Dalit Lekhak Sangh’s initiative
Delhi: At a seminar organized on 15 November at Connaught Place, New Delhi, under the auspices of Dalit Lekhak Sangh, speakers expressed their views on “Reservations: Partnership of Dalit-OBCs” and “Who is responsible for growing intolerance?”. Feminist thinker Vimal Thorat said in her address: “The attitude of society towards Dalits is more than that of intolerance. It is cruel.” Ashok Vajpayee said: “We were underestimating communalism till now. Unless the deprived are included in the discourse on communalism, social inequalities cannot end.” Among others, Murli Manohar Prasad Singh, K.P. Chaudhary, Dr Ratanlal, Anita Bharti, Sanjeev Kumar, Sanjeev Chandan, Umrao Singh Jatav, Dr Sudhir Sagar, Surajpal Chauhan and Mamchand Rewadia addressed the audience. Karmsheel Bharti was the chair. “This is the time to awaken and it is also the right time to bring about a change as many organizations of writers have come together,” he said. “This energy should be sustained to forge ahead.”
An image showing Baliraja and Vaman that appeared in the daily Lokmat’s Marathi edition and triggered protests by Maharashtra’s OBCs and Dalits
Protests against Marathi daily
Nagpur: Several OBC organizations and individuals of Vidharbha and other parts of Maharashtra protested against the publication of a picture of Bali and Vamana in the Dhulia edition of leading Marathi daily Lokmat on 12 November. It is noteworthy that the OBCs and Dalits of the state regard Baliraja as their ideal and celebrate Baliraja festival during Diwali. This year was no different: the festival was celebrated in Vidharbha and other parts of Maharashtra.
In Wardha, Maharashtra, Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad (ABAVP) submitted a memorandum to the administration opposing the burning of effigies of Ravana. Chandrashekhar Madawi, district secretary of the ABAVP, said “we will not allow Ravana dahan from next year onwards”.
Adivasi activists submit a memorandum against Ravana’s effigy burning
