Dalit leader charged for Riddles book

A Veraval trial court has summoned the noted Gujarati Dalit activist Valjibhai Patel to take chargesheet filed against him over a decade ago. In 1994, a police complaint was lodged against him and two others for translating, publishing and distributing a booklet, Riddles of Ram & Krishna, while unveiling Dr. B.R. Ambedkar statue at Veraval. The booklet forms a chapter in the Riddles in Hinduism, (Vol.8) of the collected works of Dr. Ambedkar (Maharashtra govt., 1987). In the “Riddles of Ram & Krishna” both the heroes of Hinduism are shown in poor light and derogatory language is used.

Ironically, the Gujarat Govt. itself has published the collected works of Dr. Ambedkar including the “Riddles of Hinduism” in 1997, during the RJP-Congress govt. in the state.

However, in 1999 the BJP Govt. sanctioned the prosecution of Valjibhai for translating, publishing and distributing the very book the previous govt. has published. Valjibhai had translated the chapter in Gujarati and thousands of copies were sold in the state. But in 1994, upper castes launched an agitation against the booklet. Several “saints” and priests also joined the agitation with BJP and Congress leaders.

Bajarangadas, a priest, registered a complaint against Valjibhai who translated the book, Muljibhai Solanki, a local Republican Party leader who had distributed the booklet, and Mansukhbhai Raja, who printed it. The case was registered under IPC 153-A, 295, 501, 502 and 114. However, under CrPC provision 196, a state govt. sanction was required to prosecute anyone under IPC 153-A and it was granted in 1999. In Aug. 20006, the Veraval court issued a summon to Valjibhai. The two other persons named in the complaint are already dead.

The historic Riddles book (pp.40 Rs. 10) by Dr. Ambedkar with preface by V.T. Rajshekar (which had two reprints and translated to all languages) is available in DV office.

LETTERS TO EDITOR

Dr. Hari Dayal, T5/23 - RSD Project Colony, Shahpurkandi, Pathankot - 145 029: I am a govt. doctor, an orthopaedics specialist here and a DV family member since five years. I have also read many of your books: Caste - A Nation Within the Nation, Merit, My Foot, India’s Intellectual Desert etc. I am very much impressed by your writings. You alone have the ability to understand the Brahminical wicked psychology and the courage to expose them and challenge them. Your “caste identity” thesis further expanded in the Caste - A Nation within the Nation is working wonders. If the Bahujans can understand this theory then the Brahminical wicked brains can be trimmed to its size. But it is a difficult job because we lack our own media. Besides, we are handicapped by the expanding Intellectual Desert (DSA-1999). Educated Dalits don’t want to get exposed and even don’t want to read the readily available Dalit literature and specially the Dalit Voice. I have many Dalit friends in Class-I posts but they are busy fulfilling their personal ambitions without bothering about their Bahujan brothers. Your reply to anti-reservation racists, called Merit, My Foot (DV Aug.1, 2006), is a direct challenge and a courageous reply. One day or other we have to fight this varna yudha. All our social problems are only due to these tiny gangs of false meritwalas. Our Bahujans are basically honest and working. But these anti-reservation, false meritwalas are simply looting the country and hating our producers of wealth thereby making brothers fight brothers. This Brahminical wicked thinking and actions must be stopped. DV alone is capable of this revolutionary job. I am very fond of all your speeches and writings and also that of Prof. Gurnam Singh Muktsar, who is also an able Dalit writer. I want you to address a seminar in J&K on “Dalit-Muslim unity”. Please upgrade me into life member of DV.

C.C. Hadke, SE (C), ONGC, Civil Section, Panvel - 410 221: “Caste identity” is working well in political field but not so much in social field. An election is going to be held at the Konkan Padavidhar (graduate) Matatar Sangh in Konkan region. There are 4,500 Brahmins, 6,250 Maratha, 14,000 Kunbi (Kurmi) and SC/ST among the 29,000 population in the constituency and 14 candidates are in fray. Because of reservations to OBCs the Kunbi (OBC) caste is well consolidated. Sharad Patil of the Sambhaji Brigade is the lone candidate contesting the election. BJP, both the Congress and others are wooing the Kunbi caste candidate for their party. But Kunbis are not ready. Kunbis are fully united as a caste. All parties are disgusted and helpless due to this caste consolidation. Other castes like Brahmins, Maratha have more than two candidates out of 14 candidates in fray. Sharad Patil’s win is assured. This is the greatness of your “caste identity” theory. The Sambhaji Brigade is doing excellent job for consolidating OBC. Maharashtra politics will go into the hands of OBC if such consolidation continues. Political field pertains to the issues of food, clothes, house, education, health, job, water, electricity etc. but socio-cultural field relates to change of religion, orthodox mind/attitude i.e. sati, untouchability, caste discrimination, narbali — human sacrifice and such other evil customs etc. Caste consolidation/identity in political field is a big success.

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Brother Hadke is right. Once the Bahujan Samaj (SC/ST/BCs and Muslim/Christian/Sikhs) comprising over 85% of our country get our share of human rights that itself is a big achievement. India never had a bloody revolution — only because of the caste system. Once we strengthen each caste, nay subcaste, and then resort to consolidation of different castes, Brahminism, which goes by the name of Hinduism, is more than half dead. Brahmins knew the danger of “caste identity”. They are the only people to know that it will kill their caste system which is the other word for Hinduism. That is why they are moving heaven and earth to destroy our “caste identity” by hinduising us. Let them do their job. We will do our job — EDITOR.

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