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Saturday, June 26, 2010

[ZESTCaste] Nepal: Dalit rights (Opinion)

http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=20328

EDITORIAL

Dalit rights

REPUBLICA

Even as we are in 21st century Nepal, the concepts of social justice
and societal transformation remain mere rhetoric limited to research
works and law books. The historic oppression and discrimination faced
by the marginalized communities, especially Dalits, is a true
reflection of lack of implementation of legal framework in the
country. Nepal formulated the Civil Rights Act way back in 1964,
during the same time as the US got its Civil Rights Act that became a
landmark piece of legislation in that country. The US Act outlawed
unequal application of voter registration requirements and racial
segregation in schools, at the workplace and by facilities that served
the general public.

Once the Act was implemented, its effects were far-reaching and had
tremendous long-term impacts on the whole country. But unlike in the
US, our own law at home failed to prohibit discriminations faced by
the Dalits and protect this marginalized groups' identity and rights.
One reason was that untouchability and other outdated practices are so
entrenched in Nepali psyche that breaking away from those needs strong
state action. Unfortunately, in Nepal, the Dalit problems have been
used as a political tool severely exploited by numerous political
parties for petty gains. Even while the Maoists espoused the cause of
the Dalits during the People's War days, the party failed to give the
backward and the marginalized communities representation within the
party, thus rendering the entire concept of inclusiveness hollow.

Every political party in Nepal has a separate Dalit organization,
which claims to work for Dalit welfare. But in reality, these
organizations have brought about sharp divide in the Dalit population
at large. Besides, over the years, the Dalit movement in itself lost
much ground with the creamy-layer of the Dalits taking sheer advantage
of their cause, thereby failing to penetrate to the bottom. Many NGOs
thriving in the country in the name of Dalit rights are actually using
this opportunity to gain money and fame. The result of all this is
that the poor Dalits are still ignored, discriminated and denied their
due share. Dalits form 13 percent of the total population of the
country, but 50 percent of them are illiterate, 77 percent of them are
agriculturally landless and they still form the majority of Nepal's
poor.

But all is not lost. It would help if the Dalit movement breaks away
from political exploitation and come up with a cohesive voice to show
a united stand. The 50 Dalit Constituent Assembly members shoulder a
historic responsibility to shape the future of this long deprived
group of people. And as the CA prepares to formulate a new
constitution, there is no better time than to guarantee the
constitutional rights of this underprivileged section of society.

Published on 2010-06-26 02:18:18

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[ZESTCaste] Dalit temple opens for public in Odisha town

http://www.kalingatimes.com/odisha_news/news2010/20100626_Dalit_temple_opens_for_public_in_Odisha_town.htm

Dalit temple opens for public in Odisha town

KalingaTimes Correspondent
Kendrapara, June 26: A Mahalaxmi temple built by Dalits inside the
famous Baldevjew temple premises here has been opened for public,
eight decades after its foundation was laid.

Dalits themselves had built the temple with various factors mainly
funds constraints posing hindrance on their temple building mission.

On Friday evening, the much-awaited temple was thrown open for public darshan.

Gajapati Dibya Singha Deb graced a simple religious function this
evening and amid chanting of mantras, he was the first devotee to make
his way to the temple.

Mahalaxmi temple inside the 300-year-old Baldevjew temple is now
opened for puja and darshan. It was the singular effort of the
fishermen community here that 47-feet sprawling temple has come up,
Baldevjew endowment officials said.

The works of the temple fully funded by the fishermen community moved
at a snail pace over the years.

Its foundation had been laid in 1927. Paucity of funds led to the
delay and finally its work is complete and has been readied for puja,
Brahmananda Behera, secretary of the temple building committee, said.

Unlike in other temples, the dalits have unrestricted access to the
temple and there is no caste-related bar on darshan here.

The traditional bar on entry of non-Hindus into the temple still
remains in force.

The famous temple which draws thousands of devotees everyday, was
built during the reign of Marahatta Subedars in this region.

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[ZESTCaste] Dalit temple opens for public

http://www.ptinews.com/news/743219_Dalit-temple-opens-for-public

Dalit temple opens for public

STAFF WRITER 20:38 HRS IST
Kendrapara, Jun 25 (PTI) A Mahalaxmi temple built by Dalits inside the
famous Baldevjew temple premises here was opened today for public,
eight decades after its foundation was laid.

Much to the delight of rights activists, Gajapati Maharaja of Puri
Dibya Singha Deb graced a religious function this evening amid
chanting of mantras as he was the first devotee to enter the temple.

The 47-feet sprawling Mahalaxmi temple inside the 300- year-old
Baldevjew temple is due to the efforts of the fishermen community,
Baldevjew endowment officials said.

"Its foundation was laid in 1927. Paucity of funds led to the delay
and finally its work is complete and has been readied for puja,"
Brahmananda Behera, secretary of the temple building committee, said.

Unlike other temples, Dalits have free access to the temple and there
is no caste-related bar on darshan here.

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[ZESTCaste] Don't get drawn to communal politics, Dalits told

http://www.hindu.com/2010/06/22/stories/2010062251400300.htm

Karnataka - Shimoga

Don't get drawn to communal politics, Dalits told

Special Correspondent

SHIMOGA: Director of Distance Education of Kuvempu University Rajendra
Chenni said here on Monday that there was a need to check Dalits from
getting drawn to communal politics.

He was speaking after inaugurating the 72nd birth anniversary of B.
Krishnappa and the "Dalit Swabhiman Sangharsh Diwas" organised by the
Shimoga unit of Karnataka Dalit Sangharsh Samiti.

Prof. Chenni warned Dalits that there was no future for them in
capitalism and communal politics.

Educational programmes were being implemented for their development to
enable them to cope with present market trends, he said. There was a
need to fight communalism and the "Manuwadi" caste practices, he
added.

Convener of the State Dalit Sangharsh Samiti M. Gurumurthy presided
over the function. Office-bearer of the samiti N. Giriyappa, district
Dalit Sangharsh Samiti convener T.H. Halappa and C.K. Mahesh were
present.

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Friday, June 25, 2010

[ZESTCaste] Book- Behenji: A political biography of Mayawati

Dear friends,

I just finished Behenji: a political biography of Mayawati by Ajay Bose that I have been trying to read for a while.

While in US, I have been reading media reports on Ms Mayawati's rule, none of them were positive. I did read about her statues, memorial parks, jewelry, birthday cakes, indiscriminate transfers, and high handedness. Though I read these reports with a pinch of salt, I too felt she may not be going in the right direction with her historic electoral mandate. I am very much aware that a lot of misinformation is being spread by the mainstream media as far a Ms Mayawati is concerned.

When I speak to my friends, I get the same stereo typed negative opinions on Ms Mayawati, most of them formed with the input of media.

I expected that the book is no different in dealing with its subject. But, I was wrong. It's a lot positive and gave me an objective understanding of what she is upto and what she is doing in UP. It is full of statistical details and logical arguments (at least to me) supporting the facts and opinions.

Though it doesn't shed much light on the personal life of Ms Mayawati, it did a good job of her rule and her objectives.

I urge all to read it and understand her before writing off with whatever opinion one has about her.

Now, I started reading another book I have been thinking of reading for so long, Brahmacharya: Gandhi and his women associates by Girja Kumar. Though not an ardent admirer of Gandhi, he is another intriguing personality whom I wanted to know objectively.

With regards

Benjamin Kaila

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An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society.

-Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar

Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org

--- On Thu, 6/24/10, Benjamin Kaila <benjamin_kaila@yahoo.com> wrote:

From: Benjamin Kaila <benjamin_kaila@yahoo.com>
Subject: On Dr Ambedkar play (Telugu)
To: "Dalit Group" <dalit@yahoogroups.com>, "Human Horizons" <humanhorizons@yahoogroups.co.uk>, "AmbedkarScholarshipGroup" <ambedkarscholarship@yahoogroups.com>, "ZestCaste" <ZESTCaste@yahoogroups.com>, "Dalit-international" <dalits-international@yahoogroups.com>, "DalitCOnference" <dalitconference@googlegroups.com>
Cc: "kaila anand" <paulkaila@yahoo.com>, "FFEI-India Rajvardhan" <raj@samsact.com>, "FFEI-India Samuel" <samuel@sonussoftware.com>, "Self Kaila" <benjamin_kaila@yahoo.com>, pvvrao@hotmail.com, "Shiva Shankar" <sshankar@cmi.ac.in>, "Michael Arlen" <arlen@earthlink.net>, "'Jim' Kommu" <kommu_j@yahoo.com>, "Michael Jonas" <michaeljonas@gmail.com>, "RayadasManthena" <rayadasm@yahoo.com>
Date: Thursday, June 24, 2010, 4:40 PM

Dear friends,
Though I have been mentally stressed as I struck up in India unprepared, I am trying my best to use this time as purposefully as possible.

One of the exciting times for me was watching a live play live last weekend. I got this opportunity after more than two and hald decades. I was thrilled as it was on the life of my hero Dr Ambedkar. I watched it for two consecutive days.

As a child and as a teenager, I would go for miles to other villages to watch art forms of various kinds and forms. This musical play based on the real story of Dr Ambedkar's life (up to burning of Manu Smriti) was a feast to my eyes and senses. It was created by a school teacher Mr Patibandla Ananda Rao with a cast of nearly 80 actors. According to him it was not yet perfected, it was played only a couple of times so far. Still, it was so perfect that I started thinking how marvelous it would be watching it after a while when it was perfected.

I am was not an art critic, still I would like to express my feelings.

The play was so real that I could not control my emotions while watching some of the scenes. The performance of the child actor (little Dr Ambedkar) was superb, so was that of the actor played adult Ambedkar. Every other actor performed well and the music was melodious.

I surprised how such a talented man (Mr Ananda Rao) was unnoticed so far. I was told his another play, Padamata Gali (Western wind) based on the globalization, was a superhit. Talent, when not recognized and noticed dies out. It is very much real in the case of talented Dalits. I remember watching such great art forms of various kinds as a child. They are all dying out for lack of patronage and invasion of unrealistic movie culture. Recording (even in crude form) of such dying art forms of Dalits and Tribals was one of my pet projects. But, it never took off for obvious reasons.

At the end of the play, while talking about the art form he used in the play Mr Ananda Rao spoke about an old man who can recite 20 different plays from memory. How great it would be if someone come forward and immortalized the man and his talent before it is too late? How wonderful it would be if someone take the task of recoding various Dalit and Tribal art forms before they are died out?

It needs dedication, sincerity, and above all money. Something needs to be done before it is too late.

With regards
Benjamin Kaila
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society.

-Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar

Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org