land, politics, religion, media, services, jobs, rural-urban etc. Demanding justice and equality cannot be demanded in one sector (higher education) while maintaining inequality and injustice in all others.

Reservations to Tatas, Birlas: Reservation is a policy of every state all over the world. It is the only instrument to uplift the weaker sections. In India, the first beneficiaries of reservations were our big industrialists who were given finance, subsidy, tax exemption, monopoly of products, assured market, subsidized power and water and finally 100% reserved land at prime location. All these reservations were given to a very small group of people. The Tatas, Birlas, Bajajs, Ambanis etc. came up in the last 50 years only because of such a reservation. IT Park, Hinjawadi, near Pune, is nothing but a case of reservation. Lands belonged to the OBCs.

In India, not even 70% of our people travel beyond 20 km during their life. Such a mass of people get no chance to change their vision or attitude. The “learned society” was expected to do something to uplift such people. But this did not happen.

A nation is never built on false brotherhood and nationhood. It is the social responsibility of all industrialists and educationists, who availed the facilities of reservations, to build the nation.

Industrialists want quota: Industrialists opposing OBC reservations continue to demand reservations for them against foreign competition. But farmers who feed the country are committing suicide.

India failed to give them a support price. But at the same time the govt. offers 100% support price to every industrial product. This support is nothing but reservation.

The society has lost faith in the country’s judiciary, bureaucracy, education system, valuation system, social values.

SC/ST/OBC students, who pass in “merit” through competition, do not get jobs. But upper caste students securing less marks are directly appointed in banks, industries, private sectors.Those opposing Sonia Gandhi for the Prime Minister post are also demanding reservation on a different ground.

Quota “categorisation” helps Dalit unity

Chief Minister Rajasekhara Reddy of Andhra Pradesh led an all-party delegation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Delhi urging him to expedite central legislation to “categorise” Scheduled Caste reservation in AP.

Categorisation helps SCs to remain united. Does it sound funny that division helps them remain united? Yes, division is only an administrative division to help share the benefits of reservation equitably. Non-division (which some selfish Malas called unity) would have been a formula for continuous bickering, tension and strife leading to physical violence and permanent fracture. Such internecine fight would have pitted the two sides against each other so much so that if one supported one major political party, the other would have automatically joined the other. This would have totally marginalized the Dalit voice. No matter what a majority party in power did they would have had support of one of the two SC factions —one faction of SCs neutralizing the other more or less.

Who would have been the eventual winner? Upper castes of course. This is because without internecine fight going on, one can always count most of Dalits to be opposed to upper caste BJP/RSS. With the SCs fighting among themselves, BJP can be assured of support from one side. In the light of this analysis, I give a lot of credit to Rajasekhara Reddy for his foresight and fairness.

Probably a majority of Madigas favour TDP because Chandrababu Naidu was the one who had heard their cry and granted them ABCD “categorisation”. However Reddy did not give up on them and automatically supported the Malas on this issue. An ordinary politician would have given up on Mdigas and favoured the Malas and opposed “categorisation”. However, Reddy has proved himself to be an “extraordinary statesman” and did not give up on the Madigas. Needless to say selfish, educated Malas would be angry with Reddy for a while. However, they can’t now go back to Chandrababu either as they had opposed him tooth and nail for having promulgated ABCD.

This is what we have been saying from the very beginning. Chapter-V of our book, Caste — A Nation Within the Nation, (Books for Change, 2004) deals with “categorisation” of SC reservation. Dalit unity will be strengthened by “categorising” the reservation. Once again DV proves right — EDITOR.

DV must change its name to save OBCs

Why can’t you change the name of your journal to “OBC Voice” or “Shudra Voice”? I think Dalit Voice has played an outstanding role in maintaining activism and awareness of Dalits. To start with, you could have more or less the same content in the two magazines. Just changing the covers and a couple of other pages would not cost too much. As you get more and more articles from OBC writers on topics concerning OBC exclusively, the two periodicals could look more and more different.

To start an “OBC Voice” no one is in a better position than you. Start with simply changing the cover of Dalit Voice and gradually make it sufficiently different. We all agree that just 15% SC cannot bring about a lot of change. We have to make alliances. This is the era of Dalits vs Shudras, and Dalit movements must accept this social reality and redraft their strategies.

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Dalits alone can save OBCs

Backward Castes are not only a problem for the whole country but a problem unto themselves. BCs are in deep love with Hinduism. That is why they hate Dalits but at the same time kicked by Brahmins. As they form over 35% of India’s population and remain a totally unthinking lot, it is the duty of Dalits to lead them and save them — even if they don’t join us as it happened in the latest agitation. Dalits as the last, least and the lowest of the low, they have a duty to save not only the OBCs but even the Brahmins. As the children of Babasaheb, the Father of India, we have a duty and that duty is to lead the Indian revolution itself and save the unthinking Muslim/Christian/Sikhs and also BC/shudra/women. And also Brahmins. That is why as the country’s only journal bearing the name of Dalit Voice and also the country’s largest circulated Dalit paper it is our duty to hold the banner of Babasaheb high. So we can’t change the name of DV — EDITOR.

Vajpayee Govt. conspiracy to curb voting rights of Bahujans

The greatest and landmark event in the history of modern India has been the framing of the Indian Constitution in mid of the 20th century. Almost after three years’ strenuous efforts, facing lot of socio-political difficulties, an ideal and novel Indian constitution was framed under highly intellectual and dynamic leadership of great champion of human rights, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.

Renowned constitutional experts and legal luminaries all over the world not only praised the chief architect of the constitution, Dr. Ambedkar, but at the same time they frankly admitted that it is the best constitution fulfilling the criteria of dynamic constitution having scope to bring amendments in accordance with the changing socio-economic conditions in the lives of the Indian people. For creating this magnum opus Columbia University (US) and Osmania University (Hyderabad) bestowed the highest academic honour of LL.D. and D.Lit. respectively. It has now become clear that our constitution is one of the best in the world.

B.J.P. GOVT. MISCHIEF

But for no reason the NDA Govt. led by the BJP created a controversy by initiating an unwarranted and uncalled for dispute over the review of constitution and further appointed a national commission to review it under the chairmanship of a former Supreme Court Chief Justice Venkatachalaiah.

In support of review BJP leaders offered very flimsy reasons, i.e. instability of governments at the centre as well as states since last 5-7 years, inability of parliamentary form of democracy to provide stability to the governments in order to give stable governments, existing provisions incorporated in the constitution are not viable to provide government stability, it is therefore imperative to think for other alternative forms of government. The RSS-BJP started propaganda that Indian constitution has more or less failed to provide stability of government “which is essential for development”.

HINDU NAZIS NEVER LIKED CONSTITUTION

As a matter of fact, the RSS-BJP never liked our constitution. Since the constitution is the supreme law of the land and its execution is binding on all citizens of India they were not able to flout the supreme law and take direct open position against the constitution. But when they grabbed power at the centre they started taking steps to review the constitution and subsequently they began propaganda that Indian constitution is not able and feasible to solve contemporary problems of the people.

If they wanted to review the constitution they should have done it in a democratic and transparent manner. They should have taken the Indian parliament into confidence or sought permission of the President of India. But without doing anything which is required and expected in parliamentary democracy, the Central Government straightway appointed the commission to review the constitution. Hence this action of the Vajpayee Govt. was not only unconstitutional but against the spirit of democracy.

The bone of contention is that there is no provision to review the Constitution of India in the constitution itself.

The constitution is supreme and the different organs of the government derived their powers that too, to a certain limit, from the constitution itself. An executive is not empowered to use power which has not been bestowed by the constitution on it, such an action on the part of executive amounts to violation of the constitution as well as trampling of the principles of parliamentary democracy.

However, if at all government feels that present constitution is not either able or completely failed to solve contemporary socio-economic problems of the people, then the govt. should have moved a resolution in parliament and got it passed unanimously or by 2/3 majority in accordance with democratic principles and gone for fresh mandate from the people to elect a constituent assembly to frame new constitution in accordance with the changing time. This should have been and should be a method of any democratic nations.

SECRET AGENDA

Due to this impure and ulterior motive the Central Government led by BJP did not feel necessary to undertake such an exercise. Because right from the inception of the constitution BJP along with RSS is against the constitution and needless to say that it is their secret agenda. This is to be taken into consideration that since the constitution is based on an eternal principles of liberty, equality, fraternity and justice and since BJP-RSS is against it, that is why a conspiracy was hatched by them. Even if for a while, it is considered that a motive of the government to review the constitution is fair and pure then government should have issued a white paper stating that in the following matters that may be federal system, parliamentary democracy, republican system, socialist state, welfare state, fundamental rights, directive principles and various schemes, programmes and philosophy of the constitution have become redundant or outdated to solve day-to-day socio-economic problems of the people and there is an urgent need to review the constitution, such an exercise should have been done in a transparent and democratic manner. But astonishingly, in an arbitrary manner the Vajpayee Govt. appointed a national commission to review the Constitution. Further the govt. went on giving extensions to this body for which again there was no mandate.

DALITS SUSPECT GOVT. MOTIVE

All these developments are creating suspicions in the minds of the oppressed SC/ST/BCs and minorities who constitute over 85% population, regarding the ulterior motive of the government.

Way back in 1973, the Supreme Court had ruled that by bringing amendment in the fundamental and supreme law of the land, the government cannot destroy the “basic structure”. Further elaborating and explaining the theory of “basic structure”, the apex court ruled that the preamble of the constitution explains the nature of the constitution i.e. democratic, republic, secular, socialist, socio-economic and political justice, federal system, parliamentary democratic government system, powers of President of India, fundamental rights, directive principles of state policy and welfare state. All these eternal principles are included in the “basic structure”. As per the ruling given by the Supreme Court, the “basic structure” as stated above cannot be touched or altered and doing any harm or an action of distortion that amounts to violation of the constitution. This has been the role of the Supreme Court of India.

If the “basic structure” of the constitution either cannot be touched or altered by bringing amendment to the constitution, it cannot be destroyed then the question remains that the review for what? Review of what?

A society is always dynamic, in a changing socio-economic and political scenario, the yesteryear’s provisions seem to be obsolete. In such a changing scenario, if at all, the government feels that there is a need to bring about radical reforms or legislation in the changing socio-economic ambience and to initiate these aforesaid changes, the existing provisions, schemes, principles and articles of the constitution creating hurdles then to cope up with this situation, there is a provision in our constitution known as constitutional amendment under Article 368.

100 AMENDMENTS

In other words our constitution is flexible and that is why over the 56 years we have brought about more than 100 amendments to the constitution. Out of which some of the constitutional amendments are revolutionary which paved the way for socio-economic radical changes. For example, the 1st, 25th, 26th, 42, 44th, 73rd and 74th amendments to the constitution are revolutionary in nature even this list can be more exhaustive in this direction.

If the government wants to mobilize the society and bring into reality true democracy that too social and economic for which it wants to enhance the participation of the people in policy-making and decision-making, for that at any moment government may initiate and parliament may bring about an amendment in the constitution at any time. This sufficiently indicates that there is absolutely no need to review the constitution.

CLIPPING ADULT FRANCHISE

Some of the recommendations of the Constitution Review Commission have been declared recently which proved to be detrimental to the interest of the Backward Classes. It is learnt the commission recommended to freeze the right to adult franchise. Further it recommended that the direct elections should be confined to panchayats and other local level committees or bodies. These local bodies will further elect zila parishad. Further these local bodies along with ZP will elect the state assemblies and all these bodies will elect parliament and subsequently all these bodies will elect the President of India, as revealed by the commission.

The recommendations made by the commission are totally against the Constitution, said a former High Court Chief Justice, Justice Rajendra Sachhar.

It appears from the sinister design on the part of the NDA Govt. that it wanted to deprive the voting rights of the oppressed SC/ST/BCs and minorities assured in the constitution.

So it is crystal clear that the BJP Govt. not only wanted to further enslave the deprived but also snatch their precious right of adult franchise.

From the results of the recent elections, it is becoming clear that the numbers of upper caste (Hindus) are diminishing day by day on he contrary the number of Bahujan candidates are increasing. That is the Hindu terrorist party conspiracy to “review” constitution to divert the attention of the people from the basic problems.

The recommendations made by the commission were to encroach upon the existing fundamental rights, especially undermining adult franchise and subsequently conspiring to enslave 80% of the county’s Bahujan Samaj.

This implies that the Hindu terrorist parties are hatching a conspiracy very systematically but in a very secret manner.

The Congress ruled over the country for over 45 years and purposely it ignored the fundamental rights and directive principles of the constitution. It used the political power not for solving socio-economic problems of the people but use it for rampant corruption in all walks of life for its own aggrandizement, misused power for criminalisation of politics. BJP and other parties did the same thing. So it is not proper to blame or charge the constitution for the inefficiency and incompetence of the rulers, bureaucrats, politicians, people’s representatives. It is not the fault of the constitution. It is the fault of those who wrongfully, dishonestly implemented the constitution. The constitution is still sacred, sacrosanct, ideal and viable to solve all contemporary socio-economic and political problems of the people provided it is implemented honestly and efficiently by all the organs of the government.

Reference:

Bakshi, P.M., ­Constiution of India, Universal Law Publication, November 2004.Bakshi, P.M., ­Constiution of India, Universal Law Publication, November 2004.

Basu, Druga Das, Introduction to Constitution of India, 18th edition, 1999.Basu, Druga Das, Introduction to Constitution of India, 18th edition, 1999.

Kshirsagar, R.K. Political Thought of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Intellectual Publishing House, 1st Edition, 1992.Kshirsagar, R.K. Political Thought of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Intellectual Publishing House, 1st Edition, 1992.

Wahane, Justice Bhau, Constitution Review Commission: Fruitless Pursuit.Wahane, Justice Bhau, Constitution Review Commission: Fruitless Pursuit.

The greatest and landmark event in the history of modern India has been the framing of the Indian Constitution in mid of the 20th century. Almost after three years’ strenuous efforts, facing lot of socio-political difficulties, an ideal and novel Indian constitution was framed under highly intellectual and dynamic leadership of great champion of human rights, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.

Renowned constitutional experts and legal luminaries all over the world not only praised the chief architect of the constitution, Dr. Ambedkar, but at the same time they frankly admitted that it is the best constitution fulfilling the criteria of dynamic constitution having scope to bring amendments in accordance with the changing socio-economic conditions in the lives of the Indian people. For creating this magnum opus Columbia University (US) and Osmania University (Hyderabad) bestowed the highest academic honour of LL.D. and D.Lit. respectively. It has now become clear that our constitution is one of the best in the world.

B.J.P. GOVT. MISCHIEF

But for no reason the NDA Govt. led by the BJP created a controversy by initiating an unwarranted and uncalled for dispute over the review of constitution and further appointed a national commission to review it under the chairmanship of a former Supreme Court Chief Justice Venkatachalaiah.

In support of review BJP leaders offered very flimsy reasons, i.e. instability of governments at the centre as well as states since last 5-7 years, inability of parliamentary form of democracy to provide stability to the governments in order to give stable governments, existing provisions incorporated in the constitution are not viable to provide government stability, it is therefore imperative to think for other alternative forms of government. The RSS-BJP started propaganda that Indian constitution has more or less failed to provide stability of government “which is essential for development”.

HINDU NAZIS NEVER LIKED CONSTITUTION

As a matter of fact, the RSS-BJP never liked our constitution. Since the constitution is the supreme law of the land and its execution is binding on all citizens of India they were not able to flout the supreme law and take direct open position against the constitution. But when they grabbed power at the centre they started taking steps to review the constitution and subsequently they began propaganda that Indian constitution is not able and feasible to solve contemporary problems of the people.

If they wanted to review the constitution they should have done it in a democratic and transparent manner. They should have taken the Indian parliament into confidence or sought permission of the President of India. But without doing anything which is required and expected in parliamentary democracy, the Central Government straightway appointed the commission to review the constitution. Hence this action of the Vajpayee Govt. was not only unconstitutional but against the spirit of democracy.

The bone of contention is that there is no provision to review the Constitution of India in the constitution itself.

The constitution is supreme and the different organs of the government derived their powers that too, to a certain limit, from the constitution itself. An executive is not empowered to use power which has not been bestowed by the constitution on it, such an action on the part of executive amounts to violation of the constitution as well as trampling of the principles of parliamentary democracy.

However, if at all government feels that present constitution is not either able or completely failed to solve contemporary socio-economic problems of the people, then the govt. should have moved a resolution in parliament and got it passed unanimously or by 2/3 majority in accordance with democratic principles and gone for fresh mandate from the people to elect a constituent assembly to frame new constitution in accordance with the changing time. This should have been and should be a method of any democratic nations.

SECRET AGENDA

Due to this impure and ulterior motive the Central Government led by BJP did not feel necessary to undertake such an exercise. Because right from the inception of the constitution BJP along with RSS is against the constitution and needless to say that it is their secret agenda. This is to be taken into consideration that since the constitution is based on an eternal principles of liberty, equality, fraternity and justice and since BJP-RSS is against it, that is why a conspiracy was hatched by them. Even if for a while, it is considered that a motive of the government to review the constitution is fair and pure then government should have issued a white paper stating that in the following matters that may be federal system, parliamentary democracy, republican system, socialist state, welfare state, fundamental rights, directive principles and various schemes, programmes and philosophy of the constitution have become redundant or outdated to solve day-to-day socio-economic problems of the people and there is an urgent need to review the constitution, such an exercise should have been done in a transparent and democratic manner. But astonishingly, in an arbitrary manner the Vajpayee Govt. appointed a national commission to review the Constitution. Further the govt. went on giving extensions to this body for which again there was no mandate.

DALITS SUSPECT GOVT. MOTIVE

All these developments are creating suspicions in the minds of the oppressed SC/ST/BCs and minorities who constitute over 85% population, regarding the ulterior motive of the government.

Way back in 1973, the Supreme Court had ruled that by bringing amendment in the fundamental and supreme law of the land, the government cannot destroy the “basic structure”. Further elaborating and explaining the theory of “basic structure”, the apex court ruled that the preamble of the constitution explains the nature of the constitution i.e. democratic, republic, secular, socialist, socio-economic and political justice, federal system, parliamentary democratic government system, powers of President of India, fundamental rights, directive principles of state policy and welfare state. All these eternal principles are included in the “basic structure”. As per the ruling given by the Supreme Court, the “basic structure” as stated above cannot be touched or altered and doing any harm or an action of distortion that amounts to violation of the constitution. This has been the role of the Supreme Court of India.

If the “basic structure” of the constitution either cannot be touched or altered by bringing amendment to the constitution, it cannot be destroyed then the question remains that the review for what? Review of what?

A society is always dynamic, in a changing socio-economic and political scenario, the yesteryear’s provisions seem to be obsolete. In such a changing scenario, if at all, the government feels that there is a need to bring about radical reforms or legislation in the changing socio-economic ambience and to initiate these aforesaid changes, the existing provisions, schemes, principles and articles of the constitution creating hurdles then to cope up with this situation, there is a provision in our constitution known as constitutional amendment under Article 368.

100 AMENDMENTS

In other words our constitution is flexible and that is why over the 56 years we have brought about more than 100 amendments to the constitution. Out of which some of the constitutional amendments are revolutionary which paved the way for socio-economic radical changes. For example, the 1st, 25th, 26th, 42, 44th, 73rd and 74th amendments to the constitution are revolutionary in nature even this list can be more exhaustive in this direction.

If the government wants to mobilize the society and bring into reality true democracy that too social and economic for which it wants to enhance the participation of the people in policy-making and decision-making, for that at any moment government may initiate and parliament may bring about an amendment in the constitution at any time. This sufficiently indicates that there is absolutely no need to review the constitution.

CLIPPING ADULT FRANCHISE

Some of the recommendations of the Constitution Review Commission have been declared recently which proved to be detrimental to the interest of the Backward Classes. It is learnt the commission recommended to freeze the right to adult franchise. Further it recommended that the direct elections should be confined to panchayats and other local level committees or bodies. These local bodies will further elect zila parishad. Further these local bodies along with ZP will elect the state assemblies and all these bodies will elect parliament and subsequently all these bodies will elect the President of India, as revealed by the commission.

The recommendations made by the commission are totally against the Constitution, said a former High Court Chief Justice, Justice Rajendra Sachhar.

It appears from the sinister design on the part of the NDA Govt. that it wanted to deprive the voting rights of the oppressed SC/ST/BCs and minorities assured in the constitution.

So it is crystal clear that the BJP Govt. not only wanted to further enslave the deprived but also snatch their precious right of adult franchise.

From the results of the recent elections, it is becoming clear that the numbers of upper caste (Hindus) are diminishing day by day on he contrary the number of Bahujan candidates are increasing. That is the Hindu terrorist party conspiracy to “review” constitution to divert the attention of the people from the basic problems.

The recommendations made by the commission were to encroach upon the existing fundamental rights, especially undermining adult franchise and subsequently conspiring to enslave 80% of the county’s Bahujan Samaj.

This implies that the Hindu terrorist parties are hatching a conspiracy very systematically but in a very secret manner.

The Congress ruled over the country for over 45 years and purposely it ignored the fundamental rights and directive principles of the constitution. It used the political power not for solving socio-economic problems of the people but use it for rampant corruption in all walks of life for its own aggrandizement, misused power for criminalisation of politics. BJP and other parties did the same thing. So it is not proper to blame or charge the constitution for the inefficiency and incompetence of the rulers, bureaucrats, politicians, people’s representatives. It is not the fault of the constitution. It is the fault of those who wrongfully, dishonestly implemented the constitution. The constitution is still sacred, sacrosanct, ideal and viable to solve all contemporary socio-economic and political problems of the people provided it is implemented honestly and efficiently by all the organs of the government.

Reference:

Bakshi, P.M., ­Constiution of India, Universal Law Publication, November 2004.Bakshi, P.M., ­Constiution of India, Universal Law Publication, November 2004.

Basu, Druga Das, Introduction to Constitution of India, 18th edition, 1999.Basu, Druga Das, Introduction to Constitution of India, 18th edition, 1999.

Kshirsagar, R.K. Political Thought of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Intellectual Publishing House, 1st Edition, 1992.Kshirsagar, R.K. Political Thought of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Intellectual Publishing House, 1st Edition, 1992.

Dalit-Bania unity to fight Brahmin?

Problems such as poverty show no signs of abating 60 years after “independence”. The main reason is that Brahmin-Thakur combination has played the Dalit against the Bania. Politicians have amassed huge wealth. Crores of unaccounted wealth was uncovered with leaders like Brahmin Sukh Ram but no action has been taken. Brahmins have abandoned their Brahmin dharma and are using their knowledge to become govt. servants or glorified sudras. The Manu Smriti says the Brahmin should not accumulate wealth and not accept honours from the king. But modern Brahmins are ever anxious to secure govt. jobs.

Corrupt govt. employees: The present movement against reservations in educational institutions is taking hold because the stranglehold of Brahmin and Thakur on govt. facilities is being challenged.

About 90% of the people are either Dalit or Bania. They form the productive section of the society. They undertake hard labour but most of the income is usurped by the politicians and govt. employees. The total burden of excise duty and sales tax on the Bania is about 30%. Besides, they have to pay income tax which is used mainly to pay salaries to govt. employees who further collect money via corruption. For example, the illegal constructions made by Banias in Delhi have been demolished but little action has been taken against the govt. employees who shared in the illegal activity. Data collected by Prof. R. Vaidyanathan of IIM Bangalore indicates that govt. employees are earning about five times their salaries via corruption. This huge amount is mainly paid by the Bania and the Dalit.

Wise cat: The Bania is painted as a tyrannical person before the Dalit. The Brahmin-Thakur combination spreads misinformation among Dalits that the Bania exploits him. The Bania at least pays the workers. It may be low wages but that is the nature of the market which always seeks cheap goods. This cannot be called exploitation. The Bania and Dalit engage in mutual exchange. Dalit provides a day’s labour for Rs. 80. In comparison, the Brahmin-Thakur combination collects money without providing anything in exchange. Govt. inspectors collect money merely by threatening to issue challan. They provide nothing to the Bania in return. Thus, the main fault line is between the productive Bania and Dalits on the one hand against the Brahmin-Thakur combination. Just as the wise cat took most of the bread in mediating between the two foolish monkeys, similarly the “wise” Brahmin-Thakur combination takes away most of the wealth in mediating between the “foolish” Bania and Dalit.

The present situation is doubly harmful for the Banias. The Dalits consider the Bania as exploiters though in reality they provide at least bread to him. He does not get adequate representation in the govt. either. Few Banias are ministers. Their share in govt. jobs is also less. The situation of the Bania is like of the washerman’s dog — he belongs to neither the Dalit nor the upper castes.

Mayawati slogan: The mainstream thinking is that the main fault line of society is between Dalit and Trivarna. Mayawati, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Mulayam Singh, Deve Gowda, Karunanidhi etc. mainly represent the Dalit community. They mostly oppose Brahmins, Thakur and Bania alike. This is typified in Mayawati’s slogan —tilak, taraju aur talwar, inko maro jute char. Dalit and Bania should understand that the main problem is not of exploitation of Dalit by the Trivarna. Rather, the main problem is that of exploitation of Dalit and Bania by Brahmin-Thakur combination. The Bania and Dalit should settle their internal contradictions, make a joint front and capture power.

Sack Brahmins in govt. jobs: The politices of this Dalit-Bania govt. should be as follows:

(1) Total tax should be less than 16%, (2) reduction of salaries and pensions of govt. servants and public hearing at the time of granting promotions, (3) implementation of economic policies to generate demand for labour, (4) removal of all persons claiming to be Brahmins from salaried jobs, (5) settlement of internal disputes regarding wages etc. between Dalit and Bania by joint sitting of the jati panchayats, (6) 100% reservations in elections, govt. jobs and govt.-aided educational institutions in proportion to the respective population, (7) disbanding all govt.-run welfare schemes and distribution of that amount equally between all the citizens of the country in cash and (8) the constitution bench of the Supreme Court be made up of persons elected directly from occupation or caste-based constituencies.

Subcaste reservations: These policies will provide immense relief to the Dalits. They will get govt. jobs in proportion to their population. They will get jobs in the private sector due to generation of demand for labour. They will directly get money allegedly being spent for their welfare but being usurped by the govt. system dominated by Brahmin-Thakur combination. The Bania will get relief from low tax rates. They will get relief from extortion by govt. employees due to the system of public hearing of govt. servants at the time of promotion.

The Dalit and Bania should settle their internal disputes and make a joint front. It is notable that such a unity is difficult even with the Dalits. The Chamars under the leadership of Mayawati have captured most of the benefits for Dalits in UP. As a result other low castes such as Pasi and others have made another party under the leadership of Udit Raj. Such internal conflicts should be removed by providing reservations in elections, govt. jobs and govt.-aided educational institutions in proportion to the subcastes. Then it will not be possible for one Dalit or Bania subcaste to misappropriate the facilities earmarked for another subcaste.

A question arises whether Indian society will forever be organized on the basis of birth-based caste? The difficulty here is that according to the Manu Smriti change of varna takes place after seven generations. We are in a period of transition where inter-caste mobility is leading to confusion. Neither birth-based caste nor occupation-based classification will be wholly satisfactory. Thus we should not get distracted in this debate. The main point is that there should be a clear division between the productive and exploitative sections of the society. Whether this division is made on the basis of birth-based caste or on the basis of present occupations is of less relevance because the end result will not be much different due to a huge overlap between the two classifications.

Bania money feeding Brahminical serpent ?

Brother Bharat, an upper caste marxist-economist, who has been always critical of our indigenous “caste-based approach”, finally accepting the very same solution to India’s mind-boggling human rights (reservations) problem comes as a big but pleasant shock.

GANDHI CHANGED BANIA HISTORY

Banias (to which M.K. Gandhi belongs) till the advent of Gandhi were a highly despised community. In the Brahminical scriptures, the Vaishyas are described as those born out of Papayoni.

In Bihar, where the Banias are classified under OBCs, they are still poor and backward. Sitaram Kesari, a former Congress president, was a bitter critic of Brahmins and a Mandal advocate, because he was a Bania. Dr. R.M. Lohia, a Marwadi Bania from UP, was also a critic of Brahminism because the Vaishyas (Bania) were hated by the Brahmins.

Even today they continue to be hated though the Brahmins love the Bania money.

But the entire Bania history changed with the ascent of M.K. Gandhi, India’s topmost Bania, and the Brahmins promoting him as the “Father of the nation” in their own jati interest.

Gandhi, a typical Bania from Gujarat, was hugged by the then famous Banias, G.D. Birla, Jamnalal Bajaj etc. The entire credit for lifting the Banias from ignominy, freeing them from the Brahminical curse, transforming the minuscule ([perhaps less than 0.5% of India’s population) Banias into a ruling race and conferring respectability on a hated jati goes to Gandhi.

Brahmins very much resented this action of Gandhi but the intellectual poverty of the Banias (a purely a North Indian jati) did not allow them to make use of the big lift given by Gandhi. No doubt the Banias made tons of money by hook or by crook but they put that money in a golden plate and presented it to the Brahmins. Dalal Street and other stock markets are under Bania control. The famous Harshad Mehta who once ruined the Indian economy was a Gujarati Bania.

The entire lot of Brahminical terrorist outfits like RSS-BJP are run with the help of the sumptuous Bania money.

So, it is indeed a jump from the frying pan into the fire. Gandhi lifted his jati and made it strong but the Brahmins used the financial strength of the Banias to their advantage.

The thinking sections among the Banias are silently suffering the Brahmin humiliation but its brain is controlled by the Brahmins.

The problem with the Banias is that it has not produced a single honest intellectual. Even the Jains among Banias are slaves of Brahminism. The fall of the Bania is complete and total.

Finally Bharat, our 30-year old friend, has come as a saviour of the Banias and we are sure this tiny but powerful community will seriously think of dissociating itself from Hindu terrorists and refuse to be the Brahminical milch cow.

MEDIA EMPIRES

The Banias should note that despite all its wealth it has not only lost its soul but its very identity. What is the use of this wealth, the Times of India, Hindustan Times, Indian Express the Sanghi media empires, when their brains are controlled by the enemy? We are happy Bharat has at least made the community think. And we are more happy that our long association with Bharat has made him think of self-respect for his jati.

Our father who is also the Father of India, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, has identified Brahminism as the country’s principal contradiction. To fight and eliminate this enemy No.1 of India is our duty. And we have been doing it. If the Banias are honestly interested in this national struggle it is our duty to support their endeavour.

DALIT DUTY TO SAVE BANIAS

Let the community be first convinced of Bharat’s revolutionary proposal which will jolt the Banias and make the Brahmins howl.

Dalits, as leaders of Indian revolution, are also charged with rescuing every submerged section of India. Banias are in a pitiable position as their entire earning goes to feed the serpent. If Bharat’s honest attempt makes the Banias to at least think that itself will lead to a big revolution. We are waiting for such a revolution —EDITOR.

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Under the spell of Gandhi-killers

M.K. Gandhi is acknowledged as India’s most famous Bania and credited with liberating his jati. His people should have naturally revolted against the killers of their emancipator. Gandhi was killed by a vaidik terrorist Godse. On the day Gandhi was killed (Jan.30, 1948), the vaidik terrorist party distributed sweets. Even today this continues. But the Banias show no sign of resentment —not to speak of anger. A community, like a nation, must have self-respect. Or else it will fade away. But, alas, the Banias are still under the spell of Gandhi-killers. (V.T. Rajshekar, Why Godse Killed Gandhi?, DSA-1997).

DV must step up polemical writings

I was impressed to read your signed article, “In defence of polemics” (DV May 16, 2006 p.24). You have aptly quoted the words of Stokeley Carmichael and Lenin.

Dialectics is an omnipotent science. Nature is the test of Dialects. Modern natural science keeps furnishing extremely rich materials for the test of dialectics. Nature’s process is dialectical. It can never be metaphysical. In the same way our Brahminical Social Order is a test of dialects. It keeps furnishing us rich materials for the test of dialectics. Its process is dialectical. Nature is kept in motion mainly due to the movement of opposites. Our BSO is also kept in motion due to the movement of opposites.

BSO is packed with countless contradictions. There is a contradiction between the Brahmin and other upper castes as there are contradictions among the Brahmins themselves and among the upper castes. The contradictions between Brahmins and other upper castes and Dalits are as self-evident as contradiction between BCs and Dalits.

There are also contradictions among Dalits. A lot of contradictions between the Hindu nazis and the “minorities” as there are contradictions respectively among themselves.

The BSO bristles with countless contradictions. We have to identify the principal one i.e. Brahminism for Dalit revolution. The Brahminical media definitely will be a contradictory force for Dalits. This contradiction is to be kept alive and sharpened by our media. This is a bitter struggle between the Untruth and Truth. Dalits right to know Truth from Untruth.

DV teaches us to separate the Truth from Untruth. No newspaper or magazine of upper castes in India can teach us such an intellectual martial art. That is the greatness of DV.

The Indian ruling class has been prostituting the concept of secularism by taking up a neutral stand that all religions are equal for the state­, while actually the state should be above all religions. The Indian church is a dead organisation by taking up such a neutral stand. Any neutral stand is the strategy to make compromise with the opposite to be confronted and criticized. DV never takes up the neutral stand. It always sides with the oppressed —the powerless.

Our DV family members have to learn the omnipotent science, “Dialectics”. Please organise an all-India 5-day seminar on Dr. Ambedkar’s Dialectics.

So far I have given over 75 lectures on Dialectics in our School of Dialectics. Our Dalit brothers have now become sharp and ruthless critics.

DV articles are often discussed in our classes. Dr. Ambedkar’s Dialectics is discussed in every class.

Please step up your polemical writings. They are full of dialectics. The BSO media is publishing only trash. No revolutionary ideas. Metaphysical ideas are dead ideas for dead minds. Our minds are dynamic.

No health or happiness without de-Brahminising India

The testimony by Kancha Ilaiah and Udit Raj before the US House Committee has created a sort of national storm and the Dalit activists have been made villains overnight. (DV Edit Nov.1, 2005: “Manuwadi media blocks out history-making Washington event on Dalits”. The Times of India (17.10.2005) dubbed it an unpatriotic and unwise act. Kancha Ilaiah (TOI 24/10/2005) clarified and put the issue in right perspective.

(1) Following globalisation, Indian industries are being privatized rapidly pushing SC/ST/BCs to the margin of survival. For this situation, US is as responsible as India. So, our activists have rightly tried to make out a case of reservation in US companies operating in India.

(2) The UN recognizes religion, race, language and gender as the main causes of inequality in the world but not the caste. So, they put forward the claims of Dalits before the committee to include caste and untouchability in that category.

DALITS DIVIDING HINDU SOCIETY ?

The Washington testimony should have been allowed to rest at that but our dharma gurus have jumped into fray and accused Dalit activists of pursuing their “personal agenda”, damaging the image of the country, politicizing the issue and presenting a distorted picture of social atrocities to the world community. Bangalore’s Ravishankar suspected an attempt to create division in the Hindu society, berating and maligning Hinduism etc. One doubts whether this guru has a copy of testimony given before the US Congressional Committee.

How come giving testimony before the US Congress (parliament) concerning Dalits, untouchability and casteism can damage the image of the country and malign Hinduism unless and until both are synonymous i.e. casteism is Hinduism and vice-versa? The Guru is very much right. Castes and casteism are very central to Hindu dharma. One does not exist without the other.

In fact, Hindu society is a myth. The name “Hindu” is itself a foreign name given by the Muslims to the natives to distinguish themselves. The name Hindu does not figure in any of the Sanskrit scriptures prior to the Muslim invasion.

DISSENTING VOICE SUPPRESSED

That means Hindu society did not exist. It is only a collection of castes and each caste is conscious of its existence. Each caste endeavours to segregate itself and to distinguish itself from other caste. The ideal “Hindu” must be like a rat living in his own hole refusing to have any contact with others. Hindus are an amorphous mass of people.

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar once said that the root cause of all the problems of India is casteism. However, the Hindus have miserably failed to take note of this naked truth but at the same they do not allow victims of casteism to get out of its fold (host of anti-conversion laws are enough proofs). They insist that the Dalits are not eligible and capable of charting out a different course and so should always pursue the path prescribed for them by the upper castes (Hindu). If there is any voice of dissent, it is ruthlessly suppressed. However, Dalits have learnt the hard way that (1) though India might have won political freedom 58 years ago and the right of equality and freedom might have been enshrined in the constitution, drafting of which was chaired by Dr. Ambedkar, a Dalit himself, but they are neither free nor equal. They are yet to realize freedom from caste discrimination, humiliation and fear of being killed or burnt alive any moment.

(2) They have also learnt that the community is capable of throwing able leaders like Jyotiba Phule, Dr. Ambedkar etc. but the upper castes (Hindu) will never recognize their leadership - leave aside hearing their voices. Only an upper caste is recognized as a “national leader”. Others are Dalit leaders, kisan leader, Jat leader or Maratha leader etc. Hence Dalits alone have to fight the menace of caste discrimination.

DALIT MADE TO FIGHT DALIT

It is not as if Dalits have crossed seven seas to get their voice heard without trying for de-dalitisation at home front. In fact they are toiling hard daily at the cost of their lives. But they are betrayed constitutionally, humiliated socially, pushed on the margins of survivals economically and ousted from the mainstream politically. As for political federations at home, the same are not tired of using Machiavellian methods of using Dalits against Dalits as evident from the happenings at the Durban Conference (2001) where a few Dalit leaders were used to scuttle every move of Dalit activists who were trying to appraise the world community of untouchability and menace of casteism and untouchability. It is often alleged that Dalits cry hoax when 119 MPs are sitting in Parliament and 1,050 MLAs are in the various state legislatures to take care of their interest. Election system in the country is such hoax that candidates are first selected by their respective (Hindu) political parties and then elected by the Dalits which makes these elected representatives more loyal to their respective parties than to their voters. No political party is free from evils of casteism.

HINDU JUDICIARY

Justice dispensation system in the country has hardly infused any sense of justice in the heart of Dalits. Judgments in the cases pertaining to abolition of zamindari system and privy purses, burning of Dalits in TN, gang rape of Bhanwari Devi (a Dalit social worker) in Rajasthan, reservations in jobs and professional courses and host of other cases hardly boast of any social justice. Administration sensitivity is exposed by the events such as killing of Dalits at Jhajjar and burning of houses in Gohana. For social status, less said the better. Animals are much better placed than Dalits.

Dogs and castes find place of pride in the houses of upper caste whereas Dalit IAS, IPS etc. are not even allowed to acquire houses in the upper caste locality. So much for social equality.

In this all-round environment, where can Dalits go? Ravishankar (TOI, 5.11.2005) has tried to diagnose the ills of the society and prescribed certain medicines. According to this Brahmin guru, the only solution is to educate people and make them realize that caste by birth is not sanctioned by religion. What a great discovery?

Suraj Bhan, Chairman of SC/ST Commission, might be waging unnecessary war for purging Hindu scriptures from casteistic remarks. We are told that these scriptures are infallible and coming directly from the mouth of their gods. The reality is that the scriptures are full of varna or caste remarks. The religious literature is full of caste genealogies in which an attempt is made to give a noble origin to an upper caste and an ignoble origin to lower castes.

The Sahyadrikhand is a notorious instance of this casteist (racist) literature though the Gita and the Ramayana are also not free from such utterances.

The guru has further advised that Dalits should stop converting to other religion and create Dalit purohits.

LUCKNOW PRIEST’S SUICIDE THREAT

It will be better to remind ourselves about the virtuous lives of 35 Dalit purohits who graduated in Hindu rituals from the UP Sanskrit Sanstan, Lucknow. When these Dalits applied for jobs the head priest of Durga Temple, Lucknow, threatened to commit suicide if any one of these worthies is appointed priest in the temple.

And we are yet to hear a reformist’s voice against this threat. These so-called purohits, after graduation, have been rendered useless and their lives have been shattered. They are now neither Dalits nor purohits. Poor guys have lost their meanest identity. So much for Dalit purohits.

Another propaganda is that caste discrimination will disappear through social reforms and by inculcating the values of non-violence, ethics, morality etc. Dalits are trying their level best with whatever resources they have at their command to reform their own lot. But the problem is Dalits are not the beneficiaries of the system. Because only the beneficiaries of the caste system could reform it. Nobody including M.K. Gandhi could do worthwhile.

What is significant is that BSO members are quite conscious of the fact that they do belong to the higher caste and that they alone are destined to rule. The late B.G. Tilak could never forget that he was a Brahmin.

NEHRU’S PRIDE AS BRAHMIN

The same is the case withJawahar Lal Nehru. Pattabhi Sitaramayya in his introduction to the life of Nehru by Y.G. Krishnamurti said that Nehru was very conscious of the fact that he was a Brahmin.

This will shock many who are under the impression that Nehru was a socialist and did not believe in caste. Sitaramayya ought to know what he was saying. Not only was Nehru conscious of the fact that he was a Brahmin but his sister, Mrs. Vijay Laxmi Pandit, was also equally conscious. At the All-India Women’s Conference in Delhi in Dec.1940, the question of not declaring one’s caste in the census was discussed. Mrs. Pandit disapproved of the idea and said she did not see any reason why she should not be proud of her Brahmin blood and later declared herself a Brahmin at the census. (Sense & Non-Sense in Politics, Sr. No. XII by J.E. Sanjana, Rast Rahabar, a Bombay Gujarati Weekly, Jan.14, 1945).

Not only are the Brahmins conscious of the fact that they belong to the governing caste but some of them hold that the servile class are contemptible people.

Rather, they have felt no shame and no remorse in giving public expression to such views. In 1918, when non-Brahmins had started agitation for separate representation in the legislature, B.G. Tilak at a public meeting held in village Athani, near Sholapur, said he did not understand why the oil pressers, tobacco shopkeepers, washermen, etc. should want to go into the legislature. (Meri samaj main nahi ata ki ye teli, tamboli, dhobi adi sansad main kyon jana chahate hain). He said their business was to obey the laws and not to aspire for the power to make laws. Similarly in 1942, when Lord Linlithgow invited 52 important Indians including some Dalit members to enlist the co-operation in war efforts, Vallabhbhai Patel could not bear the idea that the Viceroy should have invited the “lowest castes”. At an Ahmedabad speech, he said:

“The Viceroy sent for leaders of the Hindu Mahasabha, he sent for the leaders of Muslim League and he sent for Ghanchis (oil pressers), mochis (cobblers) and the rest”.

DHARAVI within MANHATTAN

This proves the utter contempt in which upper castes hold the servile class (The Essential Writings of B.R. Ambedkar, Edited by Valerian Rodrigues p.140). In fact the “freedom struggle” is full of such incidents. It is proved that in Hindu society contempt travels downwards whereas hatred flows upward.

Nowadays we hear that India would be included in the club of developed nations by 2020. Yes, our metros might have its own Manhattan but they will be surrounded by Dharavis (Asia’s biggest slum in Bombay). We may have a six-lane expressways but traffic signals will be dotted by countless beggars. We will certainly have islands of prosperity in a sea of poverty.

Can India hope to become a prosperous country leaving behind a third of its population in a sea of poverty? Ignoring the plight of Dalits will only threaten India’s development.

Unless this rotten social order is changed, development cannot be achieved. Nation and morality cannot be built on the foundation of stinking casteism (racism). So how to abolish the caste system?

The answer is given by Dr. Ambedkar’s book, Annihilation of Castes. He tells the Hindus:

Hindus are deeply religious, therefore they observe caste. Religion has inculcated this notion of caste and the dharam shastras teach this religion of caste. Therefore the real remedy is to destroy the belief in the sanctity and infallibility of the shastras. The shastras mould the beliefs and opinion of the people. Until people cease to believe in the sanctity of the shastras on which their conduct is based, they will not change their conduct”.

He declared:

“Reformers have been telling people for aeons that caste is not sanctioned by shastras but this has not changed the ground realities. What matters is how the shastras have been understood by the people and not how they are interpreted by a learned few. So a reformer has to take a firm stand and tell the Hindus that the religion has produced in them the wrong notion of the sacredness and divinity of caste. He has to, therefore, destroy the authority of the shastras, vedas, shrutis and smritis. Who could be that whistleblower? In my opinion only the privileged class who are the beneficiaries of the system can lead the movement against caste. In every country the intellectual class is the most influential class, if not the governing class. The masses imitate and follow this class and there is no exaggeration in saying that the entire destiny of a country depends upon this class.

NO BRHAMIN CAN BE A REFORMER

Unfortunately, in India, majority of intellectual class is formed by the people from the upper castes and more particularly Brahmin caste. It is not only an intellectual class but it is a class which is held in great reverence by the rest of the masses. If reforms in the society are to succeed then it should flow from the top”.

Dr. Ambedkar adds:

“Brahmin who holds the rest of Hindus in his firm grip has a very high chances of success in a movement for dismantling caste system. However, the most important question to be asked is — whether such a reformer will ever raise his voice to break down the barricades of caste. In my humble opinion it is well-nigh impossible. The break-up of the caste system is bound to affect the Brahmins adversely. It is, therefore, reasonable to expect that the Brahmins will not consent to lead a movement which will destroy their power and prestige”.

Many sages and saints including Gandhi tried to reform the society but they were found lamentably ineffective because none of them ever attacked the caste system directly. They only wanted to bring cosmetic changes in the outside manifestations of the casteism. Most of them lived and died as members of the castes which they respectively belonged. Secondly, the masses have been taught that the saints might break caste but the common man must not. A saint, therefore, never became an example to follow. He always remained a pious man to be honoured whereas masses have remained staunch believers in caste and untouchability.

CASTEISM BECOMES GLOBAL

A few of them took a firm stand against casteism like Budha and Guru Nanak. However, they could not reform Hindus but landed up becoming founders of other religions i.e. Budhism and Sikhism respectively. Do we have necessarily wait for the next Budha to take birth to de-Brahminise the society or the Brahmins take up the challenge and form the vanguard of the movement for social reforms? The ball is in their court. Let us see how do they play.

As for the testimony before the US House Committee, it is a timely wake-up call for all Brahminical people of India to introspect before it is too late. Hindus live in all Western countries. So casteism has become a global issue which needs to be tackled globally with the help of all affected parties without attaching any non-existing motives.