Church Law and the Future of Jai Bhim Network in Hungary

It’s almost been two years to my visit (23^rd Sept to 20^th Oct 2009) to the Sajókaza (Hungary) and since then I’ve been in constant contact with my friends - Anikó Szegedi, Derdák Tibor and Katlin Bodori - from Hungary. This article is in continuation to my previous articles - Babasaheb Ambedkar and ‘the Dalits of Europe’, Reclaiming Human Dignity: The Protest and Gypsy Stereotypes, Celebrating Dhamma Chakka Parivartan Diwas in Hungary, and Ambedkar in Hungary - which I wrote while staying at Sajókaza.

Few Updates from the Jai Bhim Network, Hungary

Since 2009, Jai Bhim Network has expanded its roots deep into the Hungarian society via opening new schools at Alsózsolca (about 60 students), Mágocs and Sáta (elementary school about 20km from Sajókaza) and Jai Bhim Network has purchased a new house (named White House) to teach Roma students and carry out various social functions. With the help of Bharat Wankhede (the guy who accompanied me on the visit) and The Corporate Body of the Buddha Education Foundation, Taipei (Taiwan) Jai Bhim Network has published a Buddhist Puja book – Telihold. Kubu (the guy I mentioned few times in my earlier articles) will graduate in Physics in few years. Benu (the guy whose speech on Roma rights at Heroes Square (Budapest) was simply amazing.) has joined job at Budapest and he is continuing his activities with Jai Bhim Network from Budapest. Katlin Bodori left for completing her master’s degree. Many new teachers are hired and few completed their tenure successfully – enriching Roma students’ lives and their own lives with wonderful experiences.

Derdák Tibor at Dalits Protest rally on Jantar Mantar

To fulfil their Buddha-Dhamma and Ambedkarite quest, in Nov-Dec 2010, Derdák Tibor and János Orsós visited India again (third time) and stayed at Bodh Gaya for few days and then took part in the Dalits demonstration for equal rights at Jantar Mantar, Delhi on 5^th Dec 2010. Derdák Tibor and János Orsós come to Buddhist places in India as Muslims go to Mecca and Hindus go to Varanasi.

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On Gujarat Riots, Tehelka and Role of Dalit and Tribes

Thanks to my friend Taha for his comment on Gujarat riot and role of Dalits that made me to remember this particular incident. I wanted to write about this since long but keep on postponing it as I didn’t have much material except what I heard at the seminar held in Pune University.

Almost two years ago, I met one activist from Chhaara tribe (a denotifed tribe that was legally notified as ‘criminals’ by British and were forced to remain in confined area and could never go out without police permission). All such ‘criminal’ tribes, basically nomadic, were forcefully settled in one place, from Maharashtra to Gujarat to UP to Rajasthan.

Though now denotifed but the society and the administration still treats them as criminals, even after 60 years of Independence from British rule. They hardly get any jobs, have very low penetration of education and are still seen as walking criminals and treated as such by all.

Still the police comes to these ‘criminal settlements’ to raid and ‘catch’ the culprits if there is petty crime anywhere in the city and also come to arrest youth from the community to ‘parade’ them as culprit for some unsolved crime and sometimes pay them for that in cash. Read more… »

‘From Jai Shri Ram to Jai Bhim’

Journey from Pseudo Nationalism to True Nationalism

by Anoop Kumar

[Published in INSIGHT (January- February, 2005), on Caste and Nationalism]

In context with my ongoing discussions on Face book with some of my friends, I am reproducing one of my articles published in our Dalit students’ magazine INSIGHT (Jan-February 2005 issue of Caste and Nationalism).

I am not particularly very fond of this piece as many of our friends, particularly non-Dalit academicians, looked at this piece with their ’secular’ lenses, read it in context with ‘Hindu-Muslim communalism’  and praised me for writing on  ‘poor Dalits getting communal’ - a sort of an apology piece.

I strongly feel that this was not exactly what I was trying to say. I was trying to say something more than mere locating Dalit within secularism debates. I might have failed to impress this,  when I look back now, through my little naive piece as this was the time when I was just learning to write, in English or otherwise. I am sure if I had to write it again, I will be much more clear.

Those who are interested in reading the past issues of Insight, please click here

During 1991-92, in my school days, I was an ardent supporter of the Ramjanam Bhumi Temple Movement in Ayodhya. I went to the main chowk of the city to watch the Ramjanam Bhumi Rath Yatra. I felt pain when I read in newspapers that ‘hundreds’ of Karsevaks were killed by the police and their bodies thrown in river Saryu.

An Illustration Drawn By Rajesh Kumar (JNU)

I was very excited and exhilarated when the Babri Mosque was destroyed. I pestered my parents to vote for the ‘Hindu’ party. Ifought with my father when he said that ‘Hindu’ party would bring back ‘Manusmriti’.

I was aware of ‘Manusmriti’ and its provisions. But this Hindu political party never talked about caste, they never said that they were ‘manuvadis’, they opposed untouchability. But my father was not convinced nor was he able to convince me. He did not argue much and mostly kept silent.

His silence was very intriguing to me because otherwise he used to have debates on each and every topic. I thought of it as a bad influence of Kanshiram and Mayawati.

“Yes, caste system is bad but religion has nothing to do with it. At least Ram was not involved nor did he practice untouchability. More so, when one’s country is in danger we should leave all our differences and unite”. Read more… »

“People who oppose caste-census are less in numbers, but are powerful and they run this country”

An interview with Dilip Mandal

Dilip Mandal, a senior journalist and writer, is currently associated with Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), New Delhi. He has been consistently writing on some of the most important socio-economic issues before our country, in newspapers and on internet. He has recently edited a book ‘Caste Census: Parliament, Society and Media’ (in Hindi).

Here he is interacting with Insight members – Gurinder Singh Azad, Anup Vimal, Noopur and Anoop Kumar – on the issue of caste census.  This interview is also being published in Hindi here.

What is the need for holding caste-based census? Why this demand for counting people on the basis of their castes?

There are many reasons for holding caste-based census in our country.  Even if we discount these reasons, then also the need remains as there are many caste-based government policies.  Caste has been cited for more than 25 times in our Constitution.

The makers of our Constitution were aware that caste is not something that could be annihilated by mere Constitution and therefore they provided for caste-based specific policies to make some dent on caste-based hegemony of all those who have been deriving benefit from the age old caste system.

Read more… »

“जातिगत जनगणना का विरोध करने वालों की संख्या बहुत कम है, लेकिन वे बहुत शक्तिशाली हैं और इस देश को चलाते हैं”

दिलीप मंडल के साथ एक साक्षात्कार

दिलीप मंडल एक वरिष्ठ पत्रकार और लेखक हैं. वर्तमान में वे इंडियन इंस्टिट्यूट आफ मास कम्युनिकेशन (आई.आई.एम.सी.), नई दिल्ली के साथ जुड़े हुए हैं. वह महत्वपूर्ण सामाजिक और आर्थिक मुद्दों पर, अखबारों में तथा इन्टरनेट पर लगातार लिख रहे हैं. उन्होंने हाल ही में, एक पुस्तक ‘जाति जनगणना : संसद, समाज और मीडिया’ (हिंदी में) संपादित की है.

यहाँ वह जातिगत जनगणना के मुद्दे पर इनसाइट सदस्यों - गुरिंदर सिंह आजाद, अनूप विमल, नूपुर और अनूप कुमार के साथ बातचीत कर रहे हैं.

हमें जातिगत  जनगणना की ज़रुरत क्यों है ? जातियों के आधार पर लोगों की गिनती की इस मांग का क्या कारण है ?

हमारे देश में जातिगत जनगणना बहुत सारे कारणों से अनिवार्य है. अगर हम इन कारणों को छोड़ भी दें तब भी जातिगत जनगणना की ज़रुरत रहेगी क्योंकि हमारे यहाँ भारत सरकार द्वारा संचालित बहुत सारी जातिगत नीतियाँ हैं. हमारे सविधान में कम से कम 25 जगह जाति का ज़िक्र हुआ है.

हमारे सविधानकर्ता इस बात से सुचेत थे कि जाति जैसी चीज़ का खात्मा सविधान महज से नहीं किया जा सकता.यही वजह थी कि  उनहोंने जातिगत नीतियाँ दीं ताकि वो लोग जो हज़ारों सालों से जाति आधारित नेतृत्व से फायदा उठाते आ रहे हैं, उन्हें प्रभावित किया जा सके. Read more… »

“Educated Urban Dalit Women: Opportunities and Challenges for Employment and Entrepreneurship”

Insight Study Circle

Invites you for a public discussion on

“Educated Urban Dalit Women: Opportunities and Challenges for Employment and Entrepreneurship”

Based on the recent study undertaken by Center for Social Equity and Inclusion (CSEI), New Delhi

Date – 19 September 2010 (Sunday)

Time – 2.30 PM to 5.30 PM

Venue - Room No 411, Indian Social Institute, Lodhi Road, Near Saibaba Mandir, New Delhi

Read more… »

Opportunities for Dalit and Adivasi Students for Higher Education in World’s Premier Educational Institutions: A Report

Insight Study Circle Meeting  held on 22 August 2010 (Sunday) at  Indian Social Institute, Lodhi Road, New Delhi

Speakers

1. David Vumlallian Zou (from Manipur) teaches at History Department, Delhi University and did his doctorate from Queen’s University, Belfast with full scholarship from Academic Planning Grant (Northern Ireland).

2. Abhay Xaxa (from Chhattisgarh) is currently working with Indian Institute of Dalit Studies, New Delhi and did his Masters in Social Anthropology from University of Sussex, UK  (2008) as one of the recipient of International Ford Fellowship Programme.

3. Bhawani Buswala (from Rajasthan) is currently in the country for his field research. He is pursuing his PhD in Anthropology from Brown University, Rhodes Island, USA on full university scholarship.

4. Rama Devi Hansraj (from Andhra Pradesh) completed her Post Graduation in Human Rights from University of London (2004) as one of the International Ford Fellow. She is currently based in Kolkata and is working with Catholic Relief Service.

Given below are the excerpts from the speeches from our panel of speakers followed by a brief interaction session with our audiences.

Rama Devi Hansraj

I did my MA from University of Hyderabad, Department of Mass Communication. I am the first generation educated person in my family. After completing my studies in Hyderabad, I worked with some small Human Rights groups in Andhra Pradesh.

Through that network I came to know about International Ford Foundation Fellowship programme that was meant exclusively for students from marginalised background.  I applied and was selected after going through its rigorous selection process. With that fellowship, I did my Masters in University of London in Human Rights.

As I was part of Dalit students’ movement in Hyderabad University, I was very conscious of caste discrimination that we all go through both subtle and direct. Perhaps that made me to opt for my study in the area of Human Rights.

Also I felt that articulation on the issues is a major problem. I have heard many Dalit women who were able to articulate and share their personal experiences in their vernacular language so well but doing so in English was a big challenge. They are being represented by people who are only good at articulating in English and so people coming from the grass root realities could never talk for themselves at a bigger platform like UN. These reasons led me to opt for a course in human rights.

What I liked about Ford Foundation was their entire interview process. The whole process was very comforting and gave us enough breathing space and to remain confident as applicants. They appointed one panel member to each applicant to interact at personal level. The one who was interviewing me, later, in the interview actually spoke on behalf of me which was very encouraging. This gave me lot of confidence and helped me face whatever question they asked. Read more… »

Insight Study Circle (22 August, Sunday)

Invites you for a public meeting

On

“Opportunities for Dalit and Adivasi Students for Higher Education in World’s Premier Educational Institutions”

And to interact with our panel of Dalit and Adivasi Scholars

Date - 22 August 2010 (Sunday)
Time - 3 PM to 5.30 PM
Venue - Room No 303, Indian Social Institute, Lodhi Road, New Delhi

Speakers

David Vumlallian Zou (from Manipur) teaches at History Department, Delhi University and did his doctorate from Queen’s University, Belfast with full scholarship from Academic Planning Grant (Northern Ireland).

Abhay Xaxa (from Chhattisgarh) is currently working with Indian Institute of Dalit Studies, New Delhi and did his Masters in Social Anthropology from University of Sussex, UK  (2008) as one of the recipient of International Ford Fellowship Programme.

Rama Devi (from Andhra Pradesh) completed her Post Graduation in Human Rights from University of London (2004) as one of the International Ford Fellow. She is currently based in Kolkata and is working with Catholic Relief Service.

Bhawani Buswala (from Rajasthan) is currently in the country for his field research. He is pursuing his PhD in Anthropology from Brown University, Rhodes Island, USA on full university scholarship.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Insight Foundation is a group of students and young professionals committed towards working with Dalit and Adivasi students to make our education system more inclusive and to create various support systems for our students so that they are able to Read more… »

Celebrating the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People

A report by Mayanglambam Merina Leimarenbi and Gurinder Singh Azad

Every year, August 9, is being celebrated, across the countries, as the International day of the World’s Indigenous People.  This day is celebrated to bring forward the struggles that are being waged by various indigenous groups for their socio-political and economic rights.  It was on this day, August 9, 1982, that the first meeting of the United Nation’s working group on indigenous population took place and brought forward the plight of indigenous people on the global platform.  In India too, the day is celebrated by different Adivasi groups across the country and Insight foundation got the opportunity to participate in two events that were organised at Ranchi, Jharkhand. Below is a brief report on these two events.

The UN General Assembly while deciding to observe 1995-2004 as the ‘International Decade of World’s Indigenous People’,  decided to observe August 9, every year as a International day to offer the world community an opportunity to reiterate the principles of respect for human rights enshrined in UN Charter and to find solutions to alleviate the plight of indigenous people. Read more… »

Miscarriage of Justice

Khairlanji, a Lodha Tribal girl Chuni Kotal and Lord Lytton

by A. K. Biswas

A Painting at a Dalit protest Against Khairlanji Massacre (source:www.ambedkar.org)

The judgment delivered by a Division Bench in quadruple  murders of members of  Bhotmange family, village Khairlanji, district Bhandara in Maharashtra left everyone with sensitive mind shocked and dismayed. Surekha Bhotmange and her 18-year old daughter and two sons, including one who was disabled — were brutally  murdered by  an upper caste mob  on September 29, 2006.

The Bench concluded that the accused, who were sentenced to death by District and Sessions Court, Bhandara were not driven by hatred against the Bhotemange family members, who were scheduled castes. The High Court held that the accused took revenge!

This sounds like a joke widely prevalent in pre-independent India. The bureaucracy often termed starvation death as death due to malnutrition.

If someone takes someone’s life (deliberately and not accidentally) then he forfeits the right to his life - J.S. Mill

Part I

Justice and fairness of treatment for the victims belonging to socially disadvantaged is practically non-existent in India. In denying justice, very sound and cogent reasons and arguments couched in ceremonial legalese are advanced on behalf of the aggressors to satisfy analytical quest.

However,  the caste system, needless to note, prompts discrimination, which undoubtedly is the root cause for  denial of  justice to the dalits and adivasis.

The Kairlanji is the case in point.

Read more… »