/II

INSiGHT
EXPERIENCE + INTROSPECTION + EXPRESSION
VOL I No 3 a i\IAC.\ZI:\E of the Ai\IBEDKAR sn D\ CIRCLE NOV 2004

II
I,

l ]j
 INSIDE INSIGHT

Editorial:
Reservations against reservations
Page 3
Merit and the deadly power of the castiest acadel1lia
Page 5
Shahuji Maharaj: Father of Rcscrvatloll I)olic~
Page 6
Greedy "'upper"' castes, grcedy morality
Page 8
Non-Democratic TV cxpcricllcc
Page It
Some non-meritorious rc I1l'CtiOl1s
Page 15
Who's Bill is it anyway: WOIIICIl',; rl'sl'l'\'alioll~;
Page IX
History as a Blind girl
Pagc 20
Why the seer could not sce his ,UTL'sl
Page 21
Datit lore and folklorc
Page 23
Reservations for Dalitmil10rities
Page 25
q"g :'lLcI k,i I I· !
(l"i;! 27
"~r0:r1" ,'I "iWki" ,I,ll
~ 29

~>WS7"[1
q\ij 31
3il~ qf) q,TiJ;It(\]
q,i[ 32

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 Reservation against reservations
Reservation is one of the most already privilegded upper-caste
important parts of a Dalits women in the name of preferential
interaction with the state and treatment. Insight however
rreedom today. (livcn this facl. it relilains COllllllittec!to the cause of
is important to see \'vhat cxactly wumcn' s reservations and
l"eSl~n',llions mean to Dal iIs. dem~ll1ds i l he iI1creasecl from
politically socially and personally. 33%) to 50 (>0.
This issue of Insight attcmpts to /l7.Iight also pays tribute 10 thl:
do this. The issue covers personal rather of resL~n'alion in India.

l'xperiences
current and I I\iSlGHT
debates . ~--IWe
EDITORIAL ~hahuji
Iry to\/laharaj.
briet1y
about reservations. capture his
especially the debate surrounding exemplary life and the impact he
reservation in the private sector. had on a corrupt Brahminical
We also hope to turn the concept order.
of reservation on its head by We seem to using the vlord
showing thai it is not the reservation as if ils meaning is
SC/ST/O!)('s that arc getting understood by all those who use
reservations or demanding it. During the making of this issue
reservations. It is in fact. the of Insight we have found that the
"upper" -castes who enjoy a 51 % idea of reservation means very
reservation in government jobs different things to different
and almost 100% reservation in people. especiall) people of
private jobs despite being just different castes. It is important
about 15% of the total population. therefore for us to reHect on the
We also try and understand where meaning of reservation.
Dalit minorities stand vvith There is no doubt that most
regards to the reservation policy among the Dalit communitY agree
reaching the conclusion that the that reservation has improved
denial of reservations to Dalits access to education and increased
belonging to religious minorities living standards to a significant
is an abuse of their fundamental extent. The existence of a
rights. Women~s reservation is magazine like Insight itself is
also engaged \yith, given the testimony to this.
recent controversy" ~over quotas Reservation has also made a
wi th in quotas. Insight's authors pro found structural change in the
caution us against being coerced caste-ridden society. Those who
into giving added benefits to the were forcefully denied education
3
and access to JObS tl1at were not Imponant to recogl1lse llWl
defined by caste. are now despite this. reservation and the
breakina b out of these bounds. social culturc that has been
This makes it amply clear that developed around it provides
reservation is not a new crucial forms of empowermcnt.
. phenomenon. In fa:1. \\hat wc arc which ,lrc \isihlc in the rorm or
witness to in n1lidern [!ldi~l is not SC ST <lssoci<ltions in \<lrIOUS
simply reservation. but institutions,
reservation against resenation, It Resenation has hrought ,1boLlt
is an attempt to counter the ,mother phL'nol1lenon th~ll till'
mon(1)olv o\'er all ~lsIK'cts or ml1\'Cll1L'lltis LlI1L'L'rt<lin
~lholll 110\\
econo·mi~. social and political life to react tu, \/lore ,1l1d morc it is
that the "upper" castes held. seen that studcnts and their
Reservation is not an anomaly, It parents are only interested in hC1\\
is an attempt to rectify an to protect their reservation ,md are
anomaly. not \villing t:J go beyond in terms
What is disturbing is that some of fighting against caste atrocities
Oalits don't know the rationale or against the caste system as a
behind the reservation policy. whole. Although this is
This is part due to the fact the understandable at one level it is a
entire discourse surrounding matter of great concern for the
reservation is still largely negative movement as a whole.
and there exists very little space A major part of this problem is
in which the meaning and the way in which non-Dalits
importance of reservation can be perceive the issue of reservation
•shared among Dalits themsel\'.::s. as a political stunt. The power
Although on the one hand, which they give to statements
rese'rVation makes the young Dalit such as "reservation is killing
student look beyond his/her caste merit", "its taking away our jobs"
and search for a broader identity defines the way even Dalits think
based on reservation (that of about reservations. The entire
being SC/ST), it is not always a "upper"-caste discourse revolves
positive identity. ' around the discontentment that
Reservation has been criticised "my State" taking away "my job".
and ridiculed so much that it The claim that the "upper"-castes
becomes a stigma. This stigma is make on the state is difficult to
'so strong that it can force students ignore as the entire history,
hide their identity rather than face political practice and social
the cruel public discourse behaviour of the state has been

surrounding reservation. It is t, manipulated to support this claim.

This idea of the state as private law, Insight looks intp the media
property was brought out most coverage of theatrest and the
starkly in the recent arrest of the days that followed.
head of the Kanchi Mutt Jayendra The law is taking its course in
Saraswati. another sphere of our lives. We
The shock that "my state" arrested congratulate the J~U Equal
"my pope" generated huge Opportunity Office (EOO) for
indignation among the "upper"- taking prompt action on the
caste. In light of the fact that most complaint of caste atrocity by a
people of the country were young :\1A student of our
actually glad he was arrested as it Ul1liversity.
brought back some faith in the Jai Bhim

\1ERIT A:\'D THE DEADLY POWER OF THE CASTIEST

ACADEMIA
Indian universities' hostile and aggressive nature has come to
light again. The tragic case of Jasbir Singh and his wife
committing suicide on June 20 this year is a glaring indictment
of casteist academia.
When Assistant Professor V P Singh granted zero marks to
Bachelor of Engineering student Jasbir Singh in the fourth
semester exam, he may well have signed his death warrant. On
June 20, almost a year after he scored a zero, Jasbir-
unemployed and the only son of ~ Muktsar-based DaHt Sikh
family - committed suicide along with his wife. What he didn't
know was that in two separate re-evalutions by two examiners,
he had scored 54 and 64. Now, five months later an inquiry
conducted by the Panjab University has found Assistant
Professor Singh of Panjab Engineering College guilty of
academic impropriety and has discriminated against Jasbir.
A complaint to the Panjiab Home Secretary stated that the
assistant 'professor had some problem with Jasbir and wanted
to ruin his career.
The inquiry committee has found V P Singh guilty and
debarred him from conducting examinations for the next five
years. This is th.e moslt ridiculous punishment for a cruel,
casteist and vindictive person who has nosp~ce within the .

(COITIPlied'frOITI the Indian

university apparatus.
r:
Express 25/1 1/04)
J
 Chatrapati Sllahuji Maharaj
Father cf Reservation Policy in India
Kapil Kumar V cnn<l (Bi\ Persian SLL&CS)
Shahuji Maharaj \vas a great reciting "\'edoklo" mantras. which a
crusader of social justice, When Kshatriya king deserved, To his
backward classes' \\cre in the inC]uirics the pri ests rep I icd. "you
total darkness. he carried arc a .Ihudru by origi n so you
forward the struQQ!c for social deserve unly ''p/ll'(/JlOk/(/'' mantras',
justice, He \:;s a great The >laharaja Celt humiliated by his
'VI'sl'ollar'v
-' He worked S hah"up.'\1 a Ilaral ' own sen'ants, He
for education
c and ,'.
dlSIl11SSC( I t IIt'" orekred
, thl'l11 to
rC<lular
b ,I'obs ror t',le SCrYlCCS'j'l 0 lC pl'rlol'lll \'l'dok/(/
'
\veaker sections or I) I . , II mantra hut priests
)ra 1 III illS. - C . J I 'I
societv..J All the a Iso COIllscatC(
j" I l'elusec
, ~lI1l lnee" to
backward , . I' propCl·tlCs
tIC ]irudllCl'
" till' 11ls11mcll '_
commumtles . owe grantee 1 to tI Ie eVIdence
, that
' hIS.
much to hllll. , as he S'I
clan I{rac I,larva ancestor
, ... ( hatrapall
was
. , ... the person who I
W 10 suppor t',ccI Shlva]l
. , .... was shlldra .
111ltlated the pol1C\ of 'I ShahuJ1 Mah~ll'al then
reservatlOn . - 111
. L- tlcm. ---' d"lsmrsse ' d - t 1lelr.

government jobs. services. He also confiscated the

FIe was born on 26 July 1874, in properties granted tu the
a Kunbi Maralha family in Shankracharya who supported
Kagalwadi village of Kolhapur them. This controversy opened the
district, Maharastra. lie was eyes of Shahuj i Maharaj. Now he
adopted by queen Anandibai of clearly understood the sufTerings of
Kolhapur State and was the so-called untouchables and
renamed as "Shahu 1'I.:aharaj". other backward communities who
He was crowned king il1 1R84 were totally denied education as
and was imparted English well as political power. From then
education between 1886 to 1889 onwards he devoted his life to
despite the protests by royal social justice,
priests. At that time the governance of
Onc,;: on the occasion cf karthik Kolhapur State was fully
pooja in 1890, when be was dominated by corrupt Brahmins.
taking a holy bath in the river The State jqbs were the exclusive
Panchgc:nga, royal priests were preserve of the Brahmins ancI they
reciting the mantras. He came to never allowed people fr9m other
know that roval oriests were not castes even to get a smaH' state iob.
£-;
They used this unchallenged I have fill! ['aith that one day he
privilege to perpetuate misery wmtldPee youji'om the shackles of
on the common people by slave'y".
making them rigidly adhere to He understood very well the cause
the caste system. To the credit of of the plight of backward castes.
Sahuj i, he understood this He said. "In India, the cause of
clearly and hence introduced the eFel}' prohlem is casle, India will
concept of reservation, to the remain poor, sl((l'ish and ignorant,
extent of 50%. to non-brahmins until casleism is aho/ished. The day
in government jobs, lIe also on which pmj'cr, properly and
opened a number of hostels for knowledge H'il! be distributed
students of back\vard classes among all castes, proporlionate 10
and Dalits, their population casleism will be
At his time. in \;laharashtra. abolishedfhrever ".
there were strong bacbvard The importance and greatness of
caste movements. He took great Shahuji's struggle could be \vell
interest in these egalitarian understood in the background of so
movements and even patronized called "nationalist" moveme,lt led
them through giving financial by Balgangadhar Tilak. He along
help to them. He saw a budding with his followers vehemently
leader in Babasaheb Ambedkar. opposed Shahuji' s efforts to
Only due to his help was provide education to shudras
Babasaheb able to complete his (OBCs) and atishudras (SC / STs).
studies at London. He also He openly declared. "Backward
provided him monetary castes must engage themselves in
assistance to start "Mook their caste-professions only. The
Nayak", a Marathi weekly. Untouchables should not study
Once as a chief guest in a Mahar beyond primary education. They
conference, he said "you can should not even dream of higher
find your liberator in Ambedkar, eciuc'ation," Dejected by Shahuji

REFORMER PAR EXCELLENCE

.:. Mahatma Phule's Satya Shodhak Samaj movement was
restarted with his help in 1911..
.:. Another of his commendable acts was an order to abolish
the practice of untouchability on 15 January 1919 .
•:. In 1917, hc"enacted the 'Widow Remarriage Act' and on 12
July 1919 the inter caste marriage act.
.:. lie passed an act to aholish the "dcvdasi" system on 17 .July
1919.
 Maharaj ,s success Tilak in Tamil Nadu which succeeded to
derisively used to call him great extent. In North India too,
"Dhedho * Ka Raja ". (King of Non-Brahmin Movements were
Dhedh ; Dhedh is the abusive started in Punjab, Bengal and Uttar
term used for Dalits in some Pradesh.
\ parts of the country) .. Asa result of these struggles, a
'The struggles of Mahatma Phule great awakening was created
and Chatrapati Shahuji had among shudra and atishudras all
created an all-India impact. over India.
Influenced by these struggles, In response to this awakening. the
Shri Krishnaraj a W odeyar IV, a British government has to make
Yadava ruler, introduced job provisions for free and compulsory
reservation of 75% to the non- education to all and job reservation
Brahmins in .\1.ysore State. to non-brahmins in the.
Similarly the Justice party Government of India Act. 1919.
started a reservation movement"· Lonuc live his memorv.
""

Greedy uppercastes, greedy morality

The need for reservations in the private sector
Insight Editorial Board
When the UPA alliance unity while opposing M1\:Cs. the
government put in place a group of WTO. share market manipulators.
ministers (GOM) to examine the loan defaulters etc. it wmild have
issue of reservation in the .--------, served the nation's
private sector for SC/ST it The present interest much better.
raised a furore across the discussion What this gross display of
country especially in on private baniyas' behaving like
industrial circles. Many sector vultures over carrion did
industrialists were jerked reservation prompt was not just
into displays of bigotry is limited revulsion and dismay. It
and ignorance by the and biased was the recognition that
UP A's decsion, most '---- ----' although almost 100 years
visibly Rahul Bajaj. The unity have passed since Sahu Maharaj
exhibited by organizations like the passed a law reserving posts in his
CII, FICCl and ASSOCHAM government for "untouchables", he
against the GOM is remarkable. still remains the exception.
What a fascinating way to exhibit Ambedkar came and went, the
the strength of their unity against MandaI Commision Report came
the interest of the weaker section of and went. People are still not

India! Had they displayed the same 8 listening. People do not want to
 hear. They do not think because It is false propaganda to say thl
they do not care. That is why we benefits of reservation have beet
must explain the obvious. That is appropriated by the relatively bette.
why we must say it again and off sections of Schedule Castes
again. That is why we must say it Out of the 14 lakh governmen
loudly. employees, Class III and Iv
The Reservation policy exists account for approximately 65% oj
precisely because of the the total employees. Studies hav~
discrimination in the private sector shown that they are essentiall)
in terms of civil and political rights, children of agricultural land-Ies!
discrimination in markets, land and laborers or construction workers
capital, education and One can rightly questior
social services. In the why an economically well
The present discussion on private off Scheduled caste be
private sector reservation sector given economic benefit!
is limited and biased. We what like scholarships and othel
are talking only of labour counts is a econom ic concessions as
market reservation and social they don't deserve them?
employment ill certain network. They need additional
sectors of the pri vate sector An Dalit safeguards to have a fair
economy. There is no cannot access to a market. A poor
discussion over capital approach Brahmin's problem would
market; private housing, this social be confined to education
land market and because he is poor. But the
network
government contracts to issue would be resolved if
the private sectors. Moreover, he's given an education
discrimination in the product scholarship. Beyond that he will
market is discouraging Oalits from not face discrimination. On the
starting their own business. Studies other hand, a poor Scheduled Caste
have revealed that nobody buys suffers from illiteracy as well as
milk from the low castes or the discrimination, which double
Valmikis. They are even excluded his/her problems, thus requiring a
by the milk co-operatives. The dual policy. Education and skill
policy should be that the development for a scheduled caste
government buys milk and is imperative. apart from some sort
vegetables fro11;1,them. Whenever of a positive policy that provides a
there is discrimination, there has to fair access. Because the scheduled
be a safeguard in order to provide Castes are educationally backward
fair access to everybody. The focus and they also lack modern skills,
should not be on the labo.ur market the government should provide
alone. '
them access to skill building and
q education at a lower expenditllre'
The next step should be to ensure rate of social benefits is therefore
reservation in employment as in high.
the private sector discrimination is The goven~ment of India adopted
amazingly high and the Oalits arc the policy that protected Indian
sure to loose out. Studies show that industries by .npt exposing them to
only .. three or four percent of the direct competi'tion fwm -
foreiQn
positions in the private scctor are companies. They have all enjoyed
appointed . through open huge concessions, quotas ane!
advertisements. \1ost recruitment rebates. Is it not that Indian
in the private sector occurs through industries enjoy a son of
informal channcls. as it is a cost- l'cscl'valion? Thcll why ~lrc these
saving exercise. The private sector industrialists making a hue and cry
is completely lying when the) say over the issue or introduction or
that they appoint competent people. reservation 1'01' the \veaker section
Efficiency requires transparency ol'lndia? lrthq talk orcomj1etition
and a mechanism wherein you on the basis of merit. then let the
provide opportunities to suitable Indian market be open to foreign
and qualified people. In the private companies and let Indian industries
sector, what counts is a social show the strength of their
network. A Oalit cannot access this meritorious employees.
social network. Those who oppose reservations in
Therefore, the private sector is the private sector do not realise
wrong in saying' that it seeks that, at no point, were Indian
efficiency.
a limited number of r-----------,
It selects the best out of industries socially responsible.
both industries
Yet,
and
people. But it does not Indian industries industrial production
necessarily go for the have enjoyed huge are social products,
efficient and the best, concessions quotas and the market is a
as this requices and rebates. Are mechanism of social
advertising the they are enjoying a circulation of goods
vacancy. sort of reservation? and commodities.
Reservation has Then why are these SCs/STs/OBCs are
tremendous individual industrialists themselves a major
and social benefits. A making an hue and source of industrial
study by Tilak in the cry over this? profit since they too
early 1970s works out are consumers, but
the returns of the reservation their share in the ownership or in
policy. If you help one Schedule the management of industries is
caste person through reservation, negligible.
then it can lead to a lot of social Indian industry, remains not only
benefits as one person can elevate conservative but castiest. We have
several members of his family. The the historical case of Dalits in pre-
10
 independence India being denied
jobs in textile factories because
ind~l£trii\H~UI boHi.'!vcd th~t l!1t} II'
presence would pollute their units.
BR Ambedkar had to berate SA
Dange, the veteran communist
leader. for not opposing such
practices in Bombay mills.
Why is it that Dalits, tribals and
OBC's could not, on their o\vn,
make it to executive positions in
Indian industry in any sign incant
number. even after 56 years of
independence? The reason is
simple; they have been kept out of
native education for centuries.
After education was liberated from
the clutches of casteism, the ruling
caste/classes established a dual
system. The rich got private
education in English medium. The
poor and lower castes were
relegated to government schools
teaching in regional languages.
This is not to say that the current
reservation policy has been
worthless. The reservation policy in
the public sector has benefited a lot
of people. The central government
alone has 14 lakh employees. The
proportion of Schedule castes in
class III and IV is well above the
quota of ] 6 % and, in I and II, the
proportion is around 8-] 2 %. So,
the middle and lower middle class
from the Oalit c~mmunity that we
see today, is bedause of reservation.
With no reservatiOQ,'-Jhe entry of
Dalits into government services
would be doubtful. The s,ituation is
similar in education. An' article in
the EPW estimates that there are
seven lakh SC/ST students in
higher education and about half of
lIwm IU,\? th~l~ b~~l!HUI~ ~r
re:servation.
It must be said however, that the
government policy is far from. a
total success. The Central
Government and the PSUs in the
country could not achieve even 22
per cent reservation in the last 56
years, how then would affirmative
action would help?
Reservations have not been
included in the judiciary. Out of
485 High Court judges in the
country, only 2] judges belong to
SC/ST communities. The Supreme
court does not have a single SC/ST
judge. When former President K R
Narayanan tried to suggest the
devation of one of these SC/ST
high court judges to the Apex
court, there was a furore. Scientific
establishments and defense services
have also barred reservations in
their departments.
It is necessary to recogllise that the
UPA's action in initiating this
debate is not an altruistic move. It
is a political stunt. The government
has done nothing to fulfill the
vacant positions lying reserved for
Dalits in government institutions. It
has done nothing to examine why
these posts have remained
unfulfilled. The debate itself is
poorly thought out. There is no
clarity of the nature of the proposed
policy regarding reservation in the
private sector: How will itbe-/
implemented? At what levels? Who
'.vill enforce it') Thr no\,·"~····_-·
 has thrown the matter up for debate
when there has been little public
demand for this. The adhoc manner
in which this debate was initiated
will only ensure that the
government expects, and in fact
will try and ensure that nothing
comes of it except brownie points.
It is a move subvert the growing
discontent among Oalits with a
debate that has turned into a
polemic.
It is fmpoltant to keep in mind that
Congress-led Maharastra executive
suggested a Bill proposing
reservations in the private sector
for SC/ST/OBCs.
This created such a furore that it
----------------------------------------------------------------------
had to be put on the back burner
during the elections. It only served
as clectio!, propaganda.
Evcn these stunts however are not
tolerated in the..)east. Recently the
Maharashtra Law. Commision has
rejected the Bill as constitutionally
invalid.
The implications of this opinion are
still not clear, however, it is the
sort response we should expect.
COlJ1p/ied .Ii'om Ihe debale on
11'11'11'. (//nbedkar. or\.! (ideas he/on,!!;
to SK Thoral, Kanc!w l/aiah,
Jayal1l Ramlake, Vivek Kumar and
to Dedit studenlsfi'o111 various parIs
of the counlry.)

Non Democratic T~ experience

It began with a call. Students soon "the Indian cricket team is already
heard that a national debate on doing so badly: anyone can play
reservations in the this badly, there should
private sectors was What we were be reservations in the
going to be televised obse,rving was cricket team as well,"
not a debate. It
and they had been abounded.Accompanyi
was a
invited. We started ng this were disdainful
meticulously
researching, reading comments on the unruly
planned
and discussing among nature and appearance
spectacle. A
oursel ves to prime of us students, who had
spectacle which
ourselves for the debate. was enacted come very obviously to
On D-day, we were with our defend the
herded into a bus. The unknowing implementation of
studio was empty and participation. reservation in the
we were made to wait private sector.
for over an hour for the galaxy of The Stars finally appeared.
stars. During this time many Kancha Illaih, SK Thorat, D Raja,
urban, upper middle class people Vivek Kumar, in favour of the
in the audience were airing motion, and Gurucharan Das
private views. Statements like",.
against reservations and Dipankar resulted, This was not entirel,
Gupta doing the balancing act. because of GD's statement. W~erl
We were a bit surprised that a to a claim by GD that reservation
private sector enterprise like ,vould weaken an already weak
NDTV had only one person Indian industry, Ilaiah responded
against reservation. ,.---------, saying that Indian
The arrival of Barkha We were a bit industry was weak
Dutt changed the surprised that a because industrialists
surprise to p~'ivat~ company (like GO) employed
anticipation. And we lIke NDTV had their upper-caste
were rewarded with . a onlv'. one pel"son re I'atlves,
~. B ar kJ1a D utt
aoamst . I. k'
SVl11lJathctic
• o]Jeninoc' .
rcscrva bt.IOn. TIIC chastIsed
. 11111as mg
"Dalits have been arrival of Barkha hun not to get personal.
denied space in the Dutt chanaed thc What we were
private sector since surpris~ to observing was not a
independence. Is it anticipation. debate. It was a
not our moral duty to meticulously planned
implement reservation in the spectacle. A spectacle which was
private sectoc" To this all those enacted with our unknowing
in favour nodded in agreement participation. The four pro-
into the cameras. The mike, of reservation panelists were being
course, went to Gurucharan Das portrayed as holding different
(GD). "Reservation in the private positions that contradicted each
sector is not only foolish, it is other. They were castiest, vulgar
unethical and immoral." An and did not know how to function
uproar lifted out of the audience. with decorum in civil society.
The statement was meant to Against tljs the sane and
provoke and it had its effect. pragmatic voice of Gurucharan
Hands went up everywhere and Das comes out. The .middle
all the pro~reservation panelists position is also that of Gupta who
were vying to respond. manages to please both parties.
What OD's statement did was Providing the background for this
vitiate the atmosphere. What is an unruly audience trying to
followed was not a debate. The raise their voice, trying to grab
CPI leader, Raj" responded with space which is not theirs only
an attack on' I~dian industry. because of their numbers. As
Thorat and Iillahlried to make opposed to the serene clearly
some constructive suggestions but upper-caste middle class
these were drowned \ out in the audiences who were smirkirig-C----
battle-like situation that had benevolently at the famasha that
, 13
was being played out in rront or poor boys that work in our
them. Then came the part we houses. If we cannot do this then
should have kno\vn was coming what is the scope for reservation.
but forgot to anticipate. The Audience 3: Academicians and
audience questions. Three politicians 'Shouldn't be called.
strategically pl~lced people were Everyone knows that reservations
approached by Barkha D. The will ruin the industr.y. First let
que~lions: "r could not get them get 50% marks. phi/' oke
admission into college because hafh ku/'o. As if this was not
my rather could not get me a easte enough. as \ve were leaving. the
certi ficate because hc \vas born as suspicion in the eyes or the
hrahmin. \:ow they want to take employees of \:DTV. was
away my job also." asked a well- rcfkctive of the entire event.
dressed 20-something woman. That the national public space and
Audience number two: Let us the media is hostile. castiest and
look at ourselves. Educate the undemocratic.

CASTE AND JNU

Sanjay Kumar Hazra's case is sub-judice. It is important
however that we recognise the complexities of the case. The
intense pressure faced by a Dalit student and the negative
stigma that he carries regarding his identity, makes coming
up with such a putlic claim an enormously difficult and
painful task.
It is reflection of the sensibilities that we all hold that we do
not care to come to terms with this.
It is a serious accusation that has been leveled against a
senior student. Hazra has accused Arvind Kumar of abusing
by his caste name denegrating him socially.
It is difficult time for all of us, especially for Sanjay. Let us
remember this.

INSIGHT's next issue (December 2004) will be centered around

UNDERSTADNING CASTE ATROCITIES
The January 2005 issue will compile articles on
CASTE AND NATIONALISM.
DO CONTRIBUTE LETTERS AND ARTICLES
."
 Some 'Non-Meritorious' Reflections
Reservation policy and its side effects
Anoop Kumar M.PhiIiRCA/SIS
1. Why is India continuously being After narrating this story, my dear
out-witted by Pakistan in professor shrugged her head as if to
international fora through their show that the diplomat"s argumellt
diplomats? Can any of the readers had hit the bull"s eye and she had
guess? nothing to say. She llashed a half-
3-;0? I will tell you. It is because in smile and then \\ent back to deliver
Pakistan there is no reservation. her lecture.
This is the only reason why Pakistan I.fter this revelation I was not able
is able to produce fine diplomats to pay attention w the rest of her
and India. \vhich is giving lecture. Anger crept into me. I
reservations to Oalits. is r------------, wanted to stand LIP and
not able to produce good Aftcr this question her but
diplomats who can revelation that thc decided against it as
defend Indian interests. povc."ty of Indian she could very easily
Did this revelation diplomacy was due say that was not her
shock you? to reservation statement. :v1y
I think now you want policy I was not belonging to tl.le '.non~
me to tell how I reached able to pay meritorious
this conclusion. This is attention to the rest background also kept
not my conclusion as of her Iccture. me silent.
none of my family or Anoer crept into I started trying to
even any distant relative b me remember any Oalit
is in the foreign services L-- .__ --..-J who committed the
nor have seen any Indian or 'atrocious crime' of representing
Pakistani diplomats till date. India. Only Iyers. \t1enons, Mishras,
But I was enlightened about this Oikshits, Subramaniams came to my
'grave national shame' by one of my mind. Almost all of them sounded
teachers in my MA days at JNU. like Brahmins to me. My dear
In a lecture on Indo-Pak relations, teacher, what about Pakistan's
she narrated that Pakistan scored almost complete dominance over
over India through diplomatic India in Cricket and Hockey? I
maneuvering in internationa I fora think one should ask Wasim
like the UN. She was surprised by Akram, Shahbaj Khan or Yousuf
Pakistani diplomats' brilliance, so, Yohanna or perhaps Sourav
on meeting one she ~nquired about Ganguly or Tendulkar (both
it. The Pakistani diplomat replied belonging to 'meritorious'
that the reason for their brilliance community) about it.
rests in Pakistan not 'having a 2. Now let me take you to my
reservation policy. IS' home. I live in a locality that was
bu i It around 1980 and has two' nOll- meritorious contemporaries all
meritorious' families and a 'half .. 'happily' married (with hefty
meritorious' one (0 Be). A II the rest dowries) but without regu lar jobs.
are those who oriQi nated Jwmabove Still the caste arrogance can be
the waist of ;'llllighty Brahma. gauged from their 'eyes but they
These three f~ll11 i Iies started from know that they are incompetent and
mueh belll\\ the pOlcrty linc but hencc powcrlcss. On mccting thcm
today they ha\l~ acquired they bring the issue of reservation,
'respectability' as their second by one \'yay or the other. and try to
generation is \lei I settled. Some of justifY their failure and our success
them are Class I officers or doctors. throligh it.
enQincers and one of them is e\en in 3. Back to J~C. It is the time of
th; L S. ]n COIllparison. other admissions. A II student groups have
families came to that locality with their assistance stalls before the
ll1uch \\ ealth in' terms of ancestral Administrative Block. All around
lands, property and also a long the block one can see their
tr<ldition of education but their volunteers trying to catch newly
sccond ~Qcneration ... is full nf ,. lIC II
S·, C cn Iv, IlC arrivinQ~ .. students.
school dropollts. 10 bcgll1 became n'~'nre of Around thiS entll:e
with.
... theil' children full\'
- prcscncco f'aglr 1 hullabaloo there. IS

cnjovcd
. - thclr chIldhood
.. , . t b
IllS· clorc r tl Ie one small desk. In the
\vhereas 'non- nH.TltonoliS C['cs I{. SIIlC 00 I{CC 1 corner WIth
,. the
IJarents did not prov ide vcrv t ense. SI Ie banner ot a Dabt .
l11uch libeliy to their .
camc c OSC 0 lCI t tl student group. Behind
children. Thcy- forced them ( 1CS 1• this desk a -young
to concentratc on I) on ~ student sits. He looks
their studies. Watching others uncomfortable as he has been sitting
playing and enjoying. these children here since morning and none of the
resented their parents and were even group members have turned up as
beaten if they got less marks or were yet. Since morning he has been
c aught roaming. Their persistence in trying to appear brave as other
educating their children. was volunteers passing through his desk
phenomenal. They were wholly often smirked at him. CeJiainly
imbued with the idea of education as among all the student groups, his
the panacea of all their ills. group was the odd one out.
Meritorious families used to ridicule Suddenly, he became aware of
them for being so strict with their presence of a girl just before the
children. But they did not give heed desk. She looked very tense. She
to them. They worked bard to came close to the desk and told him
provide the best facilities to their that the seats reserved for DaIits
children. Now the results must be remained unfulfilled in one
seen to be believed. Now when we paJiicul.ar centre and asked that his
go back to our homes we find our Dalit student group" should
16 j
pressurize the JNU administration to hiding their identity despite being
fill it. She was speaking as if words continuously exploited and
were coming to her with great abused? Why then, in places like
difficulty. Also, while speaking she JNU do we try to hide?
WaS looking all around as if to 4. I am sitting in JNU and typing my
notice all who were looking. She 'reflections' on a Pentium III
gave the impression that, given a computer despite my belonging to
chance. she won't even look the; non meritorious' community. I
towards the Oalit group's desk. will always remain grateful to my
On inquiring about her interest in parent's single minded perseverance
this issue she revealved she was towards their ch ildren' s education
Oalit and had completed her post- and also to Art. 16(4) of Indian
graduation from J:\L. but could not Constitution without which (I am
e~et...admission in the \1 I WI"II a Iways 110% sure) I would .
PhIl as she . was not rem<l In. urate f'·u I to have been .. reap1l1g
,
selected 111 the b karl1la 01 sins trom
..Interview. She then my parent"s
"b sinale- hundreds 0 f past
claimed that one mInoed lives through
reserved seat is still perseverance cleaning shoes or
lying vacant in that towards their washing clothes of
department. The boy children's others as my
showed keen interest in education and also grandparents and
the issue and assured to Article 16(4) of their fore fathers
her that his group would the Indian used to for the last
cel1ainly fight for Constitution two thousand years
fulfilling reserved seats. framed b Dr r at least.
He then asked her name B b ~ b And this is true for
and her hostel. The girl aasa e millions of people of
refused to divulge her Ambedkar my community
name and told him that across the length
she would come by herself on the and breadth of this country. I just
next day. want to cry.
After this she walked away from Three cheers for their hard-
the desk very fast without saying a earned success in this casteist and
word. most violent society which hates
The boy was surprised at the girl's them, abuses them and ridicules
behavior and sl1ddenly he realized them despite being most humane,
why the Dalit stl1dent movement is hard working and most
not growing in ,tbe University productive community of this
campuses. wretched country called India.
So much inferiority compl(~x even This is their real merit.
after being well educ~ted! Ever I am very proud of being from
heard of poor landless Dalits such a meritorious community.
I?-
 Who's Bill'is it anyway?
Caste and the Women's Reservation Bill
Ashokan Namhiar (English Journalism/IIMC)
['he women's reservation bill. "clitist" in nature and there should
which proposes to guarantee :)3(;10 be amendments in the Bill to
or ParkliJ1Cnt se,tts to women. has include reservation \\ithin
not yet n:alcrialised

plaeinu.
.~.
table .in
IntcreslIngly
in spite of
lots of discussion and '':\'C11 after
lvvice it on the
Par]](lll1enl.!
all pol1tlcal
------
I
Thc
suppression
-
reservation for SC/ST. OBCs and
religious minorities. Supporters of
..
the BilL which include
I B.JP .. Congress .. and
\\'omen s orgal1lSatlOns
pa~.ti.cs. ~Ultjllg J '1C~'O:~ I i: diffcrent dominat,ed by upper
thell tdeologlcal Lnes for womcn caste \\omen. read the
support the reservation bclonoinu to demand for quota \\ithin
f()]' women in b b
diffcl'cnt .
quota as a conspIracy 0 f'
parliament. So where in I castcs. mcn against women.
lies the problem? L -1 A few crucial
It's become obvious that questions need to be raised here:
the problem lies not ill the I\re Indian women a homogenous
reservation per se but in the entity? \Vhat is the position of
formulation of the Bill. which women viz. men in our society?
divided the pulilica! parties into Em\' are women supprpssed
l\\'U camps. One opposing and one through the Indian patriarchal
supporting the Bill. This division order? Are all women suppressed
is not only between political and exploited in the same way or
parities, but also within political are there also distinctions of caste
parties, dividing parties along and class at play?
caste lines (for instance Uma In a caste ridden society
Bharati and Kalyan Singh of the like India it needs to be realised
BJP opposed the Bill). that women belonging to various
When former PM AB caste groups are hierarchically
Vajpayee called an all-party positioned. The suppression,
meeting to bring consensus on the through the changing
issue, the difference of opinioL on manifestation of patriarchy, is
the Bill became clear. different for women belonging to
The staunch opponents of different castes. A large majority
the Bill in its present form, of women, who have come up in
included Samaj wadi Pmiy and various fields of life, belong to
RJD. Their claim is that the Bill is fa the En!llish educated bfahminical
 castcs. "Lower" caste womcn facc debate about the issue? Why are
multiple subalternity from their political parties waiting for a
own caste men and from men and governmental order before they
women of castes above them. field at lea'st 33% women
The argument given by candidates (even the Left is
those opposint!: the implicated in the upper
.. ~ . "LOW(T" caste '
quotas \Vlthlll quotas IS • caste conspIracy)?
t]1at women l'Tom tI1e women face ']~I'
lelr support 0 f t he
I',
'ower castes Wile'11 t multiple ,1 B'II . not due to any
IS
less "able" to resist the su baIter-Oity inherent concern about
control of the men of the plight of women or
their castes and will end up being the nature of patriarchal
··proxies·. If this is so why is it government policy.
that only OBC parties are against While there is an
this Bill? The Dalit parties (such argument that the 'parkati', is
as the BSP) are aware that should seen to be distanced from the man
reservation for women be in her politics due to the effects of
implemented it would mean that modernity and the like, the fact of
reservation for Dalit women the matter is that, given the
would be culled from the existing double subalternity of women in
reservation for SC/STs, India, there still exists within
Therefore, politically there is little women of the "lower" castes a
that they have to lose. strong and vibrant tradition of'
The OBC leaders equality and respect for
however, recognise that this is a production that is disregarded in
ploy of the upper castes to regain the 1110dernitydebates.
the political ground lost to the The fact of the matter is
OBCs. Sharad Yadav's statement that women from the "lower"
inside Parliament, that only castes can draw on a tradition that
parkatis (women with bob-cuts) is well founded and indigenous
would get elected under the (not to disclaim the immense
proposed Bill, may seem effects of patriarchy) to combat
repugnant to many. It is, but a male-oriented and dominated
statement of the truth. policies.
The real \ question is that Considering these facts, it
"Will upper caste "'(omen elected becomes necessary to change the
in parliament represellt women or Bill in its present form and amend
upper castes"? it to include quota within quota
If this was not" the case for SC/ST, OBCs and religious
why is it that there is no serious minorities.
J,
 History as a blind girl
Suresh Kumar (MA, History, Pondicherry University)
The eyes of history are truths, against the Oalits and the
which are being shut by the so- untouchables.
called historians to mobilize their :\0 one is ready to speak the truth.
own ideologies dl110ng thl' but they tell the pcopk or students
students as well as to establish the to speak the truth in history.
political identification and Lniversities are the best places to
thoughts in the society. History is look 0.1 the atrocities of history by
lX'jn~ trl'atcd as ~I l'ilild ill tilL' Lll1dtic llindui/.ing lJistnri<lns. The
han<.:ts of historians in the students arc puppets in the hands
classro~lms as \\e11 as in or professors and historians. Here.
textbooks. To torture the child. the rights or the students me being
the historians me collecting snatched by the power oj' the
students with the tension of professors at the time of the
marks. ThollUh. rnall\' ideokH2ies examinations.
establish the~' sllprel;lacy in ~the The history of humanism would
field of universities and colleges. appear in favour of Hinduism by
the blind girl (history) never gets neglecting other religions. In
relief tl'om the fanatic historians. order to establish Hindutva
Regarding the history of India, the ideology, professors deliberately
imperialists would speak about negate the history of Islam and
inferiority and sLlperiority Christianity to torture history and
between the foreigners and to mobilize their ideologyThe
indigenous people. The Ylarxists professors offer papers that are
would speak about the struggle not li1 the interests of students but
between the elite group and the are, in fact, attempts to dictate
\vorking class. The nationaEsts propoganda to them.
vvoulj speak aqout the Ral7wyww They do not consider the
and the Mahabham! and the students' future but they only
legends and pural1as to construct want to establish elite Hinduism
nationalism. The subaltern and suppress society.
historian would speak of the A child is crying in Pondicherry
struggle of the peasants to get University without the eyes to see
power and take the side of the the world. She is also being made
peasants against the elite group. voiceless by the fanatics. Who
Where are the historians talking will save her from the truth? Who
about the atrocities committed will save her from the torture?
20
 Why the seer couldn't se€~ his arrest
The fraud for religious institutions on the Indian people
lnsight Editorial Board
It is not good to hang a man Why is the news that people were
hefore a rail' trail. It is even \'orsc checked Oil 14/ I ] /04 while
to prevent due process oj' Imv. entering thL' temple repeated four
And the Brahminical media led times in the course of a sinole c
by a paper true to its name: The issue of
the paper (dated
Hindu, is doing just this for ] 5/l1/04)'? Why is this news
Jayendra Saraswati. hacked with the opinion of a
For the last \veek. before this private individual that this was an
editorial went to Press. The !findu affront to "Hindus"? Where is the
has been acq ui tting the "seer reportage about those "Hindus"
every day in its columns. who demanded that the
True to its "neutral Why arc a seer step down and face
colours:" The Hindu has few thinly- charges? If one were
put forth both sides of the attended able to find this article
st01"y. Except that one side processions buried between news
appears in eight out of 16 being about diabetes and some
pages for four days covered as news about Russia, one
running and the other side nationwide would have to look
gets mention in boxes strikes? really hard.
within stories. Why is it that the police
The undue coverage given to can not only arrest one "baba"
fringe and non-productive from rural India but can' actually
elements of society like the VHP conduct a campaign against them
and its affiliated cadre of jobless and the very same newspapers
"sadhus and sants" begs only one that are "treading carefully" will
question. Why are a few thinly- give them full coverage and
attended processions being editorial support?
covered as nationwide strikes? This is not to malign a respected
Why are photos of groups of newspaper like The Hindu. !.t is
sadhus, of concerned Brahmin only to make an angry
women sitting in protest on observation about the state of the
plastic chairs given such nation. This is a nation that
prominence when the case is sub- mystifies reactionary elements
judice? like heads of mutts and other
Brahmins. accordiilg them with
21 an importance and status that they
have not earned in a honest because they are afraid of their ill-
fashion, There can be no doubt gotten wealth coming under the
that mutts and other such public purvievv?
religious institutions have to be The most important question is
made publicly accountable and \vhat is the contribution of the
that they can no longer hide Kanchi Peeth for the development
behind the fact that thcy gj\C a of the country except pilfering thc
merger percentage of the black country" s wealth I~)r the seer's
monev that is stuffed into the relatives and tor other Brahmins'?
!fl/mfl.l· to "charitable" C~lUSCS. 'lho' mrest of Shankaracharya is
(The Hindu on 2] /11 /04 carried just the tip of the icebcrg, Every
!1luliple adverti:;mt:nts b) the no\\ and then \-'le hear/read about
K:1l1chi Illults '1'1 ' , some Baba or priest
, lI~, 1 j' j' /
'ldvertisin12.
, ~ their
. d'
unpro UCtlVC ll1VO\'lo'l 111Sl11UL'.!l
- ~~ Ing ,
"charitable activities",) , "'catltlat
II I sex , racket/hnancwl '
On October ,1,1. this f bungll11g, What IS the
"seer"'
. offered a Rs 1.5 tIe surp rOIliS
C}OO.ICS III jimt! solution'?
'," '
crore golden , crown to ° S t Icn f rom tl IC 111JS unproductIve •
the Hll1du temple at T wealth that comes from
'J"lrupatI ' .
111 i\ n<'1
1J Ira '-- tOI mg -' t I1e Slirp IliS sto If'cn 1'0111
Pradesh. Where is this "seer" who the toiling Dalits of this country
claims to have renounced the must be confiscated, The
materi,,) world getting "material"? arrogance of the Hindu that he is
How far is alTering a Rs. 1.5 crore above the law, in faet that he is
golden crown to a stone idol the law, must end. Time and again
productive? .Just imaginc how this impudcnce is seen. Be it ten
many schools tor the poor could years ago when water from
be opened with this sum, It is high Thakur wells was thrown to waste
time to look at the activities of in front of parched Dalits, or
Mutts All for Brahmins, nothing today when in the midst of such
for Dalits and OBes! glaring poverty stone gods are
The "seer' has proved his anti- bathed in milk and clothed in gold
Dalit credentials as he supported and jewels by their equally
the Varna system. Why are all the heartless worshippers.
employees of the Kanchi mutt How this will occur and who will
Brahmins if they claim to have the political strength to
represent 'Hindu' society? unseat these corrupt gods and
Why are 'TV stars' like Asharam their violent supporters, only time
Babu and Shudanshu Maharaj will tell.
opposing the arrest? Is it not Jai bhim.
12.
 Datit lore arld folklore
S. Veeranlani, (Ph.D., CPS/SSS)
Dalit art and culture has itsl deep language and traditions were
roots in history. It comes out of forced to disappear.
pain. problems and emotions Possible culture in India
\\hich the Dalit 1~ICCS and the Dalit art and culture has its OWl)
practices of day-to-day life, that deep meaning and reason. The
ca bl' traced back historically. articulations of Dalit culture
There is strong evidence that always address social problems
)Jro\es the origin' and r----------, and suJfering.
growth of Dalit art and Where are the It is an expression of
culture. The real others? What is \\ounded emotions.
inhabitants of India. their cultun.'? Dalit art is a voice for
Sakya and I\'aga from What will be liberation. It abounds
south India later spread theil' culture if with issues to be
all over India as can be you remove solved. They contain
seen by scriptures, Dalit cultures? various art forms.
inscriptions and so on. L..- ---' For example, songs,
We find many such references in dance, drama, theatre. Even
Tamil literature and also can look though it disappeared at some
at David Washbrook's research point of time now, the' growing
that ancient India was the golden consciousness among Dalits
period of pariyas. The instruments . pushes them to re-trace their
purai or thappu (which I play) cultural history-which' is the
was basically played to proclaim only possible cultural history in
royal orders during Pariah kings this country.
visit to his kingdom. Scholars like Prof K A
Later this instrument was banned Gunashekaran, founded Dalit
and was called untouchables theatre which keenly targets:
instrument during the invasion of socio-economic and political
Aryan or Hindu culture. They issues faced by Dalits in India. It
massacred thousands of Buddhist also helps trace the history of
bikkus. Buddhis,\ temples were Dalit culture, that is not only'\
destroyed. There" were many entertaining, but also an' '\
atrocities against Dants, their art awakening culture.
and culture. Above is an example It is importanUo say a few lines ,_/
of how one by one\ all the here. After suffering intense
clements of Dalit art, culture and23
I \
 caste-based . discrimination, the claims to be a possible culture and
Dalit masses claim the follO\ving: peoples' culture. The costumes
We have to try to be ;fogether are simple and rich, and give full
To put an end to discrimination, freedom to the performer. Dalit
costumes are real. Not masks. As
If Dalits gather collectively
is their art and culture.
\ There must befi'eedo1l7
The paddy cries \1'hel7)'011 0)',
The lake .vater turn.\' red j'j:hen Songs and Dances
you bleed, There are a variety of songs and
Why slill sIOlj'? ('0/11(' 011, d;ll1ces like Illarriagl' ceremony
beloved, songs, death songs. llarvesting
Come closer ({!Jrewl hmlhers ({nd songs. festival songs. bride/groom
sislers exchange songs. conceiving
To sei:::e 0111' right, /0 ill Oil/"
1\ songs: liberation songs. prl)(est
,ti-eedom, songs. Various dances arc
LeI the balld olliS h!w! Ihese thappattam. peyalUlll1.
streets (Puroi) , thcrukkuttu. mayilattam.
Lellhe voice olliS Ih/"e{/(el7 1/71: karagattam. oyilattam. and so on.
Assembly, (The translations will he mildc
LeI the flag ollis/I)' O\'C/' Ihc available soon ©)
pori ... "
These lines are sLIng by Dalit Difference between Dalit lore
singers to support of Dalits when and folklore
faced with grave ]lJ'i)hkill S. The history \vrittcn by pscudo-
historians grossly exaggerate
Instruments and costumes, some art and culture and pass it
There are different kinds of off as the culture of India
instruments. Skinnl~d instruments sidelining the rich Dalit art and
(Thavil, Thappu, Urumi. Pambai), culture. Day-by-day Dalits are
wind instrument (Dalit "'.'ath. made to forget their artifacts and
clm-ionet, flute) supportive get subsumed into other cultures.
instruments (hand bell. Take the example of folklore. It
tambourine. etc). D~dit artists contains the entire Dalit art and
normally producc these culture within it and is performed
instruments themselves. The by Dalit artistes only. Where are
practicing of instruments the others? What is their culture'!
preparing costumes, songs and What will be their culturc if you
dances are part or the day-to-day remove Dalit cultures?
life for them while workil1g in the That is why the new idea

ficId. That is why j)~liit culturcZly propounded by Prof

 Gunashekaran, that Dalit lore is liberation of Dalits. It had created
different from folk lore is larger consciousness among
interesting. You can not remain Dalits in India. It has deep roots
under any culture because it is the in History and is a powerful
only possible culture. The time weapon to use to come out of the
has come to hold it up and to raise cycles of discriminating religion.
its importance to the world. It is a tool to awaken Dalits to
There is much more search for their identity
cultural history of the Here and politics.
Dalits to be traced. I murmuring These are all the sale
leave this to the also becomes a responsibility of youth.
readers imagination great song.
~~~~--
For them exploring the
and for further cultural history of Oalits
research. is the best research.
Cnless and until this is done.
Conclusion world civilization will not become
Dalit art and culture had meaningful.
contributed massively to the

Reservations for Dalit Minorities

How much longer will our rights be violated?
Sanjecv Kumar (BA/CRS/SLL&CS)

\1uslim and Christian Dalits are question that arises is why Dalit
debarred from many of the faci Iities M usl ims are debarred from these
that have been given by the benefits? Alticle 341 of the
government of India to the "Hindu" Indian Constitution provides the
Dalits. Recently at the ,--------------, status of scheduled
.Justice Conference held It was only through caste to Dalits. It also
in 7\ew Delhi, a Presidential provides special aid
V1uhammad Karim from Order in 1950 that and facilities for the
liP stated "I am a the reliuious
b advancement of
V1usl im and 1 am a restriction was scheduled caste people
cobbler. I have no imposed. Shame? in higher education
concrete house to liye and government jobs.
Ill. I have not bee'il '------------' This is when:.
included in the Scheduled Caste list. however, the dominant power
/\ Hindu cobbler in my village has a intervenes. Paragraph 3 of the sanW
house made by the government under Article imposes religious restrictions,
Ihe Indira Vikas Yojana." The making the 11J'()VisionalJIJlieablc only
. 25' c
to those who profess to the Hindu With the tacit support of Hindu
religion. The great Hinduism at work reactionaries, the 'Upper Caste'
in the Constitution. Members of all Muslim and Christian elite try to
religious minorities are debarred. muzzle the voices of Oal its within
The fact is thM there were no their respective religion to avoid
religious restrictiLlI1s on the law their just claims. The need of the
passed to the same effect in 1935. All hour is to identifY the problems of
OaJits were entitled to avail the Oalit minorities. make a separate
facilities provided by law category for them. and provide thcm
irrespective of their religion. It vvas the state support so that they can also
only through a Presidential Order in get their due share.
1950 that the religious restriction In Andhra Pradesh. the state
was imposed. Shame? government moved to reserve five
It is not just the case of Yluslims. percent of government jobs ane! seats
Christian Oalits are trapped in the in higher education for Yluslims by
same boat. Are they not Indians? Are identifying them as 'backward
they not underprivileged? Have they community'. It has created a fissure
not faced the same exploitation? in the Muslim community itself. For
Have you ever thought about the fact who is going to get these
that this is against the fundamental reservations? It is the educated upper
rights provided under Article ]4 castes among the Muslims: The
(Right to Equality ,----------, Sayyeds, the Owasis, the
before Law) and Aliicle 85% of Indian Sheiks and the Mirzas, to
25 (Right of Freedom of Muslims are name a few. Oal its and
Religion)? There is no from lower backward Muslims will
question that the ban castes. Similarly never see these benefits.
should be abolished and majority of The AP Government
reservations should be Christians are Ordinance has been
increased and expanded Dalits who revoked, but it is
to Dalits of other 0 t d t important to take a stand
I..... c nver eo.
re IglOus m1l10ntles. th agall1st such moves that
A CC0rd'mg to escape e see k to . '1 ege
pnvi t Ile
one source, 85% of drudg~~ of already privileged under
Indian Muslims are brahmllllsm. the guise of preferential
from lower castes. Similarly majority discrimination.
of Christians are DaIits who Let LIS pledge to fight for the rights of
converted to escape the drudgery of DaIits of all religious backgrounds to
brahminism. The caste system is so enjoy the benefits of reservations.
powerful that it penetrated into these Let us fight to increase the
religions also. In present time Dalit reservations to make it more
minorities are still living below the represent'!tive. Let LIS fight to
poverty line and are engaged in thc strengthcn DaJit unity against the
lowly jobs. :1' attacks by rcligious vested interests.
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