DEBATE
" Physical identity" for Dalit women
Dr. R.K. NIMBLE BAUDH, 6102/8. SECTOR D-6, VASANT KUNG, NEW DELHI - 110 070

This refers to "Physical identity for Dalits: Dilemma of a Ambedkarite woman" by Sister Rajshree C. Dange (DV Jan.16, 2005 p.22).

The Bahujan philosophy does not discriminate on the basis of sex, colour, caste, creed or place. It is Hinduism which does it. A married female is still made a slave by imposing on her the sindur, bindi, bangles, mangalsutras and ornaments. No married man is supposed to carry any symbol and is thus made free and independent. The men carry the identification of a red thread on right wrist, tilak on forehead, janew and choti to prove themselves staunch Hindu. I suggest choti on forehead and blue thread on left wrist to give respect and reverence to our ancestors. We must muster courage and conviction to confront the enemy. He will be rendered pale and feel castrated. We must divide the foe from the friend to polarise and unite the Moolniwasi Bahujan. This is not identification of a particular caste or religion. It is a common identification of the ideology of Bahujans.

D.L. Pusekar C/o Dr. Ambedkar Co.Op Credit Society, Suvidha Complex, Vasco-da-Gama, Goa - 403 802

Sister Rajshree Dange's communication (DV Jan.16, 2005 p.22) is impressive. Why the Ambedkarites are imitating Manuwadis? In Budhist literature, nowhere it asks the Budhist woman to have mangalsutra or apply sindhur. Only those who adopt the 22 Oaths given by Dr. Ambedkar on Oct.14, 1956 are Ambedkarites. So all Dalits cannot be called Ambedkarites. An Ambedkarite is not a Hindu.
In Goa, Budhists do not observe any Hindu festival. I am not a Hindu. Some Dalits who are afraid of Hindu nazis have stopped visiting my house. DV conducted a big Debate which reached only educated Dalits. Dalits still do not know what is Ambedkarism. That is why they imitate Hindus. DV has said several times "Dalits are not Hindu". Sister Dange has started a new Debate.

The "Dilemma of an Ambedkarite woman" by Sister Rajshree fascinated me. Her question about separate physical identity for Ambedkarites and Budhists is a sincere one. She talks of separate identity of Sikhs, Muslims and Christians. Actually she wants to solve the problem of separate identity of Ambedkarites and Budhists who stand on the opposite side of Hindus.

No doubt Sikhs have a separate identity but mentally they are with the Hindus. So one who wants our identity different from the Hindu must be also be separate from the Hindu in all walks of life ÑÊphysically and mentally. Muslims may have totally different identity but they are not revolutionary as directed by the Quran. The Sikhs have a separate physical identity but mentally they are Hindu. Rajshree says she is against imitating the Hindu women hence she does not apply sindhur or use mangalsutra. That means she is a genuine Ambedkarite and Budhist. Brave woman.

Sister Rajshree Dange deserves kudos (DV Jan.16, 2005). Rarely we come across articles by women in DV and very rarely by Dalit, Budhist women and also on such a thought-provoking subject like "physical identity" for Dalits. As far as women are concerned, the use of sindhur and mangalsutra must be discussed. It is better that women come forward to take part in this Debate. Because women alone can decide on these subjects.

COMMUNICATION: THE CASE OF TIPU SULTAN
Brahminic historians suppressed truth in Indian history
K.S. Faiyaz Pasha, Prof. of History, 10 - Cherangal Abdul Ghani Saheb St., Ambur, Vellore dist. - 635 802

This refers to the advt. in DV (June 16, 2003) about the book, Tipu Sultan, by a noted historian, Dr. B. Sheikh Ali. I glanced through it to ascertain if the reputed historian, whom I hold in high esteem, has mentioned the role played by all the traitors and cut-throats who caused the downfall of Tipu Sultan of Mysore, the great warrior of South India who fell fighting like a tragic hero in the fourth Anglo-Mysore war against the anti-Islamic "civilized" British barbarians.

To my great surprise, while Prof. Sheikh Ali states that some circumstantial evidence shows that there was a treachery of a few ministers of Tipu who were in league with the British, he has failed to mention specifically the name of Dewan Poorniah, the trusted Brahmin minister of Tipu Sultan who proved a traitor because he betrayed the Sultan to the British. This fact which is missing in the history textbooks is brought to light by Pandit Sunderlal in his monumental work, How India Lost her Freedom, which was banned by the British Govt. because it described the sad story of the crafty penetration of the British barbarians - the facts which were suppressed or distorted by the "civilized" British historians.

Brahmin Poornaiah's treachery: Sunderlal makes a specific mention of the Brahmin Poornaiah, who proved to be a superb traitor. When Tipu Sultan put some horsemen in his charge to check the enemy's (i.e. British) advance, he instead of engaging the British in battle, kept going round them in circles and even severely reprimanded a detachment of his cavalry which had courageously attacked the enemy. Alas, Tipu was not even aware that he had been betrayed by his minister.

Tipu Sultan became a martyr to the cause of free India. He had laid down his life defending the country against the British.

He was the only Indian prince who fought the British and died in the battlefield. His heroic death paved the way for the rapid expansion of the British power in India. That is why the British cried in joy "India is ours". Because the Mysore power was equal to the power of the British in India at that time.

Sunderlal's How India Lost her Freedom is such a wonderful book that it inflicted intellectual terrorism on the British barbarians by bringing home to them their misdeeds. This is honestly admitted by the British India's Governor-General, Lord William Bentinck, when he said:

In many respects the Muslims surpassed our rule, they settled in the countries which they conquered, they intermixed and intermarried with the natives, they admitted them to all privileges, the interests and sympathies of the conquerors and the conquered became identified. Our policy on the contrary, has been the reverse of this Ñcold, selfish and unfeeling.

Apart from Sunderlal's book, it is the Dalit Vice, the voice of the voiceless alone which has enlightened its family members about the treacherous role of the Brahmin minister Poornaiah who stabbed his master in the back Ñ a fact which does not find a place at all in our textbooks.

Dishonest intellectuals: But the treacherous role of Mir Jafar, the commander in chief of the army of Sirajuddaula, the Nawab of Bengal, in the battle of Plassey against Robert Clive Ñ who had already struck a deal with the traitor Mir Jafar before the commencement of the battle ÑÊis there in the history textbooks. Why the conspiracy of silence (suppression of truth through silence is the deadliest weapon of the intellectual class) about the treacherous of Poorniah against Tipu Sultan and why the wide publicity to the conspiracy of Mir Jafar against Sirajuddaula in the history textbooks? Why this double-standard in judging Indian history?

Further, it is mentioned in the history textbooks that Harshavardhana, the last Hindu king of Northern India, before the advent of the Muslims, died a natural death which is not true. The truth is that he was assassinated by the Brahmins because he became a zealous Budhist. (Material taken from Idol Worship vs. God Worship by Muhammad Imran):

King Harsha's love of Buddhism roused the ire of the Brahmins and the great pavilion of the assembly was set on fire and an attempt was made by some fanatical Brahmins on the life of the emperor who used to give away all his wealth down to his robes and jewels to the Brahmins and monks and the poor every five years. It is said that five hundred Brahmins were banished from the kingdom as a result of this conspiracy. But this small failure did not matter much to Brahminism. In a few years Harsha's empire was completely broken up.

(History of Hindu Imeprialism by Swami Dharma Theertha).
All these bitter truths - and truth will be bitter only Ñ which I have mentioned here and about which our Editor V.T. Rajshekar knows much better than me Ñ have mysteriously disappeared from the history textbooks so that the students of Indian history might be kept in the dark without having access to the truth for ever.

All these facts which I have presented here will be a bitter pill for the Hindu nazis, the destroyers of Babri Masjid. Nevertheless truth has to prevail over falsehood notwithstanding the fact that it would raise a storm in the country.

I am constrained to state that perhaps no history of any country in the world has suffered the casualty of truth as much as Indian history at the hands of the Brahminical historians.

To conclude, in the words of Chief Minister Annadurai of Tamil Nadu, a pioneer of the Dravidian movement:

When we seriously think of the events which have occurred in Indian history, the key to opening the doors of history with a view to ushering in drastic changes which might to the distortion of historical truth, could be said to be safe in the hands of the Brahmins who alone could make or mar the history of our country.

What a tragedy for our country when we have in our midst such grave-diggers of history who are bent upon converting India into a vast "intellectual desert". May god save our country from such anti-national forces.

Everybody loves his or her caste overtly or covertly, whether higher-esteemed or lower-esteemed. That is why most of us marry within the caste. Allocations of ministries, portfolios and different departments and vital posts are made on caste basis. The conscious and literate castes vote only on that basis.

The caste cannot be abolished but pride of it can be overcome by strengthening of each caste. Our Editor is right. This means social equality can be achieved only by achieving economic and educational equality. That, in turn, can be obtained by sharing equal political opportunity. These miracles are possible only by strengthening the subcaste identity.

The strengthening of subcaste identity is a measurement of literacy and consciousness among the individuals belonging to it. Such persons become ambitious. The ambitions and aspirations compel them to unite different subcastes into one caste and different castes into a larger group i.e. Bahujan Samaj.

Annihilation of caste: Those criticising our Editor's thesis of subcaste identity are only shirking responsibility of social commitment and national development. If the lowliest of the low will not be cared and looked after by the honest intellectuals of their own subcastes, then who will do so? By strengthening the subcaste identity we are making the weak, the man in the last row, competent and competitor.

A govt. made by such alliances of deprived castes may pass a legislation for promotion of intercaste marriages, equal and uniform standards of education based on social values of equality, brotherhood and scientific outlook. This will certainly diminish the higher caste pride and their casteism.
The so-called higher caste will lose its hold on govt. institutions and will be ready to surrender its titles and status of arrogance.

The goal of "annihilation of caste" of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar can be achieved only if the theory of subcaste identity is followed honestly. This will also ensure equal representation and participation. This will bring real reverence and respect to our freedom fighters and Bahujan stalwarts.

Reservation, the moment the subject pops up the entire country thrusts itself into the fire of heated debates. No consensus, no alternative model is offered Ñ if the reservation policy is to be ended. The debates spark off controversies and breed conspiracy theories. Groups take up positions in favour or against reservation. The argument envelopes the entire country which is scorched by the flames of divided opinions.

When the present UPA govt. put in place a group of ministers (GoM) to examine the "sensitive" issue of reservation for SC/STs in the private sector it has cast a distressing spell on the industrial heavyweights like Rahul Bajaj and the unity exhibited by organisations like the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) and Associated Chambers of commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) against the panel is remarkable.

QUOTA KILLS PRIVATE SECTOR ?

What a fascinating way to exhibit the strength of their unity against the interest of the weaker sections of India. Had they displayed the same unity of purpose in opposing MNCs, WTO, share-market manipulators, defaulters etc. it would have served the nation's interest much better.

Rahul Bajaj first threatened the Maharashtra Govt. that if it enacted a resolution favouring reservation in the private sector he may shift his industrial empire elsewhere. He says reservations will kill the private sector.

Rahul Bajaj has inherited only the empire of his grandfather and not the legacy of his grandfather's gandhian values about the inclusion of the larger world.

EXPERTS IN COPYING

Let us see the performance sheet of Indian industry and its overall contribution to India's development.
It was the British East-India Company that laid the foundation of industrial development. After "independence" the growth of industry can mainly be attributed to joint ventures, as we had no capacity or requisite technology to do so on our own. Today's major industrial houses have grown through tie-ups ÑÊlike TVS with Suzuki, Hero with Honda, Tata with various groups. The Bajaj group itself was no exception to this and had trade relationships with Piaggio of Italy in 1960 and later with Kawasaki. Moreover, to safeguard the interest of Indian industrialists, successive govts. have been adopting the policy of joint ventures and helped it from becoming directly exposed to competition from the big MNCs in which case the Indian industrial groups would have definitely collapsed.

Over the years we have perfected the act of copying instead of finding our own innovative and indigenous methodologies of production. Until the year 2001, almost all the big industrial houses were only producing the copied version of their respective partner's products.

The industrial empires well equipped with almost all imported m/c from other countries with the help of huge concessions, quotas and rebates have only been playing second fiddle in the overall arena of industrial products design, research and development.

Over the years the brilliant employees have mastered the art of copying, be it manufacturing, medicinal plants, electronic appliances, consumables etc. Let Rahul Bajaj count on his finger tips the truly remarkable achievements of his group in the field of vehicle- making methodologies, research and development areas or for that matter the substantial contribution of any Indian industrial corporation in the field of science and technology. On the other hand Americans, Japanese and European industrialists always aim for better service, quality products at economic prices and they invest more on R&D and new techniques that aim to achieve more innovative methods of production.

AMERICAN MODEL

The greatest discovery Indian industries have so far made is finding new means of selling the imitated product ÑÊalluring consumes through such marketing ploys as easy instalment financing. And then labeling the brand name of an Indian company on the product designed and developed in other countries, selling them in the domestic market only after paying huge royalty amounts.

For over 50 years American and Europe industrial giants whom we have been copying and imitating, have remarkably made it possible for us to see that a govt. and the people if they have so decided, can solve any problem of the worst and most complex nature. They have visibly proved this in the case of the racially discriminated people of their countries. If we juxtapose the problem of racial discrimination in the US and caste discrimination in India then we have to accept the fact that in the US they have been able to raise the socio-economic status of Blacks substantially with the help of their country's policies. It is the American model we should copy instead of what we have been doing.

A MERE COPY CAT

The state of our industry is quite different from what it has been systematically projected in media. Innovations is not part of our industrial culture. Instead it is merely acting as a copy cat of the industrial products designed and developed by the American, European and the Japanese. We end up paying huge royalties for re-assembling, marking their products in our country. We don't solve the problem of our people. We have merely mastered the techniques of imitation. If American corporations withdraw from India our corporate growth will be reduced by 25 to 50%. If the European companies operating in India and other foreign business interests also withdraw, then perhaps 70 to 80% of our industrial activity would come to a halt.

DISMAL PERFORMANCE

Our industrial products come from the designed and development stable of the US, European, Japan etc. and we put here the tag of the local Indian company for selling purposes.

Over the year our industries are merely acting as the marketing label for the foreign products. Why has Indian industry (where there is no reservation of jobs for SC/STs) performed so dismally all these years? It has failed to produce international quality goods at affordable prizes. Their products cannot stand up to market competition against any of the MNCs. Are reservations to blame for this? Our industrialists always have enough reasons to complain ÑÊeither govt. policies are not conducive or there is a hell-of-a-lot of red-tapism, as well as against political interventions, the Chinese product dumping issue, union problems, or that the stock market don't recognize value. Though these gripes may have a small element of truth in them, they often choose to conveniently forget that many problems are of their own making. Several companies have been extremely successful in destroying value, purely through poor management or dubious strategies. Are reservations to blame for this?

PROGRESS OF AMERICAN BLACKS

In America and Europe, the success achieved by the racially discriminated Blacks in various fields like the movies, sports, commerce and industry, academics, administration, the military etc. wouldn't have really been possible had it not been for the properly laid down policies and the remarkable implementation of those policies. One of the important factors that has ushered a new epoch in the lives of Blacks is the change in the attitude of their fellow countrymen, industry and the political leadership as well. For the sake of development of the US economy and the nation they invested their faith and will in the development of those on whom previously they had inflicted inhuman socio-economic norms in sharp contact to what we find in India. By doing this the US has achieved a dual purpose (1) The development of Blacks, (2) they have harnessed the potential of these people for the development of