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Thursday, May 19, 2011

[ZESTCaste] Why I am a Hindu

http://writingcaste.wordpress.com/tag/kancha-ilaiah/

Why I am a Hindu
In Personal Narrative on May 19, 2011 at 12:10 am

Rama Srinivasan responds to Inside The Hindu Part 2
(http://writingcaste.wordpress.com/how-it-all-began/) and reflects on
how she is marked by religious and caste identity despite professing
atheism.

Malar's rant about inside jokes rattled me. Yes, there are inside
jokes and I enjoy them. If I can't make fun of my community I would
lose one of my most important sources of joy. I know this is
exclusionary but I have been born in a community and there is nothing
I can do about it. If I shed my tambrahmness I am denying the
privileges I have received since I was born. I would rather live in
guilt, torture myself for my identity than live a falsehood – that I
have transcended caste. I know that is not possible. I live in it, I
have lived it and I have enjoyed the benefits (I still do) and I
should own up rather than pretend that I have moved on. I can't wish
it away. Saying caste doesn't mean anything is like saying race
doesn't exist. It is worse to invisibalise and hence ignore oppression
than to acknowledge that it exists.
My ruminations on caste and religion come from Kancha Ilaiah and
Bhagat Singh. I remember being in awe of Ilaiah when he was lecturing
my class in journalism school – it was amazing how this man stood in
front of a roomful of predominantly high caste students, he was oozing
resentment and I think he could, in turn, sense the derision in the
air. I couldn't make up my mind whether I liked him or not but that is
beside the point. What I understood of Ilaiah is that Hindus cannot
come out of the blue and start owning Dalits, whom they had kept
outside the social system until contemporary politics necessitated a
change in the stand.
Bhagat Singh is at the other end of the spectrum. Why does the
right-wing majoritarian politics appropriate a communist non-believer?
Singh distanced himself from the very issues the right-wing
politicians stand for. I felt a great connect when I read his Why I am
an Atheist?
I have been an atheist since the time I remember myself but I would
insist I am a Hindu – I am not Kancha Illiah, I am just what he
resents. Nobody owned me, but I have been part of the system from the
time I didn't exist. I have reaped the benefits of being the
great-great granddaughter of a great Sanskrit scholar and a 'Rao
Bahadur' of Education under the British Raj. Hence, I believe the use
of the term 'merit' in the reservation debate is revolting since the
social capital I carried forward makes it impossible for me to project
myself as the victim.
Being a Hindu is about these things, it is more than faith itself. I
have no faith but I was brought up as a Hindu and I will always remain
one.
My Tambrahmness has handicapped the way I see myself. I have always
been a rebel without a cause. I would fit in better outside the system
than inside. But the system has included (indeed embraced) me despite
my rebellion while it would still exclude (indeed deride) a conformist
non-brahmin.

I still enjoy the jokes on my community – it is my way of rebelling
against the absurdity of my community.

******

Rama Srinivasan is a former journalist and is currently a PhD student.
She blogs at http://theoriginalvagabond.blogspot.com

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[ZESTCaste] Vesak Day (Buddha Pornima) celebrated at Samrat Ashok Buddha Vihar Nagpur (India) 0n May 17, 2011 [1 Attachment]

[Attachment(s) from Dr. Milind Jiwane included below]

Vesak Day (Buddha Pornima) celebrated at Samrat Ashok Buddha Vihar
Nagpur (India) 0n May 17, 2011
Samrat Ashok Buddha Vihar Committeee, Samrat Ashok Nagar,
Dawalamethi, Nagpur has celebrated Vesak Day (Buddha Pornima) on
May 17, 2011 at 8.30 AM. On that ceremony the Panchsheel flag hosting
done by the hand of Dr. Milind Jiwane, Chairman of Ashwaghosh Buddhist
Foundation. Dr Rajabhau Tanksale (Social Industrialist) present on that
ocassion as a chief guest.
With best compliments from :
Samrat Ashok Buddha Vihar Committee

__._,_.___

Attachment(s) from Dr. Milind Jiwane

1 of 1 Photo(s)

Dr.

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[ZESTCaste] Buddha Dhamma Conference & All India Ambedkarite Drama Convention held at Umari Tah. Sakoli Dist. Bhandara (India) on May 17-18, 2011 [2 Attachments]

[Attachment(s) from Dr. Milind Jiwane included below]

Buddhist Cultural Convention & 3rd All India Ambedkarite Drama Convention
held at Bodhisatva Dr. Ambedkar Memorial Committee Premises Umari
Tah. Sakoli Dist Bhandara. M.S. (India) On 17-18th May 2011
SHEP Mahabachat Group & Bodhisatva Dr. Ambedkar Memorial Committee and Akhil Bharatiya Ambedkari Natya Parishad has jointly
organized "Buddhist Cultural Convention & 3rd All India Ambedkarite Drama Convention" at Umari Tahsil Sakoli Dist Bhandara in Maharashtra (India) on 17-18 May 2011. On that function following guests were participated.
* Inauguration : Ven. Nagarjun Surei Sasai (Japan)
* Chairperson : Er. Moreshwar Meshram (Film Producer)
* Blessing : Ven. Panyya Tissa (Srilanka),
Ven. Dhammadeep (Bhandara)
Ven. Nagaprakasha (Nagpur)
* Chief Guests : Dr. Milind Jiwane (President of Ashwaghosh Buddhist
Foundation)
Hon. Amar Ramteke (All India Radio)
Dr. Rajabhau Tanksale (Ambedkarite Social Industrialist)
Mrs. Sulbhasri Sirsat (Nagpur)
Dr. Mrs. Shradha Ramteke (Bhandara)
# 3rd All India Ambedkarite Drama Convention
* Welcome Chairman : Hon. Moreshwar Meshram (Film Producer)
* Inauguration : Hon. Jitendra Chaware (Chairman Zila Parishad)
* Chairperson : Hon. Aniruddha Bankar ( Film & Drama Artist)
* Chief Guests : Hon. Amar Ramteke (AIR)
Hon. Sanjay Sayare (Drama Writer)
Hon. Shailesh Bagde ( Film Director, Nagpur)
Hon. Mrs. Kiran Gabhane Bagde( Film Director, Nagpur)
With best compliments from :
* SHEP Mahabachat Group
* Bodhisatva Dr. Ambedkar Memorial Committee
* Akhil Bhartiya Ambedkari Natya Parishad

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Attachment(s) from Dr. Milind Jiwane

2 of 2 Photo(s)

Er.

Buddha

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Wednesday, May 18, 2011

[ZESTCaste] SC/ST quota in govt tenders on the cards

http://m.mydigitalfc.com/news/scst-quota-govt-tenders-cards-522

SC/ST quota in govt tenders on the cards

By PTI May 16 2011 , New Delhi

Within the proposed policy being considered for reservation of
government purchase orders for micro and small enterprises (MSEs),
there will be a sub-quota for businesses owned by SCs/STs.
While there is not much resistance to the idea of a 4 per cent
sub-quota for entrepreneurs belonging to SC/ST communities, a
consensus on the overall proposal for 20 per cent reservation for MSEs
is yet to emerge.
"SCs/STs issue has been resolved. There will be sub- reservation," a
senior official in the MSME ministry said, adding that if there is not
enough capacity with these entrepreneurs, the orders can be passed on
to general category sourcing channels.
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has been pushing for
sub-quota for SC/STs in government tenders, which are worth about Rs
1,70,000 crore annually. The share of all MSEs in these tenders is
about 4-5 per cent.
The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) is trying
to forge an inter-ministerial consensus on reservation for MSEs in
state purchases, an official said.
The proposal is being followed on the recommendation of the Prime
Minister's Task Force on the issue.
There are concerns from some ministries like petroleum and natural
has, home, commerce and the railways over the quality and capability
of MSEs to deliver the orders.
Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) employ around six crore
people and contribute 8 per cent to the country's gross domestic
product. They account for 40 per cent of India's total exports and
over 45 per cent of total manufacturing output.

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[ZESTCaste] Before 'Aarakshan' I was against reservations: Saif

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/before-aarakshan-i-was-against-reservations-saif/152705-8-66.html

Before 'Aarakshan' I was against reservations: Saif
IANS
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 07:34pm IST

Mumbai: Saif Ali Khan found his role of a Dalit in Aarakshan most
challenging because it didn't come naturally to him and admits that
the film has changed his perspective about reservation policies and he
now feels they should exist.

"When I got this movie, I was completely against reservations. I felt
that things should be done on merit. That was my first thought, but
after having done the movie, I realised that there is another side to
it, which is that most people in our country are very underprivileged
and they have no chance in life," Saif told reporters here.

"It's not like you can get a job without passing the exam. So even if
10-20 percent of the backward classes manage to get an education, it
is good. So after doing this film, I have altered my mind on
reservations to quite an extent. I think it should exist, but to what
extent and what percentage that is debatable," he added.

Before 'Aarakshan' I was against reservations: Saif

Set for an August 12 release, director Prakash Jha's Aarakshan is a
high voltage drama centering on caste-based reservations in government
jobs and educational institutions. The film also stars Amitabh
Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Manoj Bajpayee and Prateik Babbar.

Saif played a rustic guy in Omkara and a terrorist in Kurbaan, but
found his role of a Dalit in Aarakshan the most challenging.

"It was very challenging to get into the character for this film
because this is a role where more than acting, it's about looking and
feeling the part from inside and having a certain expression in your
eyes," said the 40-year-old.

"I talked a lot about it with Prakashji and prepared for it. Prakashji
basically said that the character has a Zen-like calm rather than
edgy.

"Lot of things helped, like the clothes, the hairstyle, the moustache.
These are slightly more external things, but the idea was to learn how
to feel the part. It's probably the most challenging role I had to do
because it doesn't come at all naturally to me to be that," he added.

Although the actor is quite excited about his role, controversy has
already begun to hound the film. Recently Jha got a letter from a
group called Dalit Suraksha Samiti, protesting against the portrayal
of Saif as a Dalit.

When asked about this, Saif said: "It's become a habit now to raise a
voice on things. Sometimes the protests have relevance and a point,
but sometimes it is unnecessary. It is difficult to keep everyone
happy. It's a wrong thing that without watching the film, an objection
has been raised. When they see the film, they will be happy."

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Thursday, May 19, 2011

[ZESTCaste] Why I am a Hindu

[ZESTCaste] Vesak Day (Buddha Pornima) celebrated at Samrat Ashok Buddha Vihar Nagpur (India) 0n May 17, 2011 [1 Attachment]

[ZESTCaste] Buddha Dhamma Conference & All India Ambedkarite Drama Convention held at Umari Tah. Sakoli Dist. Bhandara (India) on May 17-18, 2011 [2 Attachments]

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

[ZESTCaste] SC/ST quota in govt tenders on the cards

[ZESTCaste] Before 'Aarakshan' I was against reservations: Saif

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