When RSS-Modi Attack Macaulay and English, They Attack Upward Mobility of Dalits, Shudras, Adivasis
The upper caste and the rich can continue to learn English in expensive private institutions, it is the Bahujans who will suffer. The Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have opened another front of attack on the future of the Dalit/Shudra/Adivasis. This front has nothing to do with Muslims. In a certain sense, though it appears anti-Christian, it does not affect the future of Christian population of India, which is very small in number. This front is English education. Though their attack appears to be on colonialism and Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay, it is fundamentally against the English education of the Dalit/Shudra/Adivasis, who are slowly getting English education and hoping to compete with the upper castes in all states and at the national level. English is also enabling them to enter into global markets. This language came into their life through Mahatma Phule, Savitribai Phule and Dr. B.R Ambedkar, not through Macaulay. It was Ambedkar who gave them the confidence with unparalleled command over English in India during the freedom struggle and in writing books and the constitution. He had shown the oppressed castes that this language can become a tool of their liberation from their historical slavery. Sanskrit was used as a tool to enslave the Dalit/Shudra forces with a design for millennia. English became a counter weapon in the hands of the oppressed and exploited castes. Now the RSS/BJP, is systematically using an OBC Narendra Modi, as the prime minister, to deny English to these castes. I, as a first generation writer in English from a Shudra shepherd community, know the power of English as a liberative language. For us it is not a Macaulay language but an Ambedkar language. It is an Indian and Dalit-bahujan liberation language. Why it is not a Christian language The Telangana social, economic, educational, employment, political and caste survey has shown that though the Christian population is very small in terms of numbers, its English education level is as higher as that of Brahmins, Reddys and Kammas. Perhaps that is because the church system established English medium schools along with churches in several places. However, for them it was a language of job either in India or abroad or of prayer. No Christian scholar of India used it as a liberative tool as Ambedkar, who was not a Christian. For him it was a language that could change the life of the oppressed and exploited people in future. It is also a fact that not many Shudra/OBCs have become Christians and hardly send their children to Christian English medium schools. Some upper castes, particularly Brahmins have become Christian and most Hindu upper castes sent their children to learn that language in Christian schools. Brahmins, Banias, Kayasthas, Khatris and Kshatriyas are the most English educated elite in contemporary India. They have also not used that language as a tool of liberation from caste oppression. Of late, the Shudra-OBCs are realising that Ambedkar’s English writings have helped them to gain the reservation benefits and also the importance of learning the English language. The Telangana caste survey has shown that the most backward in the English education parameter are Adivasis/Dalits and OBCs in that order. According to the Telangana castes survey, Iyers and Iyyangars (they are shown as a separate caste group in the survey) and the Brahmins of the state are most English educated. The highest private school education so far is acquired by Iyyangars/Iyyars and Brahmins. They are the most powerful in the bureaucracy of Telangana. Historically these communities were privileged. Earlier they controlled Sanskrit and Persian language as well. The rich among Muslim have Urdu, Arabic, Persian and English. Even today the Muslim Nawabs are English educated like high end Brahmins. All their languages are not regional and confined to one small area. They are global languages and all Indian languages. They too never used those languages to liberate the oppressed castes. When they ruled the nation before the colonial period they pretended as if caste and human untouchability do not exist. They went by what the Brahmin court pundits told them. English in our times The Telangana caste survey also has shown the overall development of Shudra/OBC/Dalit/ Adivasi communities is more linked to English medium education than land. Even the most landed families are looking for an English educated employee in settling the marriage alliance. That is the reason why the Government schools are converted into English medium in the state. The idea of English medium and employment got into the life of the Shudra/OBC/Dalit/Adivasis because of Ambedkar’s fight for new liberation direction during the post-colonial period. No other freedom fighter made as much impact in their homes as Ambedkar did. Ambedkar is not like Gandhi to upper castes, nor like Rabindranath Tagore to the Bengali Bhadralok, nor like Jinnah to Muslim separatists, he is a reformer, a new language teacher and an employment source and divine figure for the oppressed castes. No Indian from marginalised castes knows about Macaulay as source of English language in their lives, and they only know Ambedkar as the source of English language education, employment, in India or abroad, and also protecting them in courts. And yet, the RSS/BJP Macaulay mania will have serious implications to their lives. The Macaulay mania Why are the RSS/BJP top leaders like Mohan Bhagwat and Narendra Modi have started identifying English language education to the British official, Macaulay? The RSS/BJP leaders’ pro-Sanskrit and anti-regional language bias towards languages like Bengali has also come out clearly in the debate in the parliament about Vande Mataram Vs Jana Gana Mana, the present national anthem. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in his letters to the chief ministers and his final opinion was very clear that understanding Vande Mataram is difficult whereas Janagana Mana is easily understood (Indian Express, 10 December) not only by Indians but by foreigners. Both its anti-Macaulay campaign and subtly opposing regional languages in favour of Sanskrit or Hindi is a long term deceptive policy of
SP to corner govt over SIR, Dalit atrocities in Assembly
Lucknow: The winter session of UP Assembly is expected to start on a stormy note on Friday, with SP and its ally Congress planning to corner the govt on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision exercise in the state. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav recently accused the BJP of conspiring to get votes deleted in UP regions where it lost elections in the past, particularly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Refubbing Akhilesh’s remarks, CM Yogi Adityanath had said the majority of expected voters, whose names were not updated, were primarily BJP supporters. The CM has, in fact, asked BJP functionaries to step up efforts in adding all eligible names, besides getting the names of unauthorised voters deleted from the electoral rolls. A senior SP functionary said the party would highlight in the Assembly how SIR is being used as a model to harass people and divert their attention from real issues. Sources said SP would also raise the alleged “complete breakdown of law and order” in the state. “Crime has become rampant, and the govt has failed to ensure safety and justice for ordinary people,” a senior SP functionary said. SP national spokesperson Abdul Hafiz Gandhi said unemployment remains a grave concern. “Instead of providing jobs, govt is resorting to lathicharge and repression against youth who are peacefully demanding employment. This injustice against the youth of Uttar Pradesh will be forcefully raised,” he said. The party will also raise the issue of atrocities against Dalits, claiming that the number of such cases are continuously increasing under BJP govt sources said. “Despite constitutional safeguards, Dalits are facing violence, discrimination, and denial of justice. The Samajwadi Party will demand accountability and concrete action,” said an SP functionary. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit farmer attempts suicide by hanging at Tikamgarh Collectorate, high-voltage drama over land fraud
Panic ensued at the Tikamgarh district collectorate in Madhya Pradesh when a Dalit farmer attempted to hang himself, frustrated by the lack of justice. The farmer alleges that he was cheated in a land registration deal and that no action was taken despite repeated complaints. Police and administrative officials rushed to the spot upon receiving the information. After much persuasion, the farmer was calmed down. Edited by: Sanjay Chaturvedi • Reported by: Narendra Arjariya Courtesy: Hindi News
Follow-Up: Sarpanch arrested in Dausa, Rajasthan for making derogatory and casteist remarks against Dalit women!
This arrest is a result of the incident that occurred on December 14, when Sarpanch Yogi publicly made derogatory remarks against SC women at a meeting of the Nath community. Dausa – Sarpanch Shivcharan Yogi, accused of making derogatory casteist remarks against Scheduled Caste (SC) women in Dausa district of Rajasthan, has finally been arrested. Dausa police took action under pressure from protests and demonstrations by Dalit organizations, including the Bhim Army. Local Bhim Army leader Suresh Mehar told The Mooknayak that SP Sagar Rana confirmed the arrest and the accused will soon be produced in court, from where he will be sent to judicial custody. This incident has intensified the demand for social justice throughout the region, and organizations have warned that no casteist will be spared. The protest has ended, but this victory has become an example of the struggle of the Dalit community. This arrest is a result of the incident that occurred on December 14, when Sarpanch Yogi publicly made derogatory remarks against SC women at a meeting of the Nath community. After the video went viral, FIR No. 0461 was registered on December 15 at Dausa Sadar police station under Sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s), 4 and 3(2)(va) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and Section 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023. Complainant Satish Kumar stated that Yogi said in the meeting, “We are not the urine of Bhangan and Chamari,” which was a deep insult to women of the SC community based on their caste. This remark was made at the Nath Samaj hostel located on Singwara Road. Outrage sparked by casteist remarks The matter began on December 14 at a meeting related to the state elections of the Nath community. Shivcharan Yogi, the district president of the Nath community and Sarpanch of Gurjar Simla (Mehandipur Balaji), was the main speaker. During the meeting, he used extremely abusive and casteist words against Scheduled Caste women, which was captured on video. The use of words like ‘Bhangin’ and ‘Chamari’ was not only an insult to the dignity of the women but also an attempt to demean the entire Dalit community. As soon as the video went viral on social media, outrage spread among Dalit organizations. Satish Kumar’s complaint clearly stated that such remarks create animosity between two communities and harm social harmony. Angered by the police’s slow action even after the FIR was registered, the Bhim Army started a protest at the Dausa district headquarters on December 17. The Bhim Army and other SC/ST organizations unitedly demanded the immediate arrest of the accused. Mehar said, “We joined the ongoing protest at the Dausa district headquarters regarding the arrest of the casteist Shivcharan Yogi. The police were not arresting the accused, and the protest was held to demand his arrest.” Mehar further revealed that he spoke directly to Dausa SP Sagar Rana. The SP confirmed the arrest and assured that the accused would be produced in court, from where he would be sent to judicial custody. Mehar emphasized, “No casteist will be spared. The accused Shivcharan Yogi has been arrested.” Mehar said, “This arrest is a victory for the unity of the Dalit community. But the struggle does not end here. We have to fight against casteism at every level.” The Bhim Army thanked all its supporters and said that they will conduct awareness campaigns to prevent such incidents in the future. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
Maharashtra: Police File Case Against Latur Cafe Owner Over Rape Of Minor Dalit girl
Police in Latur have registered a case against a cafe owner after a minor Dalit girl was allegedly raped by an 18-year-old man at the premises on December 4. The accused and two cafe operators were arrested under multiple laws, including POCSO and SC/ST Act. The cafe owner was booked for failing to report the crime and allowing illegal private seating used for the assault. Latur: Police have registered a case against the owner of a cafe premises in Maharashtra’s Latur district where a minor girl was allegedly raped earlier this month, officials said. About The Incident The incident occurred at the cafe on December 4. The minor girl, who belongs to the Dalit community, was allegedly kidnapped and raped by an 18-year-old man at the establishment, they said. Police traced the girl within hours of registering the complaint. The main accused and two persons who operated the cafe were subsequently arrested and booked under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities Act), an official said on Tuesday. The police on Tuesday also booked the owner of the premises, where the cafe was being operated, under section 21 (punishment for failure to report or record a case) of the POCSO Act. The cafe owner had illegally created a secluded compartment near the kitchen area by charging extra money, offering private seating arrangements. Despite being aware of this unauthorised setup and its misuse, the premises owner allegedly ignored it and allowed the cafe owner to continue with the arrangement, the official said. He also failed to report the matter to the police or other authorities concerned and is accused of deliberately suppressing information, the official added. (Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by TFPJ’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.) Courtesy : TFPJ Note: This news is originally published on https:/thefreepressjournal.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit engineer assault: UP BJP worker granted bail, receives hero’s welcome
On August 23, Munna Bahadur allegedly attacked Lal Singh, a superintending engineer at the power department. The unprovoked assault, caught on video, went viral and drew widespread attention. Lucknow: A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker accused of assaulting a Dalit government official in Uttar Pradesh was released on bail on Friday, following which he was garlanded by party members and family supporters outside Mau district jail. The Allahabad High Court granted bail to the accused, Munna Bahadur, triggering sharp reactions after visuals of his welcome went viral on social media. Munna Bahadur is accused of attacking Lal Singh, a superintending engineer with the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited, on August 23. The incident, which was captured on video, shows Lal Singh being surrounded by a group allegedly led by Munna Bahadur. During the interaction, Munna Bahadur is seen standing up and striking the engineer with a slipper. Speaking to local media, Lal Singh said the assault was completely unprovoked. “People usually come to our office to report issues. Munna Bahadur arrived with 15 to 20 people and, without raising any complaint, began verbally abusing me. He did not explain any problem and suddenly started hitting me with his shoes. He also punched me. My colleagues intervened and rescued me,” Singh said. When asked whether the BJP worker had come to raise concerns related to electricity supply, the engineer maintained that no such issue was ever mentioned during the interaction. Following the circulation of the assault video and the widespread public outrage it sparked, Munna Bahadur claimed he was being unfairly targeted and described himself as the real victim. “We have been suffering from this problem for 17 years. We went there only to inform them about our electricity-related grievances. Instead, they accused us of netagiri and asked us to leave,” Munna Bahadur told reporters earlier. He further alleged that the situation escalated after one of the officers grabbed his collar. Based on Lal Singh’s complaint, a case was registered, and Munna Bahadur was arrested and sent to jail. Even before his release, several BJP leaders publicly came out in support of the accused. Former BJP MLA Ram Iqbal Singh, in a Facebook post, said Munna BahadurSingh had visited the power department to highlight electricity supply issues affecting dozens of villages and had been “falsely implicated” in the case. He also welcomed the Allahabad High Court’s decision to grant bail. Courtesy : Madhyamam Note: This news is originally published on https:/madhyamam.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Legislators from among SCs, STs to meet CM on issues concerning Dalit entrepreneurs
They are demanding timely release of benefits and incentives Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi will lead a delegation of all legislators from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes communities to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to seek a permanent resolution to several issues faced by Dalit entrepreneurs. This was decided in a meeting of the Karnataka Dalit Entrepreneurs Association in Belagavi on Wednesday. As many as 32 legislators from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes communities from all parties were present at the meeting. Satish Jarkiholi said that this is the first time that such a large number of Dalit Ministers and MLAs have come together to support Dalit entrepreneurs. “It is encouraging to see that Dalits who were working as farm hands or servants of the landed and the rich are starting enterprises and providing employment to others. We need to support such initiatives and ensure that their numbers increase. Let us hold a meeting of Ministers and officials of the departments concerned under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister and try to solve the problem,” he said. “In addition to organizing a consultation meeting of Dalit entrepreneurs at the divisional and district levels, work needs to be done to provide skill training to Dalit youth. Dalits should also establish educational institutions and banks along with businesses. The injustice and discrimination faced by Dalits in all departments needs to be identified and rectified,” he said. “Dalit entrepreneurs have been facing several problems regarding land allotment, subsidy, loans and reservation in business opportunities. Successive governments have remained negligent to our issues. We have been demanding timely release of benefits and incentives,” the former MP L. Hanumantaiah said. Dr. Hanumantaiah said that KIDB is not providing 24.1% reservation in allotment of sites as per roster. As many as 280 backlog sites have not been allotted. Karnataka State Finance Corporation cancels tax incentive scheme of 4% interest, if entrepreneurs fail to repay a few instalments on time. There is a delay in the release of tax subsidy. Due to all these problems, those who are eager to start a business are becoming disinterested,” he said. Minister K.H. Muniyappa said that he had ensured that over one lakh Dalit entrepreneurs started industries and businesses across the country, during his tenure as the Union Industries Minister. “Dalit welfare does not mean limiting them to animal husbandry or poultry. They should be given higher aspirations and supported,” he said. “If we make them entrepreneurs, they will lead a self-sufficient life and provide employment to others,” he said. He said that he will join the delegation to the Chief Minister to urge him to resolve the issues. “I will urge the Chief Minister to create an environment where Dalits can set up businesses easily. We will also try to organise a meeting of the Ministers of Industries and Social Welfare,” he said. Minister R.B. Thimmapura said that the money allocated by the government for the upliftment of Dalits is not spent by some departments. He said that officials of all departments concerned should work in coordination. In fact, the State government should start a scheme to promote investment into Dalit businesses. “At the same time, we should see that no beneficiary misuses government benefits or incentives,” he said. Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Rudrappa Lamani, KDEA secretary C.T. Srinivas and others were present. The Hindu Bureau Courtesy : The Hindu Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehindu.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Satish Jarkiholi hosts Dalit MLAs’ dinner as leadership buzz grows; no Dalit CM push yet
Chalavadi Narayanaswamy had reportedly stated recently that Dalits in Congress don’t have the guts to stake claim for the top post. BENGALURU/BELAGAVI : As the issue of change in leadership appears to be approaching its climax, PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi, a close confidant of CM Siddaramaiah, seems to be preparing to take the mantle from his master as the AHINDA leader. Late on Tuesday evening, he hosted a dinner for Dalit-SC/ST MLAs on the sidelines of the meeting of Dalit entrepreneurs. In all 33 MLAs from all parties, including Food and Civil Supplies Minister KH Muniyappa, Excise Minister RB Timmapur, T Raghumurthy, AR Krishnamurthy, Raghumurty of Congress, Council LoP Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, Duryodhan Aihole and Holalkere MLA M Chandrappa of BJP, Karemma Nayak of JDS, took part. However, the issue of Dalit CM did not come up, sources said. Some Dalit MLAs from Congress felt that though they wanted a Dalit CM to succeed Siddaramaiah, lack of aggression from Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara was frustrating them, an MLA told TNIE. Chalavadi Narayanaswamy had reportedly stated recently that Dalits in Congress don’t have the guts to stake claim for the top post. “Kharge is not ready to become CM or to back any other Dalit leader for the top post as he wants to see his son (Priyank Kharge) in that post,” he had alleged. ‘KIADB treating us unfairly’ Members of the Karnataka Dalit Entrepreneurs Association (KDEA) raised the issue of the government’s negligence in releasing grants to them and also KIADB allegedly being averse to allotting industrial sites to them, at a dinner with PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi in Belagavi on Tuesday. They said the government has not released Rs 300 crore as announced in the budget and another Rs 1,092 crore due for KIADB from 2016 to 2025. Violating the reservation of 24% of total industrial land to SC/STs, 239 acres have been unfairly allocated to others, they alleged. Devaraj B Hirehalli Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit Former Panchayat President Cites Caste Insult in IUML Ritual Row
The CPI(M)’s youth wing, DYFI, protested at the Changaroth panchayat office against an alleged ‘purification ritual’ by IUML activists. The ritual was perceived as a casteist insult, given that the former panchayat president was from the Dalit community. No complaints have been filed with the police yet. The youth wing of the CPI(M), known as DYFI, staged a protest on Tuesday at the Changaroth panchayat office, condemning what they allege to be a ‘purification ritual’ conducted by IUML members. The protest was in response to actions claimed to target a former panchayat president from the Dalit community. Authorities confirmed that the demonstration proceeded without incident, maintaining a calm atmosphere in the locality. The LDF is also expected to organize a protest march later the same day, as no formal grievances concerning the controversial ritual have been reported to law enforcement yet. The incident in question involved UDF activists performing a ritualistic act outside the panchayat office. This supposedly celebratory gesture was deemed derogatory by Unni Vengeri, the former panchayat president, who asserts that it carried a caste-based insult, given there were no such celebrations in other panchayats recently won by the UDF. Courtesy : Devdiscourse Note: This news is originally published on https:/devdiscourse.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit leader ‘Vidrohi’ launches a unique Satyagraha in Jodhpur: He will not wear slippers or shirts until non-Valmiki sanitation workers are employed in basic sanitation work!
Prakash Singh Vidrohi told, “Non-Valmiki workers are not performing the basic sanitation work; the entire burden falls on the Valmiki community. This has caused anger within the community.” Jodhpur – Sanitation workers in the Jodhpur Municipal Corporation have been angry for the past month. The movement, led by the All India Safai Mazdoor Congress, has now taken a unique form in the harsh winter. The organization’s district president, Sardar Prakash Singh Vidrohi, staged a semi-naked, barefoot protest in front of Baba Saheb’s statue at the Nagauri Gate intersection on Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar’s death anniversary. He declared, “I will not wear clothes or slippers until the Municipal Commissioner implements the 2018 written agreement to employ non-Valmiki workers in basic sanitation work.” This protest not only reinforces the sanitation workers’ three-point demands but also sends a powerful message against the increasing burden on the Valmiki community. Jodhpur has approximately 3,300 sanitation workers, of which 700 They belong to the non-Valmiki community. These non-Valmiki employees are being removed from the basic work of cleaning and assigned other responsibilities, the entire burden of which has fallen on the employees of the Valmiki community. The scope of the earlier 60 wards has now increased to 100, due to which the work pressure has doubled. On November 15, the corporation administration suddenly changed the wards of 2000 sanitation workers, against which the fire of protest erupted. Prakash Singh Vidrohi told ‘The Mooknayak’, “Non-Valmiki employees are not doing the basic work of cleaning, the entire burden falls on the Valmiki community. This has caused anger in the community. Corporation Commissioner Siddharth Palanichamy did not even listen to the public representatives. A few days ago, in the presence of MLAs Atul Bhansali and Devendra Joshi, a promise was made to reinstate all employees in their original positions and to assign women and disabled persons to the nearest wards, but this was not followed through. The agitation began with a high-voltage uproar at the corporation office on Thursday. Two rounds of talks between the organization and the commissioner failed, after which no agreement was reached despite several hours of negotiations. On Friday, a sit-in protest began outside the corporation commissioner’s office under the banner of the Valmiki Joint Struggle Committee. Police were deployed at the main gate to prevent protesters from entering. Throughout the day, leaders raised slogans and questioned the corporation’s working style. Anil Teji stated that the three-point demands are: (1) cancel the ward changes of 2,000 employees; (2) cancel the 2018 in-charge positions; (3) assign 700 non-Valmiki employees to their original sanitation work. Naresh Kandara warned, “Demands If they don’t agree, we’ll go on a broom-down strike.” On Saturday, Vidrohi’s half-naked Satyagraha in the cold marked a new turning point in the movement. This movement is not only a fight for the rights of sanitation workers, but also a question of dignity and equality for the Valmiki community. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News