The Hindu : Muslim-Dalit ties

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 01, 2002

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Muslim-Dalit ties

Sir, — This is with reference to Kancha Ilaiah's article `Dalit, OBC and Muslim relations' (May 29). Nine per cent of Indian Muslims are descendants of Dalits. Apart from ideological conflict, this is one important psychological cause for the animosity of the Hindutva forces towards Muslims. By absorbing Dalits into "ummah" (Muslim population), Islam responded to the caste question effectively. It is true that this trend has been arrested as a result of the activities of missionaries and `savarnas'. But how can one ignore the fact that it was the presence of Islam that compelled social mobilisation and reform in the caste-ridden Indian society? The disillusionment among Muslims, consequent to the partisan attitude of the United Nations with regard to the West Asian issues, is to be taken into account.

Unlike the Christian intelligentsia, that of Muslims is confronted with the tragic situation created by the U.S. domination over the United Nations. Muslims are an integral part of Dalits and OBCs, and hence a prey to the common enemy.

Dr. A. Jadeeda,
Thiruvananthapuram

Sir, — Kancha Ilaiah's article provides a rare insight. Those who want to avoid the fragmentation of our motherland will definitely appreciate his viewpoint. Development of a good brotherly relationship among Dalits, OBCs and Muslims is the need of the hour.

A good amount of education is most welcome. Muslim intellectuals must take note of this. The recent Gujarat carnage was engineered by the Sangh Parivar using innocent Dalits and OBCs. This should stop.

T.B. Vijayakumar,
Thrissur

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Opinion

Stories in this Section

Disquieting incidents

The water of life

Politics as violence

Investigation as collusion — II

A blunt message to Pak.

A chance to secure our future