Once again, I apologize for not being able to do anything about gratuitous rhetoric in posts like the one appended below. But I am happy to provide further evidence for the following points of interest to me, that contradict all of the speculations and insinuations made by the poster below about exclusion of Dalit Christians in the Scheduled Castes list drawn in the Presidential Order of 1950:
1. That Scheduled Castes included only Hindus, ever since this term was first introduced in the Government of India Act of 1935 in place of "Depressed Classes", and elaborated in the Scheduled Castes Order of 1936. Please read the following documents: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1935/2/pdfs/ukpga_19350002_en.pdf http://www.anagrasarkalyan.gov.in/compendium/part-1_page9-24.pdf Please read the following original article: Scheduled Caste Policy in India: History, Problems, Prospects Author(s): Lelah Dushkin Source: Asian Survey, Vol. 7, No. 9 (Sep., 1967), pp. 626-636 Published by: University of California Press Here is a quote: QUOTE The term "Scheduled Castes" is a legal designation. It was adopted in 1935, when the British listed the lowest-ranking Hindu castes in a Schedule appended to the Government of India Act for purposes of statutory safeguards and other benefits. UNQUOTE 2. That Christians were explicitly excluded from the Scheduled Castes list in the Scheduled Castes Order of 1936 by the British government of India. Please see: http://www.anagrasarkalyan.gov.in/compendium/part-1_page9-24.pdf Here is a quote: QUOTE (a) No Indian Christian shall be deemed to be a member of a Scheduled Caste UNQUOTE 3. That Scheduled Castes being integral to the Hindu community was also the position of Mahatma Gandhi. Please read the following original article: Constituent Assembly Debates and Minority Rights Author(s): Rochana Bajpai Source: Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 35, No. 21/22 (May 27 - Jun. 2, 2000), pp. 1837-1845 Published by: Economic and Political Weekly Here is a quote: QUOTE Gandhi vigorously opposed proposals to the effect that the scheduled castes be treated as an entity distinct from the Hindu community from the point of view of representation, most notably in the case of the Communal Award of 1932, which granted scheduled castes separate electorates. UNQUOTE 4. That the Presidential Scheduled Castes Order of 1950 simply followed the precedent of the Scheduled Castes Order of 1936. It changed nothing. The status of Dalit Christians was the same before as after its promulgation. Please read these articles: (1) The Indian Christians—A Study of a Minority Author(s): J. H. Beaglehole Source: Modern Asian Studies, Vol. 1, No. 1 (1967), pp. 59-80 Published by: Cambridge University Press (2) Politics of Dalit Identity Author(s): P. Muthaiah Source: The Indian Journal of Political Science, Vol. 65, No. 3 (July-Sept., 2004), pp. 385-402 Published by: Indian Political Science Association Here is a quote from the first article: QUOTE The Scheduled Castes Order I951 (1950) followed the language of the 1936 Order in excluding non-Hindus from this category.. UNQUOTE Here is a quote from the second article: QUOTE A Scheduled castes order was promulgated by the President of India in 1950 which basically re-enacted the 1936 list UNQUOTE 5. That the Constituent Assembly approved and adopted by a broad consensus of opinion a report prepared by its Minority Rights subcommittee that defined Scheduled Castes as a "section of the Hindu community". Please read the following debates: http://parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/debates/vol5p8a.htm http://parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/debates/vol5p8b.htm 6. The Christian members of the Constituent Assembly were not only satisfied with the provisions of this Minority Rights Report, but actively praised the manner in which all the minority rights questions were handled in it. Please read the following debates: http://parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/debates/vol5p8a.htm http://parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/debates/vol5p8b.htm Here is a quote from Fr. Jerome D'Souza's speech in this regard: QUOTE let me also, though somewhat belatedly, express, my very great gratification at the way in which these minority questions have been handled, the skill and tact with which a consensus of opinion has been secured in this report and the great kindness and spirit of understanding shown by Sardar Patel in dealing with these questions here and elsewhere in discussions. UNQUOTE ......Fr. Jerome D'Souza 6. The Christian members of the Constituent Assembly never proposed an amendment to include Dalit Christians in the definition of Scheduled Castes. Please read all the over 150 Constituent Assembly debates at this link: http://parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/debates/debates.htm Please read this article: Politics of Dalit Identity Author(s): P. Muthaiah Source: The Indian Journal of Political Science, Vol. 65, No. 3 (July-Sept., 2004), pp. 385-402 Published by: Indian Political Science Association Here is a quote: QUOTE There was no organized movement by the Dalit Christians for their inclusion in list of Scheduled castes for purpose of reservations and other constitutional protection while Indian constitution was being framed. Members belonging to Christian community in constituent Assembly of India too did not support the cause of Dalit Christians in the constituent Assembly for the purpose. The leaders representing Christians in the constituent Assembly of India were H.C.Mukherjee, a high caste Bengali convert, Amrit Kuaur, a Punjabi convert from Royal background, Jerome D. Souza and S.J., a Jesuit. H.C. Morkerjee says as their spokesmen, "I am a member of minority community myself and I feel proud that the community which I am a member has decided to give up all special privileges" UNQUOTE I would be happy to provide copies of the articles to individuals upon private requests. Cheers, Santosh ----- Original Message ----- From: Marshall Mendonza <[email protected]> > > Response; > > 1.If the poster chooses to live in denial of the evidence furnished by me > in the documents provided by Prof Borges just because they are unpalatable > to him and do not support his views, there is nothing more we can do about > it. He is free to live in his world of dreams and fantasy. Who are we to > deny him his enjoyment? > > 2. secondly, his asking me to provide historical evidence of my owns views > ( which in his bird brained and juvenile way chooses to call speculations) > should count as the Joke of the Month. All the evidence has already been > provided in my previous posts from the documents which Prof Borges himself > submitted. If he wants to a blind eye to them, we cannot help it. When he > is cornered and unable to provide documentary evidence to support his > Chinese Whispers akin quotes, in the ways of a canny and wily politician he > tries to pass the buck and wants me to provide evidence to the contrary. It > is like asking an innocent man to prove that he is not guilty. When he > provided the quotes, he ought to be able to support them with evidence. Why > is it so difficult for him to do so if he is confident in the source of his > information? >
