Dalit & Religious Freedom

FOREWORD

The book ‘Dalit and Religious Freedom’ written by Dr. Udit Raj is to do with empiricism and struggle in his own life. I know him more than what has been written in the book. When in November, 2001, he gave a call to quit Hinduism by about a million Dalits, I got associated with him. Caste, Hinduism, and Varna Vyavastha (caste system) are the same, and aborigines of India (Dalits) have suffered at the hands of none other than Hindus. About one million Dalits were to quit Hinduism, but the then Govt. led by Hindutva supporters like Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), and others used Govt. machinery to stop it. The All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations led by Dr. Udit Raj had to shift the venue of conversion overnight. Besides, participants were prevented to reach the venue on all India level. Delhi borders were sealed, and other sorts of hindrances were created. Yet, hundreds of thousands converted to Buddhism. WE HAD TO SCUTTLE THE CEREMONY INTENDED FOR THE SMALL NUMBER OF DALITS WHO HAD INTENDED TO EMBRACE THE CHRISTIAN FAITH BECAUSE OF THE BLATANT MISUSE OF POWER BY THE GOVERNMENT MACHINERY DURING THAT EVENT.

The book gives more space to reservation in Govt. services. For millennia, Dalits were denied participation in all fields, but social contract (Pune Pact) between Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and British Govt. in 1932 granted them participation in Govt. services and polity. Till today, Dalits have not made any significant achievement where scope for affirmative action is not provided. In 1997, Dr. Udit Raj, then known as Ram Raj, started the All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations to fight against the five anti-reservation orders issued by the Govt. His struggle started from this very point. I vouch that whatever he undertakes, he pursues it till its logical end. Since then every year, he has been organizing mammoth gatherings in Delhi and the rally of the year 2000 was so huge that a prominent leader like Mr. Chandrajit Yadav could not stop himself from expressing his feelings while addressing the gathering, viz., ‘Dr. Udit Raj will be Prime Minister of India one day’. This rally was also addressed by former Prime Minister of India, Mr. V. P. Singh, who supported the sentiment of Chandrajit Yadav. His struggle led to 81st, 82nd, and 85th constitutional amendments to annul the anti-reservation orders. To a great extent, his struggle saved reservation, the only hope for hopeless Dalits to participate in governance. Subsequently, he raised the issue of reservation in private sector. In USA, the IBM Company started affirmative action in 1930’s for blacks, but neither Indian industries nor multinationals are doing it for Dalits in India. Dr. Udit Raj is hurt many times, as can be observed in the book. He opines that if Indian businessmen are opposed to Dalit welfare, what is wrong with businessmen of western countries?

Besides religious freedom and economic empowerment of Dalits, Dr. Udit Raj is always in the forefront to fight the incidence of atrocities. In 2002, five Dalits were lynched for a cow carcass at Jhajjhar in Haryana state. Under his leadership, we fought back this cruelty by conversion. Hinduism is the cause of such cruelty and the best way to rebuff it is to quit Hinduism. Dalits reacted to it by converting to Buddhism and Christianity. Such atrocities are not isolated ones. Wherever there is violation of human rights, the All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations under his leadership are there to fight it out. When the Tamil Nadu Govt. brought out draconian anti-conversion law, the All India Confederation worked with the AICC in leading the conversion ceremony for Dalits who wanted to embrace Buddhism and Christianity as a rebuff to the Government’s tyranny against the Dalits’ right to religion.

His book takes care of various subjects like economy, polity, society, social system, ethics, communalism, globalization, etc.. While expressing his experiences, he maintains a strict order of objectivity. Unlike other writers, he is equally concerned for a strong India. Most of the leaders and writers mobilize people by evoking sentiments, but he doesn’t do so. For example, other Dalit leaders have been emotionalizing Dalits, but Dr. Udit Raj’s approach is concrete and agenda-based , be it reservation, asking Dalits to quit Hinduism, or seeking reservation in private sector. He is a rare leader who is not shy of associating himself with Christians and people of OTHER FAITHS while others cater to the Hindutva vote bank.

The book ‘Dalit and religious freedom’ is not a fountain of thought process alone, but is based on ground-realities. This will enable the leaders to understand Indian society in correct perspective.

Dr. Joseph D’Souza
President, All India Christian Council
Place : Hyderabad-500034,Andhra Pradesh, India
Date : September 23, 2005