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Saturday, February 13, 2010

[ZESTCaste] Update on brave Gujarati girl (Feb 13, 2010)

Update on Gujarati girl
Dear donors,
Please read this mail carefully and express your opinion (if any) on the way to help this promising young and determined girl. Please respond by February 20, 2010.
Options considered are:
1.        Make the entire donated amount in a Fixed Deposit with an option to take the interest every year. Prevailing rates India are around 6-7% per annum.
2.        Clear full or partial loan (Rs.75,000) and give the rest of the month to her for her educational purpose. According to her, she is going for labor work as the earnings are not enough to feed the family. So, if the loan is cleared, she need not go to field work and concentrate on studies.
If I do not hear from you by February 20, 2010, we will go with one of the above two options that we feel optimal.
Please reply with either of these two options only.
Other details of our conversation:

I spoke to the girl today, Mr Kirit acting as interpreter. She came to Mr Kirit's home along with her father for this purpose. I am happy, she is in good spirits.
We are planning to complete this task by March 31, 2010, if not earlier.

Here is the update on her:
1.        He applied for teacher job and waiting. She is confident that she will get the job if given on merit (she is a distinction student) without bribes. But, as we all know getting a job without influence or money is next to impossible in India.
2.Currently she is not working as a laborer since there is no seasonal work now.
3.        Her father is still recovering from her accident.
4.        Her father has an auto loan of Rs.75,000 and has to pay Rs.4,000 every month as installment. He has to pay for two more years
5.        He along with his elder son used to earn Rs.200 per day (Rs. 6,000 per month) after all expenses are paid. Now only his son working.
6.        She is doing BA (English) in Ambedkar Open University and would like to continue her graduation even if she gets a job.
7.Her parents are very supporting of her on education.
8.She is not interested in a career in Computers.
9.In our conversation she said "I am very happy now not because of the money you are giving, but for the support you are giving me during my worse trials and tribulations." I found her very intelligent when she says something.
10.     She and her father were determined to put her perpetrators to shame by aspiring and achieving greater things in life.

Action items to Kirit:
1.        Check for English coaching institutes in Unza (her Taluk head quarters and where she is studying her degree) so that she can take English speaking classes after her college. Get information about them – duration of the course, reputation, fee, accreditation etc) and send it to me.
2.        If no institutes in Unza, check in Mehsena (District headquarters) to see if there any such courses offered during summer vacations. If yes, send the information on those institutes.
3.        Check the bank interest rates.

Action items for Benjamin:
1.        Consolidate all the donations received. Send reminders to donors promised donations (if any).
2.        Make arrangements to send money to India.
3.        Get the opinion of donors on the option of help.
4.        See that the money is delivered by March 31, if not earlier. Make every effort to complete it before that.

Please write to me if any questions.

I profusely thank you all for coming forward to help this unfortunate bright girl and for giving me an opportunity to be of a little use.

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

________________________________
From: Benjamin Kaila <benjamin_kaila@yahoo.com>
To: KIRIT PARMAR <kirit11@yahoo.com>; HUMAN HORIZONS

Sent: Fri, January 29, 2010 5:04:17 PM
Subject: Update on brave Gujarati girl

Dear donors and friends,
Thanks to all those who came forward to help.
I spoke to the brave Gujarati girl a couple of days ago. She is a very brave and intelligent girl. Tough we spoke most of the time in Hindi (with my broken butler Hindi), for her background, she spoke English comfortably. At the end I am convinced that she has a great potential to excel, only if there a helping hand to give her a push in this time of need.

Here is what I gathered from my conversation with her:
1.       She lives in Mehesena district (Unja Taluk) 85Km away from Ahmedabad.
2.       Her father (an auto driver) met with an accident and could not work for 2-3 months.
3.       She has two elder sisters (both married) and two brothers (one married and another is a B Com student)
4.       She completed her teacher training (primary level) with distinction and applied for govt jobs advertised
5.       She is currently doing a basic computer training that is required for teaching position
6.       She is also doing BA (English) from Dr Ambedkar Open University and continue it even after joining a job
7.       Her wish is to become an officer
8.       Many NGOs and politicians visited her, but did not get any help so far
9.       She is doing labor work (Rs. 30-40/day) to feed herself and her family while attending school
10.   Her father is not willing to send her away from Mahesana for fear of her safety. I am trying to convince on this.
11.   Immediate need is to find a job for her to stand on her own legs and to keep her mind occupied
12.   She is very confident that she will be OK and her statement "I consider myself a victor, not a victim" impressed me so much.
13.   I was told (by other sources) that she attempted suicide a few weeks ago. I purposefully avoided bringing it into conversation.

What we did so far:
1.       We collected approximately Rs.1 lakh. We are considering all possibilities to help her the best way. I will ask your suggestions on this ASAP.
2.       We are talking to several contacts (intellectuals and people in position) in India to get her a job near her place.
3.       We are trying to understand what her priorities in education. She is keen on becoming an officer. We are exploring the possibilities of sending her to an English speaking course, advanced computer course (if she is interested). She was not interested in Nursing, though I thought that may fetch a quick and a comfortable job.
4.       She may need psychological counseling to keep her out of depression. We are finding possibilities of getting such help. We are asking around.

Currently, Mr Kirit and Dr Raghavendra, both from Gujarat helping me on this case. Thanks to both of them apart from all donors.

Due to the sensitivity of the issue, we are very careful. But, without asking we will not be able to help. So, if someone can help us in anyway, please let me know ASAP.
We are still collecting donations. Please send if you like to help her.

With regards
Benjamin

----------------------------------------------------------
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

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[ZESTCaste] Nepal: Dalit doubts

http://www.nepalnews.com/main/index.php/component/content/article/13-top-column/4137-dalit-doubts-.html

Dalit doubts

Ethnic federalism will further marginalise Dalits.

By Mitra Pariyar

In his Kantipur column of 20 December Hari Roka, a pro-Maoist
commentator and lawmaker, argued that part of the reason why India
opposed the Maoists promoting a federal state was that it feared "the
establishment of a new social system based on the redistribution of
property and freedom from untouchability would have consequences on
its states close to Nepal".

The statement is, inter alia, representative of how the Maoists
continue to use Dalits in their propaganda. They have always claimed
that theirs is a movement of the oppressed masses, and indeed many
Dalits have sacrificed their lives for the cause. However, Roka's
claim about untouchability rings hollow because there is little
evidence to show that the ex-rebels actually care about the deeply
entrenched problems of low castes.

On the contrary, Dalits increasingly feel they have had the rug pulled
out from under them, not least because of the Maoists' unilateral
declaration of autonomous ethnic states. Firstly, Dalits are not going
to have their own autonomous state; they will be a tiny minority in
all states. More importantly, Dalits suffer indignities and injustices
not only at the hands of Bahuns and Chhetris, but also from Rais,
Limbus, Madhesis, Gurungs, Magars, Newars, and others.

A 2006 report in Nepali Times stated: "In the hotbed of Tarai ethnic
politics, mainstream Madhesi rights activists, anti-hills-people
vigilantes, Maoist splinter groups and Tharu groups are demanding
everything from greater autonomy to secession. But Madhesi Dalits are
nowhere in the equation". The parties' attitude to Dalits in the Tarai
and the hills remains the same, despite the pressure of massive
political changes.

Hugo Gorringe, a British anthropologist who studied Indian Dalits,
observes: "untouchability, it is clear, is irreconcilable with
nationhood, and undermines the democratic project". The Nepali
Congress and UML, despite their democratic credentials, have always
refrained from taking Dalit issues seriously; their own workers and
supporters regularly practice untouchability. The former rebels'
initial enthusiasm about doing away with caste-based subordination has
also been ephemeral. For instance, the Maoist government didn't,
despite the popular expectation, start anything concrete to help
Dalits; neither did it attempt to include them in important positions.
Although they have been insisting on federal states named after
particular groups, they have not yet articulated their policies on how
untouchability can be effectively tackled.

Whilst Dalits are still struggling to become bona fide citizens of
Nepal, they will have to fight separately to become the citizens of
autonomous states as well. Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar's prescription for the
Dalit movement was: "educate, agitate, organise". The implementation
of autonomous ethnic states is likely to hinder these strategies, not
least because the Dalit movement will then be dispersed and
consequently further weakened.

Some believe that untouchability cannot be tackled until caste is
annihilated; others think it can be challenged by emphasising the
socioeconomic relationship between castes on the basis of modern
national laws over customary ones. We should attempt to integrate low
castes with other castes or ethnic groups to pave the way for a more
egalitarian society. Ethnic federalism will only institutionalise and
solidify caste or ethnic boundaries, instead of undermining them.
The Maoists are likely to lose the support of many Dalits and others
by pushing for their retrograde demand for ethnic federalism, even if
it helps them in the short term. Like most Nepali citizens, Dalits
want to live in peace with more dignity and better economic
opportunities. This simple dream cannot be fulfilled if the powers
that be don't give up their stance on ethnic federalism under the
facade of revolutionary change.

(Courtesy: Nepali Times)

(Pariyar is currently doing MPhil in Social Anthropology at Oxford
University. He can be reached at: mitrepari@gmail.com This e-mail
address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled
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(Editor's Note: Nepalis, wherever they live, as well as friends of
Nepal around the globe are requested to contribute their
views/opinions/recollections etc. on issues concerning present day
Nepal to the Guest Column of Nepalnews. Length of the article should
not be more than 1,000 words and may be edited for the purpose of
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Dalit doubts
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Ethnic federalism will further marginalise Dalits.

By Mitra Pariyar

(Courtesy: Nepali Times)

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[ZESTCaste] Relocation of Ambedkar statue deplored

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Relocation+of+Ambedkar+statue+deplored&artid=LJ%7CIzeQfsxY=&SectionID=lifojHIWDUU=&MainSectionID=lifojHIWDUU=&SEO=&SectionName=rSY%7C6QYp3kQ=

Relocation of Ambedkar statue deplored

Express News ServiceFirst Published : 12 Feb 2010 03:59:00 AM ISTLast
Updated : 12 Feb 2010 06:28:47 AM IST

CHENNAI: It is most unfortunate that the statue of Dr B R Ambedkar,
which was erected at a non-controversial place in Old Pattinam village
in Cuddalore district, was sought to be shifted to a Dalit settlement.

It is highly deplorable that a national leader is sought to be
considered as a leader of a community, disregarding his contribution
to the citizens of India irrespective of their caste, religion and
community, the Madras High Court observed on Thursday.

The statue should be erected at its original place and unveiled in the
presence of the local District Collector and the SP before this
monthend, the First Bench comprising Chief Justice HL Gokhale and
Justice SS Sasidharan ordered.

The bench was allowing a public interest writ petition from local
resident T Amirthalingam, who prayed for a direction to the
authorities concerned to reinstall the statue at the original place.

Commending the efforts taken by the petitioner on the issue, the bench
directed the government to pay Rs 20,000 to him towards costs and to
recover the same from the officials concerned who permitted the
shifting of the statue.

The bench also made certain clarifications on the GO dated November
20, 1998 of the Municipal Administration and Water Supply department,
which prescribed guidelines for erection of statues in public places.

The bench said that the person, society or body of institutions
desirous of erecting any statue should apply to the local District
Collector for permission. The application must specify the location
along with the sketch and the survey numbers. The Collector should,
after obtaining necessary information from the local Tahsildar and the
police inspector, forward the application to the Home Secretary, who
in turn should obtain the sanction of the government. In no case
should the erection of the statue be initiated or carried out without
the prior sanction of the government, the bench said.

The Collector should also obtain affidavits from the persons who
wanted to erect statues. If the Collector found that the persons were
not reliable, it was open to him to reject their applications. He
should also maintain a list of such permissions granted and the
statues erected in his district. The government should also insist
that the statues be made of bronze.

The conditions stipulated with regard to shifting of statues should be
scrupulously followed as it was a sensitive issue, the bench added.

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[ZESTCaste] Mumbai's Dalits upset with Rahul Gandhi

http://www.mid-day.com/news/2010/feb/070210-rahul-gandhi-mumbai-visit-dalits-upset.htm

Mumbai's Dalits upset with Rahul Gandhi
By: Varun SinghDate: 2010-02-07

Dalits angry that Rahul Gandhi had time to meet their community
members in UP but not in Mumbai

Rahul Gandhi might have won Mumbai over by commuting in a Mumbai
local, but he disappointed thousands of Ambedkar supporters waiting
for him at the Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar slums in Ghatkopar (East).

According to the Ambedkar supporters from Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar,
Rahul Gandhi has shown discrimination. "We were all eagerly waiting
for him to come to our homes, our gullies at least to see how we live.
In the north, he even ate food with them. Here we couldn't catch a
glimpse of the leader, we were forced to stay indoors
and were not allowed to come on the road near the stage," said D B
Kedre, resident of Ramabai Nagar.

Rahul Gandhi was in Mumbai on Friday and had visited the
Dalit-dominated colony to offer flowers to the newly erected statue
of Dr B R Ambedkar. He then met with the Indian Youth Congress members
present. Residents argued that if he had to meet his members he could
have done so some other place. "Why did he chose our area if he
didn't want to meet us? We feel humiliated. We were all eagerly
waiting for him so that we could discuss our problems with an
influential leader," said Vinod Kamble, another resident of the area.

However, Ramesh Ahire, leader of the Tarun Mitra Mandal said, "Every
one in the area was invited. We had erected huge hoardings. If people
couldn't make it, it's their fault. There were lakhs of people present
and the visit was a success."

September 2009: Rahul Gandhi visited Shravasti district in UP and even
spent the night at the house of the Gram Pradhan Chedi Pasi

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKXg9pqG4kk&feature=player_embedded

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[ZESTCaste] Telangana dream sours (Kancha Ilaiah)

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/dc-comment/telangana-dream-sours-818

Telangana dream sours

February 13th, 2010
By Kancha Ilaiah, DC Correspondent

The movement for Telangana has now touched a peak. It has also become
a movement with unique characteristics. Masses belonging to all walks
of life have come out to the streets with their cultural symbols. We
can see dalit-Bahujans beating drums and dholaks, the Other Backward
Classes (OBCs) with their ploughshares and bullock carts, shepherds
with their flock, toddy tappers with their moku (rope assembly used to
climb palm trees) and muttadu (the belt they wear to keep their
hatchet) and stone-breakers with their own iron artefacts.
The festive game of Bathukamma (a women's festival celebrated mainly
during Dasara, pro-Telangana activists are performing the Bathukamma
on the highways as a form of protest and to highlight their Telangana
identity) was also enacted. It was being projected as a cultural
symbol.
During the age of Nizam, Bathukamma used to be enacted by the Shudras
— mostly OBCs. Dalits were not allowed to participate as they were
seen as pollutants even by the OBCs of lower order. And the upper
caste women — particularly Brahmins, Komatis, Reddys and Velamas —
would not participate as it was seen as a Shudra festive game. They
thought it was below their dignity.
Now suddenly some Dorasanlu (women of dominant castes) went to this
play as a symbol of the agitation. Is it for Telangana or for power?
The most interesting thing is that while the lower castes are using
their cultural symbols to achieve a separate Telangana, the members of
former feudal families are playing the politics of agitation. We also
see a surprising unity between some Reddy and Velama political lords.
The whole attempt by these two caste forces is to control the
political joint action committee (JAC) that is driving the Telangana
agitation. Some academicians have also been drawn in to mediate
between those two otherwise politically warring castes.
It is as if the stereotype of future Telangana is being played out —
"We will play politics and you should play Dhoom Dham, Bathukamma and
drums".
And some of these leaders are collecting huge amounts of money, mostly
to build their family's "political economy" while distributing
pittance to ring leaders from the lower castes.
As the balladeer Gaddar rightly says "kanche kaada nuvvu, collection
kaada neenu" (you should protect the fields and I will reap the
crops). But some intellectuals keep on saying, "Let us not talk about
any immorality — after all to achieve Telangana such small things need
to be done".
The most surprising aspect in the movement is the entry of the Maoist
upper caste elements in this "more collection, less distribution"
model of political economy.
In the name of achieving Telangana all ideological battles have been
set aside. One upper caste Maoist intellectual went to the extent of
saying that the JACs from village upwards were working like "Maoist
communes".
What this really means is that the sons — even some daughters — of
upper caste landlords have come back to the villages to head and lead
the JACs by "usurping" the legitimate village sarpanchs. Now Telangana
has come under the raj of the upper caste JACs.
Some former Maoist activists have become leaders of the Telangana
Rashtra Samiti and are praising their leader for conducting Yajnas,
Yagas and Kratus in the party office. He also walks around with a huge
Bal Thackeray type bottu (tilak) on the forehead and they seem to be
enjoying the neo saffron style of the leader.
But the Muslims are scared of these visuals and the Bharatiya Janata
Party probably sees a new rival in the region if it becomes a state.
The emergence of the Shiv Sena or of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena kind
of political entity in the region does not seem to be a problem for
the Maoists and they too seem to think that there is just one point
agenda — we must achieve Telangana and hand over power to "our
people".
What really worries all of them is the student movement mainly headed
by the dalit-Bahujan youth. This has become an inconvenient factor.
There is competition to buy them off or to make them foot soldiers.
There is a resistance from the students but one does not know for how
long the youth can sustain that resistance.
We also see the political JAC compromising with Centre and welcoming
the Srikrishna Committee without it making any reference to Telangana
state formation. Mr K. Jana Reddy welcomes the committee and K.
Chandrasekhar Rao approves it in silence. The Telugu Desam keeps
playing the double game quite skillfully. The Union home minister, Mr
P. Chidambaram, is doing some arm-twisting as he has a clear
understanding about "the unholy alliance between Maoists and money
collectors".
What is really painful are the deaths of about 300 youth and the cases
lodged against 10,000 students.
All these parties together have done is to put forth a chekka bomma —
a wooden doll — to speak for them.
For the failure of the 1969 Telangana movement we had someone to blame
— Marri Chenna Reddy. Now we cannot blame anybody.
At least those who played politics with a wooden doll in their hands
got sufficient money to flight the next election in the name of
Telangana.
Do the Maoists think that their class enemy has now become a class
friend because of Telangana's cut-throat politics?
Let them explain this to the people — the real people who played
Bathukamma, cooked their food on the roads, beat their chests and
drums and lost 300 of their children as well.

------------------------------------

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Saturday, February 13, 2010

[ZESTCaste] Update on brave Gujarati girl (Feb 13, 2010)

[ZESTCaste] Nepal: Dalit doubts

[ZESTCaste] Relocation of Ambedkar statue deplored

[ZESTCaste] Mumbai's Dalits upset with Rahul Gandhi

[ZESTCaste] Telangana dream sours (Kancha Ilaiah)

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