Even Dr. Ambedkar sanctioned violence against oppressors

The Editorial of DV Aug.1, 2007 (“Did Budha name enemy of Dhamma & ask his followers to fight & finish Brahminism?”) will trigger a cyclone in Budhist India and give sleepless nights to our corrupted and co-opted Brahminical Budhists and the enemies of humanity.

Your observations are right:

Not only the vaidiks killed Budhism, then distorted Budhism, but put out all sorts of falsehood against Budha and Budhism. What then are the facts? Budha preached and trained his followers on two things: (1) fighting practices and (2) peaceful practices.

The first to be used against the cruel Brahminical enemies of the Dhamma and the second to strengthen innocent people. In other words, Budha asked his followers to be fully armed to fight and finish Brahminical enemies of Budhism.

WHAT DR. AMBEDKAR SAID

Your above words are fully defended by Budha’s own teachings. In his first sermon, he said:

His Dhamma (religion) had nothing to do with god and soul. His Dhamma had nothing to do with life after death. Nor has his Dhamma any concern with rituals and ceremonies. He said, men are living in sorrow, in misery and poverty. The world is full of sufferings, and that how to remove this suffering from the world is the only purpose of Dhamma. Nothing else is Dhamma.

To remove these sufferings, Budha had given ten Paramitas (virtue) to practice along with Astang Marg and the first Paramita (in Jatak) is dana —meaning ready to die — Jehad.

Brahmin Bhikkhus distorted this Paramita to feed their own belly. Dana means giving away one’s possession, blood and limbs and even one’s life for the good of other without expecting anything in return, said Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.

One can give his life for the progress and emancipation of suffering (poor, depressed) people. Should the poor and the depressed people also give dana of their little property and human rights to their oppressors or should they fight unto death these oppressors (enemy) to get their human rights and their due share?

Will the Budhists answer this?

ISLAM SUPPORTS DANA

This Paramita of dana means sacrifice and even death for the cause of the suffering people (mustadafin), a concept fully accepted under Islam and called Jehad. Budha taught dana including Jehad.

Dana does not mean giving alms to beggars. This is a Brahminical misinterpretation. Dana means struggle and more struggle — it is Jehad.

Budha said: Where virtue is in danger, do not avoid fighting, do not be mealy-mouthed. Evil should not be allowed to overpower good. Himsa (violence) may be the last resort to save good being destroyed by evil.

Budha said:

“He who deserves punishment must be punished and he who is worthy of favour must be favoured. Yet at the same time he teaches to do no injury to any living being but to be full of love and kindness. These injunctions are not contradictory, for whosoever must be punished for the crimes which he has committed suffers his injury not through the ill-will of the judge but on account of his evil-doing. His own acts have brought upon him the injury that the executor of the law inflicts. When a magistrate punishes, let him not harbour hatred in his breast, yet a murderer when put to death, should consider that this is the fruit of his own act. As soon as he will understand that the punishment will purify his soul, he will no longer lament his fate but rejoice it.”

DR. AMBEDKAR SANCTIONS VIOLENCE

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar explained:

If a murderer can be killed because he has killed a citizen, if a soldier can be killed in war because he belongs to a hostile nation, why cannot a property-owner be killed if his ownership leads to misery for the rest of the humanity? There is no reason to make an exception in favour of the property-owner, why one should regard private property as sacrosanct? The Budha was against violence. But he was also in favour of justice and where Justice is required he permitted the use of force.”

After the Mahaparinirvan of Budha and Samrat Ashoka, Brahmin bhikkhus distorted the original teachings of Budha and instigated the Brahminic rulers to kill Budhists and Budhism which alone was fighting against the varna system.

KAUSALYAYAN MISCHIEF

The Manusmriti was written for this purpose to enslave the anaryans and to establish the rule of varna system.

In every divided sects of Budhism there were supremacy (monopoly) of Brahmin bhikkhus. Even in modern time after the death of Babasaheb, Anand Kausalyayan, a Brahmin bhikkhu, under his leadership made Budhism a religion of mere rituals and ceremonies and never fought for the rights of Dalit converts to Budhism.

We should take inspirations from the stone idols of Khadgadhari Budha which is the indication of revolution and rebellion against violent rulers and oppressors of humanity. Idols of sleeping (dhyani-vipassi) Budha is the indication of counter-revolution to lull the Budhists to sleep against violent rulers and oppressors.

Russia and China used force against oppressors. Why suffering humanity of India alone should remain silent?

When I went through the Budhist literature and Indian history I found the supremacy of vaidiks everywhere due to their mastery in using sam, dan, bedh, dand. They have mastered the law of contradictions. Some vaidiks secretly infiltrated into our camp singing sweet Budhist songs of vegetarianism, peace, nonviolence, meditation and thereby converting Budhism into Brahminism.

The only solution is to polarise he vaidiks and Bahujans (Moolnivasis) by using our Editor’s “caste identity” thesis and seize all the centres of powers by using Babasaheb’s following message:

“We must stand on our own feet and fight as best we can for our rights. So, carry on your agitation and organise your forces. Power and prestige will come to you through relentless struggle.”

D.V. REFERENCE TO BUDHISM

DV Jan.16, 2006 p.9: “Revolutionary Budhist monk denounces Vipassana meditation as fraud”.

DV Nov.16, 2005 p.23: “Vipassana is a Brahminical trap to destroy Budhism” & “SN Goenka must stop speaking on Budhism”.

DV Sept.1, 2005 p.7: “Vipassana is cultish?”

DV Aug.16, 2005 p.21: “Dalits rescued by Budhism slipping back to Hinduism”.

DV Oct.16, 2004 p.24: “Wisdom is not Vipassana” & “Vipassana is not Budhism”.

DV Sept.16, 2004 p.25: “Why Dr. ambedkar was againstVipassana?”

DV Aug.16, 2004 p.25: “Goenka’s secret pact with Hindu nazis on Budhism”.

DV May 1, 2004 p.8: “Goenka bid to sabotage Budhism through Vipassana”.

DV Sept.1, 2003 p.7: “Only Ambedkarite Budhism can kill Brahminism, not Vipassana”. & p. 9: “Beware of Goenka”.

DV Edit May 16, 2003: “S.N. Goenka pact with Kanchi Mutt”.

DV Edit Dec.1, 2002: “Babasaheb gave top priority to struggle but what we find today is Budhism reduced to rituals’”, p.5: “Wanted non-stop fight against injustice, not meditation”.

DV Sept.1, 2002 p.16: “How Brahminism killed Budhism in Kerala”,

DV Aug.16, 2002 p.21: “Editor’s fears on future of Budhism”, & p. 22: “Budhism can’t destroy Brahminism”.

DV May 16, 2002 p.7: “How to create interest in Budhism among Untouchables”.

DV March 1, 2002 p. 10: “Dr. Ambedkar made Dalits angry but Vipassana is killing our anger”.

DV Feb.16, 2002 p.17: “Vipassana not effective weapon”.

DV is our only revolutionary ideological weapon

I am sorry I could not respond to the silver jubilee function of DV in Delhi. In fact I had been hesitating to write my response to the serious and soul-searching thoughts you expressed at the Delhi function. Asking DV family members whether you should close down the fortnightly is, in my opinion, not that simple a question. Frankly speaking the poser of the patriarch of DV family should be seriously heeded by the members. I as a family member of DV would like to tell the patriarch that the language of “closure of DV” should not be used as DV happens to be the only ideological vehicle with a revolutionary engine the world over, which can carry aspirations of over 85% deprived Indians, with right perspective.

Let me express my emotional attachment with two great personalities during the post-Ambedkarite period, V.T. Rajshekar and Kanshi Ram, who with a missionary zeal and devotion have handled theoretical and practical aspects of Ambedkarite movement.

Now that Kanshi Ram is not with us, the practical side of Ambedkarite political movement is most efficiently spearheaded by Sister Mayawati. I have great respect for you as a life-long champion of Bahujan millennium. At this juncture your thought of “closing down DV” appears to me most disheartening.

Media centre: A few words about the “media centre”. Media in our country is either political or industrial. Presently, Bahujan media centre has neither political nor industrial support. And without the support of either of the two, we as only DV family members, cannot carry out this gigantic work. We can write off the industrial support at present. But as far as possible we must strive to garner political support from like-minded Bahujan politicians. I know you often keep a distance from political interference. But it is true that political help acts as a great accelerator. Of course, this is my personal opinion.

If you have some other plan and strategy, you can spell it out to the DV family members. How can we materialize non-political and non-industrial media centre? Your call to convert DV into a weekly has fallen on deaf ears. “Closing down DV” would be like throwing away our silver for non-existent gold.

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If “caste identity” has started deciding fate of India credit goes to DV

IQBAL AHMED SHARIFF, ADVOCATE, 94/1 - TANK GARDEN, 11TH CROSS, JAYANAGAR 1ST BLOCK, BANGALORE - 560 011

Our Editor’s announcement in Delhi to close down DV is not justified, though I admit he has a lot of troubles. But 25 years of DV provides all the proof that he is immune to troubles. Bringing out a journal belonging to the ruling class is a lucrative profession. But to work for the oppressed is dangerous. Editors of all Bahujan journals are working under great stress and strain. Our Editor is not an exception.

But DV stands on an entirely different footing. Not only it has awakened a large section of Indians (particularly Bahujans) it provides feedback to many Bahujan journals also.

With a few thousand circulation DV has brought about a great silent revolution.

Much of what our Editor writes is also taken and published in other Bahujan journals. Thus the floating of his ideas and ideals get huge circulation. That is how a silent revolution has come about. Violent revolutions do come about, make a short-term impact and then suddenly vanish. But not so the silent revolutions which are slow, systematic and long standing.

In its quarter century of existence, DV’s ideal of building a Bahujan Samaj has clicked. Compare India of today with that of 25 years ago. Lots of changes have come about. Caste and regional parties have become rulers and are in he process of growing. “National” parties are dying. A political party of Bahujans itself — BSP — is on the forefront. Caste-based parties like SP, RJD, PMK, Janata Dal are the proofs. Regional parties like DMK, ADMK, JMM, Akali Dal, Telugu Desam are elbowing out “national” parties.

CPM is confined as a regional party. BJP which dreamt of replacing the Congress, is on the decline. The Editor’s ingenious “caste identity” theory is ruining the BJP and it is dying.

BSP has come about to lead not only the Bahujans but also the Brahmins on the Periyar-Ambedkarite line, compelling a section of Brahmins to recognise that their future is safe —not in gandhism and golwalkarism but in Periyar-Ambedkarism.

However, there are no evidences to show that the leaders of Bahujan movement are directly influenced by DV.

Except the RSS, others do not give an evidence to show that they are direct readers of DV.

Language is their disability. Most Bahujans are not capable of understanding the DV writings. But as members of suffering castes and communities they know where the shoe pinches. They cry and groan. They need not read DV’s every issue.

If a suffering person reads one single issue of DV it is enough for him to convey the entire message.

Ruling class slogans: Oppressed castes silenced under the din and dangle of “casteless society”, “Hindi, Hindu, Hidustan”, “caste is a bane”, “Indian nationalism” —all slogans of the ruling oppressors — were in utter confusion. They did not know how to respond. The moment they saw DV — “Voice of the Persecuted Nationalities Denied Human Rights” — they saw the other side. Millions have seen this elaborate title of DV and that was enough to convey the message that every issue of DV conveyed. Bahujan leaders saw this and were convinced of the tricks of the ruling oppressors and adopted suitable methods to deal with. Political leaders do not need elaborate teaching and sermonising. Telegraphic message in half sentences is enough for them to know all. This is well made use of by the upper caste journalists by putting questions upon them in their interviews. They put words and ideas into their mouths and minds on their line of thinking by means of questions. Butt his field is entirely theirs. Bahujan reporters are hardly to be seen . The Bahujan political leaders knew this and were helpless.

Media ignorance: DV has put ideas and words into their minds and mouths. But they do not see all this. They work among the people. Their simple words and even gestures convey their message. The upper caste journalists ignore them and get shocks and surprises after seeing election results just as they showed after the recent UP elections. This is the beauty of silent revolution.

This is what DV is doing. DV has made caste a boon and not a bane. So when our Editor has suffered all these 25 years, he should suffer more. He may not get instant rewards. But history shall always remember him, just as history remembers Budha, Babasaheb and Periyar. DV readers also should suffer with our Editor to see that DV sustains.

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Dalit society failed to honour Editor

A.L. RAWAL, READER, DELHI UNIVERSITY, 48/12, GF, BACKSIDE EAST PATEL NAGAR, NEW DELHI - 110 008

It is saddening to note that you have decided to “close down DV”. When it was started I used to take about 25 copies for distribution in Delhi. It was a thrilling moment. I used to distribute it to a newspaper vendor opposite the Gurudwara Sis Ganj, Chandni Chowk, Delhi, and three other places in Karol Bagh. The man opposite the Sis Ganj Sahib always asked me to stand behind his back if I wanted to talk to him. He thought that I was a Dalit come to pollute him and he did not want to see my face. I was a senior lecturer in a Delhi university college then. He did not pay dues — even the bus fare 40 paise at that time —could not be realised even though he did not return unsold copies to me. I also took DV to Central News Agency, Connaught Place. The shocking reaction was always there — of being treated as an Untouchable. Even a newspaper or magazine of even news concerning Untouchables is Untouchable. I had this painful experience at that time. But I have not lost hope. A day will come when you will be honoured with a Bharat Ratna at least. You have been doing “social business” for the last so many years. Amartya Sen has talked of “social business”. But no one has thought it fit to honour your “social business” because you do not lick the shoes of the Western imperialists. So no honour is due to you from their side. But Indians will surely honour you appropriately soon.

When I visited Kanshi Ram along with S.K. Biswas, he talked of a “media centre” which he had established in Noida. He was looking for men to run it. He also said that there was a committed readership of nearly 2 lakhs, in and around Delhi, for a Dalit journal or newspaper. But later on his “media centre” was sold for Rs. 5 crore. Was there any difference of views which did not make it possible for him to start it? I do not know.

I felt like an Untouchable beggar while distributing DV. But they, the upper castes, hold you in awe because you are the one whose fire burns their dross. So you are so useful to them. But their caste pride does not allow them to acknowledge it publicly. Caste, as Dr. Ambedkar said, is only a notion. I had talked to Sister Rajni Tilak and said that I would attend the silver jubilee function on April 8, 2007. But I am sorry I could not attend it. You should select a successor and hand DV over to him/her. You are the need of the hour. You are our eyes and years. If DV (sun) sets it shall be disastrous for the free thinkers of India. Please find a solution to your “closure threat”.

***

Brother Rawal not only lives in Delhi but he is also an honest intellectual and writer fully involved in the movement of the oppressed. So it is for people like him to suggest a way-out to the problem we are facing in DV. We belong to the Southern backwaters but he is in the capital city of India. Were you present at the April 8 meeting you could have contributed to our thoughts on “closing down DV”. Our announcement did not even attract attention. Even now it is not late to contribute your thoughts. We are deeply worried. Many people have urged us not to “close” DV without offering any way-out. As for a successor, we did groom two Dalit intellectuals, but both left us finding more attractive pastures. Educated Dalit youths are no longer interested in the dull, drab, glamourless job of journalism. They either go to the fertile field of politics which brings quick power and money or take to the easily available govt. job via reservations. Who will be interested in Dalit Voice which not only brings no money but puts you in the bad books of Brahmins? — EDITOR.

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Delhi silver jubilee disappointment

GURNAM SINGH MUKTSAR, 2 - BHAGAT SINGH NAGAR, B/H BUS STAND, MUKTSAR - 152 026

I asked my fellow workers to reach Delhi in good numbers for the April 8 DV silver jubilee. I was sure that at least 100 Ambedkarite intellectuals would attend along with readers and companions. DV and its giant intellectual VTR had delivered limitless socio-cultural thoughts over the last 25 years. The entire DV thoughts are based on Ambedkarism which represent the quint-essence of all the socio-religious wars against our one major enemy, Brahminism, during the past 3,000 years. Ambedkarism covers all that is in Budhism, Sikhism, Periyar, Shahu etc. But I was disappointed that only a dozen intellectuals were present in Delhi at the function. Others were mere DV readers. This is no doubt a sign of “sunset” as predicted by our Editor. I was very much disappointed.

At the function we did not discuss the problems of DV, its readership, its strength, weakness. That is why after 25 years we at the silver jubilee could not gather “100 best brains” as envisaged by our Editor. It was the best moment to see all those who had been reading DV for two decades. I had a great desire to meet all such readers. I expected a good number of social warriors there. But I was disappointed.

*****

Brother Gurnam Singh is right. We too were disappointed at the poor turn-out both in numbers and quality. It is this disappointment that forced us to talk of closing down DV (DV Edit May 16, 2007). Even our announcement was not taken note of by many in the gathering. It was only when DV came out with an Editorial (May 16) our members took note of it.

Our Brahminical enemy has manufactured a powerful battalion of DV critics within the Dalit community itself.

This battalion has a good presence mainly in the Internet. Their job is only to confuse the Dalits. All these fellows are on the payroll of our Enemy. Their main job is to spread confusion. But in DV, we don’t bother about them. These are the very children of those who once did not hesitate to oppose and criticise even the giant Babasaheb, the Father of India. They are the modern-day Jagjivan Rams. Such worms will be always there in the society — EDITOR.

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DV has changed my life

T.R. AZAD, VILL: RANJITPURA, GOLEGUJRAL PO, JAMMU - 180 002

I am posted in the Kargil part of the Ladakh region of J&K State as a lecturer in political science. I have been there for over one year. When I reached Jammu, I read in the DV of May 16, 2007 the Editor’s painful speech about “closing down DV”. Why it pained me? The Editor knows its answer very well. At the Shimla DV workshop, the Editor mentioned my missionary work for DV and I told him what DV had done to my life. DV has entirely changed my outlook towards life and the social system in which I was born. I have a 22-year-long association with DV. My regards for DV have increased manifold. My emotional attachment with DV is giving me pain.My reaction to the Editor’s proposal is that whether he “closes down DV” without the permission of DV family members worldwide or not, that choice is left to him. But our Editor is the man who is treading the revolutionary path shown by our Saviour, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, and he has passed through grinding miseries, crushing hurdles etc. Bahujan leader Kanshi Ram also laid down his life for propagating the concept of Bahujan Samaj. His doctors had asked him to take bed rest but he did not agree. Consequently he died. The same was the case with the “Father of India”, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. Even on the day of his death, he was busy finalizing the preface to his last great treatise, Buddha & His Dhamma.

Our Editor, being the follower of this world famous revolutionary historical personality, also will die as a restless and saddest thinker. It is beyond debate that DV has ignited our minds and gave us explosive thoughts. Editor V.T. Rajshekar’s name will be listed along with Sant Kabir, Jyotirao Phuley, Babasaheb, Kanshi Ram.

I cannot and will not grant permission to the Editor to close down DV.

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Donate to keep DV alive

UTTAMRAO N. KHOBRAGADE, ADVOCATE, “KAPILA VASTU”, KHESE PARK, PUNE - 411 032

Please receive Rs.1,000 as my donation as I have completed 75 years on July 1, 2007. DV family members are requested to donate on the occasion of their birthday their mite to the Dalit Voice to tide over the financial difficulties being faced by the Editor. Don’t give only advice but support financially. I have been suffering from partial paralysis for the last seven years and yet don’t want the mission to die abruptly.

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Supreme truth of caste as our nation

JOGINDER SINGH BALLANGARH, STATE PRESIDENT, BAMCEF, 2/1 - DASHMESH NAGAR, GONYANA MANDI, BATHINDA, PUNJAB

I am writing on the great truth in your “caste identity” thesis. I participated in the silver jubilee function in Delhi. Only after reading your wonderful book, Caste — A Nation Within Nation, I saw the real picture of India. I am a school teacher involved in admission of students since ten years. I note an amazing fact that every year whenever students fill forms for admission in 10+1, 90% students fill “nationality” column as their caste instead of “Indian”. They are not writing it deliberately. To them their nation is their caste. This fact proves the Supreme Truth of your “caste identity” thesis. I request you not to stop publishing DV. As Prof. Gurnam Singh Muktsar writes; “When there is no sun rise how can there be sunset?”.

Confederation averts Brahminical terrorism in sub-continent

Dr. K. JAMANADAS, “SHALIMAR”, MAIN ROAD, CHANDRAPUR - 442 402

This refers to DV, May 16, 2007, the Editor’s speech in Pakistan, wherein he advocated formation of confederation of Pakistan, Bangla Desh and India by retaining its existing boundaries and its rebuttal by N. Haq from Islamabad and Parvez Khan from Germany who snubbed the Editor for such an idea. A small article like this cannot address the problem. I think a debate is necessary.

Gandhi knew of partition

The Editor had always maintained that view. It is not the new idea of Editor. When asked, whether he welcomed India’s partition, he replied (to quote from the Ready Reference to Revolutionaries,1991, p. 6):

“The partition of India and Pakistan was a grave error. The upper caste leaders led by M. K. Gandhi conspired to divide India. They feared if Muslims remained in undivided India, they would side with SC/ST/BCs, and the upper castes would be isolated and reduced to a minority. This was a conspiracy. We must undo the partition so that we may solve many of our problems ourselves. We are for Akhand Bharat, which is a nazi slogan now forgotten, meaning uniting Pakistan and Bangladesh back with India. Are the Nazis ready?”

The Editor’s idea is approved of by Ambedkarites.

I do not think his idea to be preposterous and if some cool heads work on it, may be the thought would appear that it is the only saner idea which would be agreed to by all, if not today, tomorrow. Those who read Dr. Ambedkar’s Thoughts on Pakistan, would agree with me.

Though journalists like Jagan Fadnis maintain that M. K. Gandhi was kept in dark by Nehru and Patel about agreement between them and Mountbatten regarding partition of India, it was not true.

The Editor has mentioned that when Babasaheb’s book, Thoughts on Pakistan, was seen by C. Rajgopalchari, “a Southern fox and extraordinary cunning Brahmin from Tamilnadu”, “he was one of the first persons to grasp the significance of partition and its advantages to Brahmins”. He ran to Gandhi and explained him how giving Pakistan to Muslims is more beneficial for the Brahmins than to Muslims.

PARTITION HELPED BRAHMINS

Though RSS was opposed to partition, Nehru and Rajaji favoured it. VTR says:

“It would be difficult for the Brahmins to check the rising aspirations of the shudras and the Dalits. And when the low caste (proletariat) unrest gets uncontrollable, they are certain to join with the Muslims and Christians, their co-sufferers, as both the sections are victims of common enemy. The “Socialist Brahmins” … decided that unless the Muslims are driven out, they would prove to be greater danger to Brahmins inside. Brahmins forming less than 5 % of the total population of India will not be able to control much less thwart a revolution when it breaks out when the Dalits explode with the help of enemies of Hinduism, namely Muslims, Christians and Sikhs.”

It was after Gandhi’s consent, that all the wheels moved in accepting the proposal of Pakistan, says VTR in his book, Why Godse killed Gandhi? (1986, p. 38).

Can India ever become a Hindu Raj

In the days of Hindu Mahasabha, in my childhood, there used to be a slogan, hindustan hinduo ka, nahi kisi ke baap ka. At least they should have said, nahi kisi aur ke baap ka. All think that India can be Hindu nation. Is it possible? I think not. There is a trick in Hindutvawadis claiming population of Hindus to be 80 to 85%. They include SC/STs, whose population at a conservative estimate is not less than 25%. If one adds 20% Muslims, Sikhs, Budhists and Christians, there remain only 55%, about 35% of whom are BCs who are against the upper castes.

It is rather unfortunate that Muslim leaders also like to combine Dalits with Hindus. This, I feel, is short-sightedness. This mistake was committed by the Muslim leaders of the past, and is continued by the present-day leaders like Syed Shahabuddin also.

Our Editor says:

“Godse accuses Gandhi of divide and rule, but how can anybody divide a people if they are not willing to be divided? Hindu caste system has divided the Hindus and that is why they are too willing to be divided. RSS leaders now and then express their fear that Hindus may be reduced to a minority in India. Their fear is genuine. When Dalits and shudras realize their slavery under the Aryan invaders, the “Hindus” will be reduced to a minority. This is bound to happen soon. Already Dalits have declared they are not Hindu. So also the Sikhs. Many more will say so soon. Then the “Hindus” will become a minority.” [Why Godse killed Gandhi?, p.32]

Dr. Ambedkar’s views

Dr. Ambedkar’s monumental book deserves to be studied even now after partition by all Hindus as well as Muslims. It has maintained that though giving Pakistan to Muslims is beneficial to the Hindus, it is not beneficial to the Muslims to ask for and accept Pakistan.

Addressing the Hindus, he said:

“Once it becomes certain that the Muslims want Pakistan there can be no doubt that the wise course would be to concede the principle of it.”

To Muslims, Dr. Ambedkar asked, “Must there be Pakistan?” and raised many questions like:

1. Because a good part of the Muslim population of India happens to be concentrated in certain defined areas, which can be easily severed from the rest of India.

2. Because there is communal antagonism between the Hindus and the Muslims?

3. Because the Muslims have lost faith in the Congress majority?

4. Because the Musalmans are a nation?

5. Because otherwise swaraj will be a Hindu Raj?

HINDUISM A MENACE

He answered all these questions. The last question was the most important one: “Because otherwise Swaraj will be a Hindu Raj?” to which he himself answered:

“If Hindu Raj does become a fact, it will, no doubt, be the greatest calamity for this country. No matter what the Hindus say, Hinduism is a menace to liberty, equality and fraternity. On that account it is incompatible with democracy. Hindu Raj must be prevented at any cost. But is Pakistan the true remedy against it?”

How to avoid Hindu Raj

He had also given the method to avoid the Hindu Raj. It was to put a ban on communal parties in politics. He said:

“Not partition, but the abolition, of the Muslim League and the formation of a mixed party of Hindus and Muslims is the only effective way of burying the ghost of Hindu Raj.”

He stressed that the formation of a mixed party of Hindus and Muslims would not be difficult in India, because:

Dalit-Muslim unity

“There are many lower orders in the Hindu society whose economic, political and social needs are the same as those of the majority of the Muslims and they would be far more ready to make a common cause with the Muslims for achieving common ends than they would with the high caste of Hindus who have denied and deprived them of ordinary human rights for centuries.”

And he averred that such co-operation was seen when under the Montague-Chelmsford Reforms in most Provinces the Muslims, the Non-Brahmins and the Depressed Classes united together and worked the reforms as members of one team from 1920 to 1937, and observed that this was

“The most fruitful method of achieving communal harmony among Hindus and Muslims and of destroying the danger of a Hindu Raj.”

As Jinnah had the ability to organize and had the reputation of a nationalist:

“Even many Hindus who were opposed to the Congress would have flocked to him if he had only sent out a call for a united party of like-minded Hindus and Muslims.”

Initially, “Mr. Jinnah showed that he was for a common front between the Muslims and other non-Muslim minorities.” But later he passed in 1939, a resolution in favor of Pakistan. About this, Dr. Ambedkar observed that he has done disservice to Muslims. He explained what would happen if Pakistan came.

Pakistan is worse than useless

Ambedkar said:

“Take an all-India view. Can Pakistan prevent the establishment of Hindu Raj at the center over Muslim minorities that will remain in Hindustan? It is plain that it cannot. What good is Pakistan then? Only to prevent Hindu Raj in Provinces in which the Muslims are in a majority and in which there could never be Hindu Raj. To put it differently Pakistan is unnecessary to Muslims where they are in a majority because there, there is no fear of Hindu Raj. It is worse than useless to Muslims where they are in a minority, because Pakistan or no Pakistan they will have to face a Hindu Raj. Can politics be more futile than the politics of the Muslim League? The Muslim League started to help minority Muslims (in India) and has ended by espousing the cause of majority Muslims (in Pakistan). What a perversion in the original aim of the Muslim League. What a fall from the sublime to the ridiculous. Partition as a remedy against Hindu Raj is worse than useless.”

So what did the Muslims achieve by getting Pakistan? They achieved Muslim rule in Provinces, which in any case were to be ruled by the Muslims, even in undivided India.

What did the Muslims lose by getting Pakistan? They put more Muslims under Hindu Raj more than the number escaping Hindu Raj, by creating Pakistan. Because the population of Muslims in India is more than in Pakistan.

Kashmir problem

A few points on Kashmir. Present day conception is that Kashmir problem is the main bone of contention between two countries. I have written an article “Kashmir problem from Ambedkarite view point”.

www.ambedkar.org/jamanadas.

I supported the view of Dr. Ambedkar, who had suggested partition of Kashmir. Jagan Fadnis has said that Kashmir was an independent nation from Aug.15, 1947 till Oct. 27, 1947. It was because Pakistan put their armed forces there, as infiltrators, that the Hindu ruler Hari Singh asked for help from India and Indian troops were sent to Kashmir after Hari Singh signed a pact of accession with India. Does the question occur to Muslim intelligentsia, what was the need of putting military in Kashmir? Was not Kashmir a predominantly Muslim state? Why then the action by military? Similarly was not East Pakistan a Muslim state? Why military action there? Views of Dr. Ambedkar on the Linguistic Provinces would be very useful to understand the problems.

Are we really fully sovereign?

Today both India and Pakistan pretend to rule their own countries. Are they really fully independent and sovereign? Can they really negotiate with, say for example, Iran for a pipeline without consent of USA? If we are willing to surrender to wishes of America, can we not ourselves solve our own problems by negotiations? If so, what is wrong in a Confederation?

Let us see who is opposed to such an idea in India. Immediately after “independence”, the Hindu terrorists used to clamor for Akhand Bharat. Later they stopped all such talk. When some junior members tried to speak of Akhand Bharat, the seniors snubbed them. Since then only the non-Brahminical elements talk of it.

Ground Realities

If the principle of complete autonomy of provinces is accepted, as VTR says, the Confederation of Pakistan, Bangla Desh, India (and Muslim areas in Kashmir) can be a strong country. Not only it is feasible, but it is most desirable for both Muslims and non-Muslims of the sub-continent.

By this time people from both sides of border have realized that they cannot wish away the nation across the border. Why not try to learn to live with the realities? And the best way to do so is to have a confederation. Whether the ruling dignitaries like it or not, the masses should strive for it from both sides of the border.

A communist gimmick to catch innocent Dalits

DR. K. JAMANADAS, “SHALIMAR”, MAIN ROAD, CHANDRAPUR - 442 402

The name of D. Raja is too well known now need any introduction. He is a top leader of CPI now and a member of the Rajya Sabha. The purpose of this booklet is to seek unity of Dalits and communists.

But Dr. Ambedkar had warned his followers not to fall a prey to communists and had firmly rejected communism. Of the 70 pages, only 34 are his narration, the remaining are annexures, which give text of Atrocity Act, Issues demanding immediate redressal according to communist view, and Resolution of National Executive of CPI (Nov.25, 2006).

He asks CPI units to resist atrocities against Dalits.

The text of the book explains upper caste prejudice against Dalits in police, bureaucracy and law enforcing agencies. Describing Khairlanji episode, he says such atrocities are on increase because Dalits are now trying to assert themselves.

Marx & caste: He describes how the Indian feudal class became the new bourgeois class and captured political power, with state authorities supporting criminals. He refutes charges that marxism ignores caste and quotes Marx to show that he did take into account caste also in addition to class and asserts that modern-day leaders of communists like A. B. Bardhan also follow this practice. Author quotes Dr. Ambedkar at length on caste and class from his writings on untouchability and stresses that Dr. Ambedkar also stressed importance of “class”.

But Raja has played a trick in quoting about “class” here. The passages quoted by Raja mentions “classes of castes” meaning varnas and not “classes” based on economic condition like upper, middle and lower, as understood by communists. This kind of misrepresentation of Dr. Ambedkar’s views was not expected from a leader of Raja’s stature.

He asks communists to conduct ideological and political struggle against caste system and Manusmriti, but does not say anything against the religion or religious texts like the Gita, which is the main text which brought back Chaturvarna, after it was nearly demolished by the Budha, as explained by Dr. Ambedkar. He says help could be obtained from teachings of medieval saints but mentions not a word about the Budha, on whose teachings the sayings of saints are based. He does not see conversion to Buddhism to be any solution to problem of caste. He mentions about Dr. Ambedkar’s tract, Buddha or Karl Marx, but makes no attempt to demolish Dr. Ambedkar’s rhetoric therein on inferiority of Marx in Indian society as compared to Budhism.

He recognizes importance of ‘Annihilation of Caste’, but makes no mention of Dr. Ambedkar’s view that the sanction of religion behind the caste must be withdrawn by dynamiting the Hindu scriptures if you wish to bring in equality in Indian society.

Dr. Ambedkar said all talk about equality is useless without fraternity, which can only be brought about by Budhism and not by communism.

In short, all discussion of Raja seems to be lip sympathy to atrocity-affected Dalits without redressing the basic problem and it is a simple political devise to catch Dalit innocents and bring them into communist fold, a calamity, against which Dr. Ambedkar had warned all. Hence, the booklet deserves to be ignored by the Ambedkarites.

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Dalit Question: The Way Forward

D. Raja

2007 pp.70 Rs. 20

CPI Publication
HO 15 - Indrajeet Road, New Delhi-110 005.