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--BABU KANSHI RAM JI--


INSTEAD OF BEING RULED LET US BE RULERS

Kanshi Ram Tells Dalits


SPECIAL SPEACH DELIVERD BY MR. KANSHI RAM Ji
AT 1ST WORLD DALIT CONFERENCE IN MALAYSIA ON 10TH & 11TH OCTOBER,1998

Dalits should become rulers instead of being ruled. We must not be always at the receiving end, instead become the givers, Dalit Leader Mr. Kanshi Ram told the world dalits. It's long we have been ruled. It is long we have been taking. Now it is time we change the destiny to rule and give, he said. Mr. Kanshi Ram who is the Founder Prisident of Bahujan Samaj Party delivered a key-note address at the opening of the 1st World Dalit Convention 'A new vision towards a casteless society' at the Kuala Lampur Mines Resort City.


The two day convention held on 10th and 11th October 1998 was well attended by more than 700 delegates throughout the world including famous politicians noted leaders from dalit movement, champions of down-trodden, social reformers, renowned economists, famous educationists and great scholars.


The Malaysian Manister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Sabbaruddin Chik officialy opened the conference which saw the opening very colourful with Malaysian cultural and traditional dances performed by Indians, Malays and Chinese.Mr. Kanshi Ram garlanded the Portrait of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar while Dalit Sena President Ram Vilas Paswan garlanded the portrait of the great Periar.


Mr. Kanshi Ram in his speech continued to trace the history of caste and Braminical social order. He asserted by virtue of his vast experience that elimination of caste was impossible at this stage. He also elaborated the very purpose of creating caste.In context of caste oppression and justice Mr. Kanshi Ram refered the role of Dr. Ambedkar. He commended the merit of 'Communial Award' which he achieved after a long struggle.

Dr. Ambedkar could not sustain the going due to the constant pressure of the mighty upper caste Hindus, Mr. Kanshi Ram told the delegates who packed the hall.'Babasaheb Ambedkar was able to get reservation for the oppressed in legislative houses, job opportunities in government departments and also places in higher educational insitutions.

I wish to stress upon that reservation is not the soultion to oour problem. We must become rulers instead of being ruled, givers instead of being takers, Mr. Kanshi Ram told the crowd to a thunderous applause.It is my duty to prepare my people not to get reservation but to grant reservation. Who can granreservation? Only rulers can grant reservation. Hence, I will prepare my people to become rulers.If we do not become rulers, our problems will remain forever, Kanshi Ram said.

In order to become rulers we must learn how to handle caste. Dr. Ambedkar, Nehru, Gandhi and Indra Gandhi were experts in handling caste. Nehru handled caste so well that he made Dr. Ambedkar helpless and retain the Brahminical Social Order. Indra Gandhi also handled caste well to benefit the Brahminical Social Order.Dr. Ambedkar prepared the SC/ST to handle Caste. That is how we could get many benefits from the British, he added.

Mr. Kanshi Ram expressed concern for 10 crores slum dwellers who are deprived of proper drinking water and electric supply.People migrating from villages to cities are also being denied of many facilities and end up in polluting the enviornment.But those refugees who came from Pakistan after independence were duly taken care of by the then government and a special budget was allocated to meet their basic necessities, he pointed out to the delegates.
According to Mr.Kanshi Ram ,slum dewellers presently living in urban areas are the Dalit refugees who have migrated from the villages because of acrimonys & atrocities committed by upper case Hindus.They have not been able to influence the Planning Commission and the Government of India to allocate separate budget to provide them bread, clothes and shelter.


A decent life is a matter of fundamental right of every citizen in accordance with the constitutional mandate, Mr. Kanshi Ram asserted.He advocated separate settlement for dalit people as once formulated by Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar.He was very critical of the evil impact of caste-system in India.
Wherever the Indians went they never failed to carry with them this spreading disease he told the lauging and cheering crowd.The Indians are prepared to leave anythign behind. They leave behind their little property, small land and their huts.But they will never leave behind their caste. They carry with them wherever they go, he said.While urgimg the dalits to unite he also called upon the Dalit intellectuals to shed away the approach of existing analysis only.


They should instead come with forward-looking approach in education, economic and social problems.They must also come up with some sort of effective solution programme, Mr. Kanshi Ram added.Mr. Kanshi Ram impressed upon the delegates that Dalit problem can only be solved through political power to rule the country.'We must become the rulers instead of being ruled,'he told the cheering and applauding delegates.
Courtesy: Mr.M.G.Pandithan, New Vision. (First World Dalit Conference )





  



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  First six pictures (Left side)  & Last three pictures (Right side) received from Mr. C. L. Chumber
 and   Mr. Sonu Ambedkar (Kewal Krishan Saroya). www.ambedkartimes.com thamks to both.

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MAYAWATI AND THE SECOND SOCIO-CULTURAL

REVOLUTION IN UTTAR PARDESH  

RONKI RAM (DR.)

PANJAB UNIVERSITY CHANDIGARH (INDIA)

ronkiram@yahoo.co.in

      Mayawati, the BSP supremo, sworn in as 40th Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh on May 13, 2007. This is the second socio-cultural revolution in the history of Uttar Pradesh where during the medieval Bhakti movement Guru Ravi Dass, an untouchable poet-saint of very high repute, convinced the Brahmins that it was not caste but ones deeds which are important. Brahmins and Rajput Kings prostrated before him and Ranis and Maharanis of the then rulers and the rulers themselves became his followers. It seems that history was repeating itself when Brahmins and Thakurs among others were touching the feet of BSP supremo Mayawati during the swearing-in ceremony of the new cabinet at Lucknow. Once again Mayawati has proved that hollow prestige based on birth when put on trial in the democratic court of social justice failed to stand any more. But proving that is much easier said than done.

     Guru Ravi Dass fought a relentless battle against his tormentors who were adopting all fair and foul tactics to prevent him from entering into the mainstream of the social space.  He unleashed a frontal attack on the long tradition of social oppression and untouchability. He took the battle right into the capital of the Brahmanical Social Order (BSO) and lay bare its fraudulent social structure. He employed Bhakti (loving devotion) as a method of protest against social exclusion. In his Bhakti he laid emphasis on compassion for all and absolute faith in God. His method was very daring and noble. He choose to challenge his tormentors by adopting the iconography of their dress code as a symbol of revolt which was not only highly objectionable but was equally deadly for a Shudra of his times. He rejected all forms of religious rituals and sectarian formalities. He challenged the tyranny of Brahmins and defied them by wearing Dhoti (cloth wrapped around the waist), Janeue (sacred thread) and Tilak (sacred red mark on forehead) that were forbidden for the untouchables. Though he attired himself like an upper caste, he did not hide his caste. He continued with his hereditary occupation of making/mending shoes. While adopting the prohibited dress and symbols of the upper castes, and at the same time sticking to his hereditary occupation he, probably, tried to show how lower castes could achieve their human rights without compromising with their separate Dalit identity. His Bhakti method of social protest reflected the democratic and egalitarian traits of his social philosophy. When challenged in their own estate and even in their own fiefdom of Bhakti, Brahmins had no option but to participate in a debate on the shastras thrown open by the Kashi Naresh (King). As Chandrabhan Prasad argues, “Ravidas’s genius found no match. The pandits turned pale, bending before the saint in recognition of his greatness. The saint rode the royal chariot through the lanes of Kashi, the King standing by his side. That was the Dalits’ first war of independence. Kashi was secured. The cow belt Brahmins never recovered from the shock, and were forced to reconcile to the Dalits’ cerebral superiority”.

      History was repeated on May 13, 2007. The place was Lucknow, the current capital of power in UP. And the star of the battle was Mayawati. To be more precise this time the battle was not around the shastras but about the numbers in the game of electoral politics. To win in such a fierce modern battle is to prove ones metal. And more so when you have been fighting while sharing the chariot with the ones who were very recently sitting in your opposite camp. Mayawati did very well. She proved her metal and turned victorious. She has reinforced the ‘cerebral superiority’ of the Dalits once again. It is in this context that her grand success in the recently concluded assembly election in Uttar Pradesh can be considered as the second socio-cultural revolution in the heartland of the varnashram order. Mayawati has provided a single-party government after more than 16 years breaking the whirlpool of coalition politics in UP. In fact, Mayawati put an end to coalition politics and ushered into an era of "Dalit-Brahmin-Muslim-Thakur-Vaishya-Bhumihar-OBCs" sarvjan combined rule. This new form of "combined rule of sarvjan" under the leadership of the Dalits is certainly an advancement not only over the tight rope walk of the coalition system that India has been experiencing for the last many years, but also a new beginning of the coming of the marginalized into the center stage of power politics.

     Mayawati's Dalit-Brahmin thesis and her emphasis on "sarv samaj" coupled with the social engineering formula would facilitate in laying down parameters for the mitigation of the gap between what Baba Sahib Dr. Ambedkar said "political equality and social and economic inequality" in India. In other words, this new system of  ‘sarvjan combined rule’ would certainly help in deepening of the roots of democracy in India and inculcating positive feelings among the downtrodden that they too matter in this land where they were for centuries kept socially excluded, politically marginalized and economically deprived. Now they feel encouraged to come forward not to plead or ask for favors because they were neglected but because they are able to provide leadership to safely steer the ship to its destination. It was vividly clear from the oath taking ceremony dais where Smt. Mayawati was occupying the front seat followed by Pandit S.C. Mishra, general secretary of BSP. Is it not really a revolution in Brahmin dominated social set-up in India where they have agreed to not only sit behind Dalits but also to touch their feet? Imagine this even a few years before! Mayawati is absolutely right when she said that behind her great victory lays the philosophy of Phule, Naryana Guru, Periyar, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, and Babu Kanshi Ram. In fact, it is she who tried to put this philosophy into action and translated it into reality.

     Whether the Savarnas were falling at the feet of Mayawati out of gratitude or of political expediency is not the point. The real point is that by putting the Brahmins and Thakurs in line and commanding respect, Mayawati has been able to evaporate the Laxman Rekha of Varnashramdharma. She has set the ball of self-respect and dignity of the so-called Avarnas rolling. She has brought the Savarnas and Avarnas on a single platform, of course, led by her. What is even more important is that she achieved all this through democratic way without firing a single shot. And people of all sorts (read castes) stood by her in her battle against social repression and jungle rule. In fact, this is not in any case less than a social revolution. This revolution needs to be replicated in other parts of the country too, if India really wants to shine as a world power in near future. If India wants to march ahead, social exclusion has to be ended first. Untouchability is not a problem of the Shudras only; it is a number one problem of the entire Indian society. It needs to be tackle immediately. Baba Sahib Dr. B.R. Ambedkar sounded a grave warning on November 25, 1949 in the Constituent Assembly on the completion of the Draft Constitution: “On the 26th January 1950, we are going to enter into a life of contradictions. In politics we will have equality and in social and economic life we will have inequality… We must remove this contradiction at the earliest possible moment or else those who suffer inequality will blow up the structure of political democracy which this Assembly has so labouriously built up”. Mayawati has fired the first shot. The struggle has to continue.      

Posted on May 15th, 2007  

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BSP Supremo Mayawati sworn in as 40th Chief Minister

of the state Uttar Pardesh

MEMSAHIB MAYAWATI

CHIEF MINISTER OF UTTAR PARDESH  

On May 13, 2007 BSP supremo Mayawati sworn in as 40th Chief Minister of the State (UP) that is going to play a decisive role in the forth coming presidential election. She has privided a single-party government after more than 16 years breaking the whirlpool of coalition politics in UP. In fact, Mayawati put an end to coalition politics and ushered into an era of "Dalit-Brahmin-Muslim-Thakur-Vaishya-Bhumihar-OBCs" sarvjan combined rule. This new form of "combined rule of sarvjan" under the leadership of the Dalits is cetrtainly an advancement not only over the tight rope walk of the coalition system India has been experencing for the last many years, but also a new begining of the coming of the marginalized into the centre stage of power politics. Mayawati's Dalit-Brahmin thesis and her emphasis on "sarv samaj" combined with the social engineering formula would facilate in layingdown parameters for the mitigation of gap between what Baba Sahib Dr. Ambedkar said "political equality and social and economic inequality" in India. In other words, this new system of combined rule would certainly help in deepening of the roots of democracy in India and inculcatinig positive feelings among the downtrodden that they too matter in this land where they were for centuries kept socially excluded, politically marginalized and economically deprived. Now they feel incouraged to come forward not to plead or ask for favours because they were neglected but because they are able to provide leadership to safely steer the ship to its destination. It was vivdly clear from the oath taking ceremony dias where Smt. Mayawati was occupaying the front seat followed by Pandit S.C.Mishra, general secretary of BSP. Is it not really a revolution in Brahmin dominated social set-up in India where they have agreed to not only sit behind Dalits but also to touch their feet! Imagine this even a few years before! Here Mayawati is absolutely right when she said that behind all this the philosophy of Phule, Naryana Guru, Periyar, Dr. Ambedkar, and Babu Kanshi Ram has been playing the determinant role. And it is she who has put it into action and translated it into reality.
   In her 49-member Ministry 19 Ministers are of cabinet rank, 21 ministers of state (independent charge)and 9 ministers of state. The caste composition of her cabinet is: three Brahmins, one Muslim, one Thakur, one Bhumihar, one Vaishya, four Scheduled Casdtes and eighy OBCs.Cabinet ministers are: Naseeruddin Siddiqui, Ramveer Upadhyaya, Inderajit Saroj, Lalji Verma, Thakur Jaiveer Singh, Sukhdev Rajbhar, Swami Prasad Maurya, Ved Ram Bhati, Laxmi Narain, Rakesh Dhar Tripathi, Babu Singh Kushwaha, Jai Narain Rai, Phagu Chauhan, Nakul Dubey, Daddoo Prasad, Narain Singh, Sudhir Goel, Ram Prasad Chaudhary and Dharam Singh Saini.

We all wish her success in her endeavours,

Ronki Ram (Dr.)
Panjab University, Chandigarh (India), Cell:+91 987 286 1290

Poted on May 13, 2007

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RESURGENCE OF DALITS:

DELHI IS NOT FAR

Dear All,
Jai Bheem!

Congratulations

The victory of the BSP in UP has shown the way to power to those who were being denied for centuries. Power game has its own grammer. It seems the followers of  Babu Kanshi Ram are now not too late to master it. BSP supremo, Mayawati has proved it. She has meticulously worked out the dynamics of number game. She has not only convinced her own people that united they win and divided they loose, but has also established her credentials among the dwijas who uptill very recently were opposed tooth and nail to the coming of Dalits in to the public sphere. What is even more important is that the people of UP are convinced that if any political party can provide them relief from the mounting atrocities of the erswhile establishment it is the BSP under the strong leadership of the Madam Mayawati. They reposed confidence in her leadership and brought her into power to bring rule of law as well as justice in the beleaguered state of UP. Many are keeping the fingers crossed as to how Madam Mayawati would be able to make a balance between the Dalit emancipatory agenda of the BSP and the political expedency of her power politics. It seems, given her acumen and dexterity in politics, she would be able to tell the world that Dalits are now come of age and that Delhi is not too far from them.Once again Congrats to all of  you.

Ronki Ram (Dr.),
Dept. of Political Science,Panjab University, Chandigarh, India Cell: +91 987 286 1290.

Posted on May 11th, 2007

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BAHUJAN SAMAJ PARTY IN UP

VT Rajshekar
Editor
Dalit Voice

This refers to Ronki Ram comment:

1. Mayawati victory proves in UP, where the Brahmin density is the highest in India, that only Dalits can protect the Brahmins.

2. Brahmins outside UUP must learn a lesson from the lead given by their blood brothers in the UP that their own “Brahmana Jati Party” (BJP) can only convert India into a burning battle field. Brahmins of UP voted for BSP because they learnt that only the Chamars can protect them from the Yadava musclemen and assure them protection and peace.

3. Muslims too voted for BSP in a fairly big way disappointing the “mainstream” Muslims who always criticized Mayawati “for joining Brahmins”.

4. Dalits, Muslims and Brahmins form the three principal actors in the Indian drama. But the Brahmins tormented both and converted India into a bloody battlefield thinking that they would win. But having been disappointed, they have come begging to Dalits who assured them protection.

5. In their own holy cowbelt, which produced Rama and Krishna, the Brahmins got defeated but the Chamars saved them.

6. We call upon Brahmins in the rest of India to give up hate-mongering and join Dalits who will protect their human rights.

7. We in “Dalitt Voice” have always supported Kanshi Ram and his BSP – including his “alliance” with Brahmins.

8. The UP experiment is a warning to all upper caste oppressors of Dalits and Muslims.

Posted on May 12, 2007

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BAHUJAN SAMAJ PARTY IN UP

Dear All

Jai Bheem!

This is the greatest achievement. I would like to thank everybody for this victory in UP. I absolutely agree with V T Rajshekar, well said and want to add that all dalits from all states of India should drop the divisions of dalits and come to a main dalit party (i.e. BSP) especially in Maharastra and some other states where many dalit factions and parties exist. We should unite and learn lessons from the election result from UP. Let's forget our differences and join hand with BSP and integrate all dalits of India. Also please check out my web page (http://www.satyaguru.org) when you get a chance.

Vivek Nirala
(http://www.satyaguru.org)

Posted on May 12, 2007
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ALL THE BEST Ms. MAYAWATI & HER CABINET

 Dr. Berwa

Clearly new social engineering of "serve jan" , in which new dalit -Brahamn alliance,has a foothold in the political arena, eeds to be tested if this is a merely a political phenomenon. Certainy ms. mayawati's gamble has payed her hefty divdidend.

  History has told us that Brahamans are a cunning bunch, they use needle to take another needle and one that is done, they throw both nedle outside don't bring them in the house.

 I wish ms. mayawati  and her Cabinet all the best and hope that law and order must be their first agenda, because public has voted on this very iissue and gave BSP a thumping mandate by giving BSP an absolute majory.

 All political pundits except CBP were prooven wrong..

 On dalit issue if the cabinet can focus on Eduction and economic empowerment ,that will be like a fresh breeze on a hot summer day like these days.

 Well done BSP, your social engineerng was a bold one in an unchartered territory and proven wrong skeptic like me.

 Finally we can now boldly say that we do have a spokesman for dalits , with a powerful voicein Ms. Mayawati.

Posted on May 12, 2007

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GREAT VICTORY OF BAHUJAN SAMAJ PARTY

Our heartiest congratulations to Madam Mayawati Ji, the President of Bahujan Samaj Party & her entire party members on their great victory in Uttar Pardesh Assembly Election 2007. This victory of BSP is a great victory of Bahujan Samaj of India.The credit for the success goes to Mayawati & her entire team, voters & supporters.www.ambedkartimes.com forum once again puts on record its heartiest congratulations & wishes great success to the BSP Government in its various programme in the state of Uttar Pardesh as well as in the whole country.

www.ambedkartimes.com

Re-Posted at 2035 on May 11th, 2007
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CONGRATULATIONS !!!

Many-many congratulations to Behan Mayawati and her Bahujan Samaj party for becoming victorious in the state Uttar Pradesh Assembly election 2007. We also congratulate her on becoming the 4th time Chief Minister of the State Uttar Pradesh.We wish her great success  & her BSP Government in its various programmes in the state  of Uttar Pardesh as well as in the whole country.

WWW.AMBEDKARTIMES.COM
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MOHAN GILL
AMBEDKARITE, YUBA CITY, CALIFORNIA (USA)
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NARANDIR SINGH HIRA
SANGAMNER (MAHARASHTRA) INDIA
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NARENDER KAUR PANJABI
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA (USA)
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TARSEM JALANDHARI
JOURNALIST,  JALANDHAR CITY, (PANJAB) INDIA
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K. K. CHUMBER

SUDARSHAN PARK,NEW DEHLI (INDIA)
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CHAMAN LAL MAHEY
VILL. DHANAL KHURD P.O. PHOOL PUR, DISTT. JALANDHAR (PANJAB) INDIA
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JAGDISH KUMAR  (TALWAN )
PRESIDENT, SHRI  GURU RAVDASS  DARBAR, BERGAMO (ITALY)
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VINOD KUMAR CHUMBER
PRESIDENT, SHRI GURU RAVIDASS SABHA BAY AREA ( CALIFORNIA )
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DEVRAJ SINGH
PRESIDENT, SHRI GURU RAVIDASS SABHA SELMA, CALIFORNIA (USA)

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BANSI BANGAR
PRESIDENT, SHRI GURU RAVIDASS SABHA FRESNO (c.v) CALIFORNIA (USA)
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AJIT RAM BANGAR (Chairman),TAWINDER KAZLA (Vice Chaiman), KEWAL BOLINA (President), KARNAIL VIRK (Vice President), AMAR BAIDVAN (Gen. Secretary), HANS RAJ KAJLA (Assistant Secretary), RAKESH CHANDER (Office Secretary), DHAYAN SINGH , (Cashier), DALJIT JASSAL (Assistant Cashier)

SHRI GURU RAVIDASS SABHA SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA (USA)
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PARMJIT BHUTTA
CHAIRMAN, SHRI GURDASS RAM BHUTTA YADGARI CHERITABLE TRUST, GARHPADHANA NAWANSHAHR, PANJAB (INDIA)
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HISTORIC VICTORY

  Heartily Congratulations to Sister Mayawati Ji.!!!

It is unique and uncommon victory in Indian political democracy.  It means "the dream of Baba Sahib Dr. B. R. Ambedkar's comes true". If the majority of the Dalit had followed footsteps of Baba Sahib, then we would have ruled on this country. I hope you will help the down trodden people and help their change and their destiny. Once again many congratulations & BSP's workers, voters, supporters, & also out of party, BSP's well wishers.

Prem Lal Sondhi
President of Valmik Shaba USA,  Yuba City, California (USA)
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CONGRATULATIONS !!!

Many Congratulations to Bahujan Samaj on the spectacular victory of Bahujan Samaj Party in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections led by Bahen Mayawati. This is the biggest victory of Ambedkar movement. Thanks to all UP people for voting to BSP.  This victory will lead Bahen Mayawati's Elephant, road to Delhi one day and fulfill the dream of Late Babu Kanshi Ram Ji.

Kamal Dev Paul
President, International Bahujan Organization (California)

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SUKHVIR HEER
Assistant Secretary, International Bahujan Organization (California)