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Sunday, October 3, 2010

[ZESTCaste] A PIL: Mahabali vs. Indian State

http://countercurrents.org/karthik031010.htm

A PIL: Mahabali vs. Indian State

By Karthick RM

03 October, 2010
Countercurrents.org

Honorable your Honour

I recently read the judgment of your colleagues on the Babri Masjid… ooops… the Ramjanmabhoomi issue. I should say that I was thrilled. Since legal bodies of our great modern country have extended their jurisdiction to the unknown past to settle real or imagined religious disputes, I make an appeal for my client with great confidence in your rational-legal authority.

Since in the RJB judgment, 'Lord' Rama is accepted as a historical character, I would like you to the consider the case of my client, King Mahabali. Since you have managed to map out Ram lalla's birth to a specific geographic region, we hope you would pay due regard to our argument of the Kerala origins of Mahabali. Sir, we want to bring to light the historical and religious injustice done to Mahabali and his followers.

Mahabali was a righteous king who hailed from that section whom you call in legal terms as 'backward castes'. He was to the oppressed sections what 'Lord' Rama was to the upper castes. In case you need more information on his historical significance, I would suggest that you read Mahatma Phule's works, in case thy most knowledgeable self has not already. His rule was considered to be one where there was a just treatment of all sections of the population. However, jealous with the virtuous rule of this backward caste king, Vishnu, in the guise of a brahmin dwarf (Vamana), duped Mahabali and pushed him into the underworld. (I think a case of impersonation can also be filed against Vishnu).

Anyway, what happened over the years was that my client was denied his place in history by the brahminical ruling classes and they also crafted stories to justify his predicament, thereby legitimizing their own rule. Result was disastrous for his people, the backward castes, who comprise the majority of the population. Not only did they lose a politico-spiritual symbol, it also meant material losses. Thanks to Mr. Vishnu, they lost their wealth, their lands and above all, their self-worth, being stigmatized and dehumanized for well over a millennium. I am sure your honour understands the social and historical significance of all this.

Thus, keeping the Allahabad verdict on RJB in mind, we would like you to consider the following

1. That Kerala was the kingdom of Mahabali (if you go by Mahatma Phule, it was much larger. But we are content with Kerala as of now) which was unjustly usurped by the brahmins with the help of Mr. Vamana, an alias of Mr. Vishnu.

2. That since Kerala is the birthplace of Mahabali lalla, we want 2/3rd of the land to go to his descendants, that is, the backward castes - yes, even after Namboodripad's much talked of land reforms, the brahmins still have enormous land-holdings in the state.

3. That an Archaeological Survey of India research team must constituted to do a study of all brahminical temples in Kerala. If evidence showing that they have been built over backward caste temples is arrived at, steps for their demolition and the rebuilding of the original temples should begin in earnest.

Regards

To be filed in any high court in Indian Territory

Karthick RM is a student-activist based in JNU, pursuing his Masters in History.He is associated with the Delhi Tamil Students Union, a Periyarite-Marxist group

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[ZESTCaste] Buddha Dhamma Conference will be held at Alapalli Dist Gadchiroli (India) on October 30-31, 2010

Buddha Dhamma Conference will be held at Alapalli, Dist Gadchiroli M.S.
(India) on 30-31 October 2010.
Dr Ambedkar Memorial Committee, Mahamaya Women's Committee, Nagsen
Buddha Vihar, Ramai Women's Committee, Sidharth Women's Committee jointly
will going to organize " Buddha Dhamma Conference" at Community Hall,
Alapalli, Tah. Aheri Dist Gadchiroli on 30-31 October 2010. The
inauguration function will start from11.30 AM and following dignitaries
will be the Chief Guests.
* Panchsheel Flag Hosting : Ven. H. Satyanand Thero
* Chairperson : Ven. Shantarakshit Mahathero
* Blessing : Ven. Rakhita Dhammo (Myanmar)
Ven. Payya Tissa ( Srilanka)
Ven. Sanghratna Manke (Japan)
Ven. H. Kashyapayan (England, UK)
* Inauguration : Hon. E.Z. Khobragade,IAS
* Chief Guests : Dr. Milind Jiwane (Ashwaghosh Bddhists Foundation
Hon. Amar Ramteke ( Ambedkarite Drama Writer )
Hon. Keshav Somkuwar ( Dy. Income Tax Commissioner)
Hon. Waman Somkuwar(Chief Officer, Municipal Council)
Hon. Rajabhau Taksande ( Ambedkarite Social leader)
Hon. Sanjiv Gade (div. Social Welfare Officer)
You are invited to the said Function.
Yours in the Dhamma,
Ven. Rajratna

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[ZESTCaste] Atrocities against dalits going down, says study

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/atrocities-against-dalits-going-down-says-study-308

Atrocities against dalits going down, says study

October 3rd, 2010
DC Correspondent

Oct. 2: Incidents of communal atrocities against dalits by individual,
dominant communities in the southern districts of Tirunelveli and
Thoothukudi have come down drastically, according to a study by a
dalit organisation. However, the study alleges that the state
machinery is oppressive against dalits. According to the study carried
out by Meetchi Makkal Iyakkam, in some communally-sensitive pockets in
Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli districts, a positive trend towards a
social alliance between the dalits and backward castes is tangible.

"Though we received some complaints against the dominant castes from
the dalits, we see a positive note that the dalits themselves are
confident of solving them amicably without hurting the self-respect of
both sections," says Sudhakar of Meetchi Makkal Iyakkam. The study
observes that the working section of backward class and dalits in
these districts had the general opinion that they have been made to
fight all these years for political reasons, "especially after the
state politics went into the hands of Dravidian parties".

Issues like the Sri Lankan Tamils plight are uniting factors, said TN
BSP general secretary B. Jeevan Kumar, founder of the Meetchi Makkal
Iyakkam. As the wealth of backward communities grows, they do not want
to antagonise the dalits to safeguard that wealth, the study finds.

According to Tirunelveli SP Asra Garg, communal murders and atrocities
against dalits have come down and claims to be allowed to worship at
temples have been settled amicably with equal worshipping rights for
all communities. However, the state machinery is becoming more
oppressive towards dalits, says the study. Citing the cases of IAS
officer C. Umashankar, former vice-chancellor of Tirunelveli Anna
University Kaliappan and the recent death of civil supplies quality
control officer Murugan, the study blames the government machinery for
being unfair in its treatment of dalits. Mr Kumar also alleges SC/ST
funds are being diverted by the DMK government.

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[ZESTCaste] HBA demands to make Hyderabad second capital of country

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/101426/hba-demands-make-hyderabad-second.html

HBA demands to make Hyderabad second capital of country
Hyderabad, Oct 2 (PTI)

Hyderabad Bachao Andolan (HBA), a movement to make Hyderabad the
second capital of India was formally launched today.

The movement will appeal to Central and State Government to make
Hyderabad a second capital of India as desired by Dr B R Ambedkar, the
patriarch of the Indian Constitution.
HBA has been formed on lines of Narmada Bachao Andolan headed by Medha
Patkar, Convener of the HBA, Thallapalli Prashant Kumar said.

Kumar said the demand was being made in the wake of issue of
bifurcating Andhra Pradesh, which will demote Hyderabad from being a
capital of 23 districts to just ten districts.

He said a two-month campaign would also be launched to educate people
about the importance of the city and need to make it the second
capital of the country. The campaign would end on December, 6, the
death anniversary of Ambedkar, he added.

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[ZESTCaste] Dalit girl gangrape case: Deputy Collector’s son held

http://www.dailypioneer.com/286941/Dalit-girl-gangrape-case-Deputy-Collector%E2%80%99s-son-held.html

Dalit girl gangrape case: Deputy Collector's son held
October 03, 2010 5:24:09 PM

Staff Reporter | Bhopal

The police on Thursday nabbed Omprakash Pradhan, son of a Deputy
Collector in connection with the gangrape of a minor dalit girl.

This is the fourth arrest in the case after three other accused
Sandeep Ahirwar, 21 year-old sons of a head constable, Satyendra
Jharia, 19 and Surendra Nanda, 19 were arrested on Wednesday. The
other two accused, Abhishek Tiwari and Gopal Sarthi, are at large.

Pradhan's father is posted as the Deputy Collector in Mandla. A minor
dalit girl was allegedly gangraped and the incident was filmed on a
cellphone by six youths, including the sons of a Deputy Collector and
a head constable in Mandla. The incident came to light after the MMS,
"local wali", was circulated in the tribal-dominated town of the
State.

The victim, a resident of a village 20 km from the town, often visited
Mandla with her uncle. She had become friendly with one of the youths.
On one such trip to Mandla, two of the accused offered her a ride on a
motorcycle. The girl was taken to Abhishek Tiwari's house where she
was raped.

The next morning, she was taken to Mohantola jungle about two
kilometres from the Mandla police station where Ahirwar's father is
posted where the others raped her and filmed the incident. One of the
accused owns a mobile phone shop.

Sub-Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP) Santosh Mahto said, "The
rapists were very cruel and committed all sorts of indecent acts."
Mahto said the police identified the victim from the MMS clip. When
they reached the victim's home they found that her parents, who work
as labourers, were aware of the crime. Their neighbours had reportedly
advised them to keep quiet as the accused included sons of a
Government officer and a policeman.

The police have booked the six under various Sections of the IPC, the
SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the Information Technology Act.

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Sunday, October 3, 2010

[ZESTCaste] A PIL: Mahabali vs. Indian State

[ZESTCaste] Buddha Dhamma Conference will be held at Alapalli Dist Gadchiroli (India) on October 30-31, 2010

[ZESTCaste] Atrocities against dalits going down, says study

[ZESTCaste] HBA demands to make Hyderabad second capital of country

[ZESTCaste] Dalit girl gangrape case: Deputy Collector’s son held

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