[ZESTCaste] Raped repeatedly, Naxal leader quits Red ranks
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Raped-repeatedly-Naxal-leader-quits-Red-ranks/articleshow/6423200.cms Raped repeatedly, Naxal leader quits Red ranksRakhi Chakrabarty, TNN, Aug 24, 2010, 01.02am IST var facebookktitle='Raped repeatedly, Naxal leader quits Red ranks';var facebooksyn='TOI travels to the jungles on the Bengal-Jharkhand border to meet a disillusioned Maoist area commander, Uma, who says she is prepared to risk her life and surrender in order to escape unbearable sexual exploitation by her comrades and superiors.'; There's a wide gulf between what Naxals practise and preach, says Uma. (TOI Photo) Somewhere On The Bengal-Jharkhand Border: The eerie calm in the dense sal forest is deafening. Walking along a snaking dirt track, a clear patch appears. Sitting on a rock, hidden by thick, emerald green foliage, is the diminutive figure of a woman, a gamchha (thin towel) covering her head. Her blue salwar-kameez meld with the surroundings. Her eyes dart around at the slightest hint of sound. Shobha Mandi, alias Uma, alias Shikha, gives a searching look and then smiles. The 23-year-old CPI-Maoist Jhargram area commander says she was expecting us. From commanding 25-30 armed Maoist squad members, Uma turned a fugitive four months ago. She fled her command post on the plea of seeing a doctor. She hid with her aunt for a short while; and now she says she wants the world to know her story. She wants to surrender and is likely to give up Naxalism on August 26. Why did she decide to shed her battle fatigues seven years after she joined the Naxals? They committed injustices against which they claimed they were fighting, said Uma. As a recruit, I protested against the habits of some leaders in the presence of Kishanji. Nobody liked it. The leaders instructed the squad members not to speak to me. I was isolated and warned of dire consequences if I protested, she said. What didn't she like about the leaders? They rape, she shot back, eyes flashing with rage. After about a year of joining Naxals, I was put on night-long sentry duty at a forest camp in Jharkhand. Suddenly, out of the dark, Bikash (now, head of the state military commission) came up and asked me for water. As I turned to fetch it, he grabbed me and tried to do 'kharap kaaj' (indecent acts). When she objected, Bikash threatened to strangle her. After forcing her into submission, Bikash raped her, she said. She was 17 then. He warned me against telling anyone about this. But, I told Akash (Kishanji's confidant and a state committee member). He said he would look into it but did nothing. In fact, Akash's wife, Anu, lives with Kishanji, Uma said. Most women recruits are exploited by senior Maoists. Senior women leaders, too, have multiple sexual partners, Uma said. If a member gets pregnant, she has no choice but to abort: A child is seen as a burden that hampers the agility of guerrillas. Uma has heard tales of brutalization of other women Naxals, too. Seema (then a recruit) told me that Akash raped her as well. Rahul (alias Ranjit Pal) raped Belpahari squad commander Madan Mahato's wife, Jaba. In this case, the party punished Rahul, who is a key weapons trainer at Maoist camps. He was removed from the regional committee for three months, said Uma. State committee secretary Sudip Chongdar, alias Goutam, was also punished for similar acts, she said, and transferred to Jharkhand's West Singbhum district. Maoists divide time between forest camps and hideouts in villages. Villagers can't refuse shelter to gun-toting Maoists. Also, they must keep all night vigil to alert them against police raids. When Sudip took shelter in villages, he raped women in their homes. They were too scared to protest, said Uma. Many of her senior leaders exploited her sexually. One day, says Uma, Kamal Maity, who is a Bengal-Jharkhand-Orissa regional committee member, came to her rescue. At a meeting attended by Kishanji and other top Maoists, Kamal proposed a relationship with Uma. The leaders agreed. After Jaba's incident, I learnt that a woman cadre is protected against sexual exploitation only if she is with a senior leader, she said. That was a turning point and she rose steadily in Naxal ranks. Uma is on the police's most wanted list. She is suspected to have planned and executed a series of attacks, including the massacre of 24 EFR jawans in Silda (February 2010); a raid on Sankrail police station in which two policemen were killed and an officer abducted (October 2009). She is also one of the suspects in Jharkhand MP Sunil Mahato's murder in 2007. She mentored PCPA members, including Bapi Mahato who is in jail for the Jnaneswari train sabotage. Last year, when the joint central and state forces advanced into Lalgarh to break an eight-month siege, she along with other Maoists fired at the police. In Jhargram, she is known as didi. According to a source, Uma
[ZESTCaste] 'Paid News': The Buried Report
Those who have time, please read this article and report to know how Indian Newspapers (VTR rightly calls them Toilet Papers) and TV channels sold their reporting for money. http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?266542 Benjamin -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] Photos of my activities in India
Dear friends and donors, I have been longing to tell you about my tour in India since May 24, 2010. As I am stuck up in India unintentionally, I am in no mood to say it in detail though I have made good notes of all I did in India. It was a great and very successful trip sans this problem. I would like to share at least photos to those who are curious to know about it. Please check this out. This link has photos of visiting several of our projects in AP and Tamilnadu, functions of scholarships and microloans, talking to several of our microloan beneficiaries, interacting with students, meeting several great personalities in addition to the photos of my relatives, friends, places where I lived as child, teenager, and as an adult etc. http://picasaweb.google.com/benjamin.kaila Several people received me with unbounded love and affection, several people introduced me to several others dedicated to a cause, several people helped me without asking for help, several people included me in their meetings, and several people still helping me in various ways. To all of them, my sincere thanks and immeasurable gratitude. They all received me with open hands though I did nothing to receive such accolades as what I did is insignificant when compared to the work of many others I met. With regards Benjamin -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] Visiting Chennai on July 8-9 2010 contact:9603.127.474
Dear donors and friends, I will be visiting our projects in Chennai on 8th June 2010 on an unscheduled visit will be there on 9th. I will be meeting all our well-wishers there. Please send me the contacts numbers of any of our well-wishers interested to meet me or have a chit-chat. I will try to meet them in person if possible or just call them to say hello. I will be available at 9603 127 474. Please let me know the contacts, if any. With regards Benjamin -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] My Hyderabad contact
Dear friends, I am still in India and expecting be here for 2, 3 weeks more. I would like to meet and express my gratitude to all our donors and freinds for all the help they have been rendering all these years to Friends fro Education International. I will be available at 9603.127.474. Please call me or send me an email and I will come and meet you. Looking forward to meet you. Thanks Ben -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] Book- Behenji: A political biography of Mayawati
Dear friends, I just finished Behenji: a political biography of Mayawati by Ajay Bose that I have been trying to read for a while. While in US, I have been reading media reports on Ms Mayawati’s rule, none of them were positive. I did read about her statues, memorial parks, jewelry, birthday cakes, indiscriminate transfers, and high handedness. Though I read these reports with a pinch of salt, I too felt she may not be going in the right direction with her historic electoral mandate. I am very much aware that a lot of misinformation is being spread by the mainstream media as far a Ms Mayawati is concerned. When I speak to my friends, I get the same stereo typed negative opinions on Ms Mayawati, most of them formed with the input of media. I expected that the book is no different in dealing with its subject. But, I was wrong. It’s a lot positive and gave me an objective understanding of what she is upto and what she is doing in UP. It is full of statistical details and logical arguments (at least to me) supporting the facts and opinions. Though it doesn’t shed much light on the personal life of Ms Mayawati, it did a good job of her rule and her objectives. I urge all to read it and understand her before writing off with whatever opinion one has about her. Now, I started reading another book I have been thinking of reading for so long, Brahmacharya: Gandhi and his women associates by Girja Kumar. Though not an ardent admirer of Gandhi, he is another intriguing personality whom I wanted to know objectively. With regards Benjamin Kaila -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org --- On Thu, 6/24/10, Benjamin Kaila benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com wrote: From: Benjamin Kaila benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com Subject: On Dr Ambedkar play (Telugu) To: Dalit Group da...@yahoogroups.com, Human Horizons humanhoriz...@yahoogroups.co.uk, AmbedkarScholarshipGroup ambedkarscholars...@yahoogroups.com, ZestCaste ZESTCaste@yahoogroups.com, Dalit-international dalits-internatio...@yahoogroups.com, DalitCOnference dalitconfere...@googlegroups.com Cc: kaila anand paulka...@yahoo.com, FFEI-India Rajvardhan r...@samsact.com, FFEI-India Samuel sam...@sonussoftware.com, Self Kaila benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com, pvv...@hotmail.com, Shiva Shankar sshan...@cmi.ac.in, Michael Arlen ar...@earthlink.net, 'Jim' Kommu komm...@yahoo.com, Michael Jonas michaeljo...@gmail.com, RayadasManthena rayad...@yahoo.com Date: Thursday, June 24, 2010, 4:40 PM Dear friends, Though I have been mentally stressed as I struck up in India unprepared, I am trying my best to use this time as purposefully as possible. One of the exciting times for me was watching a live play live last weekend. I got this opportunity after more than two and hald decades. I was thrilled as it was on the life of my hero Dr Ambedkar. I watched it for two consecutive days. As a child and as a teenager, I would go for miles to other villages to watch art forms of various kinds and forms. This musical play based on the real story of Dr Ambedkar’s life (up to burning of Manu Smriti) was a feast to my eyes and senses. It was created by a school teacher Mr Patibandla Ananda Rao with a cast of nearly 80 actors. According to him it was not yet perfected, it was played only a couple of times so far. Still, it was so perfect that I started thinking how marvelous it would be watching it after a while when it was perfected. I am was not an art critic, still I would like to express my feelings. The play was so real that I could not control my emotions while watching some of the scenes. The performance of the child actor (little Dr Ambedkar) was superb, so was that of the actor played adult Ambedkar. Every other actor performed well and the music was melodious. I surprised how such a talented man (Mr Ananda Rao) was unnoticed so far. I was told his another play, Padamata Gali (Western wind) based on the globalization, was a superhit. Talent, when not recognized and noticed dies out. It is very much real in the case of talented Dalits. I remember watching such great art forms of various kinds as a child. They are all dying out for lack of patronage and invasion of unrealistic movie culture. Recording (even in crude form) of such dying art forms of Dalits and Tribals was one of my pet projects. But, it never took off for obvious reasons. At the end of the play, while talking about the art form he used in the play Mr Ananda Rao spoke about an old man who can recite 20 different plays from memory. How great it would
[ZESTCaste] On Dr Ambedkar play (Telugu)
Dear friends, Though I have been mentally stressed as I struck up in India unprepared, I am trying my best to use this time as purposefully as possible. One of the exciting times for me was watching a live play live last weekend. I got this opportunity after more than two and hald decades. I was thrilled as it was on the life of my hero Dr Ambedkar. I watched it for two consecutive days. As a child and as a teenager, I would go for miles to other villages to watch art forms of various kinds and forms. This musical play based on the real story of Dr Ambedkar’s life (up to burning of Manu Smriti) was a feast to my eyes and senses. It was created by a school teacher Mr Patibandla Ananda Rao with a cast of nearly 80 actors. According to him it was not yet perfected, it was played only a couple of times so far. Still, it was so perfect that I started thinking how marvelous it would be watching it after a while when it was perfected. I am was not an art critic, still I would like to express my feelings. The play was so real that I could not control my emotions while watching some of the scenes. The performance of the child actor (little Dr Ambedkar) was superb, so was that of the actor played adult Ambedkar. Every other actor performed well and the music was melodious. I surprised how such a talented man (Mr Ananda Rao) was unnoticed so far. I was told his another play, Padamata Gali (Western wind) based on the globalization, was a superhit. Talent, when not recognized and noticed dies out. It is very much real in the case of talented Dalits. I remember watching such great art forms of various kinds as a child. They are all dying out for lack of patronage and invasion of unrealistic movie culture. Recording (even in crude form) of such dying art forms of Dalits and Tribals was one of my pet projects. But, it never took off for obvious reasons. At the end of the play, while talking about the art form he used in the play Mr Ananda Rao spoke about an old man who can recite 20 different plays from memory. How great it would be if someone come forward and immortalized the man and his talent before it is too late? How wonderful it would be if someone take the task of recoding various Dalit and Tribal art forms before they are died out? It needs dedication, sincerity, and above all money. Something needs to be done before it is too late. With regards Benjamin Kaila -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] Update
Dear donors and friends, You may be wondering why I did not update you on my trip to India. I am sorry to inform you that due to a mistake and mindlessness from my end I am stranded in India. Every person I know helping me. I express my gratitude to all of them. I am hoping to come to US in a few weeks time. Meanwhile, I would like to inform you that 2009 Ambedkar Scholarships function was a great success. It was a great pleasure and joy to me to participate in it after 7 years of its existence. My trip was very hectic.I visited several projects and beneficiries and amazed to see the work being done by volunteers with no monitoring. I also met several beneficiries and felt happy to help those great children who deserve our help. I am also bringing a big bag of requests from really needy and worthy children to place before you for your help. I challenged several children (mostly girls) to scale greater hieghts (than what they are expecting) sensing their potential and they challenged me as well to do everything in their power to reach those new goals. I met several great people about whom I share later. I was in esstasy till I landed in trouble. I am longing to share all that information with you once I return to US. So, please stay tuned and hear great things about all the projects we have undertaken and how they are being implemented. My sincere thanks to all donors behind these projects. To FFEI Associates and book suppliers: Please excuse me for the delay in sending money due to you. We will try to finish it ASAP. I apologize for the delay. FYI: I also removed moderation on Ambedkar scholarships yahoo groups as I have only limited access to internet. Longing to share news of my trip. Benjamin P Kaila -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] Visiting India from May 26 thru June 12, 2010
Dear friends, Due to sudden demise of one my brothers I am visiting India from 05/26/10 thru 06/12/10. We are three brothers and the last one is first to go. That is life. I will try to meet as many people and projects as possible during my visit. I will be attending Ambedkar Scholarships function on May 29. If anyone wants to meet me, that is one of the best places to meet. I keep you informed of my schedule whenever I have an opportunity to use internet. With regards Ben Kaila -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] 2009 Ambedkar Scholarships function: mark your calendar May 29, 2010
Please free to spread the word by sending to friends, egroups, and organizations you know. -- Friends for Education International (FFEI) invites to its 7th Ambedkar Scholarships distribution ceremony on May 29, 2010 in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh. Date : May 29, 2010 at 2:00pm Venue: Ambedkar Bhavan, Opp. Andhra Christian College, Guntur, AP Chief Guest: Mr B Ramanjuneyulu, Collector, Guntur District Honorary guests: Dr Sudhakar, Dooradarsan Dr Siddoji Rao, Hyderabad Mr G P Neelakantam, Project Director, DRDA Prof Challapalli Swarupa Rani, Head of Buddhist Studies, Nagarjuna University, Guntur Mr Maddu Ankaiah, Advocate In this ceremony a total of 92 scholarships will be distributed to bright Dalit students and to organizations working among Scavenging communities in Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Tamilnadu, and Karnataka. Please grace the occasion if you are in the area, can spare a day away from home town. It is crucial as these students lack support and encouragement though they beat all odds to excel in education. Your presence will give them moral support to continue their education with more efforts. We are also looking for book sponsorships. We need the following books, 100 copies each: 1. Dr Ambedkar’s biography in Telugu, English, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Oriya 2. Prof Kancha Ilaiah’s epic book on dignity of labor: Turning the pot, tilling the land. It is also available in several languages. You can sponsor some or all of them. 3. Any English improvement or self improvement books Any help will be greatly appreciated. If you can’t help us, please attend the function that is free and give moral boost to these bright students. With regards Benjamin -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org
[ZESTCaste] Help to brave Gujarati girl: function on April 22, 2010 in Ahmedabad
Dear donors and friends, A simple function will be scheduled to be held on April 22, 2010 in Ahmedabad to give the small gift collected (Rs. 1,45,000) by Friends for Education International. Details will follow. Stay tuned. With regards Ben Kaila -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] Re: Update on brave Gujarati girl (April 17 2010)
Dear donors and friends, I am sure many must be looking for the updates on our aid to the brave Gujarati Girl. It was supposed to be finished by Mar 31, 2010, as I informed earlier. But, due to some logistical issues, it is delayed and I am waiting for a new date from the organizers in Gujarat. Right now, we got enrolled her in an English improvement course and she is doing great. Thanks to Dr Raghu, Mr Kirit, and Mr Rao for helping her and trying to finish the task ASAP. I will keep you posted when I have some info on it. I am sorry for the delay. With regards Ben -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org From: Benjamin Kaila benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com To: Sent: Mon, March 8, 2010 8:32:39 PM Subject: Update on brave Gujarati girl (Mar 08, 2010) Dear donors and friends, I am happy to inform that we were able to collect more than a lakh to help the brave Gujarati girl. You all know the story. She deserves our help for her intelligence, courage, and above all the will to survive and excel despite all odds against her. First of all thanks to Prof Shiva Shankar who mooted this idea of helping her through donations when I brought her predicament to our forum’s attention. Thanks to each one of the donors. We all at FFEI are immensely indebted to you for your generosity. Please check the list of donors and let me know if any discrepancies. After hearing from the donors, we decided the following: 1. Clear the remaining auto loan of Rs. 75,000 2. Give the rest to her for her studies or in the form of fixed deposit certificate. Yet to decide. Following is the update on the girl: 1. I am waiting for some more information on her 2. Thanks to Brothers Sam Paul, and Gedion, and Ms Vinaya. We were able to get her a job as a teacher in an English medium school near her village. But, she refused it stating that she is not convenient with teaching in English medium school. 3. I have already initiated transferring money to India. Currently the exchange rate is about Rs. 45.75.USD. I took 45 as conversion rate and the total came to about Rs.1,40,000. Please write to me if any questions. Thanks Ben Donations to Gujarati girl Donor USD Rupees Ms Raj Kaul, US 96.80 Ms Shilpa Raina, US 96.80 Ms Santosh Raina, US 96.80 Mr Sanjay Chauhan, US 29.80 Dr Satinath Chowdhary, US 96.80 Mr Mohammad Imran, US 96.80 Dr Uma N Iyer, US 51.00 Mr Gagan D Mall, US 100.00 Anonymous rape survivor 300.00 Mr Srikanth Voorakaranam, US 750.00 Ms Sugam Tiku, US 100.00 Ms Usha Shiralkar, US 250.00 Prof Alladi Uma, Hyd 5,000.00 Prof M Sridhar, Hyd 5,000.00 Prof Alladi Sitaram, Hyd 5,000.00 Dr Ranghavan Rangarajan, Gujarat 1,000.00 Dr Ranghavan Rangarajan, Gujarat 5,000.00 Prof Shiva Shankar, Chennai 10,000.00 Ambedkar International Mission Inc, US 250.00 Dr Venkata Pingali, US 60.00 Donations total 2,374.80 31,000.00 Exchange Rate Rs/USD (Appx.) 45.00 USD converted into rupees 106,866.00 Add Rupee donations 31,000.00 Total donations 137,866.00 -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] Update on brave Gujarati girl (Feb 13, 2010)
Update on Gujarati girl Dear donors, Please read this mail carefully and express your opinion (if any) on the way to help this promising young and determined girl. Please respond by February 20, 2010. Options considered are: 1. Make the entire donated amount in a Fixed Deposit with an option to take the interest every year. Prevailing rates India are around 6-7% per annum. 2. Clear full or partial loan (Rs.75,000) and give the rest of the month to her for her educational purpose. According to her, she is going for labor work as the earnings are not enough to feed the family. So, if the loan is cleared, she need not go to field work and concentrate on studies. If I do not hear from you by February 20, 2010, we will go with one of the above two options that we feel optimal. Please reply with either of these two options only. Other details of our conversation: I spoke to the girl today, Mr Kirit acting as interpreter. She came to Mr Kirit’s home along with her father for this purpose. I am happy, she is in good spirits. We are planning to complete this task by March 31, 2010, if not earlier. Here is the update on her: 1. He applied for teacher job and waiting. She is confident that she will get the job if given on merit (she is a distinction student) without bribes. But, as we all know getting a job without influence or money is next to impossible in India. 2.Currently she is not working as a laborer since there is no seasonal work now. 3. Her father is still recovering from her accident. 4. Her father has an auto loan of Rs.75,000 and has to pay Rs.4,000 every month as installment. He has to pay for two more years 5. He along with his elder son used to earn Rs.200 per day (Rs. 6,000 per month) after all expenses are paid. Now only his son working. 6. She is doing BA (English) in Ambedkar Open University and would like to continue her graduation even if she gets a job. 7.Her parents are very supporting of her on education. 8.She is not interested in a career in Computers. 9.In our conversation she said “I am very happy now not because of the money you are giving, but for the support you are giving me during my worse trials and tribulations.” I found her very intelligent when she says something. 10. She and her father were determined to put her perpetrators to shame by aspiring and achieving greater things in life. Action items to Kirit: 1. Check for English coaching institutes in Unza (her Taluk head quarters and where she is studying her degree) so that she can take English speaking classes after her college. Get information about them – duration of the course, reputation, fee, accreditation etc) and send it to me. 2. If no institutes in Unza, check in Mehsena (District headquarters) to see if there any such courses offered during summer vacations. If yes, send the information on those institutes. 3. Check the bank interest rates. Action items for Benjamin: 1. Consolidate all the donations received. Send reminders to donors promised donations (if any). 2. Make arrangements to send money to India. 3. Get the opinion of donors on the option of help. 4. See that the money is delivered by March 31, if not earlier. Make every effort to complete it before that. Please write to me if any questions. I profusely thank you all for coming forward to help this unfortunate bright girl and for giving me an opportunity to be of a little use. With regards Benjamin Kaila -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org From: Benjamin Kaila benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com To: KIRIT PARMAR kiri...@yahoo.com; HUMAN HORIZONS Sent: Fri, January 29, 2010 5:04:17 PM Subject: Update on brave Gujarati girl Dear donors and friends, Thanks to all those who came forward to help. I spoke to the brave Gujarati girl a couple of days ago. She is a very brave and intelligent girl. Tough we spoke most of the time in Hindi (with my broken butler Hindi), for her background, she spoke English comfortably. At the end I am convinced that she has a great potential to excel, only if there a helping hand to give her a push in this time of need. Here is what I gathered from my conversation with her: 1. She lives in Mehesena district (Unja Taluk) 85Km away from Ahmedabad. 2. Her father (an auto driver) met with an accident and could not work for 2-3 months. 3. She has two elder sisters (both married) and two brothers (one married and another is a B Com
[ZESTCaste] Reminder - Dr Maharaj Kaul's memorial service - Jan 30, 2010 at 2PM
Dear friends, Dr Maharaj Kaul's memorial service will be help on Jan 30, 2010 at 2PM. Those who wish to attend it, please check the following link for details. I will be attending. http://www.friends4education.org/scholarship/2009/09maharaj_memorial.htm With regards Benjamin -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] Fw: [HumanHorizons] call 1098 for excess food
How can I resist? So, forwarding If you are in India, please call 1098 to donate excess food. Please do not waste. Please see the photo below. I can't forget the images I saw while growing up in India. Thanks, Br Chunnu Prasad, for awakening us. - Forwarded Message From: chunnu prasad chunnupra...@gmail.com To: humanhoriz...@yahoogroups.co.uk; sakyagr...@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tue, January 5, 2010 9:27:52 PM Subject: [HumanHorizons] call 1098 for excess food Hi! If you have a function/party at your home and if there is excess food available at the end, don't hesitate to call 1098 (only in India) - child helpline. They will come and collect the food. Please circulate this message which can help feed many children.. PLEASE, DON'T BREAK THIS CHAIN Helping hands are better than Praying Lips. Pass this to all whom you know and whom you don t know as well. Do pass it on ..it may help somewhere, anywhere and do not take such mails for granted because you do not know to whom it might make a difference and it is alright if you keep receiving this mail because it is not an entertaining message or forward CHUNNU PRASAD CENTRE FOR POLITICAL STUDIES JAWAHARLAL NEHRU UNIVERSITY
[ZESTCaste] Need your help - please read
Is there anyone who can help this promising young man? He is looking for an educational loan from a Bank. To me, it seems so be a simple issue, but as usual, he has been experiencing problems as he has no influence. He is from Maharashtra and looking for guidance. I am sure, someone can help him. Please read his email to understand his situation. Appreciate your help. Ben -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org From: Prashant p_nisw...@yahoo.co.in To: humanhoriz...@yahoogroups.co.uk Sent: Wed, January 6, 2010 3:18:39 AM Subject: [HumanHorizons] Need your help Dear Member Jai Bhim! Sir/Madam My name is Prashant Niswade, i am doing MBA-BT in Dept. of Management Sciences (PUMBA),University of Pune, i am from very poor family, my parents can not afford my expense, so thats why i have applied for education loan, but their i got worse experiece, i am from a village Drugwada its in Wardha District(Maharashtr a), so my lead bank is Bank of India,Sahur Initialy,bank manager denied my application because my father had crop loan that was Rs.13,000 so we have taken loan from friends and relative and repay it, then he given us application, i submited it with all documents, i just applied for Rs.15 according scheme there is no need of guarranter but he demanded me for guarranter and many unneccesary document still we have given him all, but now he denied us just saying that its in process from last two month, i already finished my first semester by taking loan from our friends and relative, so now i realy worring about my finacial condition. so i want your help regarding this bank process and legal suggestion, if there will anyone from Bank of India please help me Jai Bhim Much Metta, Prashant Niswade 9637355853 pnisw...@gmail. com
[ZESTCaste] Happy New Year 2010
To all FFEI donors, friends, and well-wishers Happy, Prosperous, Meaningful, and Purposeful New Year 2010 FFEI is grateful for the help it receives from each of you. We exist because of you. Thank You. Benjamin Paul Kaila (on behalf of everyone at FFEI) -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] 2009 FFEI donation request
As the year is ending, I requesting you again to consider donating to FFEI. We, at FFEI, and the kids depening on your donations will thank you very much for your generosity. If you cannot sponsor this year, please spread the word around. That doesn't cost anything. Someone may be interested in our work. With regards Benjamin --- Dear Donors, Friends, and Sympathizers, To those who celebrate, Merry Christmas, the birth of Jesus, the apostle of peace, compassion, and love. Please ignore this email if you have already helped us in 2009 with your generous donation. This is the end of the year and most importantly the season of giving. In this charitable season, can you think of helping an underprivileged child to get good education? If so, please consider our project Friends for Education International (FFEI) that has been helping such children since 2003. By doing so, you may help a kid and take the benefit of tax exemption for 2009 as we are a 501(C)(3) organization in US. Let me first thank you immensely for all the support you have been extending since 2003. It is your help that sustained us all these years to help kids from the most vulnerable and marginalized sections of Indian society – mostly Dalits or Untouchables. Without your help we wouldn’t be where we are now. More than ever, we need your help now. Last year, in addition to giving scholarships to those who performed well in Tenth (Class 10) examinations, we adopted 50 kids from scavenging families to support them educationally from class I. Without your help, they may have to be dropped out of the school this year. We have several other projects. You may be interested one of them as well. Please check our website www.friendsforeducation.org. We believe you support us this year as you have done before. Any donation (small, big, cash, or kind) will be accepted with so much gratitude as every penny will be helpful to us. These kids future depends on you and so we are counting you on. We gain donors mostly by word of mouth. We do not have any corporate donors. We entirely depend on individuals. Please spread the word among your friends, relatives, and colleagues and help us reach as many concerned individuals as we can. Please visit our website www.friendsforeducation.orgfor more details and write to me if you have any questions. Please use one of the following to contribute: Online contribution: http://www.friends4education.org/scholarship/0Main/html/donate_address.htm To send a check: In USD (We will provide receipt for tax purposes): In favor of :FFEI (Friends for Education International) Bank : US Bank, La Crescenta, CA Address: Benjamin P Kaila 2755 Sanborn Ave La Crescenta, CA 91214 Email:benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com In Rupees: In favor of: Friends for Education International (India Chapter) Bank: Corporation Bank, Nampally, Hyderabad Mr K L Anand Paul Gayatri Apartments, Block 1, Flat 407, APIIC Colony, Jidimetla Hyderabad, India 500 055 With regards Ben Note: I never intend to spam anyone. If anyone thinks so, I am sorry. Please let me know and I will stop sending right away. -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] Dr Maharaj Kaul's memorial service on 01/30/2009
Dear Donors and Friends, I informed earlier about the sudden demise of Dr Maharaj Kaul. With it FFEI and I lost one of the best friends who helped us in so many ways. After his demise his sister who took his socail activities continued to help us. I thank her immensly for the help we have been receiving ever since. Many came to know about his demise through our email communication and contacted me. I am informing and inviting you (on behalf of his sister, Ms Raj Kaul) to the memorial service on January 30, 2010. Details are available at http://www.friends4education.org/scholarship/2009/09maharaj_memorial.htm I am planning to attened it. I will take this opportunity to meet anyone who is willing to meet me in Bay area on Jan 30 and 31. I like human touch to any relationship and hense delighted to meet and personally thank you for all the help we have been receiving. So, please let me know. With regards Ben -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] 2009 FFEI donation request
Dear Donors, Friends, and Sympathizers, To those who celebrate, Merry Christmas, the birth of Jesus, the apostle of peace, compassion, and love. Please ignore this email if you have already helped us in 2009 with your generous donation. This is the end of the year and most importantly the season of giving. In this charitable season, can you think of helping an underprivileged child to get good education? If so, please consider our project Friends for Education International (FFEI) that has been helping such children since 2003. By doing so, you may help a kid and take the benefit of tax exemption for 2009 as we are a 501(C)(3) organization in US. Let me first thank you immensely for all the support you have been extending since 2003. It is your help that sustained us all these years to help kids from the most vulnerable and marginalized sections of Indian society – mostly Dalits or Untouchables. Without your help we wouldn’t be where we are now. More than ever, we need your help now. Last year, in addition to giving scholarships to those who performed well in Tenth (Class 10) examinations, we adopted 50 kids from scavenging families to support them educationally from class I. Without your help, they may have to be dropped out of the school this year. We have several other projects. You may be interested one of them as well. Please check our website www.friendsforeducation.org. We believe you support us this year as you have done before. Any donation (small, big, cash, or kind) will be accepted with so much gratitude as every penny will be helpful to us. These kids future depends on you and so we are counting you on. We gain donors mostly by word of mouth. We do not have any corporate donors. We entirely depend on individuals. Please spread the word among your friends, relatives, and colleagues and help us reach as many concerned individuals as we can. Please visit our website www.friendsforeducation.orgfor more details and write to me if you have any questions. Please use one of the following to contribute: Online contribution: http://www.friends4education.org/scholarship/0Main/html/donate_address.htm To send a check: In USD (We will provide receipt for tax purposes): In favor of :FFEI (Friends for Education International) Bank : US Bank, La Crescenta, CA Address: Benjamin P Kaila 2755 Sanborn Ave La Crescenta, CA 91214 Email:benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com In Rupees: In favor of: Friends for Education International (India Chapter) Bank: Corporation Bank, Nampally, Hyderabad Mr K L Anand Paul Gayatri Apartments, Block 1, Flat 407, APIIC Colony, Jidimetla Hyderabad, India 500 055 With regards Ben Note: I never intend to spam anyone. If anyone thinks so, I am sorry. Please let me know and I will stop sending right away. -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] Donation information
Dear donors and friends, Please visit the following link to see the donations we have received so far. I am counting you all. Please come forward to donate generously. http://www.friends4education.org/scholarship/2009/09donations.htm With regards Ben -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org From: Benjamin Kaila benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com To: Dalit Group da...@yahoogroups.com; AmbedkarScholarshipGroup ambedkarscholars...@yahoogroups.com; OfficersForum officersfo...@yahoogroups.com; Human Horizons humanhoriz...@yahoogroups.co.uk; ZestCaste ZESTCaste@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sun, December 13, 2009 6:14:44 PM Subject: 2009 scholarship donations 2009 scholarship donations Dear donors and friends, I apologize for the delay in accepting donations for 2009 scholarships. It is delayed as we were trying to fix Organizational issues in India. I am almost done with it. Following is the progress: 1. Friends for Education International has been registered under Friends for Education International (India Chapter) 2. Organizational committee has been established. I will send the info in another mail 3. Bank Account is opened (Corporate Bank, Nampally, Hyderabad) 4. Working on getting Income Tax exemption and FRCA clearance 5. Applications for scholarships have been received So, I request for your donations. We have only 2 weeks in 2009. Please rush your donations. For donations in USD, we will issue certificate for your tax purposes as ours is a 501(c)(3) org. For donations in rupees, we may not be able to do so. Remember that we gave more than 100 scholarships last year and I want to see atleast 50% increase this year. Please help us to help the deserving but financially and socially backward children in India. Please let your family members, friends, and colleagues know our work and encourage them to help us. You can donate online or send check to US or India. Please follow the link for donation information: http://www.friends4education.org/scholarship/0Main/html/donate_address.htm US (Tax exempted under 501(c)(3): In favor of :FFEI (Friends for Education International) Bank : US Bank, La Crescenta, CA Address: Benjamin P Kaila 2755 Sanborn Ave La Crescenta, CA 91214 Tel: 818.248.5889 818.248.5889 818.248.5889 818.248.5889 818.248.5889 818.248.5889 818.248.5889 818.248.5889 Email:benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com Please write to me for any questions India (not yet income tax exempted): Please contact the following: Address to send cheque: In favor of: Friends for Education International (India Chapter) Bank: Corporation Bank, Nampally, Hyderabad Mr K L Paul Gayatri Apartments, Block 1, Flat 407, APIIC Colony, Jidimetla Hyderabad, India 500 055 Please send this request to your friends, colleagues, and other who you think can help us. Please write to me for any questions. With regards Benjamin -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] Thanks to Prof Shiva
Thanks to Prof Shiva Dear donors and friends, I do not how I could thank Prof Shiva Shankar of Chennai Mathematical Institute. Soon after I sent a donation request, he jumped into action. By now (not even 24 hours since I sent), he had sent individual emails to 90 people he knew. Several others may follow. Is writing 90 individual emails an easy task? What a blessing to have such a committed friend? I hope other donors and friend of FFEI write atleast one email to another person informing about our work (need not ask for donations). If you believe we are doing moderately good work (despite all constraints), please do this small help to FFEI. We need your help. Isn’t every drop of water makes up a mighty ocean? Please help us as our needs are so great. Last year, we took responsibility to support 50 small kids (apart for other scholarships) through our Educational Adoption program. If we do not support them, they dropped off the school. So, please give generously, advertise among known people, and help us help the people who not yet see the benefits of 8% economic growth in India and who could not participate in “Shine India” campaign. They are poor, impoverished, marginalized, and innocent victims of society. Is it not the responsibility of every right thinking person to come to their aid? If you believe so, please help us. Looking forward to your help. We have only 2 weeks in this year. Please visit our website www.friendforeducation.organd write to me if you have any questions. At the end, THANK YOU, Prof Shiva! The kids receiving our help will be thankful to you forever. With regards Benjamin-- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org From: Benjamin Kaila benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com To: Dalit Group da...@yahoogroups.com; AmbedkarScholarshipGroup ambedkarscholars...@yahoogroups.com; OfficersForum officersfo...@yahoogroups.com; Human Horizons humanhoriz...@yahoogroups.co.uk; ZestCaste ZESTCaste@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sun, December 13, 2009 6:14:44 PM Subject: 2009 scholarship donations 2009 scholarship donations Dear donors and friends, I apologize for the delay in accepting donations for 2009 scholarships. It is delayed as we were trying to fix Organizational issues in India. I am almost done with it. Following is the progress: 1. Friends for Education International has been registered under Friends for Education International (India Chapter) 2. Organizational committee has been established. I will send the info in another mail 3. Bank Account is opened (Corporate Bank, Nampally, Hyderabad) 4. Working on getting Income Tax exemption and FRCA clearance 5. Applications for scholarships have been received So, I request for your donations. We have only 2 weeks in 2009. Please rush your donations. For donations in USD, we will issue certificate for your tax purposes as ours is a 501(c)(3) org. For donations in rupees, we may not be able to do so. Remember that we gave more than 100 scholarships last year and I want to see atleast 50% increase this year. Please help us to help the deserving but financially and socially backward children in India. Please let your family members, friends, and colleagues know our work and encourage them to help us. You can donate online or send check to US or India. Please follow the link for donation information: http://www.friends4education.org/scholarship/0Main/html/donate_address.htm US (Tax exempted under 501(c)(3): In favor of :FFEI (Friends for Education International) Bank : US Bank, La Crescenta, CA Address: Benjamin P Kaila 2755 Sanborn Ave La Crescenta, CA 91214 Tel: 818.248.5889 818.248.5889 818.248.5889 818.248.5889 818.248.5889 818.248.5889 818.248.5889 818.248.5889 Email:benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com Please write to me for any questions India (not yet income tax exempted): Please contact the following: Address to send cheque: In favor of: Friends for Education International (India Chapter) Bank: Corporation Bank, Nampally, Hyderabad Mr K L Paul Gayatri Apartments, Block 1, Flat 407, APIIC Colony, Jidimetla Hyderabad, India 500 055 Please send this request to your friends, colleagues, and other who you think can help us. Please write to me for any questions. With regards Benjamin -- An educated man without character and humility
[ZESTCaste] 2009 scholarship donations
2009 scholarship donations Dear donors and friends, I apologize for the delay in accepting donations for 2009 scholarships. It is delayed as we were trying to fix Organizational issues in India. I am almost done with it. Following is the progress: 1. Friends for Education International has been registered under Friends for Education International (India Chapter) 2. Organizational committee has been established. I will send the info in another mail 3. Bank Account is opened (Corporate Bank, Nampally, Hyderabad) 4. Working on getting Income Tax exemption and FRCA clearance 5. Applications for scholarships have been received So, I request for your donations. We have only 2 weeks in 2009. Please rush your donations. For donations in USD, we will issue certificate for your tax purposes as ours is a 501(c)(3) org. For donations in rupees, we may not be able to do so. Remember that we gave more than 100 scholarships last year and I want to see atleast 50% increase this year. Please help us to help the deserving but financially and socially backward children in India. Please let your family members, friends, and colleagues know our work and encourage them to help us. You can donate online or send check to US or India. Please follow the link for donation information: http://www.friends4education.org/scholarship/0Main/html/donate_address.htm US (Tax exempted under 501(c)(3): In favor of :FFEI (Friends for Education International) Bank : US Bank, La Crescenta, CA Address: Benjamin P Kaila 2755 Sanborn Ave La Crescenta, CA 91214 Tel: 818.248.5889 818.248.5889 818.248.5889 818.248.5889 Email:benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com Please write to me for any questions India (not yet income tax exempted): Please contact the following: Address to send cheque: In favor of: Friends for Education International (India Chapter) Bank: Corporation Bank, Nampally, Hyderabad Mr K L Paul Gayatri Apartments, Block 1, Flat 407, APIIC Colony, Jidimetla Hyderabad, India 500 055 Please send this request to your friends, colleagues, and other who you think can help us. Please write to me for any questions. With regards Benjamin -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] Brave Gujarati girl's brilliant academic record -FYI
Dear donors and friends, Here is the brilliant academic record of this brave girl. Though it is confidential, I could not resist sharing with you. If she doesn’t reserve our help who else?Pleadse note that, this academic brilliancy is despite all her sufferings at home due to poverty and humiliations she suffered at the hands of her own teachers. When read newspaper reports about her bravery (I sent all those links earlier), I was thrilled. Due to her bravery, all six culprits (some with PhDs) are behind bars now. Though they victimized many girls from rich and influential families none were dare to take on them due to their influence in Modi’s government. Those girls came out only when this brave girl showed a way. She fought a brave fight and sent them all to jail. Doesn’t she deserve the bravery award Govt of India gives every year? Let us see? I urge you to help us to help this brilliant brave girl. Thanks to Brother Kirit for immediate response. (sensitive details are blocked) With regards Ben Kaila From:KIRIT PARMAR kiri...@yahoo.com To: Benjamin Kaila benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com Sent: Fri, December 11, 2009 2:54:00 AM Subject: Re: Gujarati Girl's details Respected Sir, Information are as follows; 1. Name :- ? 2. Father’s Name :- ? 3. Mother’s Name :- ? 4. Complete address :- ? ? TALUKA-? DIST-MAHESANA PIN CODE-384120 5. Qualification :- S S C (10TH STD.) :- 87.42% HSC (12TH STD) :- 70% (SCINECE STREAM) PTC (TEACHER TRAINING) :- 86.80% Thanks Sir, if you still any further information please let me know, With respected regards KIRIT PARMAR From:Benjamin Kaila benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com To: KIRIT PARMAR kiri...@yahoo.com Sent: Fri, December 11, 2009 3:59:08 PM Subject: Gujarati Girl's details Dear Kirit, I am trying to get some help for this girl an influential person. He may have some contacts in Gujarat and would like to know the details of the girl. Let us see how he can help her. Can you send me the following details: 1. Name 2. Father and mother's name 3. Complete address with telephone 4. Qaulifications (starting from 10th grade): School/college, marks obtained, total marks etc 5. Any other relevant info Please send me ASAP. I will not share with anyone other than whom I trust. Awaiting your early reply. Thanks Ben -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org From:KIRIT PARMAR kiri...@yahoo.com To: Professor Alladi Sitaram sitaram.all...@gmail.com Cc: Shiva Shankar sshan...@cmi.ac.in; Benjamin Kaila benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com Sent: Wed, December 9, 2009 8:32:40 PM Subject: Re: donation Respected Sir, Thank you very much for your support. In this age you are still active in field, I feel respect for you. Once again thank your very much for your help. With kind regards Your sincerely, KIRIT PARMAR From:Shiva Shankar sshan...@cmi.ac.in To: Benjamin Kaila benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com Cc: Professor Alladi Sitaram sitaram.all...@gmail.com; Kirit Parmar kiri...@yahoo.com Sent: Thu, December 10, 2009 8:04:13 AM Subject: donation Dear Benjamin, Professor Sitaram, our longterm friend and benefactor, would like to contribute to help the young teacher in Gujurat who was raped by her teachers. I think you should send out a general appeal, and also information about where the cheque must be posted and in whose name. Shiva.
[ZESTCaste] Brave Gujarati girl - facts from another source
Dear Donors and friends, Please read the floowing mail from Mr Raghu Rangarajan. Without my knowledge, he did his research and sent me this info. Thanks, Mr Raghu, for the information. It is always good to be verified. Thanks again for the info and for your contribution. I hope, more people come forward to help this brave and brillient girl. Yes, as you have suggested, FFEI will consider giving her brother a scholarship this year, though it is a partly amount. I would like to have his information as well. Can you both (Kirit and you) get me his info, please? With regards Ben -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org From: RAGHAVAN RANGARAJAN ragha...@prl.res.in To: benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com Sent: Thu, December 10, 2009 9:32:24 PM Subject: Re: your mail Dear Benjamin, Pl. include Rs. 5000 as a contribution from my family for the case below. Regards, Raghu Rangarajan. On Fri, 11 Dec 2009, RAGHAVAN RANGARAJAN wrote: Dear Benjamin, I have spoken to two friends who have recently met the girl from Patan PTC who was molested by her teachers. They corroborate the report by Mr. Kirit Parmar that you had sent earlier. She did get 83% in her PTC (primary teachers course) but has no job. She is working as a labourer and has enrolled for a BA (may be part time/correspondence) She is keen on a job but close to her home ie in Visnagar, Mehsana, Unjha, etc. She would be open to any job not necessarily that of a primary teacher. She does not know English and is not computer literate. She is intelligent and firm in her resolve and has the support of her family. She is being encouraged by a doctor and a police inspector - I believe the latter may be her inspiration for joining the police force as an officer. If you wish to support her with some finances you can decide whether to give it as a lump sum or as an Ambedkar scholarship for her BA. She could be encouraged to move from the Ambedkar Open Univ course (as mentioned in Mr. Kirit Parmar's report) to a regular college (unless she prefers studying via correspondence). We could also support the brother's education as a way of supporting the family. In any case if you need more information let me know. We should also use our contacts to help her get a job in the areas I mentioned above. Mr. Parmar mentioned in his report that she is in a computer course which will help her in getting a job. One of my friends had offered her a position in Ahmedabad but she would not like to be so far away from home. I presume she is young - the PTC course is a two year course that one does after Std. 12 and qualifies you to teach in a primary school. Regards, Raghu Rangarajan. Raghavan Rangarajan Theoretical Physics Division Physical Research Laboratory Navrangpura Ahmedabad 380 009 Office: Room 457 Phone: o) (079) 2631 4457 r) (079) 2686 0165 m) 0 98254 30023
[ZESTCaste] Help to brave Gujarati girl -field report from Mr KIRIT and my appeal
Please forward this email to the forums and individuals who you think may help. (Names withelp for privacy reasons). Dear donors and friends, I have been trying my best to help this unfortunate girl. Please read the following field report by Mr Kirit. I thank him immensely for the pains taken and for giving us a complete picture. That is the spirit of a true social worker. Thanks, brother Kirit. PLEASE READ BR. KIRIT’S REPORT IF YOU HELP OR NOT. We are looking for donations. We have already promises for approximately Rs.40,000. We are looking for atleast Rs.1 Lakh contributions. Here is what my options are to help her. I welcome other viable ideas, if any. 1. Her father is disabled due to an accident. He is an auto rikshaw driver. We may help him to buy an auto rikshaw with our contributions. 2. She is a very ambitious woman. She wants to be an IAS/IPS officer. I believe, she has the capacity, if proper guidance is given. Despite her tumultuous past, she excelled in education and harboring such a great thoughts means, she is more than capable. So, we may deposit our contribution in an Fixed Deposit and ask her to take the interest leaving the principal for a later day when she require it. 3. We may help find a job for her. Some Christian missionary school may come forward to give her a job. I am sending this email for many people in position and urging them to help her. I do not know if anyone responds (as in many cases), but I am trying to the best of my ability. 4. We may give her the entire money and ask her to use it the best way possible. She is in need of money and so she is doing labor work despite getting highest marks in her teacher training. Any more ideas? Please come forward. I urge everyone who reads this email to contribute a little to help this brave girl. $5 per person will become a great help. As you know, we can issue a Income Tax exemption certificate if you contribute more. So, please come forward to help this courageous and promising young girl who unfortunately born a Dalit. With lots of hope Benjamin Paul Kaila From: KIRIT PARMAR kiri...@yahoo.com To: Benjamin Kaila benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com; HUMAN HORIZONS humanhoriz...@yahoogroups.co.uk Cc: Prof. Shiva Shankar sshan...@cmi.ac.in Sent: Sat, December 5, 2009 8:21:22 AM Subject: Dear Benjamin Sir and Donors and well wishers, Jai Bhim I did village visit today and wrote report based on my visit (you may the attachment also), I would like to have your prompt reply on this please. Field visit Report Date-5/12/2009 From:-Ahmedabad (City) To :-Jetalvasana (Ahmedabad to Koba circle to Adalaj Cross road to Kalol to Mehsana to Jetalvasana) On Mehsana Palanpur highway, National Highway No.8. Travel time 12pm to 2.15pm Discussion time with victim and his family 2.30pm to 4.30pm Returned travel time: 4.30 to 7pm Report Writing time:-7.30pm-10pm Objective of visit: - To know the practical situation of the victim Today morning I met a retired Social Welfare officer as per our planning, who has been one of the information givers on this case, apart from him; I was in touch with few social leaders whom I was assuming that they were known bias. But, then they started giving me excuse to post- pone the visit to the village therefore I decided to go alone and face the situation as well as to know the truth. As everyone might know that I have two young children whom I look after during the day time so that my wife could do job; So Saturday and Sunday are the only days on which I can do full time social welfare work. As tomorrow I have other field visit to do therefore, I decided to finish village visit today, I left my home by 12pm leaving back my two children alone in the house as my wife would return from her job at 1.30pm. I knew that this village comes under Mehsana district and Visnagar taluka, when I reached Mehsana, I stopped my bike and bought water bottle and at the same time I inquired about the location of village but the shop-keeper bluntly refused stating that I do not know area which is out side of Mehsana City therefore I don’t know the location of about Jetalvasana village, there after I asked few more people about the village but majority of them gave me excuse but not location. Lastly, on young boy who was sleeping his shop, his name was Suresh Chaudhary, he gave me location and also guided me properly how to reach that village. I got my education up to 10th Std in Mahasana district therefore I know the nature people but this was something out of my imagination. Whenever I asked person, most the time they give me very strange look. Still I continued with my journey towards Jetalvasana village, in-between, I filled patrol (gas), at patrol pump again I asked about village and its location, he said, it is very nearer to this place but it is off road therefore you have to asked someone after 2km., I did
[ZESTCaste] Fw: Report about brave girl! - mail from Mr Kirit
Dear donors and friends, Here is the mail from Mr Kirit who is helping us to trace whereabouts of the brave girl, who survived the rape by her own teachers and fighting back with so much courage. It is pathetic, none (neither Government nor innumerous NOGs in India) come to her rescue or rehabilitated to her. One can imagine what would have happened if such a thing happens to a wealthy or well-connected girl? Parliament must have disrupted, feminist organizations must have roared, courts must have jumped into action, students must have conducted candle-light vigils, and politicians must have queued to help her (as we saw in Jessica Lal, Shilpa Shetty etc cases). But, for all these groups, this girl (being a Dalit and poor) is a non entity. How sad it is to be raped repeatedly by one’s own teachers? How egregious to hear the apathy of Police, Government officials, police, NGOs? How depressing to know that the culprits are still roaming free and are a threat the victim? Can such a thing happen in any other developed country? Can she be left to fend for herself? Millions of dollars of compensation would have been paid. The culprits would have been counting the bars in their prison cells. This is another case of Khailranji (in milder form) where in an innocent college going Dalit girl “Priyanka” was brutally raped and killed in full view of the entire village a few years ago in Maharashtra. Please read the report from Br Kirit who is working so hard to reach this brave girl despite all the difficulties he has been facing even to get minimum information. Individuals with heart will surely get disturbed. But, just showing sympathy will be of no use to her or her family. Doing something is. So, if anyone if interested to help her, please let me know as soon as possible. We have already 3 donors ready to help her. If some others join hands, we may help her in a meaningful way. So, please let me know. Thanks Ben - Forwarded Message From: KIRIT PARMAR kiri...@yahoo.com To: Benjamin Kaila benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com Sent: Fri, December 4, 2009 7:29:36 AM Subject: Report about brave girl! Dear Sir, Today, I found following information about this brave girl, last two months her father unable to work (he is autorixo driver), he lost his leg in road accident and her mother's health is not well and her brother is very young, she is only person left to earn money to support her family. As per her information, many government officials have visited her house and have assurance to help her but no one has supported till today. Her family situation is very pathetic. I also come to know, one of culprits is close relative of former education mister of Gujarat therefore non of the school want help her, even social welfare department as well. She says, she does not want to join any course or study for now but she is looking for financial support to support her family. Therefore, I hummable request you all donors and well wishers to help her financially as soon as possible please. With kind regards KIRIT PARMAR
[ZESTCaste] Re: Help to brave Gujarati girl -links to actual incident
(If anyone thinks I am spamming, please let me know. I will not send any communication in future.) Dear donors and friends, Some asked me for the actual incident. Sorry, I did not give any such info in my earlier email. Here are the links I have collected form the internet. http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_rape-survivor-topper-now-labourer_1313167 http://www.marxist.com/india-gang-rape-linked-to-modi-government.htm http://ibnlive.in.com/news/dalits-rally-behind-raped-gujarat-college-girl/58465-3.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7228719.stm http://news.chennaionline.com/newsitem.aspx?NEWSID=ff2ff25f-ef91-46b1-8746-1ef89feff8a2CATEGORYNAME=NATL Thanks Ben Please forward this email to the forums and individuals who you think may help. (Names withelp for privacy reasons). Dear donors and friends, I have been trying my best to help this unfortunate girl. Please read the following field report by Mr Kirit. I thank him immensely for the pains taken and for giving us a complete picture. That is the spirit of a true social worker. Thanks, brother Kirit. PLEASE READ BR. KIRIT’S REPORT IF YOU HELP OR NOT. We are looking for donations. We have already promises for approximately Rs.40,000. We are looking for atleast Rs.1 Lakh contributions. Here is what my options are to help her. I welcome other viable ideas, if any. 1. Her father is disabled due to an accident. He is an auto rikshaw driver. We may help him to buy an auto rikshaw with our contributions. 2. She is a very ambitious woman. She wants to be an IAS/IPS officer. I believe, she has the capacity, if proper guidance is given. Despite her tumultuous past, she excelled in education and harboring such a great thoughts means, she is more than capable. So, we may deposit our contribution in an Fixed Deposit and ask her to take the interest leaving the principal for a later day when she require it. 3. We may help find a job for her. Some Christian missionary school may come forward to give her a job. I am sending this email for many people in position and urging them to help her. I do not know if anyone responds (as in many cases), but I am trying to the best of my ability. 4. We may give her the entire money and ask her to use it the best way possible. She is in need of money and so she is doing labor work despite getting highest marks in her teacher training. Any more ideas? Please come forward. I urge everyone who reads this email to contribute a little to help this brave girl. $5 per person will become a great help. As you know, we can issue a Income Tax exemption certificate if you contribute more. So, please come forward to help this courageous and promising young girl who unfortunately born a Dalit. With lots of hope Benjamin Paul Kaila From: KIRIT PARMAR kiri...@yahoo.com To: Benjamin Kaila benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com; HUMAN HORIZONS humanhoriz...@yahoogroups.co.uk Cc: Prof. Shiva Shankar sshan...@cmi.ac.in Sent: Sat, December 5, 2009 8:21:22 AM Subject: Dear Benjamin Sir and Donors and well wishers, Jai Bhim I did village visit today and wrote report based on my visit (you may the attachment also), I would like to have your prompt reply on this please. Field visit Report Date-5/12/2009 From:-Ahmedabad (City) To :-Jetalvasana (Ahmedabad to Koba circle to Adalaj Cross road to Kalol to Mehsana to Jetalvasana) On Mehsana Palanpur highway, National Highway No.8. Travel time 12pm to 2.15pm Discussion time with victim and his family 2.30pm to 4.30pm Returned travel time: 4.30 to 7pm Report Writing time:-7.30pm-10pm Objective of visit: - To know the practical situation of the victim Today morning I met a retired Social Welfare officer as per our planning, who has been one of the information givers on this case, apart from him; I was in touch with few social leaders whom I was assuming that they were known bias. But, then they started giving me excuse to post- pone the visit to the village therefore I decided to go alone and face the situation as well as to know the truth. As everyone might know that I have two young children whom I look after during the day time so that my wife could do job; So Saturday and Sunday are the only days on which I can do full time social welfare work. As tomorrow I have other field visit to do therefore, I decided to finish village visit today, I left my home by 12pm leaving back my two children alone in the house as my wife would return from her job at 1.30pm. I knew that this village comes under Mehsana district and Visnagar taluka, when I reached Mehsana, I stopped my bike and bought water bottle and at the same time I inquired about the location of village but the shop-keeper bluntly refused stating that I do not know area which is out side of Mehsana City therefore I don’t know the location of about Jetalvasana village
[ZESTCaste] Dalits on Frontline cover story -a must read to understand the situation
Dear friends, Please read articles on Frontline that covered Dalits and their situation. Contrary to the perception that Dalits are a pampered lot, they tell the real story. Benjamin -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] Gujarat girl's rehabilitation - looking for help
Dear donors and friends, For my query to find the whereabouts of this brave girl, I got an immediate reply from brother Kirit Parmar promising his help to locate her. I am in touch with him. I am also happy that a few donors came forward (I did not ask for donations) opening their pockets to help her. Thanks to them. Though monetary help is important, more than that rehabilitation is more important. I am looking for someone who can help her to get a suitable job. If someone can help (through their contacts with high officials or schools etc), please let me know. Also, I decided to ask for donations as well. If anyone is willing to help her, we will collect it and disburse it through Mr Kirit Parmar. Interestingly, Mr Parmar’s life is a great example of how a spirited individual can overcome challenges and scale greater heights in life. So, I would like to send you his story which I think is a remarkable one. On my request, he sent me a link and I am forwarding it to you. I am sorry, I did not take his permission. Still, good stories are to be told far and wide. Please read his remarkable story. Br Parmar, please pardon me for sending your story without your permission. With regards Benjamin http://wuyeseffect.com/index.php/ambassadors/kirit/ Date Added: 22 March 2009 * Location: India * Chosen Cause: Academy for Educational Development ‘Yes’ to education itself is empowering, inspiring and motivating for me and it has been playing major role in my personal development. Indirectly, it is leading towards the development of my family and untouchable community. I was born in 1970 in poor untouchable family in Hindu caste system in Gujarat state, India. After six months of my birth, my mother passed away in a road accident. At that time, my three sister and brothers were very young and my father was suffering from eye disease ‘Retinitis pimentos’. However, I was raised at different places i.e. orphan’s home which was run by Christian missionary where I was raised since six months of age up to five years as there was no one who could take care of me in my family. My secondary socialization up to 16 years of my age took place in Gandhi Ashram under Mahatma Gandhi’s life principles and by the time my father got remarried. After few years of my stay in Gandhi Ashram I learnt that my father was unable to pay my annual hostel accommodation fees and for that, I was asked to leave the Gandhi Ashram. At very young age I requested school authority to give me work which can compensate my fees. After long discussion, school authority agreed to my suggestion. I was given work to clean 10 class rooms after school hours which I did with honor and completed my schooling. During my stay in Gandhi Ashram (1976-1986), I learnt the importance of education and Gandhi’s principles at the same time I also learnt that I am poor untouchable who religiously do not have rights like; spiritual, educational, political and also human rights. After 10th grad (1986), my family asked me to earn something to support family financially. I started working as a daily wage laborer in agricultural farms and factories. My step mother used to warn me many a times that ‘if you do not earn then you will not get your meal and also won’t be allowed to stay in this house’. During my work, I met many people with different objectives in their life but I was not satisfied with myself. I wanted to help people like me though I was suffering. After few years, I got to know about master level academic program in Social Work at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, India. Without informing my step mother I joined 11th grad (1989) school simultaneously I was working. After a year, my step mother came to know about my study, she compelled me to leave the school and I did, as I did not have any other place to live in. Once my brother offered me a job in village, I agreed to his job offer with my condition to allow me to study in village school. I completed my 12th grad in vernacular (Gujarati, 1992-1993). Now time came for university, this time, I realized that I should leave house for betterment future of my family. I left my house on my own risk and took admission in university under scheduled caste category (untouchable). I completed Bachelor of Arts (BA) (1993-1996) with a second class honor (Medium of instruction was English) from The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Gujarat, India. While university studies, I did evening job at ice cream parlor. But still my dream was not achieved, I wanted to do Master in Social Work, and task was very tough ahead. My university education gave me confidence in which I felt that ‘yes’ I can do it, I started preparing for MSW competitive academic entrance test. In the year 1999-2001 I completed MSW with specialization in Urban and Rural Community Development from TISS ( www.tiss.edu ). I got a job in field rural community
[ZESTCaste] Fw: Rape survivor, topper, now labourer
I forgot to send it to this group. Is there anyone who can help us locating this girl? Can someone in Gujarat find this girl. FFEI is ready to help in a small way. Thanks Ben Rape survivor, topper, now labourer Posted by: Siddhartha Kumar mailsiddharth...@gmail.com tellsiddhartha Thu Nov 19, 2009 9:53 am (PST) http://www.dnaindia .com/india/ report_rape- survivor- topper-now- labourer_ 1313167 Rape survivor, topper, now labourer DNA Wednesday, November 18, 2009 10:24 IST Ahmedabad: She survived the torment of being repeatedly gangraped-- at a government-run college in Patan, by her own teachers -- and yet topped the Primary Teacher's Certificate exams. Now she survives as a farm labourer, earning Rs60 per day. The victim, Pooja (name changed), a Dalit girl, who was violated for months by the very people who were supposed to protect and nurture her, was promised a job by the state government. The assurance was given during the trial of her six tormentors, who were later sentenced to life in prison, at a time when outraged and shamed Gujarat demanded that the government act responsibly and sensitively. Those promises seem to have been forgotten today. While her application for employment is tossed back and forth in babudom's labyrinth, Pooja struggles to fend for her bed-ridden parents. Her mother underwent a hysterectomy recently and the father suffered a bone injury, said Manjula Pradeep, the executive director of NGO, Navsarjan, which has been championing Pooja's fight for justice. Talking to DNA over phone, Pooja said, I cannot join a private school because they pay a measly Rs1,000 a month. As a labourer, I earn Rs60 per day. Her toils demoralise her so much that even the memory of scoring 86.8 % in her final PTC exams provide little succor, she said. As for government functionaries who had initially offered her support, they are now issuing non-committal platitudes. Pooja said that the state education minister, Ramanlal Vora, had told her, The government has received your application for a job, and will get back to you in due course of time. The only concrete offer that was made, that of a clerical job, came at a time when she was fighting her battle for justice. The government has to perform its role by offering her social security, and ensuring her physical and mental well-being, Pradeep said. It should fulfil all its promises of looking after her and giving her a life of dignity. Corroborating Pooja's statement that she had sent written applications to all government notables, including Narendra Modi, Pradeep said that Pooja had also met the Mehsana collector twice with her plea for a job. Ajay Bhadoo, the district collector of Mahesana, confirmed receiving her representation. She had made a representation to us in writing, three or four months back, he said. We had forwarded it to the official concerned, who is the district primary education officer. Then the application was forwarded to the state government. Meanwhile, Pooja continues to press on with her menial job, showing the same spirit that allowed her to survive her unspeakable trauma. She has received no monetary assistance, apart from the chief minister's token relief of Rs1 lakh, released soon after her story broke. Despite DNA's sustained attempts, education minister Vora and revenue minister Anandiben Patel, who is the sitting MLA from Patan, could not be reached for comments -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] Fwd: Naked Parading of Women----India's NATIONAL passtime ?
FYI. I got this message from another source. - Forwarded Message From: Venugopalan K M kmvenuan...@gmail.com Sent: Mon, November 23, 2009 9:16:38 PM Subject: Fwd: [ANN:2248] Naked Parading of WomenIndia's NATIONAL passtime ? Incidentally,these innumerable links generating every day , related to outrageous patterns of women's oppression in entire rural India question the credibility of theorizing them by certain quarters only on the basis of caste and holding that feminist and queer theories are biased against dalits and that they are not relevant to this country. (Venu) Pregnant UP woman beaten up, paraded nakedhttp://www.deccanchronicle.com/national/pregnant-woman-beaten-paraded-naked-889 November 23rd, 2009 IANS A group of locals thrashed a pregnant woman and paraded her naked through a village in Uttar Pradesh after she objected to encroachment on her land, police said on Monday. The incident took place on Sunday evening at Karnawala village in Bijnor district, about 400 km from Lucknow. Of the four people who were primarily behind the incident, two have been arrested, police said. In the incident, the woman suffered a miscarriage. She is undergoing treatment at a hospital, police inspector Rajesh Kumar Gautam told reporters. According to police, some residents of the village wanted to occupy a plot that belonged to the 25-year-old woman's husband. They started to set up a makeshift establishment on the plot on Sunday. When the woman, who was alone at home, protested, the encroachers barged into her residence. They hit her with wooden sticks, dragged her by the hair and stripped her, police added. Efforts are on to nab the other villagers involved in the incident, said Guatam. - Son caught with girl, mother paraded naked July 9th, 2009 - 2:19 pm ICT by IANS - Lucknow, July 9 (IANS) A 50-year-old woman was assaulted and paraded naked through an Uttar Pradesh village because her son was caught with a girl, police said Thursday. Five members of the girl's family caught the woman by her hair and forced her to walk naked through the village in Aligarh district's Padiawali village, about 300 km from here. Although the incident took place Monday, police registered a case only Thursday. A police inspector has been suspended for the delay. Describing the events leading up to the incident, Superintendent of Police Hridesh Kumar (rural) told IANS over phone: The boy and the girl were spotted together in the village fields by some locals. They informed the girl's father, who along with his four sons started beating him with wooden sticks. When the mother intervened to try and rescue her son, they turned on her, he added. All the five suspects are absconding. Read more: http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/son-caught-with-girl-mother-paraded-naked_100215489.html#ixzz0Xk19tR2F --- Dalit woman paraded half-naked in Uttar PradeshJune 25th, 2009 - 2:55 pm ICT by IANS - Lucknow, June 25 (IANS) Five people allegedly thrashed a 40-year-old Dalit woman, chopped her hair and then paraded her half-naked through an Uttar Pradesh village alleging that her husband was involved in a theft, police said Thursday. The incident took place Wednesday in Sirsia village of Kushinagar district where a group of locals ill-treated Barfi Devi alleging that her husband was involved in a theft, police Inspector Om Prakash Chauhan told IANS by phone. A group of five villagers first tied Devi to a cot and beat her black and blue. Later, the villagers cut her hair and forced her to parade half-naked in different localities of the village, Chauhan said. Kushinagar is about 300 km from state capital Lucknow. A case has been registered against the five villagers, he added. While we arrested two men involved in the incident, the other three are absconding, said Chauhan. Read more: http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/dalit-woman-paraded-half-naked-in-uttar-pradesh_100209316.html#ixzz0Xk1wRP7l - Five women stripped, paraded naked in JharkhandOctober 19th, 2009 - 11:18 am ICT by IANS - Ranchi, Oct 19 (IANS) Five women were stripped and paraded naked in Deoghar district of Jharkhand after being charged of witchcraft, police said Monday. Five women, including three widows, were forcibly brought to a field Sunday in Patharghatia village in Deoghar, about 350 km from state capital Ranchi. They were stripped and paraded naked and two of them were forced to eat excreta, police said. Sushila Kumahrin, Sagiran Beebi, Hafijan Beebi, Sujan Beebi and Gulnar Beebi were tortured to accept that they were witches and practise black magic. The incident took place at the instruction of a witch doctor. The witch doctor said that these women were practising black magic and were causing problems in the village, a police officer told IANS. The women were rescued when local government officials and police reached
[ZESTCaste] Recently concluded assembly elections - any analysis please?
Dear friends Does anyone have any in-depth analysis on the recently concluded Assembly elections in India? I am very eager to know the how various parties (especially BSP) performed in the elections? I appreciate any help. Benjamin -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] Help appeal - Thanks to Dr Uma Iyer for her contribution
Dear donors and friends, A few days ago I wrote an email asking help for two sisters studying nursing in Guntur, AP. Immediately came a reply from Dr Uma Iyer, one of our new donors who read about our project on our website a year ago and contacted me. Today I got a check for $300. Thanks to Dr Uma for her generosity. If anyone is interested to help with the rest of the money, please come forward. With regards Ben Kaila -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org From: Benjamin Kaila benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com To: AmbedkarScholarshipGroup ambedkarscholars...@yahoogroups.com; OfficersForum officersfo...@yahoogroups.com; Dalit Group da...@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sun, October 4, 2009 8:59:56 AM Subject: An appeal - 2 nursing students need help Dear donors and friends, Here is another appeal for help. Those who is willing to help may come forward. Two sisters whose father died of Aid are studying Nursing in Guntur. Their monther was a causual labor and depends on the daily wages of her other daughter, her mother, and herself. The elder one was assisted by me for the past 3 years and completed her course. She is still looking for a job. The younger one was in the last year. She has been assisted by one of our donors for the past 2 years. Now, someone has to help her to pay her annual fee of around Rs.12,000 - Rs.15,000. I tought of helping her, but due to some financial decisions I had taken lately, my financial resources are almost drained out. I can not as generous as before, but I try my best to accommodate where ever I can. It is a part of my mission. So, now I am appealing to someone who can her this girl to finish her Nursing course. In addition, her sister needs around Rs.5,000 for her settlement of accounts in her institute, I was told. If anyone is willing to her, please come forward. I will send all the bills from the institute to the donors as soon as I receive them. So, here are the requirements: 1. Elder sister needs: Rs.5,000 2. Younger sister needs: Rs.12,000 - Rs.15,000 Since I have been helping them for the part 3 years, communication with them is not an issue (as it was before with some of the beneficiaries). If the donor wants, he/she can talk to them to understand their requirement. So, please come forward to help these sisters. With little more help, they will come out of poverty and may help thier other family members (especially the hardworking mother and grandmother) and others in their community. My wife, when she went to India last year met them and very much impressed with them. Anticipating some possitive outcome. With much regards Benjamin -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] News: Couple booked for torturing Dalit girl (with my personal story)
Dear donors and friends, Every day I read many heart drenching stories of this type. But, I do not forward them or comment on them. Some of them touches my personal life. This story is one of such. My mother (who passed away 20 years ago) was the most generous and kindhearted human I have personally experienced in my life. Though she was poor, she never hesitates to help anyone in need. I have so many pleasurable memories of her kidness towards others. They make me feel good when I remember them. Whatever the little good I have in me, I proudly proclaim, it came from my mom Vazramma (Vazram means dimond in Telugu), very suitable name to her character. The story I am telling is a different kind that we read in this news item. The story goes this way: When I was a child, my family owned a couple of she-buffalos for milk. As both my parents (still they used to do lot of work) were elementary school teachers and we were too small, we need someone to help with the buffalos. My father was well-known for his honesty in our villages and so he was a well respected man among all villagers. Knowing my father’s intentions, a boy’s (Sambiaha who is little older than me) father approached my father to offer his sons services. Sambaiah’s father was a Madiga (sub-caste among Andhra Dalits) whereas we are Mala. He was an entertainer by profession whose earnings cannot feed his family of several children. They live in the fields guarding them for a small fee. Sambaiah had a sturdy boy, but short. He joined our family as one of the members and he used to called my parents Amma, and Nanna (per my parent’s instructions) and us (my siblings and me) brothers. I sometimes think now, that was a child labor and my parents wouldn’t have done it. But, it happened. I remember him always tired and my heart cries when I think of him now. I would be more proud of my parents had they educated him instead. One day, while grazing the buffalos, he tied a small calf’s leash to his wrist. There was a truck horn and the calf frightened. Now, imagine what happened. The calf started running in the field. It was summer. The field was full of ups and downs, parched with big openings in the land. By the time, someone noticed, it dragged him for so many furlongs. Someone caught the animal and by that time Sambaiah’s body was full of blood. It was a holiday for me and I remember watching the scene which I can’t imagine without feeling pain in my heart. My parents rushed to his aid and his father was informed. His father wanted to take him his home and treat him there. But, my mother did not allow it and she nursed him sitting by his bedside (day and night) till he became perfectly normal. I could imagine my mother’s devotion to him when he was in bed. In later years, I went to college and he got married and had his own children. But, whenever he knew that I am at home, he would pay us a visit with headload of various fruits (especially Tati munjalu or Palmyra fruits, I was very fond of). After I came to US, I started enquiry about his whereabouts sending my people in search of him. I want to do something for him. To my sadness, my relatives informed me that he passed away several years ago due to some illness and his family was not traceable as they live in the fields. I do not know how much effort they put. How sad my heart felt! I wanted to help atleast his children. I am still in search of his family. If I visit India (I do not know when), that was one of my first priorities. In Sambaiah’s story, I would have much appreciated my parents, had they gave him education, even though they employed him. But, that did not happen and I feel sorry for that. When I read this story of cruelty, I remember the story of sympathy and compassion. I do not know why people behave to cause harm to innocent and hapless children despite robbing their precious lives. They could be little kind to them as they are under their care. I am sure there are millions of children suffer just because of their helpless conditions of their families. Who save them? When this ends? There are many organizations floating around and number of laws to protect them. Despite all this the people who do such heinous crimes get away very lightly, in this case they got the bail immediately. No answers except making heart heavy to breath. Thanks for patiently hearing my story. With regards Ben Kaila http://www.thaindia n.com/newsportal /uncategorized/ couple-booked- for-torturing- dalit-girl_ 100254365. html Couple booked for torturing Dalit girl September 30th, 2009 - 9:46 pm ICT by IANS - Lucknow, Sep 30 (IANS) A woman was arrested Wednesday and a search was on for her husband after they allegedly held a six-year-old Dalit girl hostage for the past six months and tortured her, police said. The matter came to light Sunday when police raided their home on a complaint by the girl’s mother and rescued her.
[ZESTCaste] Announcement: FFEI lost a good friend Mr Maharaj Kaul
Mr Maharaj Kaul passed away Dear donors and friends, With a heavy heart I inform you all that our good friend Mr Maharaj Kaul passed away on September 30th 2009 with gall blader cancer in Fremont, California. He is just 68. Good people are favorite to God, it seems. I knew him just for 2 years and we became so close. He is one of the most generous persons I have ever known. He did a lot for our organization in these two years. I have been trying to talk to him for the past 6 months. Generally, he would respond immediately if he could not take my call for some reason. But, recently, whenever I call, a lady was answering and giving me some excuse – he is in the bathroom, he is sleeping etc, which I never heard before. But I never got a call back from him. Today when I again called him, his sister answered and told me the news. He instructed them not to tell anyone about his illness. He was suffering from it for months now. He once told me something like this, I am a Kashmiri Brahmin. Still, I know the pain Dalits face for centuries in India due to religion and caste. I couldn’t control my grief. I wept. In fact we were thinking of meeting someday either in my place or his place. Do you know what he was doing from his death bed? He was rushing me to complete formalities to get matching contribution from his employer (GE) for FFEI. According to his communication, he made FFEI receive a certain amount every year from GE as matching contribution in addition to his own. I was not clear about it and I would like to talk to him, but he never gave me a chance to talk. That means, he is corresponding with me from his deathbed, without letting me know his illness. I am devastated. I have very few friends in my life, but losing a friend I like (though I never met him) is like losing my family member. May his kind soul rest in peace! Life is short. There is only one way to come to this world, but many ways to go out of this wretched world. His memorial ceremony will be held in a week’s time, I was told. If anyone wants information, please let me know. I will pass the information I have as I have relatives contacts. With a unbearable heavy heart, I pray “ MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE!” Benjamin Paul Kaila -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] My own dark continent
Interesting. http://tehelka.com/story_main42.asp?filename=hub031009my_own.asp My Own Dark Continent Sometimes you have to use racism to your advantage, suggests JOSHUA MUYIWA Illustration: ANAND NAOREM MY MOTHER was born to a Malayali man and a Nepali woman. She married my Nigerian father and I was born. I have lived in Bengaluru for 20 of my 23 years – I speak passable Hindi, Kannada, Nepali, and Tamil and can ask for hot water and bedding in Malayalam. But apparently, using all social markers that help me pass off as Indian will not prevent me from being seen through race-coloured glasses. While doing my mass media communications course in a reputed college known for its ‘discipline’ and moral policing, each student was given a handbook of rules about attendance, the hair-styles they can sport. I was once called to the Vice-Principal’s office and told off “for spreading African culture” because during lunch break I had hugged a girl. My first job interview was for the post of a copy-writer with an ad company. The interviewer said, “Don’t take this badly, but in my experience Africans are lazy and irregular and if we hire you, you must be hardworking and punctual with your work.” I didn’t take the job. While at Chennai Central recently, I approached the security guard for directions to the right platform. Instead of providing me directions, he called an inspector and the inspector asked me to produce my passport. Being used to situations like this, I had it handy but in spite of possessing an Indian passport – my bags were searched for drugs while I was informed that “Africans are (in)famous for carrying drugs”. When no drugs were found in my bags, I was given prompt directions to the platform but no apology. I WAS TOLD OFF “FOR SPREADING AFRICAN CULTURE” BECAUSE DURING LUNCH BREAK, I HAD HUGGED A GIRL These are just three incidents, but through a normal day in Bengaluru, I encounter just as many incidents – I have motorists yelling out, “Blackie”, I have schoolchildren and college students greeting me with, “Yo, Niggah!” and at nightclubs, I have random strangers walking up to me and asking me, “Can you hook me up with some weed, coke or E?” but I have learnt to laugh it off. The irony is that being constantly reminded that I am of Negroid descent has made me look into that culture, reading its literature, being inspired by its poetry and finally coming to terms with the fact that I can wear bright, neon and fluorescent colours. Also, though the discrimination has stung, I have learnt to play around with my identity, getting a lower auto rate because I pretend to hesitatingly speak Kannada or Hindi, or always being remembered because I look different and therefore getting good service at restaurants. It has also helped in my career as a journalist — people tell me about their life in detail because they feel I won’t understand, thus bettering my stories. I might not belong to this country because I was born here, but because “I” — my politics, my identity and my perspectives — was born here. Muyiwa is a journalist and works for Timeout Bengaluru From Tehelka Magazine, Vol 6, Issue 39, Dated October 03, 2009 -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] Re: [E-Forum] Need woman executive member for FFEI (both India and US chapters)
Dear bother Prem, I believe participation of women in any organization is very important. In FFEI, we have all men in the executive body. I wish to have a few committed women in FFEI to work with us and advice us on various issues. and projects Though majority of our help goes to girl students and women, I failed to convince a few committed women I knew to join us. Reasons vary. Since it is a voluntary position, I am looking for a committed woman who can devote some time for our activities. People can commit only when they have passion for what they do. So, please help me if you know such a person with passion to help others through FFEI. With regards Ben -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org From: Prem Pal drpr...@yahoo.co.uk To: benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com Sent: Wednesday, September 23, 2009 5:43:27 PM Subject: Re: [E-Forum] Need woman executive member for FFEI (both India and US chapters) Dear Benj, but why a women only for this post? --- On Tue, 22/9/09, Benjamin Kaila benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com wrote: From: Benjamin Kaila benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com Subject: [E-Forum] Need woman executive member for FFEI (both India and US chapters) To: AmbedkarScholarshipGroup ambedkarscholars...@yahoogroups.com, Dalit Group da...@yahoogroups.com, ZestCaste ZESTCaste@yahoogroups.com, OfficersForum officersfo...@yahoogroups.com Date: Tuesday, 22 September, 2009, 8:26 PM Dear friends, I am actively looking for a woman executive member for FFEI for both India and US chapters. I need a committed woman who will be able to help us actively in our work. If anyone is interested and knows someone who can fit the bill, please let me know. Appreicate your help. Benjamin
[ZESTCaste] Need woman executive member for FFEI (both India and US chapters)
Dear friends, I am actively looking for a woman executive member for FFEI for both India and US chapters. I need a committed woman who will be able to help us actively in our work. If anyone is interested and knows someone who can fit the bill, please let me know. Appreicate your help. Benjamin -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] FFEI registered in India - looking for help
Dear donors and friends, I am very happy to announce that Friends for Education International (India chapter) has been registered. It took 6 long years to do it. Now, I need suggestions and help in the following: 1. Obtaining 80G (Income Tax exemption) for FFEI in India 2. Obtaining FCRA clearance Any suggestions or offer of help is very much appreciated. I believe in “Ask and you get” and so asking. Please let me know if you have already done it or in a capacity to help me. Here are the officer bearers of FFEI (India): President : Mr Benjamin Paul Kaila, US Vice President : Prof Shiva Shankar, Chennai Institute of Mathematics, Chennai General Secretary : Mr Vijayavardhana Rao Pilli, Manager, IDBI, Hyderabad Joint Secretary : Mr Rajavardhana Rao Pilli, Hyderabad Treasurer : Mr Luke Anand Paul Kaila, Hyderabad Executive member: Mr Narayana Aedla, Hyderabad Executive member: Mr Samual Babu Kakileti, Hyderabad Advisors: 1. Mr Kaki Madhava Rao, IAS (Rtd), Ex Chief Secretary to Govt. of AP 2. Mr S Anand, Navayana Publishing House With regards Benjamin Kaila -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] Untouchable Lincoln : Times 1936 original article
This week's Chandrabhan Prasad's article refers this. FYI Ben http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,755912-1,00.html Religion: Untouchable Lincoln Monday, Mar. 16, 1936 One of the few men who have risen from the malodorous sink which is below the lowest caste of India is Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, No. 1 Untouchable. This plump, cheery, bespectacled man of no caste, whose very shadow would outrage high-caste Hindus, managed to get a good education in Indian Government schools, was staked to courses at the University of London and Columbia University by the highly democratic Gaekwar of Baroda. Dr. Ambedkar is probably the only man alive who ever walked out in a huff from a private audience with the Pope of Rome. His Holiness Pius XI having heard from Dr. Ambedkar about the miseries of Indian outcastes, replied: My son, it may take three or four centuries to remedy these abuses, be patient. Impatient Dr. Ambedkar summoned 10,000 raggle-taggle Untouchables to Nasik near Bombay last autumn, said de liberately: I had the misfortune of being born with the stigma of Untouchability. But it is not my fault. I will not die a Hindu, for this is in my power. I say to you, abandon Hinduism and adopt any other religion which gives you equality of status and treatment. Thereupon the 10,000 adopted a resolution advising India's Untouchables—some 60,000,000—to desert Hinduism en masse. Then a mob of Untouchables made a mighty bonfire of the most sacred Hindu books they could find. At Lucknow volunteers were solicited to force entry into Hindu temples, from which Untouchables have been barred since time immemorial. At Barabanki 28,000 Untouchables shouted their support of Dr. Ambedkar, laid plans for an All Indian Untouchable Conference. Millions of leaflets bearing Untouchable Ambedkar's message began fluttering out over India. To what faith the Untouchables should turn for equality of status and treatment, Dr. Ambedkar did not hasten to explain. Since he was reported dallying with Mohammedanism, Christian leaders in India exhibited pious skittishness. Declared the National Christian Council of India: ''The harvest is ripe for the gathering in many quarters and we urge that volunteer bands be sent forth to gather it. This week in Zion's Herald, New England Methodist weekly, appears the first interview with Dr. Ambedkar to be published in the U. S. since he made his Nasik speech. To get it, able Editor Lewis Oliver Hartman went to India, sought out its No. 1 Untouchable, plied him with practical questions. Wrote the editor of Zion's Herald: The [Untouchable] leader was rather critical of Christianity's constant emphasis upon personal experience at the expense of any wider reference. 'Why have you not seen the importance of a religion that reaches out into all life and all relationships?' he asked. Continuing, he declared with deep feeling, 'If you are going to compromise with evil conditions while you stress personal religion exclusively, I tell you now I am not with you. . . . . I pointed out in answer that, so far as the Methodist Episcopal Church was concerned, our watchword was this: 'Nothing that has to do with human welfare is foreign to Methodism.' This seemed to please him. . . . Of Hinduism the man whom Editor Hartman calls India's Lincoln said: Hinduism is not a religion; it is a disease. Editor Hartman's interview concluded thus: ''This much is settled,' he said to me, 'we are through forever with Hinduism. We are going somewhere, but are not ready yet to say in what direction 'Yes,' I answered, 'you are not strong enough yet to announce a decision. If you compromise with the Hindus, all is lost; if you choose Mohammedanism, the Hindus will crush you; if you go Christian, both the Hindus and the Moslems will be on your back.' 'Exactly,' replied Dr. Ambedkar. 'We are not ready—yet.' -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] Thanks to Prof Anand, Australia for his generous donation USD 2,500
Dear donors and friends, I humbly thank Prof Anandswarup Gadde for his generous contribution of USD 2,500 (Two thousand five hundred dollars). He has been a great supporter of FFEI for the past few years donating thousands of dollars every year. Ever since he came to know about me thru Shiva Vij, he has been a great moral strength to me thru his regular communication giving new ideas and introducing several other generous people. I am greatly indebted to him for his trust in me and for the interest he shows (in our communication) for the welfare of the weaker and discriminated people of India. This year we are going use Rs.50,000 of him money to start microloan project in Bihar with the help of Dr Satinath Chowdary. The remaining will do for the scholarships project. I once again thank him for his compassionate gesture. Thank you sir! If I do not use it in the best way possible, I will be fit for nothing. I will try my best to put your hard earned money to the best purpose possible. I am humbled by your generosity. With much regards Ben Kaila -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] Re: Thanks to Prof Anand, Australia for his generous donation USD 2,500
Dr Sati, Your thanks should go to Prof Anandswarup, not to me. His generosity makes it possible to start microloans in Bihar. I am only a medium between you and Prof Anand. Without his generosity, what can I do? I am struggling to fulfill the contribution you are expecting from FFEI. We will work out something to give a facelift to Bihar project. So, thank Prof Anand. The real thanks is running the project successfully and systematically and making it big by all means. Let us cross our fingers and see what we can do in Bihar. With regards Ben -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org From: Satinath Choudhary satich...@yahoo.com Dear friends, I must add my thanks and gratitude too to Br. Ben’s thanks to Professor Gadde for his generosity in providing the seed fund towards micro-loan project in Bihar. I hope we will be able to put this money to good use so that the program proliferates and more and more poor people Bihar are able to make use of such alternate funds, and possibly we may go on to do bigger and better things. Today I am in Bangalore, proceeding to Guntur, AP, this afternoon. In Guntur, Br. Ben has arranged for me to visit some of his micro-loan borrowers. I will try to learn various things about micro-loans in Guntur. Regards, Satinath Choudhary
[ZESTCaste] God's women or god-forsaken?
Who to blame for heinous practices such as this - Devadasi? Their poor families who cannot feed despite back-breaking work all day or the system created such practices with a tag of honor and in the name of culture? Some argue these poor have no right to have children when they cannot feed them, very convincing and intelligent argument for those who do not bother to understand the other side of the fence. Whatever the reason, the sufferers are the children who came to this world with no fault of theirs. They grew up and continue the same cycle however unpleasant their childhood was. Who are the victims and who are the beneficiaries? Why to promote this kind of practices in the name of culture and religion? Hope, some drastic and concrete steps will be taken by the governments of this modern era to decimate these practices with heart and soul putting into it. Benjamin http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/gods_women_or_god-forsaken.php God's women or god-forsaken? Vasanthi Hariprakash , Sunday August 23, 2009, Raichur Huligamma laughs when I tell her that she should have been a 'fillim heroine'. The Narayanpet maroon sari with a green border drapes well around her head, the big red bindi standing out on her dusky forehead. The dozens of green bangles cling-clang on her arms as she adjusts the chains of black beads and gold around her slender neck. She proudly shows off her `muthu' to me - a long chain of white beads that has over four flat silver coins strewn with the images of female deities and strangely, an icon of Hanuman. Her eyes speak a thousand things in a minute. And when she picks up her smaller-than-a-tanpura two-stringed instrument and starts singing, its like you can hear her soul speak. I don't wish to tell you that Huligamma is a devadasi. For, it will colour the way you visualize this feisty woman. Particularly, if you are someone fed on Hindi cinema `classics' for whom the devadasi is a richly clad bejeweled woman waited upon at her home; while she waits for her love. Huligamma is a Dalit, living poor at Kurudi village in one of Karnataka's most backward districts, Raichur. She looks like she is in her fifties, but she doesn't remember how old she is. What she clearly remembers is that she was 8 when her father ordained her to be a devadasi. Devoted to the Gods. If you ask me: `Dedicated to humans' as I will tell you a little later. When I set out from Bangalore to Gulbarga and Raichur, meeting Devadasis or working on a feature on their lives was nowhere on my radar. It was red gram that took me on this journey to the Tur Bowl of Karnataka; why the pulse crop price had shot up is what I had wanted to find out report on. But when I arrived at Raichur, I saw this group of women braving a non-stop strike outside the Deputy Commissioner's office at Raichur, demanding food security and fixing of their ration card anomalies. That's when I decided to stop to take a look at their lives. And that is what took me to Huligamma's village, 20 km further away from Raichur. Meeting her was a revelation. A complete reversal of what I had heard about devadasis. No, they are not glorified prostitutes who are common property of the village. In fact, most of them stay committed to a single partner all their life. No, not all of them are artists or dancers either. Of the two types broadly classified into `Ranga devadasis' 'Anga devadasis', only the former would be dedicated to the arts temples. Huligamma ran away to near the village well when she learnt of her father's plans. How difficult was it for a family to drag back home a wiry eight-year-old? I told him .. throw me into this well, give me away in marriage or give me up for adoption if we are so poor. But Huligamma had to pay the price for being the first-born in a family of only-girls. When there are no sons who will look after them in their old age, the parents are allowed to take shelter with their daughter without the society frowning upon them. Because she is a Devadasi. The Daughter that shall maintain the family, fund the family functions with the price she gets from the man who will `claim' her, all with social sanction. Vasanth'avva she pulls my hand affectionately to squat me down facing her in her mud hut.. How nice it would have been isn't it if I too had `made' a husband for myself - idhenidhu (`whats this' in Kannada)? Living on leftovers.. No matter how `correct' we are, (she pauses, staring long at me), `devadaaasi' they taunt us. And married women.. no matter whatever they do behind their doors.. there is a screen to protect them (she gestures with her hand to indicate `shut'). Am I right? Like Huligamma, Yellamma too was `correct' - she was claimed by a Muslim partner and it is with him that she has been all along. She bore his children. Three sons. Yellamma is much younger, in her thirties, beautiful in a rustic way, fair for her caste, strong for her slender
[ZESTCaste] News and my thoughts
Dear donors and friends, These two news items took me to my childhood where I was living in a Dalit ghetto in a small village in AP. As a norm we would live in a ghetto away from the main village. Our ghetto was connected to the village by a narrow mud road. Though all of the village roads were made of gravel, none ever bothered about our ghetto or the connecting road. This road would also be used as a lavatory by the villagers. It was difficult to walk on this strip of land during summer due to all the filth of human excreta. Imagine our fate when it rains. With no complaints we had to pull on our lives. It was a living hell. We had no voice in running the matters of the viallge. What was worse was that the villagers dump their dead animals – dogs, cats, sometimes even cattle on this road when they die. They lie there for weeks – only for the birds and vultures devour the rotten flesh. The stench they emit would come all the way to our ghetto. While walking on the road, it was unbearable to breathe or to see as the carcasses were putrefied with worms. We, children, however curious we were at that time, would close our eyes and nose to pass through the road. Sometimes, we curiously watch the skinning of the dead cattle by the cobblers. Some other times I watch with bewilderment when people collect the meat from the dead cattle. I would only understand later that that was on what they can survive. When I read this type of news, I feel how lucky I was to be born to my parents who were teachers. They saved me from this wretched life. How narrowly I escaped such a life? But, many of my then friends were not as lucky as I was. Why I write? When I read some of the news I never experienced in life, I question their validity. Many of my non Dalit friends think Dalits exaggerate things to draw sympathy. When I can relate myself to a news item, I would like to share with you. Many a time, I pass it and sometimes I share with you all. Hope, I am not boring anyone with my thoughts. With regards Benjamin 'I get paid Rs8 for clearing animal carcass from roads' Posted by: Siddhartha Kumar mailsiddharth...@gmail.com tellsiddhartha Mon Aug 17, 2009 10:39 am (PDT) http://www.dnaindia .com/india/ report_i- get-paid- rs8-for-clearing -animal-carcass- from-roads_ 1282977 'I get paid Rs8 for clearing animal carcass from roads' Paras K Jha / DNAMonday, August 17, 2009 8:56 IST Ahmedabad: The stink from carcasses of animals that die in road accidents and which are not cleared by the civic authorities is often nauseating. One can only imagine the plight of people who have to move these decomposed road kills to other places. Despite several attempts by development organisations to curb manual scavenging, it is common to see dalit children drag the carcasses.Navsarjan - a social organisation that works on issues of discrimination against Dalit children has found out that more than 1,000 children from several districts of the state are involved in manual scavenging. Thirteen-year- old Umesh Vegad from Vallabhipur taluka of Bhavnagar district says he is made to sit on the floor of the school while others get to sit on the benches. Teachers and children from Patel and Darbar community are treated us differently. I clean my class twice a month and urinals once every week. I get work of moving dead animal bodies from the roads to other places and I get paid Rs8 for that, says Umesh. Such children, who have left their studies because of discrimination in schools, will share their plight and pain of being born in a dalit family in a public hearing organised by the NGO today at Gandhi Ashram between 12 to 4 pm. Manjula Pradeep, executive director of Navsarjan said, We want to put forward this issue to the government. Even today, there are people who believe there is nothing wrong in cleaning toilets by children from lower castes, especially dalits. We want, dalit children to be in the mainstream just like other children. They should also attend schools and get to study. The public hearing will help kids from Valmiki community. Talking about discrimination with children of Valmiki community in schools, Hasmukh Adhia, principal secretary state Education department said, If such cases of discrimination would be brought to our notice, we will put the children in main schools. Gautam Valmiki from Harij town of Patan district tells no different story. We face discrimination during mid-day meals at our school. The students from other community abuse and treat us in a bad way. Iam made to clean my classroom daily. My father earns Rs1,500 every month and everyday, I go to Ambikanagar to collect leftover food. We get Rs10 ff we drag carcasses from the roads and move it to other places. Manjula Pradeep said that eminent people will attend the public hearing as a jury. It includes Justice RA Mehta, former acting chief justice of Gujarat, Kamlaben Gurjar, member of National
[ZESTCaste] Microloans project in Bihar: asking for donations
Dear donors and friends, If you are following correspondence on this group, you must have noticed about the proposal to start “Microloans project” in Bihar through Dr Satinath Chowdary, a well known figure in Dalit intellectual circles. Prof Anadswarup Gadde of Australia came forward with seed money of Rs.50,000. Since Dr Sati misread my email (Dr Sati, please do not pounce on me J) he thought that FFEI would help him with Rs.25,000 and made arrangements accordingly. Now, FFEI is obligated to provide Rs.25,000 seed money to start Microloans in Bihar. What is FFEI without donors? So, I am in turn begging you for donations. Since Dr Sati is responsible for the whole management of the money we entrust to him, he is liable to pay it back if things go wrong. I am correct, Dr Sati? So, please let me know if anyone is interested to help us with Rs.25,000 or for that matter any amount you are comfortable with. With regards Benjamin -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] Re: [E-Forum] Hello! I am in Chennai now; will be in Bangaluru and Hyderabad soon!
Dear Dr Sati, I am happy you are planing to visit our Microloan project in AP. Our project is running in Guntur district which is around 300 Kms from Hyderabad. If you have a date of your proposed visit, I will let our people know about it. You need a translator as well as my folk can not talk either in Hindi or English. Based on details of your visit, I will arrange a translator as well to travel with you. So, please let me know your plans as early as possible. The early the best. You need atleast one full day to visit and talk to the beneficiaries at different villages. If you can arrange a car, it would be far better as my folk are not rich enough to provide you one. I am sure, you will be exited to see our project. With regards Benjamin -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] News on ‘Khabar Lahariya’ : we are proud that we helped them
FFEI is proud that it awarded a small amount of Rs.10,000 to this esteemed newspaper “Khabhar Lahariya” two years ago. Mr Vidya Bhushan Rawat helped us in presenting our award http://www.friends4education.org/scholarship/2007/07awards/07kl.htm It is a pleasure to see good reports on it. Recently it has been selected for an International award as well. I congratulate every one responsible for its publication. 6. Dalit newspaper strives for social justice in Bundelkhand Posted by: Siddhartha Kumar mailsiddharth...@gmail.com tellsiddhartha Mon Aug 17, 2009 10:39 am (PDT) http://www.deccanhe rald.com/ content/19806/ dalit-newspaper- strives-social- justice.html Dalit newspaper strives for social justice in Bundelkhand Sanjay Pandey in Lucknow Sheer determination and hard work has earned this small group of women international recognition Launched in 2002 as a modest four-page newspaper in Uttar Pradesh's backward Bundelkhand region, ‘Khabar Lahariya’ (waves of news), bagged the prestigious UNESCO Literacy Award. The news paper is in a local dialect using Devanagiri script and run by semi-literate Dalit, Muslim and Kol women and has been creating real waves in the impoverished and parched lands of Bundelkhand. The all women newspaper, a weekly, which now has eight pages and employs 20 plus ‘semi-literate’ women, symbolises the struggle against social discrimination. ‘‘We had to face great difficulties in bringing out and running the newspaper. The people from the upper caste did not like it and our reporters had a tough time in gathering information’’, recalls its editor Meera. Interestingly barring Meera, who is a graduate, all the other staff is semi-literate. ‘‘Our reporters do not find any difficulty in their work as the newspaper is in Bundeli dialect’’, she told Deccan Herald from Chitrakoot. The work of reporting, page making and even selling the newspapers is done by these 20-plus women. ‘‘With our limited resources, we can not afford to sell the newspaper through hawkers. The reporters go from one village to another to sell it’’, Meera said. ‘‘In fact it helped the reporters ton get first hand news from the villages; especially the problems they face and about the implementation of welfare schemes'', she added. Meera attributes the success of the newspaper to the dialect in which it is published. ‘‘It is easy for the people of the region to understand the Bundeli language’’, she points out. No wonder ‘Khabar Lahariya’ today has a readership of 25, 000. The number of copies printed stand at four thousand and it is sold for Rs. two in as many as 400 villages in Chitrakoot and Banda districts of Bundelkhand. A Delhi-based NGO Nirantar had extended help to bring out the newspaper after a newsletter ‘Mahila Dakiya’ by an NGO Mahila Samakhya stopped publication in 1999. The newspaper now is getting government and private advertisements also, which has helped to sustain it, Meera said. The newspaper has won the prestigious UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize 2009. The award would be presented at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris in September. Meera says that the award signifies ‘victory of women’s power’. She is now making plans to start publication of the newspaper from some other districts of the region as well. With its main focus on local issues, Khabar Lahariya exposed the Tendu leaves scam. Its reports were followed by many state level Hindi dailies. Back to top Reply to sender| Reply to group| Reply via web post Messages in this topic (1) -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] Micro-Loan Project of Aurangabad, Bihar, is ready to roll!
Note: I do not have account in many of the groups you copied this email. Feel free to post my reply on them, if it has any value. We need donors, who knows there may be someone looking for an opportunity to serve people. Dear Dr Sati, Wonderful job! I again surprised to read my promise of Rs.25,000 from FFEI. You haven’t read my earlier email on this. Anyway, now you made me think of ways and means to get you Rs.25,000 of FFEI funds. Let me think and ask around. 1. I am impressed with your committee members and organization name. Hope, the project will be in good hands and grows leaps and bounds. 2. Prof Anandswarup Gadde had already in communication with me and in the process of sending money. As you said, it is appropriate to copy his background in his own words. I hope Professor do not have any objection. I knew him for almost 3 years and I know how much he care about the people in need. Though he is a retired professor, he spends all his earnings helping others. He not only spends his own money, but also encourages his family members and friends to do the same. For example, in 2007, his son gave a substantial amount that he earned through an online game. Helping others is his passion. How many people do we find with such a commitment? When I ask a penny from some known rich NRIs, they say several cock and bull stories. To my surprise, they are not only rich but also more talkative on the net on Dalit matters. Their talk does not go beyond lip service. My personal solicitations yield no results and I stopped wasting my time. So, right people always deserve praise. When Scavenging Children Scholarships project is the brain child of Prof Shiva Shankar, Prof Anand gave impetus to Microloans project. Prof Anand also helped to stock books worth of tens of thousands of rupees in a library in a Dalit ghetto. I know that apart from our project, he helps many more. 3. I am looking for a good website that helps me post information with ease, for example, bio people connected to our project etc. It is not that I am not acting on it. I have been trying to take help for almost 3,4 years. But it is not going anywhere, reasons are many. 4. 12% interest earned on microloans, we so far used it for giving more loans. If you want to give nominal salaries to the staff, it is upto you. India is not that good in tapping volunteers. I desire to build a volunteer force for FFEI. See if it is possible. Otherwise, choice is yours. 5. Since you are in India, I would like you visit our running projects and talk to our volunteers and how they are maintain the records. If you are interested, please let me know. I will arrange everything for you, except travelling expenses. If you like spicy curries, I can accommodate you in one of my relative’s house, if you can adjust with our modest facilities. That’s all for now. Hope, you make microloan project a big in Bihar and with it you bring kudos to Prof Anandswarup who came forward to help start it and FFEI. May I see another Mohammad Yunus in you? I am serious, big things start small. With regards and best wishes Benjamin -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org From: Satinath Choudhary satich...@yahoo.com To: AmbedkarScholarshipGroup ambedkarscholars...@yahoogroups.com; Dalit Group da...@yahoogroups.com; ZestCaste ZESTCaste@yahoogroups.com Cc: india-un...@yahoogroups.com; nri-s...@yahoogroups.com; youth4equalopportunit...@yahoogroups.com; buddhismbangal...@yahoogroups.com; cyberbahuj...@yahoogroups.com; iitdal...@yahoogroups.com; bam...@yahoogroups.com; bahu...@yahoogroups.com; dalithumanrig...@yahoogroups.com; ZESTCaste@yahoogroups.com; dalits_in...@yahoogroups.com; dalitsind...@yahoogroups.com; ekduniya-socialjust...@dgroups.org; dalits-internatio...@yahoogroups.com; buddhistcir...@yahoogroups.com; issuesonline @yahoogroups.com; sakyagr...@yahoogroups.com; mulnivasibahujanwo...@yahoogroups.com; dalitconfere...@googlegroups.com; andhrapradesha...@yahoogroups.com; indiathinkers...@yahoogroups.com indiathinkers...@yahoogroups.com; Irfan Ahmad irfan_fa...@yahoo.co.in Sent: Saturday, August 15, 2009 11:24:31 PM Subject: [E-Forum] Micro-Loan Project of Aurangabad, Bihar, is ready to roll! Dear Br. Ben, Sorry for this late communication to you. The fault is entirely mine. Irfan Sahab had sent the list of names for the Board of Directors of the Micro-Loan Project of Aurangabad, Bihar, a number of days ago. But I was getting involved in a number of other things. Please
[ZESTCaste] Twinkle Twinkle Litte Caste - documentary
Dear friends, Kerala is the most literate state in India. If such is the case, one generally presumes it is less caste infected. On the contrary, please read this news item. Thanks Ben http://blog. insightyv. com/?p=595 ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Caste’ When children of the ‘upper’ caste drop out from school… A guest post byP.K. Ratheesh Kumar Different from its conventional understanding, the term ‘dropout’ has acquired a different meaning in the popular discourse in Kerala. Unlike other states, on an average, more than 90% of the children complete their school education and the question of addressing the issue of dropout does not hold much policy significance in the state of Kerala. The term dropout is then generally used to denote the shifting of children from one school to another. “TWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE CASTE”, a documentary directed by Soumya, a young filmmaker, exposes the dangerous dimension of a unique dropout episode from a pre-primary school in Malappuram, Kerala. By labeling the Uthalakkandi Anganvadi in Thrukalangod gram panjayat as “SC Anganvadi”, the caste Hindu parents withdraw their children from that nursery school. They grumble their children will become cultureless by mixing with Dalit kids who are also labeled as “unhygienic and less cultured—another video story on caste from the “god’s own country”. The movie captures this dreadful caste practice in the larger context of decentralization and developmental framework in Kerala, which is otherwise being celebrated as a ‘casteless” society in public discourse. “Caste is an old story in Kerala”, ”caste has disappeared from our society“, caste is no more a significant object in determining Kerala’s social life and public sphere”—when the larger popular imaginations on caste in Kerala live with these claims, each frame of the movie wipes out this common myth. Sharply focusing on the critical thinking within Dalit community in the Uthalakkandy Dalit Colony (Settlement) , it visualizes how Dalits resists the modern forms of caste violence and voices the powerful Dalit responses to the fake claims of development by the government and the media. The movie asserts: “Dalits are not capable of defining their problems is just a myth created by the state officials and the media. Political discussions and theorization take place constantly within Dalit community and they need no one to tell them what kind of problems they have and what kind of development they require”. The question of community participation and empowerment has been at the centre of discussion among educational planners, activists, and academicians for quite sometime now. In most of such engagements community turns out to be a homogenous category. The caste and gender hierarchies, the nature of participation and conflicts arising out of community involvement are more or less absent. How then one can understand community participation in schooling as empowering when the caste compositions of that community are not problematised? There was a press conference after the release of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Caste” at the Malappuram Press Club. Presumably, the media persons –both right and left- more or less ignored the theme and content of the film since it’s caste, a remote social syndrome that they cannot relate to. And then what is the point of discussing about it; so they engaged in a ‘pedagogic’ action, enlightening the young woman filmmaker on ‘how to make a documentary’. The media men sympathized that this movie has no good visuals, no good technology involved, just blended with the bits of four people’s random talk-then how will it become a documentary! The press conference, instead of discussing the film, ended up in imparting the basics of documentary making to the young filmmaker. W hile the right wing political workers observed their usual strategic silence after the movie gotbroadcast by a local television channel, the left party guardians frantically spread the word - “this is class, not caste”.Watch Part two , Part three, Part four of the Documentary -- Ranjit -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] Financial help needed for a dalit boy
Prof Ramaiah, As a small organization, Friends for Education can help him with Rs.5,000 provided the following documentation (scanned copies) is sent to us immediately. 1. Educational certificates 2. Admission letter 3. Letters of recommendation, if any. I am sending it to our mailing group as well. If one or more of donors may come forward to help him as the total sum required is not very big. But, I can not give any promisses. Dear donors and friends, Please go through this request and let me know if anyone is willing to help this promising young man. With regards Benjamin -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org From: Ramaiah Avatthi raama...@gmail.com To: humanhoriz...@yahoogroups.co.uk Sent: Friday, July 31, 2009 11:36:40 AM Subject: [HumanHorizons] financial help needed for a dalit boy Dear All, Jai Bhim. I am urgently writing this mail to help a Dalit boy (Mr. R. Stalin Chellappa) desperately trying admission in the Madras Christian college for B.Sc. (physical Education) programme. He is an excellent Hockey player, represented in Hockey team at the state and national levels and won medals.. But his father Mr. K.P. Ramanathan, who is a known committed Dalit human rights activists in the southern Tamil Nadu, does not have enough money to pay for the admission. Mr. Ramanathan is personally known to me and I know his commitment and courage to fight for the cause of Dalits. He has filed number of cases against the Backward Caste people who committed crimes against Dalits in his and nearby districts and as a result faced humiliation and physical attack number of times.I feel helping such individual and family is a must. He needs only Rs. 24627/= (Rs. 12000/- for the hostel accomodation and Rs.12624/= for other fees) to be paid to the college as initial fee. Mr. Ramanathan has told me that he will somehow manage the other expenses himself. I am writing this mail to you with the hope that you or your friends or the organisaton you are associated with would be able to help him pay the total admission fee of Rs.24627/- (rupees twenty four thousand six hundred twenty seven only). Kindly let me know the possibility. You may send a draft drawn in favour of the Principal, Madras Christian college, Thambaram, Chennai. Though the admission date is already over, considering the boy's talent, the college authority has agreed to wait for few more days. If your response is going to be positive, you may send the draft to the following address: Mr. K.P. Ramanathan, 5/27/5, Kamaraj Nagar, E.B. Colony, Madurai Road, Aruppukkottai, Viruthu Nagar District, Tamil Nadu, Cell: 09894417467. My contact No: 09819804728; 09930002389. Hoping to receive a positive early response from you. with regards, ramaiah -- Prof. A. Ramaiah Chairperson, Centre for Study of Social Exclusion Inclusive Policy, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai URL: www.tiss.edu/ faculty/ramaiah
[ZESTCaste] Re: [E-Forum] Re: microloans
Dear Dr Sati, I am happy that Prof Anandswarup is ready to support Microloans in Bihar. He is the one who helped me to expand Microloans in Andhra. I am surprised when you say that I offered Rs.25,000 thru Ambedkar Scholarships for Bihar. It seems you misread my email and so I am reproducing my May 25, 2009 email for clarification (see point 1 and 4). I am sorry if I am not clear. Currently we do not have any balance in Micorloans account. As informed, we distributed loans worth Rs. 1.5 lakhs just two weeks ago. Moreover, Friends for Education International is undergoing a change of leadership in India and waiting for the settlement of accounts. Till it is finished, I am not clear how much balance is left in the account. So, please do not curse me if I ask you to start the project with Rs.50,000 offered by Prof Anand. If everything goes well and we get more funding, we will help you in future. Sorry for the misunderstanding. Thanks Ben My July 25, 2009 email is reproduced here: Dear Dr Sati, Thanks for your lengthy email. As always, you sounded very academic. But, things on ground do not be so easy and systematic. Managing people (however courteous and democratically you may deal with them) is the most difficult thing I am facing from time to time. My humble reply in brief (without discrediting any of your views) is as follows: 1. I do not have any money left now for microloans. Can you find some donors? 2. I am ready to start in Bihar or anywhere if I have a reliable person whom I will be able to rely on. If you take 100% responsibility of the money we invest, I am for it. Can you? In addition, I need a person in Bihar (Mr. Irfan Ahmad or someone else) who can provide me information as required. Sometimes, I may demanding (but never aggressive) in order to provide timely and proper information to the donors. He/she should be able to put up with me :). 3. We have already a time-tested and working organization and we need not reinvent the wheel, if everybody involved do their job diligently. Too many cooks spoil the broth”. Since our project is small, I do think such a multi-layered setup is needed complicating the matter. Managing so many people (with egos of their own) is not a small issue, Bit, if it grows leaps and bounds, we may think of it. 4. I prefer to start with Rs.25,000 in any new place. Once it is proved that the project us handled good, we may increase the amount later. 5. We cannot pay anyone at least for now. We may think of it at a later stage. Though I am for paid employees, I do not have resources. Any more questions, please write to me. Thanks Ben -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org From: Satinath Choudhary satich...@yahoo.com To: ANANDASWARUP GADDE anandaswar...@gmail.com Cc: Benjamin Kaila benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com; Krao r...@verizon.net; AmbedkarScholarshipGroup ambedkarscholars...@yahoogroups.com; Dalit Group da...@yahoogroups.com; ZestCaste ZESTCaste@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, July 29, 2009 11:26:06 AM Subject: [E-Forum] Re: microloans Dear Anandaswarup jee, Thank you so very much for your kind commitment. That solves our problem. Ben (head of Ambedkar Scholarship program) had offered us Rs. 25,000 to start the program. However, my associate Mr. Irfan Ahmad was thinking that with this small amount the project will look like it is being run as a personal charity to help a few persons. On the other hand we would like to create a self-sustaining system capable of increasing its scope. For that we would like to start with a board of about five people committed towards social change. However, there must a paid individual (a young committed social activist) who will have to invest more time in managing the micro-loans than we are willing to invest at the present time. We were thinking that such a person may not feel fully satisfied if the number of people he is managing is too small. Your offer of contributing Rs. 50,000 towards the project plus Rs. 25,000 from Benjamin Kaila, plus Rs. 5,000 contribution from me brings the total commitment to Rs. 80,000, which appears to be more than adequate to get the project rolling. I have just now given the good news to Irfan Sahab. He was elated to hear the same. He said tomorrow he would identify eight individuals (five for the board plus three more to deal with the bank) and set up a meeting, which I will have to attend as well. We would then hope to receive the funds from you and Br. Ben before we
[ZESTCaste] Meeting Mr Sachin Shende and Dr Harshadeep Kamble, IAS
Dear donors and friends, I would like to inform you about two great individuals I met last week. Thanks to borther Rahul Gajbhiye and Lalith Khandare for introducing them. It is a great privilege and honor to share a few hours of time with Mr Sachin Shende and Dr Harshadeep Kamble when they visited Los Angeles as part of their USA trip a couple of days ago. My only regret was that I could not spend more time with these two great personalities to pick a small piece of their minds filled with exciting but practical ideas to transform Indian society. Mr Sachin is a senior executive with Reserve Bank of India. Based in Nagpur, he is silently doing diligent work among the youth. Dr Harshadeep is an IAS office serving in Maharashtra secretariat. He is a highly acclaimed IAS officer who did a pioneering work as a collector of Yavatmal, Maharashtra. Please read this articleto know about him. As they desired, regrettably, I could not arrange a gathering of like-minded people. Though I advertised about myself widely on electronic groups ever since I came to LA 5 years ago, none came forward to acknowledge their presence here. Interesting fact is that Mr Michael Arlen, one of our donors who is currently touring Europe with his family gave an idea of visiting Museum of Tolerance (Holocaust Museum) in LA and plant a tree in the name of Dr Ambedkar as a mark of respect and to show solidarity for the sufferings Jews experienced during Nazi era. What is greater tribute than this? We jumped at the thought. As far as I am concerned, I read quite a bit of Jewish Holocaust and always sympathize with their suffering. I make it a point to visit Holocaust museum, if any, along with my family whenever we went on vacation to make my children understand the world better. So, I was most excited. As a long time patron of the museum, Mr Michael did his best and arranged for our visit. But, unfortunately, logistics failed us to realize that great idea. When I went to say farewell to Mr Sachin and Dr Harshadeep at airport, they surprised me by handing over $200 as a donation to Friends for Education International. I was stunned as did not expect it and thrilled as we can give one more scholarship this year. I thank Mr Sachin and Dr Harshadeep for the time they spent with me and for the thoughtful donation. I assure them that the donation will be used in the very best way possible. Brother Sachin and Harshadeep, I am adding you both to our exclusive mailing list through which I share info on our project with donors. Please let me know if you do not want to receive it and I will remove immediately. You may share your thoughts for the improvement of the project. With regardsBenjamin -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] Microloans: Reply to Dr Sati
Dear Dr Sati, Thanks for your lengthy email. As always, you sounded very academic. But, things on ground do not be so easy and systematic. Managing people (however courteous and democratically you may deal with them) is the most difficult thing I am facing from time to time. My humble reply in brief (without discrediting any of your views) is as follows: 1. I do not have any money left now for microloans. Can you find some donors? 2. I am ready to start in Bihar or anywhere if I have a reliable person whom I will be able to rely on. If you take 100% responsibility of the money we invest, I am for it. Can you? In addition, I need a person in Bihar (Mr. Irfan Ahmad or someone else) who can provide me information as required. Sometimes, I may demanding (but never aggressive) in order to provide timely and proper information to the donors. He/she should be able to put up with me :). 3. We have already a time-tested and working organization and we need not reinvent the wheel, if everybody involved do their job diligently. Too many cooks spoil the broth”. Since our project is small, I do think such a multi-layered setup is needed complicating the matter. Managing so many people (with egos of their own) is not a small issue, Bit, if it grows leaps and bounds, we may think of it. 4. I prefer to start with Rs.25,000 in any new place. Once it is proved that the project us handled good, we may increase the amount later. 5. We cannot pay anyone at least for now. We may think of it at a later stage. Though I am for paid employees, I do not have resources. Any more questions, please write to me. Thanks Ben -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org From: Satinath Choudhary satich...@yahoo.com To: Krao r...@verizon.net; AmbedkarScholarshipGroup ambedkarscholars...@yahoogroups.com; Dalit Group da...@yahoogroups.com; ZestCaste ZESTCaste@yahoogroups.com; Benjamin Kaila benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com; da...@yahoogroups.com Cc: dalitconfere...@googlegroups.com; dalitconfere...@yahoogroups.com; dalits-internatio...@yahoogroups.com; india-un...@yahoogroups.com; bahu...@yahoogroups.com; da...@yahoogroups.com; buddhismbangal...@yahoogroups.com; buddhistcir...@yahoogroups.com; buddhistreadingcir...@yahoogroups.com; issuesonline @yahoogroups.com; iitdal...@yahoogroups.com; youth4equalopportunit...@yahoogroups.com; sakyagr...@yahoogroups.com; indian_dal...@yahoogroups.com; dalithumanrig...@yahoogroups.com; dalits_in...@yahoogroups.com; dalitsind...@yahoogroups.com; cyberbahuj...@yahoogroups.com; bam...@yahoogroups.com; ekduniya-socialjust...@dgroups.org Sent: Thursday, July 23, 2009 12:45:52 PM Subject: Re: [E-Forum] Re: Reply on microloans to Ms Krishna and Dr Sati Dear Ben, In my earlier message to you I have mentioned about a couple of friend who are sincere social/political workers. One of them, Mr. Irfan Ahmad, from Aurangabad , Bihar is here with me today. He is very active with the movement for the welfare of un-organized labor, in particular, the street hawkers. He has come to Delhi to participate in a dharna for the welfare of landless people and to prevent further landlessness due to arbitrary land acquisition policies of various governments. We discussed your micro-loan program. Mr. Ahmad said that we have to work with a group of at least twenty loan receivers (loaners), in the beginning. Assuming loans at the average rate of Rs. 5,000 per individual, we can use about one lakh Rupees, to start with. Why we must start with such a large group of loaners (about 20) will be clear from the following.. After some discussion, and on the basis of some knowledge about micro-loan groups, Irfan Sahab came up with the following vision for our Micro-Loan Project (MLP): 1. For this project we will need to keep a staff of three paid individuals who will work as Friends of the Loaners (FL). 1. One of them will be responsible for regular collection of money for pay-back of the loans. 2. Second individual will deposit the collected funds in the bank and maintain register for the clients. 3. Third individual will make a report about the loans and their status and report the same to the Micro-Loan Advisory Board (MLAB) described below. 4. Involvement of more than one individual in collection of payment installments will ensure integrity in handling money. 1. The structure and function of the MLAB will be as follows: 1. MLAB will consist of five individuals
[ZESTCaste] Reply on microloans to Ms Krishna and Dr Sati
people eat away the majority before it reaches the ones in real need. If I have a real good volunteer base set up, I would like to help my villages esp. to these Gudems that I am talking about. So, please write as much details as you can or know about these Micro Loans. Thank you, Krishna Dear Ben, Extension of Ambedkar Scholarship program to Ambedkar Microloans program is a very laudable extension. Hearty congratulation for the same. I would be looking forward to more details regarding the same. In particular, I am interested in finding out if the loans are being given to individuals or to registered SHGs (Self Help Groups). What are the terms and conditions for the loans? What is the maximum/ minimum amount of loans? Whether any guarantor or collateral are needed for the loans? Again, congratulations and best wishes for this significant extension of your programs. Take care, Best regards, Satinath -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org From: Krao r...@verizon.net To: Benjamin Kaila benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 5:25:35 AM Subject: Re: Microloans function (July 13, 3009) details Dear Benjamin garu, Thank you for your email response. I am also very much interested in Micro Loans (just like Satinath Chowdary mentioned in his email). How does it exactly work?. If I find couple of good volunteers to help us out, what are the things that need to be watching for?. If you know from beginning to end how this works, I would be very much interested to know the details. As you know, this is one area I am looking to give help in the name of HfH. HYD is a suitable place for us. The other alternative is Vijayawada. I know you have a real passion for Dalits since you were born and brought up among them. Yes, I do understand the sensitivity you feel so strongly for them through your emails. Nothing wrong in trying to help and focus on this issue to the best you can. I was born in a small village named Agniparru, in Krishna Dist. This is my mother's native place. My Father's native place is Pamidimukkala which is also a small village in Krishna Dist. While we were growing up, there are so called Gudems in one section of these two villages. They are Dalits. When I visit these places, these Gudems still exist. They are separate from the rest of the village. Next time I visit these places, I will put some extra time to learn more about them. My brothers tell me things are changing and Govt. gives good support etc. but I didn't get in to details because of the little times we spend in these villages. Sad but true, this social discrimination is there with no doubt. Please do not stop your helping them. If I can do something, I will surely help to improve my own vilage Gudems one of these days. I have that in my mind for some time now. Do you know what DOKRA is. My brother told me this is similar to Micro Loans?. Govt. helps BS and SC castes through DOKRA?. I am sure any time Govt. gets involved, nothing is efficient to the extent it's supposed to be in India. The middle people eat away the majority before it reaches the ones in real need. If I have a real good volunteer base set up, I would like to help my villages esp. to these Gudems that I am talking about. So, please write as much details as you can or know about these Micro Loans. Thank you, Krishna On Jul 21, 2009, at 8:05 AM, Benjamin Kaila wrote: Thanks, Rao garu. Yes, people (especially Dalits) literallystrugle a lot in life. Any small help will be a great thing for them. It is not that poverty is not there in other castes. Coupled with social descrimination (that is not there for others), their economic deprivation can be understood only when one has a first hand experience. Without it, it is difficult to understand the problems faced by them day in and day out in this economically prosperous era. As a person born and brought up among them, I knew it and so I advocate and try my best to help them hear and there with generous support from people like you and organizations like yours. Thanks again. Ben -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org
[ZESTCaste] This 'Santa Claus' nurtures young Dalit minds
I wish more of Kamal Parmars. Please read this inspiring story. Thanks to Zest caste egroup for where I got this email. If someone can trace him and get the contacts, we may consider to help this great man in a small way. With regards Benjamin This 'Santa Claus' nurtures young Dalit minds Posted by: Siddhartha Kumar mailsiddharth...@gmail.com tellsiddhartha Wed Jul 15, 2009 7:36 am (PDT) http://timesofindia .indiatimes. com/NEWS- City-Ahmedabad- This-Santa- Claus-nurtures- young-Dalit- minds/articlesho w/4773980. cms This 'Santa Claus' nurtures young Dalit minds | tnn15 July 2009, 01:10am IST Ahmedabad : He is nicknamed 'Santa Claus' in the Dalit neighbourhood of Bhudarpura in Amabawadi area. Every evening, 150 children for the last 13 years keep their 5.30pm appointment with Kamal Parmar,62, as if he were the Pied Piper. All of them queue up first to prove to 'Kamalsaab' that they have learned their tables well - at lightning speed. Children love studying, playing, and most of all knowing about their country, being part of a democracy and what is it like being an Indian. For all these years, despite suffering losses in his welding business, Kamal has invested most of his energy in teaching children belonging to municipal schools - who are generally prejudiced to be weak in studies. He is also a defining example for even the education department in his innovative and practical methods of teaching. Once, I stopped a group of children coming out of a nearby municipal school who had taken their exams to ask about their exam. They claimed they have all scored a hundred. I quizzed them only to know that they had copied their question paper. I stopped everything that day and realised it was vocation. Not everyone gets such opportunity. I called them the next day and held a class, said Kamal. Though Kamal is just a seventh grader himself, his fundamentals are strong. A principal feature of his class is that it is interactive. Bhavini Chavda, 17, said, I came to this class when I was six and have not missed a single day. I have learnt the essence of sharing knowledge, to be compassionate with those who are weak and to be a self- reliant citizen. Most of my former students who are in college or in 10th standards come every day to teach the younger ones. Majority of these children have parents who are drunk or do not bother about their kids, he added. Half way through the class, he treats kids to bhakri, dal and chana dal curry, which he cooks. Donors also sponsor the day's food sometimes. Even the menu for the day is written in English and some students talk to each other in English. -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] Our Journey - How we know caste: please watch this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JC3C2voZjrA Friends, I happen to see this video while browsing internet. Please watch this video recorded by young researchers trying to understand the caste. The views expressed by the non Dalits in the video are exactly what I hear while talking to people when I was in India or now in US- striking similarities of outright denials. In my experience, the results are the same when you talk to an ignorant illiterate or highly educated living in a western society. They see reservations (which is a big farce due to their ineffective implementation) and never see the social, economical, educational, and religious deprivations. They see them lazy, not the lack of opportunities. They see them as grabbers of opportunities, not their centuries of forceful oppression. While talking to whites about the discrimination they accorded to blacks till 1950s, I do not see whites denying the problem so forcefully. There may be some like skinheads, KKKs, Aryan nationals, but they are not in mainstream. But I observe the contrary in case of Dalit issue Indian non Dalits. I wonder, when a society doesn’t want to recognize a problem, is there a solution to it? Is it ignorance? Is it living in a make believe world of their own making? Is it closing eyes to problems of others? Or is it the desire of keeping them as they were? I puzzle! Thanks Ben -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] UPA failed to use Rs 72,500 crore for Dalits says a Study - is it not interesting?
Posted from http://blog.insightyv.com/?p=197. FYI Thanks Benjamin UPA failed to use Rs 72,500 crore for Dalits says a Study The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) may wax eloquent about empowering the downtrodden, but in the last five years it has denied the Scheduled Castes (SCs) a whopping Rs.72,500 crore ($15.16 billion) that should have been earmarked for them under a special scheme. This has been underlined by voluntary organisation National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR) after a study of India’s budget documents. Called the special component plan (SCP), the scheme was a strategy evolved way back in April 1975, envisaging that every central ministry must allocate funds from its annual plan for Dalits according to their population. SCs today form 16.2 percent of India’s 1.1 billion population. Therefore, between 2005 and 2009, the Congress-led government should have set aside Rs.129,000 crore for Dalits. But as much as Rs.72,500 crore was not earmarked, the NCDHR has pointed out. “The figures of allocation are a mute witness to the history of denial of exclusion. It is not only for the last five years; this trend is observed for the last 28 years since the inception of the special component plan in 1979-80,” states the NCDHR. It points to the allocations in the interim budget of the UPA government in February. “Out of 75 ministries and their departments, only 16 have allocated funds under the SCP. Out of these, nine ministries have allocated token amounts below five percent. Labour and employment, science technology, bio-technology, panchayati raj and textiles are some of the examples,” says the study. But the NCDHR concedes that human resource development, social justice and empowerment, rural development, women and child development and health ministries did make allocations according to the Dalit population. The SCP came into being in 1979-80 and only Rs.433 crore had been spent on SCs and Scheduled Tribes (STs) together in the 30 years before that. According to the Planning Commission guidelines, these funds cannot be diverted for any other purpose. The ruling Congress and its UPA allies that spoke of the common man in the run up to elections allocated Rs.15,280 crore for SCs in its interim budget in February while it should have set aside Rs.34,413 crore for this fiscal, says NCDHR. “This is even lower than last year’s allocation,” points out the study. “While the total increase in the plan outlay is 15.74 percent, it is unacceptable that at this critical time of financial crisis, the amount for the socially and economically vulnerable sections is drastically reduced. The amount denied is 55 percent this year!” -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] Panga Ramesh - our scholar and now a medical student needs help
Dear donors and friends, Long time ago I sent a request from Mr Panga Ramesh, one of our scholars and now studying medicine. He needs help to continue his studies. When I posted his request in our group, immediately came from three concerned donors (Prof Alldi Uma, Prof Biju, and Mr Velayudham). While Velayudham offered a loan, Prof Uma and Prof Biju offered to give in scholarship. I preferred the loan as that is one way of making people understand the value of money and asked Mr Ramesh if he is willing to take the amount as a loan. I did not get a reply for a long time and I dropped the ball. But, he contacted me a couple of days ago stating that he went to his village for vacations and saw my mail only now. He is ready to take money as loan and that testify that he is serious and not a person looking for free money. So, I am again trying to help him, if possible. I am privately contacting Prof Uma, Prof Biju, and Mr Velayudham and also would like to see if anyone else is interested to help this promising young man. Whatever the way you can help, I leave it to the donor and Mr Ramesh. Please read the thread of emails below to understand the case completely. Appreciate your help. With regards Ben -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org From: ramesh panga ramesh_panga2...@yahoo.com To: benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com Cc: pvv...@gmail.com Sent: Wednesday, July 8, 2009 10:43:19 PM Subject: Re: About scholarship Respected sir, I extremely sorry about saying this i didn't send a reply because i didn't see the mail as i was in my village due to summer vacation.I really need help from your organisation as a loan.I shall pay the money after getting the job.Once again i sorry about that. Thanking you sir, yours faithfully Ranesh Panga --- On Wed, 5/13/09, Benjamin Kaila benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com wrote:From: Benjamin Kaila benjamin_ka...@yahoo.comSubject: Re: About scholarshi To: ramesh panga ramesh_panga2...@yahoo.com Cc: Devdas devadas1...@gmail.com, PVV Rao pvv...@gmail.com, Shiva Shankar sshan...@cmi.ac.in Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2009, 1:04 AM Ramesh, I am waiting for your reply. If you really need help, reply to me immediately. I have other people wanting to help you. But, before, I direct you to them I need to know what your options are and your seriousness. I wrote a few emails, but no reply. You have two options: 1. You can take it as loan and pay it back when you get a job. This way you will get helo till you finish your studies. 1. If you can tell a reason why you can not payback, and if it is acceptable, I can direct you others who are ready to help. Please reply immediately. Awaiting your reply. Benjamin -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www..ambedkarscholarship.org --- On Wed, 4/29/09, ramesh panga ramesh_panga2...@yahoo.com wrote: From: ramesh panga ramesh_panga2...@yahoo.com Subject: Re: About scholarship To: benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com Date: Wednesday, April 29, 2009, 10:40 PM Respected sir, These are my family details: My father had expired in 2005 who working as daily wage. My mother works as daily wage now. My grand mother is staying with us. My brother just completed B.tech(cse) and searching for job. My sister just completed 9th class. About my education: I am studying well.I passed the 1 st year.Now i am studying 2nd year. About studies: I secured 564 out of 600 in class 10th from Andhra Pradesh Residential School,Peddapur camp,Karimnagar(district).In Intermediate i got 955 out of 1000 and my EAMCET rank is 2182.With this rank i got seat in Osmania Medical College,Hyderabad. About needs: Hostel mess charges monthly costs about 1,500/- I also facing trouble in buying books. thanking you sir
[ZESTCaste] Microloans function on July 13, 2009
Dear Donors and especially Mr Rao, Ms Krishna, and Mr Maharaj, We are conducting a simple function on July 13, 2009 in Velur village of Guntur District to distribute 35 microlaons totalling Rs.1.5 lakhs. These loans are the part of donations received from: 1. Indian American Association, Ohio State University, Ohio - thanks to Mr Vikram Rao and Mr Rajeev Ravisankar. $600.00 2. Hope for Humanity - thanks to Ms Krishna Rao, Maryland, USA $1,000 3. Benjamin Kaila, USA $850 4. Mr Maharaj Kaul, USA Rs.15,000 Microloans will be given in the following villages: 1. Veluru, near Chilakaluripeta, Guntur Dist, AP :15 2. Nadimpally, Guntur Dist, AP :10 3. Guntur proper, AP : 10 Other information will be made available as it is available to me. Please write to me if you have any questions. Thanks Benjamin -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] Dear all ... please pass this info to 10th passed students
Brother Prashant, Thanks for forwarding this info. I am forwarding it to all our contacts to see if someone can help us. Dear PVV Rao, Can you please see if we can contact any of our scholars to inform about this great opprotunity? If you need any help, please let me know. Dear friends, Please check this email and ask students you know to apply. The info is as follows: == Hello Friends, If you have come across any bright students coming from poor financial background who have finished their 10th standard this year (April 2009) and scored more than 80%, please ask them to contact the NGO-Prerana (supported by Infosys foundation). The NGO is conducting a written test and those who clear the test will be eligible for financial help for their further studies. Please ask the students to contact the people mentioned below to get the form #580,shubhakar, 44th cross,1st 'A' main road,jayanagar 7th block Bangalore-mob no- 9900906338(saraswat i) Mr.Shivkumar( 9986630301) - Hanumanthnagar office Ms.Bindu(9964534667 )-Yeshwantpur office, BANGALORE . Even if you dont know anyone, please pass on this info, some one might be in need of this help desperately. swapnil Walinjkar (IRTS,99) Professor ( Commercial Management), RSC,Vadodara -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org From: Prashant Nikam pnik...@yahoo.co.in To: benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com Sent: Tuesday, July 7, 2009 2:34:42 AM Subject: Fw: [siac] hi Hello Mr Benjamin, Please see the forwarded. You may like to send names of some people from Ambedkar scholarships for this funding. Regards, Prashant --- On Tue, 7/7/09, Swapnil Anand Walinjkar wswap...@rediffmail.com wrote: From: Swapnil Anand Walinjkar wswap...@rediffmail.com Subject: [siac] hi To: s...@yahoogroups.com Date: Tuesday, July 7, 2009, 11:03 AM Hello Friends, If you have come across any bright students coming from poor financial background who have finished their 10th standard this year (April 2009) and scored more than 80%, please ask them to contact the NGO-Prerana (supported by Infosys foundation). The NGO is conducting a written test and those who clear the test will be eligible for financial help for their further studies. Please ask the students to contact the people mentioned below to get the form #580,shubhakar, 44th cross,1st 'A' main road,jayanagar 7th block Bangalore-mob no- 9900906338(saraswat i) Mr.Shivkumar( 9986630301) - Hanumanthnagar office Ms.Bindu(9964534667 )-Yeshwantpur office, BANGALORE . Even if you dont know anyone, please pass on this info, some one might be in need of this help desperately. swapnil Walinjkar (IRTS,99) Professor ( Commercial Management), RSC,Vadodara LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL!
[ZESTCaste] Monumental mistake - article by Chandrabhan Prasad
Brother Chandrabhan, Wonderful piece and one of the best from your pen! Yes, Babasaheb, Manyawar Kanshi Ram, Mahatma Phule, Sahuji Maharaj, Narayana Guru, Periyar, Birsa Munda were all stalwarts in their own way. Their contribution can never be forgotten in a civilized society. To me, they are as equal (if not greater) than any other social reformer I have studied as a student. But why there is apathy to recognize their greatness by the mainstream media and political parties? Till BSP unearthed some of these great sages, there was no mention of them anywhere in the curriculum or media. For myself, I first heard these names through BSP wall posters and started reading them. Thanks to Kanshi Ramji for bringing these great souls in to light and thereby transforming the political atmosphere. She is making UP a pilgrimage to Dalits and I applaud her for that. I also sympathize with Ms Mayawati when she questions why other parties do not install statues of Dalit icons and how much money they spent on memorials for Gandhi and Nehru. A just question! So, I found no fault in installing the statues of Babasaheb or Kanshi Ram. But over doing it is a problem. Installing her own statues is certainly not a good idea. That makes her a laughing stock and gave the already hostile media a reason to be more on her nerves comparing her with Stalin, Saddam Hussein etc. Moreover, she should have done a balancing act of development and installing statues. Statues do not give bread to the masses who voted for her in 2007 with so much hope. Building, demolishing, and rebuilding the same several times is not a good thing at all. She should have shown more intelligence and should have been more cautious in dealing with such kind of acts. Whatever the development she is making, we do not see in the media. Can you please write on it? She should see that the word on development goes far and wide as well. One positive news I read was making English as first language from class I. I want her to concentrate more on such things than building her own statues. Sometimes, I think Mayawati is more needed in Maharashtra than in UP. When one visits Babasaheb’s home, Chaitya bumi, Mahad, and other places one can understand how these sacred places of Dalit interest have been neglected. But, unfortunately Maharashtra Dalits are more interested in non-functional and faction ridden RPI than in BSP which can deliver what they think most important. Anyway, thanks for a thought provoking article. Keep up the good work. With regards Ben Kaila http://dailypioneer.com/186953/Monumental-mistake.html Monumental mistake Chandrabhan Prasad Nearly two centuries after his death, Thomas Jefferson remains a household name in the US. Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, and went on to become the third US President. With his golden words that ‘All Men Are Born Equal’, Jefferson set the mood of the US society. All Americans irrespective of colour and ethnicity, celebrate Jefferson. With Dr B R Ambedkar’s golden words of “justice social, economic and political”, India began its journey toward modernity and progress. Indian Constitution is one of the most comprehensive law books a nation can claim to possess. But, after giving India a wonderful Constitution, Dr Ambedkar lost two Lok Sabha elections he fought. That’s the kind of nation we are. As the undisputed symbol of compassion and peace, Lord Buddha inspires billions of people the world over, his statues are planted all over the world. Till Dr Ambedkar revived Buddhism, Lord Buddha was virtually abandoned by the mainstream India. That’s the kind of nation we are. Kanshi Ram changed the very grammar of politics in north India. Born to humble parents, he was a man of sciences. Had he not abandoned his job, he would have retired as a top scientist. Being in the Central Government, a decent middle-class life would have come easily to him. But he sacrificed all that and chose public service as his career. He accorded dignity to millions of the underclass. When his party turned richer, even then, he didn’t spare a paisa for his family. “It is public money meant for the mission,” he would tell his relatives who would approach him for help. Contemporary Indian politics has few politicians who can match Kanshi Ram in terms of honesty, sacrifice, and commitment to the public cause. Indeed, Kanshi Ram is a perfect role model politician for a corrupt country like India. Yet, it is hard to find examples where members of the mainstream society pooled in their own money to set up memorials in honour of Dr Ambedkar, Lord Buddha and Kanshi Ram. The list can go longer. Why, after all, was it left to Mayawati to honour Mahatma Phule? Isn’t Phule a bigger Mahatma than Mahatma Gandhi? Wasn’t it easier to confront British colonialism than confronting the Caste Order? Maya’s monument building exercise has become a bone of contention. To the
[ZESTCaste] Certificates of Achievement available on website
Dear donors and friends, I uploaded CsofA and some photos on our website. Please check them here CsofA: http://www.friends4education.org/scholarship/2008/08selectionlist.htm Photos: http://www.friends4education.org/scholarship/2008/08photos.htm Some of the CsofA do not have photos as they are not provided. I will update them as and when they are avialable. Please let me know if any questions. Thanks Ben -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] Donors wise Certificates now available
Dear donors and friends, Please check this link for donor wise Certificates of Achievement http://www.friends4education.org/scholarship/2008/08csofa.htm Thanks Ben -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] Deception point - by Chandrabhan Prasad
Brother Chandrabhan, As always, I read your column. Great observation! When I heard about Rahul’s visit to Dalit house, I took it with a pinch of salt. What difference does it make by visiting a Dalit home once in a life time, that too at the height of electioneering? We have seen such tricks in the past by so many so called leaders. Still problems of Dalits and other marginalized are the same even 60 years after independence? It only helped him to get more votes for the party at the cost of BSP. For the majority of the part, after independence, Congress and Rahul’s family ruled India. The results are before our eyes in every aspect of life. 60 years in the life of a nation is quite a bit time and things would have been different if the leaders acted with conviction and sincerity to alleviate the problems of the country. But, sadly, that is not the case. Can anyone doubt the sincerity of Sahuji Maharaj of Kolhapur during the days of Babasaheb? Does Rahul have the same conviction as Sahuji? I do not believe in these tricks until proved otherwise. Why didn’t he visit Dalit houses before? Atleast, does he continue to do so in future? Or will he start it again after 5 years, when it is right time for next elections? Who cares if he visits a Dalit home or not? What Dalits need is not sympathy. Dalits need an action plan – eradication of all forms of untouchability, eradication of forms of discrimination, proper and timely deliverance of justice, equal opportunities, good primary education, stringent action against the people who commit atrocities against them, proper implementation of programs designed for them, and truthfulness in telling what they did to help the marginalized. Visiting a Dalit home, drinking a cup of water, lying on a Dalit bed do not change anything. Instead these acts, in my opinion, manifest the inferiority of a Dalit. But, anyway he scored a point among voters. This is a big lesson for Ms Mayawati. Since the election verdict is delivered, I have been reading several opinions and analysis. Hope, Ms Mayawati also takes time to analyze them and rectify her deficiencies in her remaining three years term. I fear if BSP loses Dalit votes to Congress, Dalits bargaining power will be reduced to zero. If anything good happens to Dalits during this congress regime, I am sure, it will be due to fear of BSP. I believe, BSP is acting like a checkmate and losing BSP as a potential contender will be losing Dalits bargaining power. So, I still look forward to the good days to BSP and wish Ms Mayawati good luck. Thanks for the frank analysis and I couldn’t resist opening up my mind. With regards Benjamin http://dailypioneer.com/179663/Deception-point.html Deception point Chandrabhan Prasad During the Lok Sabha polls, many Dalits would ask me about Rahul’s impact on Dalit voters. His visit to Dalit homes in UP sent echoes nationally. The BSP hardcore were intolerant, and had nasty words for Rahul’s ‘drama’. I had the intricate task of being a moderator. “As a young and aspiring politician, Rahul Gandhi has every right to visit Dalit homes if the idea was to sensitise himself with Dalits’ issues. But, Rahul’s sincerity will be judged by what his party offers to the Dalits,” I insisted. Rahul made an impact even on Dalit voters. In UP, a small section of Dalits switched sides and voted for Congress. Elsewhere Dalits either voted for BSP or Congress. After all, the BSP got only 6.18 per cent votes nationally. Many analysts have begun to describe the Congress as ‘Rahul’s Congress’. I have no issues with such attributes. But, what I am worried about is: Did Rahul’s Dalit home visits impact Congress’ policies towards Dalits? Throughout electioneering, Congress leaders, including PM Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul, kept telling the voters as to how the party had fulfilled most of the promises it had made in its 2004 manifesto. The sincerity of Congress leaders, and the change brought about by Rahul’s impact on the party’s policies towards Dalits can be seen from the manifestoes issued in 2004 and 2009. Post reforms, the Dalit middle-class has been asking for their share in the new economy. Reforms led to privatisation and job cuts in the public sector. Dalits asked for an alternative path — affirmative action in the private sector jobs. Dalits also asked for their share in India’s booming wealth generation. The Congress responded to the Dalit concerns and offered the following in the 2004 election manifesto: “The Congress will create a national consensus on the issue of Dalits and Adivasis getting a reasonable share of jobs in the private sector. A dialogue with private industry will be initiated to identify how best Indian industry could fulfill in tangible measure the aspirations of youth, especially those belonging to the weaker sections of society.” “Determined efforts will be made to promote a culture of
[ZESTCaste] Re: 4 June 2009: Public Discussion on Internationalising Caste, New Delhi
Congrats, Anand. What a great way to sensitize the public (especially intelligentsia) about caste? Good luck to all participants and thanks to all organizers. With regards Benjamin -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org From: Navayana Publishing navay...@gmail.com To: Navayana Publishing navay...@gmail.com Sent: Saturday, May 30, 2009 10:06:45 PM Subject: 4 June 2009: Public Discussion on Internationalising Caste, New Delhi CACIM and Navayana invite you to a public discussion on INTERNATIONALISING CASTE EVERYBODY’S ISSUE? OR NOBODY’S ISSUE? June 4, Thursday, 2009 3.30 – 6.30 pm, India Social Institute, New Delhi Caste has killed public spirit. Caste has destroyed the sense of public charity. Caste has made public opinion impossible… Virtue has become caste-ridden and morality has become caste-bound. --B.R. Ambedkar, in Annihilation of Caste, 1936 The efforts to internationalise the issue of caste-based discrimination against the 260 million Dalits in South Asia and treat it on a par with racial discrimination, which had received a boost in 2001 at the United Nations World Conference Against Racism (WCAR) held in Durban, suffered a serious setback at the Durban Review Conference held recently (April 20–24, 2009) in Geneva. While in 2001, WCAR had discussed caste euphemistically as “discrimination based on work and descent”, in line with terminology devised by the UN’s Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), the outcome document of the Durban Review Conference (DRC) has evaded even an allusion to caste. More than a month after the Geneva event, there’s almost no public debate in India on the issue. Dalits have tried raising the issue of caste with various UN forums for over three decades now. The first effort at lobbying with the UN resulted in Dr Laxmi Berwa, an expatriate Dalit from the United States, presenting a testimony before the UN Sub-Commission on Human Rights in Geneva on 31 August 1982. • What is shocking has been the near-total absence of any debate in the Indian public sphere about the setback to the fight against caste at the international level. • Why does caste continue to be an issue raised only by Dalits today? What is the role of civil societal groups in this? • Why it is that society remains indifferent to atrocities on Dalits—even though every hour two Dalits are assaulted, every day three Dalit women are raped, two Dalits are murdered and two Dalit houses burnt? • Why have NGOs come to dominate the UN interventions on caste? Are social/ political/ activist movements being left behind? To debate and raise awareness on these issues and to broaden the scope of the global effort at fighting caste, we invite you to three sessions of debate and discussion: THE EXPERIENCE OF INTERNATIONALISING CASTE: Ashok Bharti (National Confrence of Dalit Organisations, NACDOR), Paul Divakar, National Council for Dalit Human Rights NCDHR; Colin Gonsalves (Human Rights Law Network, HRLN) CASTE—THE MEDIA’S COMPLICITY AND SILENCE: Neelabh Mishra (Outlook Hindi) and Pamela Philipose (Senior Journalist) CASTE AND OTHER QUESTIONS: RACISM, COMMUNALISM, IMPERIALISM: Praful Bidwai (Senior Journalist), Annie Namala (Director, Centre for Programming Inclusion and Equity), Surinder Jodhka (Director, Indian Institute of Dalit Studies) Moderator: S. Anand, Navayana Each panel will be for about 40 minutes, followed by 10 minutes of discussion. After the concluding panel, it will be an Open House. Tea will be served at 3.30 p.m. For further details contact Madhuresh at Cacim 9818905316 (www.cacim.net) or Anand at Navayana 9971433117 (www.navayana.org). Click here for ISI location: http://www.isidelhi.org.in/contactus.php#location A READY-RECKONER OF ONLINE REFERENCES AND RESOURCES: 1. The official Durban Review Conference website [http://www.un.org/durbanreview2009/]. 2. Human Rights Watch on how and why DRC failed on caste. The site also offers extensive background and position papers. [http://www.un.org/durbanreview2009/] 3. International Dalit Solidarity Network website. Offers joint statement by IDSN, HRW and NCDHR; plus a press kit. [http://www.idsn.org/news-resources/idsn-news/read/article/durban-review-conference-break-the-un-silence-on-caste-discrimination/128/] 4. Caste and the World, S. Anand, The Hindu, May 24, 2009. [http://www.hindu.com/mag/2009/05/24/stories/2009052450180500.htm] 5. Caste: Racism in all but name? Shobhan Saxena’s Times of India
[ZESTCaste] Re: [E-Forum] Looking for a Telugu speaking (woman) officiall as our guest
Thanks to Ms Mina Kumar who always reminds me rightfully of a woman guest in the function to encourage girl scholars. Though I am for it, I always find it difficult to arrange. My earlier attempts were not successful. Thanks to Brother Kasi Krishna who responded to my cry for help. I was able to arrange a Telugu speaking woman speaker for our function. I know Dr Vijaya Bharati and read a few of her books. I also knew her husband Mr Bojja Tarakam, an advocate, when I was in Hyderabad. Anyway, I am happy for she agreed to participate in our function. Here is a brief of her sent by Brother Krishna. Dr. Vijaya Bharati, retired Director of Telugu Acadamy, Government of Andhra Pradesh. She authored many books including Dr. Ambedkar and Mahatma Phule biographies. Thanks brother Krishna for timely help. With regards Benjamin From: kasi krishna kasi_kris...@yahoo.com To: Benjamin Kaila benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com Sent: Sunday, May 24, 2009 7:58:55 PM Subject: Re: [E-Forum] Looking for a Telugu speaking official as our guest Dear Brother, Yes, she is the wife of Mr. Bojja Tharakam. Contact Number-0091-40-23562525(Land Line) regards, Krishna --- On Mon, 5/25/09, Benjamin Kaila benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com wrote: From: Benjamin Kaila benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com Subject: Re: [E-Forum] Looking for a Telugu speaking official as our guest To: kasi krishna kasi_kris...@yahoo.com Date: Monday, May 25, 2009, 1:19 AM Brother Krishna, I know Dr Satya Pal. We only have one week before the function. I do not know if they can come to Hyderabad all the way from Vijag. Is Dr Viajaya Bharathi the wife of Bojja Tarakam? If so, can you please send me her contacts? I may call her and see the possibility. Thanks for your help. Benjamin From: kasi krishna kasi_kris...@yahoo.com To: Benjamin Kaila benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com Sent: Sunday, May 24, 2009 11:51:32 AM Subject: Re: [E-Forum] Looking for a Telugu speaking official as our guest Dear Brother Benjamin, If you are interested Dr. Prajna is there. She teaching in GITAMS in Vishakhapatnam. She is young and very good orator. She did herr Ph.D in English from Andhra University. Her husband Dr. Satya Pal also teaching in Andhra University. OR You contact Dr. Vijaya Bharati, retired Diector of Telugu Acadamy, Government of Andhra Pradesh. She authored many books including Dr. Ambedkar and Mahatma Phule biographies. She is available in Hyderabad. If you are interested I will get their address and contact numbers. regards, Krishna If you are interested --- On Sun, 5/24/09, Benjamin Kaila benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com wrote: From: Benjamin Kaila benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com Subject: Re: [E-Forum] Looking for a Telugu speaking official as our guest To: kasi krishna kasi_kris...@yahoo.com Cc: Dalit Group da...@yahoogroups.com Date: Sunday, May 24, 2009, 8:45 PM Brother Krishna, Thanks for your mail. Dr A Viya Sagar is our chief guest. We have two other dignitaries. We are looking for a woman who can inspire our girl scholars. I have asked a few, but they are not intereted. So, if you know some woman officer or an academic, I will be glad to know. With regards Benjamin From: kasi krishna kasi_kris...@yahoo.com To: benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com Sent: Sunday, May 24, 2009 2:33:57 AM Subject: Re: [E-Forum] Looking for a Telugu speaking official as our guest Dear Benjamin Garu, Jai Bheem, Please find the following Telugu speeking Officials for your info. 1. Mr. K. S Chalam-Member, UPSC, New Delhi 2. Mr. Rajkumar AmbedkarIAS, Secretary in Govt of Tamilnadu. But if u need officials only from Hyderabad...there are many.. regards, Krishna --- On Sun, 5/24/09, Benjamin Kaila benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com wrote: Dear Donors and Friends, We are looking for Telugu speaking official as a guest to our function. Please let me know if you have somebody in mind. We have been looking for a suitable person to encourage and to be a role model to our girl scholars. I appreciate your help in this regard. Thanks Benjamin - - - - - - An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsfor education. org or www.ambedkarscholar ship.org
[ZESTCaste] FFEI function details, books etc
Dear Donors and Friends, I am sending you the details of the function, FYI. Please have a look. 2008 selection list- Html Excel Invitation Agenda Summary of financials The following books will be distributed to scholars this year: 1. Reminiscences and rememberances of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar --by Nanak Chand Rattu 2. Turning the Pot, Tilling the Land: Dignity of Labour in Our Times --By Kancha Ilaiah. Thanks to Mr S Anand of Navayana for helping us obtain these books at much cheaper rate. As I have requested before, we still need the following books: 1. 20 copies of Ambedkar biography in Tamil 2. 10 copies of Ambedkar biography in Kannada If anyone is willing to help us, please let me know immediately. Thanks Benjamin -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] Urgent need: Ambedkar biography in Tamil and Kannada
Dear friends, Here is an opportunity to do your bit to spread the message of Dr Ambedkar. We need Dr Ambedkar's biography in Tamil and Kannada. If anyone is interested to donate, please let me know immediately. I will let you know where to deliver them. These are required to be distributed in our May 30, 2009 function in Hyderabad. I am sorry for asking at the last moment. Here is what we need. Tamil books: 20 Kannada books: 10 With regards Benjamin -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] FFEI (Ambedkar Scholarships) - some thoughts
Dear donors and friends, I try to be as candid as possible to write a few thoughts on FFEI’s existance. It is not to hurt anyone. FFEI (Ambedkar Scholarships) started in 2003. On AM 30, 2009, we are conducting its 6th annual scholarship distribution function. During these years many individuals came and gone. Some came with ulterior motives and gone when it was not possible, some came to show off and gone when it is died out, but a few came with real passion and still with it to this day. During these years, many similar organizations started (I always encourage it) and faded away wasting scarce resources. But, FFEI is still here doing its bit to the most neglected population in the world. Its growth is phenomenal and I am very delighted about it. I attribute this success of FFEI to a few individuals who stood by it all through. But for these individuals, its fate would have nothing better than any other organization. In fact, FFEI started in 2003 with an aim to tap contributions from the economically well-off Dalit community (NRIs, bureaucrats, and others and who talk a lot about Dalits and their measurable existence on any platform they could manage to get) who made good in life through affirmative action. But, to my surprise, I utterly failed in attracting them. For them, big talk is more important than a small action. Raising passions is more profitable them finding solutions. Shouting from the rooftops of others inhuman nature is more important than doing their bit to help others in need. Fattening pockets and bank accounts is more important than helping an unfortunate to gain good education. Going to nude bars, sowing of flashy cars, going to Los Vegas frequently is more important than thinking of a lad who dropped out of a school/college for want of a few thousands of rupees. (There are some among them who are doing yeomen service spending their time and money; I am not talking about them here.) Every year, I approach hundreds of Dalits through electronic groups, individual emails and telephone calls. But, the response is frighteningly nil with all types of excuses that one can dream of. Ofcourse, many a time they avoid me like a pest and never return my calls. Currently, baring a couple of Dalits (including me), all our donors are from non Dalit communities. Some may say, why this fellow always talk in terms of Dalit and non Dalits. It is because I believe that the problems faced by Dalits (for that matter any marginalized community in India) can only be solved with the active participation of Dalits and non Dalits alike. I believe that their individual contribution to an egalitarian Indian society is different. I also believe that their capacity to make a difference is different. Once discriminative Japanese society could achieve technological advancement only when the top crest of its society humbled itself and joined others for good. Whatever the equality achieved in US is not solely due the efforts of African-Americans. It is the product of the contribution of both blacks and whites. I read fair amount of American civil rights movement and knew that numerous whites went beyond their limits (even dared death) to gain freedom and equal rights for blacks. I too dream of a day for such people in India to make India an egalitarian society. So, my identification of Dalits and non Dlaits has a purpose, at least in my thoughts. Our donors come to FFEI by reading an article, by hearing from a friend and so on. Many still are with us for years and helping in every way possible. FFEI is also fortunate to have a few committed individuals who I proudly say do more good than I. During these years, we ventured in to many projects and doing in all fronts fairly good. Except when I am in deep sleep and not doing on my professional work, I always think of ways and means for the growth of FFEI. At the same time, I never venture into a project that I think I may fail due to resources. But, currently one thing that is depriving me of sleep is the new project we introduced this year – “Educational Adoption”. Though this is my most favorite project, I kept it away so far as I fear of generating funds continuously for a period of time, say 10 years, for a single child. I frightened at the thought of withdrawing support to a child (after a year or two) for lack of funds. Still, this year, I could not resist venturing into it for the number of donations we received for scavenging children scholarships, thanks to Prof Shiva and his friends. We received more for these scholarships than regular scholarships. I have a gut feeling is that FFEI will be able to generate atleast 50 such scholarships every year. So, we have selected 50 students under this project from AP, UP, and TN. Success of any project depends on the individuals who implement it at the ground level. I have a couple of bitter experiences earlier and I lost my face before the
[ZESTCaste] FFEI (Ambedkar Scholarships) - some thoughts: with correction on function date
Dear donors and friends, I try to be as candid as possible to write a few thoughts on FFEI’s existance. It is not to hurt anyone, but to make them think. FFEI (Ambedkar Scholarships) started in 2003. On May 30, 2009, we are conducting its 6th annual scholarship distribution function. During these years many individuals came and gone. Some came with ulterior motives and gone when it was not possible, some came to show off and gone when it is died out, but a few came with real passion and still with it to this day. During these years, many similar organizations started (I always encourage it) and faded away wasting scarce resources. But, FFEI is still here doing its bit to the most neglected population in the world. Its growth is phenomenal and I am very delighted about it. I attribute this success of FFEI to a few individuals who stood by it all through. But for these individuals, its fate would have nothing better than any other organization. In fact, FFEI started in 2003 with an aim to tap contributions from the economically well-off Dalit community (NRIs, bureaucrats, and others and who talk a lot about Dalits and their measurable existence on any platform they could manage to get) who made good in life through affirmative action. But, to my surprise, I utterly failed in attracting them. For them, big talk is more important than a small action. Raising passions is more profitable them finding solutions. Shouting from the rooftops of others inhuman nature is more important than doing their bit to help others in need. Fattening pockets and bank accounts is more important than helping an unfortunate to gain good education. Going to nude bars, sowing of flashy cars, going to Los Vegas frequently is more important than thinking of a lad who dropped out of a school/college for want of a few thousands of rupees. (There are some among them who are doing yeomen service spending their time and money; I am not talking about them here.) Every year, I approach hundreds of Dalits through electronic groups, individual emails and telephone calls. But, the response is frighteningly nil with all types of excuses that one can dream of. Ofcourse, many a time they avoid me like a pest and never return my calls. Currently, baring a couple of Dalits (including me), all our donors are from non Dalit communities. Some may say, why this fellow always talk in terms of Dalit and non Dalits. It is because I believe that the problems faced by Dalits (for that matter any marginalized community in India) can only be solved with the active participation of Dalits and non Dalits alike. I believe that their individual contribution to an egalitarian Indian society is different. I also believe that their capacity to make a difference is different. Once discriminative Japanese society could achieve technological advancement only when the top crest of its society humbled itself and joined others for good. Whatever the equality achieved in US is not solely due the efforts of African-Americans. It is the product of the contribution of both blacks and whites. I read fair amount of American civil rights movement and knew that numerous whites went beyond their limits (even dared death) to gain freedom and equal rights for blacks. I too dream of a day for such people in India to make India an egalitarian society. So, my identification of Dalits and non Dlaits has a purpose, at least in my thoughts. Our donors come to FFEI by reading an article, by hearing from a friend and so on. Many still are with us for years and helping in every way possible. FFEI is also fortunate to have a few committed individuals who I proudly say do more good than I. During these years, we ventured in to many projects and doing in all fronts fairly good. Except when I am in deep sleep and not doing on my professional work, I always think of ways and means for the growth of FFEI. At the same time, I never venture into a project that I think I may fail due to resources. But, currently one thing that is depriving me of sleep is the new project we introduced this year – “Educational Adoption”. Though this is my most favorite project, I kept it away so far as I fear of generating funds continuously for a period of time, say 10 years, for a single child. I frightened at the thought of withdrawing support to a child (after a year or two) for lack of funds. Still, this year, I could not resist venturing into it for the number of donations we received for scavenging children scholarships, thanks to Prof Shiva and his friends. We received more for these scholarships than regular scholarships. I have a gut feeling is that FFEI will be able to generate atleast 50 such scholarships every year. So, we have selected 50 students under this project from AP, UP, and TN. Success of any project depends on the individuals who implement it at the ground level. I have a couple of bitter experiences earlier and I
[ZESTCaste] FFEI (Ambedkar Scholarships) Invitation: May 30, 2009: Hyderabad
AmbedkarScholarships (Division of Friends for Education International – FFEI) Cordially invites you to its 2008 scholarship distribution ceremony Date and time: Saturday, May 30, 2009 3PM thru 9PM Venue: Hotel Pipper Mint Opp. Ranga Reddy Collectorate office Lakdi-ka-pool Hyderabad – 500 004 Ph: 040-4435-1234 Chief Guest: Dr A Vidya Sagar, IAS Commissioner for Social Welfare, A P Government Guest of Honor MrB Nagya, IRTS Executive Director (Transport), Singareni Colleries -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] Looking for a Telugu speaking official as our guest
Dear Donors and Friends, We are looking for Telugu speaking official as a guest to our function. Please let me know if you have somebody in mind. We have been looking for a suitable person to encourage and to be a role model to our girl scholars. I appreciate your help in this regard. Thanks Benjamin -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] FFEI (Ambedkar Scholarships) update
Dear Donors, Now it is 5:07AM on 5/17/09. I did not sleep the whole night to complete several tasks as the function date (5/30/2009) is fast approaching. pLEASE We have 37 regular scholarships and 62 scavenging children scholarships. It has been decided to distribute the scholarships in the following way. 47 scholarships will be given the way we do every year. They are: Regular scholarships: 37 (will be given in AP students studying in Govt and social welfare school and applied thru advertisement) Safai Karamchari Andolan (Scavenging Children Scholarships), AP: 10 Among the rest, at least 50 will be distributed under “Educational Adoption” project. I am very hopefully anticipating that each one of you supports our project in the years to come without a break. So, I am going with a gut feeling that we will be able to raise donations to support these 50 kids atleast till 10th grade. I am interested in this project due to the following 2 main reasons: Some donors expressed their interest in supporting the same child for a prolonged period of time rather than supporting a different child every year thru scholarships. This way a donor will have a satisfaction of supporting a single child and see him or her grow in education till he/she reaches upto 10th grade. I too have this project in mind for so long and feel that the impact on child’s life is possible only by supporting it for a prolonged period of time and by giving the best education available. It is also a barometer for our efforts . So, after giving it a thorough thought and discussing it with several other donors, I decided to go with this project. Though it costs me more in terms of effort, time, and coordination, I feel it is the right thing to do. In this context, I spoke to several social workers over phone and decided to take the following individuals to achieve the goals in our mind. Sis. Sigaya Mary, Principal, Chilakaluri pet, 10 students belong to ST community and children of rikshaw pullers and laborers. Mr Vidya Bhushan Rawat, (Works among scavengers), Uattar Pradesh, 10 students Mr Jagan, Sakya Hostel (Tsunami orphaned children), Tamilnadu, 10 students Mr Isreal, (Works among Scavengers), Tamilnadu, 10 students To be deided: 12. I have not yet decided on another social worker doing yeomen service to the economically backward students. Total : 52 This is how it works: Our coordinators identify an English medium school, negotiate the fee, and admit kids in it. For now, I will allot a child to each donor. In future, all children in need will be uploaded to website and the donor can choose one or more children from it. Once chosen, the donor will become the god-parent to the child. We will provide all details of the child and give full freedom to interact with him/she, if desired. Sponsorship for a child for one year is a minimum of Rs. 5,000. The donated money is used for school fee, books, uniform etc Coordinators will upload or send me the reports of these kids on regular basis. I will post them on website so that the donor can see the progress of his/her kid. Hope you all will support this initiative as well. With infinite gratitudeBenjamin P Kaila -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] FFEI (Ambedkar Scholarships) 2008 function - update
Dear donors, friends, and supporters, I am extremely sorry for the delay in conducting 2008 Scholarships function due to various reasons. Though I am not comfortable with the venue of the function (a hotel), I am sorry to say that that is what we got for this year. Date: Saturday 30th May 2009 Chief Guest: Mr A Vidya Sagar, IAS (Commissioner, Social Welfare Department, Andhra Pradesh) Venue: Hotel Pepper Mint, Opp. RR District collectorate office Lakdi-ka-pool Hyderabad Andhra Pradesh 500 004 Tel: 040-4435-1234 Other details will be followed. Please mark your calendars to attend the function and to encourage these exceptionally intellectual students coming from socially and educationally backward sections of Indian society. As always, we still accept any donations, books, or any others items useful in education to distribute among them. Also, we have several other projects that need your support. With regardsBen Kaila -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org --- On Fri, 5/1/09, Adidela Devadas devadas1...@gmail.com wrote: From: Adidela Devadas devadas1...@gmail.com Subject: ASS-FUNCTION DATE-FINALISED To: Benjamin Kaila benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com, P.Vijayavardhan Rao pvv@idbi.co.in, PVV Rao pvv...@gmail.com, vijayavardhana rao pvv...@hotmail.com, kaila anand paulka...@yahoo.com Date: Friday, May 1, 2009, 7:13 AM Dear Paul Rao, Today I have booked the banquet hall and the details are as folows: HOTEL NAME: PEPPER MINT ADDRESS: OPP TO R.R.DIST COLLECTRATE OFFICE LAKDI-KA-POOL, HYDERABAD-500 004 PH: 040-4435-1234 WEBSITE: WWW.PEPPERMINTHOTELS.COM DATE: 30.3.09 TIME 3 PM TO 9 PM FACILITY: 100 CHAIRS WITH SOUND SYSTEM, AC HALL, STATE, PODIUM, WATER, COFFEE/TEA,LIGHT MUSIC SNACKS: TO ARRANGE ON OUR OWN IT IS CENTRALLY LOCATED, GOOD PARKING, GOOD AMBIENCE. SO, PLEASE NOTE AS ABOVE/REGDS -- Looking forward, ** Thanks Regards, A.DEVADAS, 302,Chandra Ganga Enclave, Brundavan Colony, Dr.A.S.Rao Nagar,ECIL Post HYDERABAD -500 062 MOBILE: 0-924620- 3884
[ZESTCaste] Re: First Time in the History
Congrats, Br Oshraj. Benjamin -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org --- On Mon, 4/27/09, Oshoraj osho...@canada.com wrote: From: Oshoraj osho...@canada.com Subject: First Time in the History Date: Monday, April 27, 2009, 4:11 PM A Joint Celebration in the House of Commons (Parliament of Canada) On May 23rd, 2009 (Saturday) INDIAN BUDDHIST SOCIETY TORONTO , CANADA Celebrating birthdays of the two greatest sons of India: Lord Buddha Dr. B.R. Ambedkar All are invited to be a part of this historic event. Please open the attachment for details.
[ZESTCaste] Br Chandrabhan - congratulations
Dear Br Chandrabhan, Congrats of the occasion of your Dalit Diary’s 10th Anniversary. It is indeed; you raised several new concepts in Dalit perspective and new thinking among Dalit intelligentsia. One may agree or not, seeds of new thought at least provoke others to think in a new direction. Hope, you have achieved that. I surprise why other newspapers do not emulate the approach taken by the “Daily Pioneer” a decade ago? Had every other newspaper provided a little space in their publications there must have been a lot of Dalit perspective developed in the nation by this time. At least a few more Dalit journalists would have an opportunity to express the Dalit problems, aspirations, and thinking. The general tendency is that when a new approach is made, everybody else follow suit. But it is a tragedy that it didn’t happen in Indian newspaper community. I hope your Daily will have many more year of publication in future. I also wish that you would promote more aggressively the idea of giving space to more and more Dalit journalists in all newspapers and magazines of India. Non availability of Dalit journalists is not an excuse. First of all that may not be true. Even if it true, every newspaper should emulate the work of S Anand of Navayana to train more Dalit journalists. They cannot ignore it and claim themselves progressive intelligentsia of India. I once again congratulate you and the Pioneer management to break the ice. But I desire they advocate more aggressively for the promotion of similar columns in other newspapers, if required, by shaming them in the public platform. Change will happen only by a few and that too by drastic means. Wishing you all the best, Benjamin Paul Kaila -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] Imperfect sympathy - an article from Frontline
Friends, Most of the time, while speaking to my non Dalit friends and wellwishers, I always get the same questions. “Why special provisions are required for SC/STs? Why do the do not avail the provisions already available to better themselves?” While arguing about the benefits enjoyed by SC/STs, a friend of mine bluntly said, “There are only two castes in India, one is Govt caste (meaning reserved caste) and the other non-government caste (non reserved caste). Nothing else matters. No other caste discrimination exists.” Another said, “SC/STs are sons and daughters-in-law of the Government. What more they want when the whole Govt is at their disposal?” It is always a big task for me to explain what the reality of all these measures is. I agree there always be misuse of any welfare measure. But at the same time, when the promises and laws are not implemented with spirit by the very Govts that passed them, what is the use of any number of welfare measures? More over these promises of successive Govts (since independence) to SC/STs look them in a bad light, as pampered lot. Many Govts came and gone, but is there any real change in their lot? Is it wise to say the fault lies with them, as they are not using the provisions available to them on paper? Here is an article giving an understanding of a few recent Govts and their promises to these so-called pampered lot and how these measures are implemented when parties come to power. FYI Thanks Benjamin http://www.frontlineonnet.com/stories/20090410260702900.htm Imperfect sympathy P.S. KRISHNAN What the manifestos and common minimum programmes of political parties and governments in the past held for Dalits. K.R. DEEPAK IN the last two decades, major political parties and coalitions in power have expressed sympathy for the Scheduled Castes (S.Cs), the Scheduled Tribes (S.Ts) and the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBCs) /Other Backward Classes (OBCs)/Backward Classes (B.Cs) in their manifestos and common minimum programmes (CMPs). The CMP of the United Front government in 1996 laudably committed itself comprehensively to the Dalit Manifesto in the following words: “The United Front government will carefully study the Dalit Manifesto formulated by the National Action Forum for Social Justice and implement its salient recommendations.” The Dalit Manifesto referred to is the document of March 7, 1996, incorporating the rights and entitlements of the S.Cs, the S.Ts and the B.Cs authored by me under the auspices of the National Action Forum for Social Justice. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government’s National Agenda for Governance (NAG) in 1998 promised: “The interests of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes will be adequately safeguarded by appropriate legal, executive and societal efforts and by large-scale education and empowerment…. We will continue to offer all assistance to the S.Cs, S.Ts and Backward Classes to ensure their speedy socio-economic development. We will remove the last vestiges of untouchability…. We will present a National Charter for Social Justice (samajik nyay) based on the principle of social harmony (samajik samarasta).” One of the six basic principles of governance in the National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP) of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in 2004 was: “To provide for full equality of opportunity, particularly in education and employment for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, OBCs and religious minorities.” Specific commitments listed in that CMP under the head “Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes” arranged subject-wise include: (1) Protecting, strengthening and adding to empowering assets of/for the S.Cs and the S.Ts “The UPA government will launch a comprehensive national programme for minor irrigation of all lands owned by Dalits and Adivasis. Landless families will be endowed with land through implementation of land ceiling and land redistribution legislation. No reversal of ceilings legislation will be permitted. “Eviction of tribal communities and other forest-dwelling communities from forest areas will be discontinued…. The rights of tribal communities over mineral resources, water sources, etc., as laid down by law will be fully safeguarded. “The UPA will urge the States to make legislation for conferring ownership rights in respect of minor forest produce, including tendu patta, on all those people from the weaker sections who work in the forests.” (2) Symbiosis of tribal communities and forests “The UPA administration will take all measures to reconcile the objectives of economic growth and environmental conservation, particularly as far as tribal communities dependent on forests are concerned….” (3) Rehabilitation “More effective systems of relief and rehabilitation will be put in place for tribal and other groups displaced by development projects. Tribal people alienated from land will be
[ZESTCaste] IAA, Ohio state university - FFEI benefit dinner update
As you all know Indian American Association, Ohio State University hosted a
dinner party to help FFEI. Here is a brief report from the organizer Mr Vikram
Rao. I am posting his emails for all to read.
I thank Mr Rajeev who introduced FFEI to IAA and Mr Vikram Rao and his friends
who organized it skillfully.
I wish many such events occur in the future!
With regards
Benjamin
Internal Benefit Dinner Report
Monday, March 30, 2009 7:51 PM
From:
Vikram Rao rao...@osu.edu
View contact details
To:
benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com
Message contains attachments
Benefit Dinner Recurring.pptx (1605KB), Benefit Dinner Slideshow.pptx (1016KB)
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Hi Benjamin,
Overall, the dinner went extremely well. As I mentioned before to you, we were
able to get all of the food donated for free from various local restaurants who
were all extremely responsive and excited about the cause. This enabled us to
donate the maximum amount possible to your charity. The attendees enjoyed the
format of the dinner. We kept it structured and invited in many other
organizations to supplement the Friends for Education presentation. Also,
Rajeev was able to speak about his experience. This helped a lot. One thing
people told us they wished was improved was the website. The front page looks a
little sketchy. Even though all of the pertinent information is there,
attendees voiced to us concerns about website layout. They wanted to see a more
modern and organized format. Perhaps this is something that could be looked
into. With that being said, this is most certainly not enough of a concern to
keep us from throwing an event like this again.
I or someone else from our organization will continue to be in touch.
Hopefully, another dinner like this can be arranged next year. Please let me
know if there is anything else about the benefit dinner I could be of
assistance to you with. Thanks again for all your help.
--
Regards,
Vikram K. Rao
rao...@osu.edu
937.477.0889
From:
Vikram Rao rao...@osu.edu
View contact details
To:
benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com
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[ZESTCaste] Need referral for Video on Orissa violence
Dear Br John Dayal and friends,
I got the following request from a friend from USA. They are in the process of
making a movie on Orissa violence.
They want someone to appear in the movie. If you or someone you know can help
him, please let me know as soon as possible.
Dear John,
I do not what email you use, I have several. So, I am sending to all. I know,
you worked extensively on the issue. Please respond ASAP, if you can help.
Thanks
Benjamin Kaila
--
An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast.
If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to
society.
-Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar
Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
--- On Sat, 3/28/09, Benjamin Kaila kailabp...@yahoo.com wrote:
From: Benjamin Kaila kailabp...@yahoo.com
Subject: Fw: Need referral for Video
To: benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com
Date: Saturday, March 28, 2009, 8:21 AM
--- On Fri, 3/27/09, Ron Henrywrote:
Subject: Need referral for Video
To: kailabp...@yahoo.com
Date: Friday, March 27, 2009, 1:28 PM
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Hi Benjamin,
Could you recommend an Christian Indian male who could provide services on
camera in support for a piece on Orissa? Someone who may be an actor, work in
radio or TV, someone who is comfortable and presents well on camera. My good
friend is producing a piece in conjunction with Open Doors in support of the
area.
Please advise.
Blessings,
Ron Henry
President
The Sterling Group
...it's all about people...
[ZESTCaste] Sending books from US to India - any suggestions please?
Dear donors and friends, I am in correspondence with a couple of professors in US who wants to donate books on elementary level English, math, and other useful books that could be used in India through our Ambedkar Library project. Does anyone have any experience in sending books form US to India? How to send them? Which company (Fedex, DHL etc) does it? Who operates if we want to send them by sea for cheaper rates? How much it costs approximately? Appreciate your reply if you have any idea or experience on this subject. With regardsBenjamin Kaila -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] Donation for computer - thanks to Ms Mina Kumar
Dear donors and friends, A few weeks ago I sent a donation request for a computer to Sankya Hostel, Chennai. It is not suprising to me when Ms Mina immediately came forward to help as she always did in the past. She donated $300 for the computer. She is one of the early supporters of our project with a burning desire to help the marginalized though she comes from a non-Dalit background. Her regular communication with me says how much she feels for them and how she dislikes injustice, discrimination of any kind. Sensing her sincerity and desire to have a female as director, I had asked her to be one of the board of directors of FFEI. But she simply declined saying, “I prefer Dalits to manage FFEI. I will support from outside. But find a Dalit woman to be one of FFEI directors.” Since then, I have been trying for a sincere Dalit woman to be on our board without success. Any proposals? She is one of the committed individuals I found in my entire life. What can I say other than “Thank you, Mina, for everything you did for FFEI”? Now, we need to buy a new computer. Can someone in Chennai help me to buy a good computer at a cheaper price (upto $300)? I appreciate any help. With regards Benjamin P Kaila -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] Tehelka article in Change Makers Inc
Dear donors and friends, Our project along with my profile has been featured in Tehelka magazine. Thanks to brother S. Anand of Navayana for introducing me to Ms Shobhita Naithani of Tehelka. Please read it at http://tehelka.com/story_main41.asp?filename=cr140309change_makers.asp I can’t forget the good that Mr Shivam Vij’s article To Learn with Dignity in the OUTLOOK done to our project a few years ago. Hope, this article will help us to get little more support. I believe that publicity is the only way to get the word around. Great many success stories we hear now (Kiva, Roomtoread, to name a couple of them) are partially due to media publicity. We want our project (unique in many ways) be able to help marginalized people in India at present and the world in future. There may be committed people who want to do something to the marginalized but do not know how. Our aim is to gain their confidence to do good to others. So, we welcome this small article that gives an understanding of who we are and what we do. Please let me know if any questions. As always, expecting your help to transform lives in out own small way. I would like to share this beautiful poem by Ben Harper. I was thrilled to watch PBS advertisement in which this poem is featured. I googled it and sending you the whole poem. How sweet and how real is it? All we need is our own two hands to change! I can change the world With my own two hands Make a better place With my own two hands Make a kinder place With my own two hands With my own With my own two hands I can make peace on earth With my own two hands I can clean up the earth With my own two hands I can reach out to you With my own two hands With my own With my own two hands Im gonna make it a brighter place Im gonna make it a safer place Im gonna help the human race With my own With my own two hands I can hold you With my own two hands I can comfort you With my own two hands But you got to use Use your own two hands Use your own Use your own two hands With our own With our own two hands With my own With my own two hands With regards Benjamin Paul Kaila -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] Sakya hostel,Chennai - computer (new or used) needed
Dear donors and friends, I had a long telephone conversation with brother Jagan, a dynamic 29 year old young man working full time with Tsunami orphaned/single parent children housed in the hostel after Indian Ocean Tsunami. We gave scholarships to 10 children under his care last year. FFEI is planning to sponsor 10 children from class 1 thru 10 from this year onwards with the available donations under Educational Adoption Project. Immediate requirement: A computer. They have an old computer that is almost dead. They need a new computer with internet. It will be a great help to the students in their education and in communication with ourside world. To send an email they need to go all the way to Chennai (35 KMs). I am sure for Rs.15,000 (USD $300), we may be able to get them a new computer with internet facility. So, I am writing to see if anyone is interested to help. Please let me know ASAP. If anyone (in India) can donate one or more “usable” used computers, we will be pleased to accept them. Please let me know. Here are other details of our conversation: The hostel was established for orphaned children after Indian Ocean Tsunami. The hostel has currently 46 children (studying from class 4 thru 12 in Tamil Medium). Approximate cost of running it is Rs. 8 lakh per year. Donations are the only source. FFEI can’t help in this, so let us not think about it. We will do what we can within our capacity. It has 4 full-time employees, including Mr Jagan. It is situated 35 Km away from Chennai. There is an English medium school nearby. I have asked him to send the details of the school to speak to the principal. School admissions starts in June 2009. All the 10 students we helped last year are doing well in studies. I have asked him to send a report on each student. Share with you when I get it. So, please let me know if any one or two individuals can help us to buy a computer. Remember, one computer will help 46 students with necessary skills that are more important currently. With regardsBenjamin -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] BURN THE BILL
Dear Br Ashok, How do you do? Congratulations for this action. I wish you and your organization get fruitful results out of it. Is there any agitation for Universal free and compulsory elementary education, especially for Dalits? I wish Dalit organizations show more interest in getting good education with well equipped school infrastructure at the elementary level in ever Dalit ghetto. I feel, if we get proper education from the start, we do not beg for any soaps from the uninterested and promises-for-the-sake-of-votes governments. This road is more arduous, but there is no better strategy than traveling through it. Though sounding controversial, I ask, “How many of these Dalits availing reservations and enjoying life competing with other influential castes are helping their own people? And to what extent?” I strongly believe that right kind of free and compulsory education for all is the only way to uplift Dalit and other marginalized communities of all walks of like. If we go on harping on only reservations, the powers-that-be will always find holes to avoid acting on any legislation or implement it half-heartedly. We know what happened to the much-touted reservations in private sector by the congress at the time of elections. I do not expect any better results from any government as far as they do not believe in social justice. Hope, some country wide agitation will be taken up by Dalit organizations for improvement of elementary school education. We are the losers and we need to be at the forefront, I feel. Thanks Benjamin -- From: NACDOR nac...@gmail. com Date: 2009/2/6 Subject: BURN THE BILL Dear Brothers and Sisters, Jai Bheem ! Dharna and protest march at Parliament on 4th February was a success. About one hundred people from all over Delhi participated in the Dharna and submitted a memorandum. National Confederation of Dalit Organisations (NACDOR) discussed this issue in great detail and has taken lead to see that this bill is opposed and suitable amendments are made so that this bill truly become THE SCHEDULED CASTES AND SCHEDULED TRIBES (RESERVATION IN POSTS AND SERVICES) BILL 2008. NACDOR has given call to all Dalit Organisations across the country to BURN THE BILL on 12th February 2009 for the following reasons: Clause 2 (j): Definition of 'Scientific and Technical Post', which include post for which qualifications in natural sciences or exact sciences or behavioural sciences or applied sciences or technology are essential and use of scuh knowledge is essential in performing the duties. This clause essentially restricts the entry of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes under medical, para-medical, engineering, emerging new areas of genetic, bio-technology, nano-technology, particle sciences or knowledge based industry. Clause 4 (1) restricting rights of reservation of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in posts higher than the lowest grade of A, which means that in any recruitment of posts higher than the lowest scale of A, would be out of the reach to the Dalits and hence upwards job mobility of the Dalits outside his/her parent organisation would be impossible. Clause 4(1) restricts the entry of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Scientific and Technical Posts higher than the lowest level of grade A. This restriction is far reaching and practically ban us from decision making posts in Scientific and Technical domain of India. Clause 4(1) restricts our entry in minimum 47 institutes at a level higher than the lowest level of grade A. This is particularly important to understand that it is not about teaching but also all other posts. These institutes include all IIMs, IITs, IIScs, IIITs, NIT (earlier regional engineering college) etc. But definition given in clause 2(j) is far reaching and restricts our entry heavily in science and technology field. This bill has not provided any penalty to those who violate this law. This law is ambiguous in many ways. There are few good things as well. For example, it provide constitutional backing to the reservation and hence we can seek remedy in the court. However, this Act fundamentally attack the unrestricted entry of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and hence OBCs as well. Therefore, in order to draw the attention of the Government and passing of this bill in current formats is against the interest of our people and we must BURN THIS BILL. People from Chandigarh, Patiala (Punjab), Sonbhadra, Jaunpur, Sitapur, Lakhimpur-Kheri, Allahabad, Mau, Pratapgarh, Gazipur (All Uttar Pradesh), Sagar, Rewa, Satna (Madhya Pradesh), Nagpur (Maharashtra) , Haridwar (Uttarakhand) , Sasaram, Nalanda, Patna, Navada (All BIhar), Ambala and Kaithal (Haryana) have cofirmed the BURNING OF THE BILL on 12th February 2009. Please keep up the spirit high and BURN THE BILL on 12th February 2009. We look forward to hear from other parts of the country as well. Warmly Ashok Bharti -- National Confederation of Dalit
[ZESTCaste] 2008 donations spreadsheet
Dear donors and friends, I am happy for all the suggestions I am getting. I will consolidate them and send them all together with my inputs. Whereever I can, I am responding them individually with clarifications. Some donors confused as their names appeared on different head rather than at one place. So, I prepared two spread sheets. 1. date of receipt order 2. donor name order You can access both by clicking the same link (flip to and fro) http://www.friends4education.org/scholarship/2008/08donations.htm I took great care in documenting them. But, still, I am a human. So, please check your donations and let me know if you see any discrapencies. With regards Benjamin --- On Thu, 2/5/09, Benjamin Kaila benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com wrote: From: Benjamin Kaila benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com Subject: 2008 Ambedkar Scholarships update To: Dalit Group da...@yahoogroups.com, ZestCaste ZESTCaste@yahoogroups.com, AmbedkarScholarshipGroup ambedkarscholars...@yahoogroups.com, benka...@yahoogroups.com Date: Thursday, February 5, 2009, 2:20 PM Dear donors and friends, 2008 donations: On behalf of FFEI, I thank all the donors in the year 2008. In this year, we were able to raise approximately Rs. 7,70,000 though it was a economically tumultuous year. I am still waiting for some more donations committed and with that we may cross Rs. 8 lakh figure. I salute all donors for the faith they put on us. Please click the following link for all donations. http://www.friends4education.org/scholarship/2008/08donations.htm 2008 scholarship distribution ceremony: We are planning to conduct scholarships function sometime in April 2009 in Hyderabad. Our organizers in India are working on modalities. We will update you when we finalize the date. Proposed changes: In fact, I am a miser. I do not want to spend a single penny unless I am convinced that each penny is used in the best way possible. I treat your donated money the same way. Wastage is want I want to avoid at any cost. As a person responsible for every penny you donate, I always think of ways and means to improve the project for better results. We have already ventured into several areas (microloans, awards, individual student help, victim help etc) and successfully implementing them within our limited resources. As I have already communicated, recently concluded award ceremony in Maharashtra was a great success. With regard to scholarships, I am thinking of the following changes in future, if not this year. · We will give scholarships as usual, but in small number. Rather than giving scholarships in cash, I prefer to give it in kind – like reimbursing tuition fee, buying books etc. But, that requires a full-time employee. So, we may not be able to do it unless we have more general funds (not tide to scholarships) to spend. · More emphasis will be given to “Educational Adoption” project. Through this project, FFEI will identify poor/rural/slum Dalit and scavenging children, adopt them at an early sage (preferably in 1st grade), and educate them in nearby schools (preferably English medium) by paying the educational expenses. We try to get the progress reports from time to time and make them available on our website. I have already spoken to a couple of school principals and organizations to help us to identify these children. Though I have been thinking of it for several years, I hesitated to get into it as I do not have enough human resources to support. But, I think it is more satisfying (to me and to the donor) to help a single child for 10 years and watch him/her grow educationally and intellectually rather than giving scholarships to 10 different people in 10 years and do not know what happens to them after that. · We will be working with known and dedicated individuals/organizations to select students. For example, we will take the help of Mr Vidya Bhushan Rawat in UP, Sankya hostel in Tamilnadu. I spoke to a couple of schools in AP. They helped us last year and we are 100% satisfied with their work. We also got good feedback from other sources about these organizations. · So far we have only unpaid volunteers and we will continue to use them wherever available. But I am also thinking of appointing a couple of part-time paid staff with a small honorarium to handle this additional work. We promise the following while using your donations: · If money is donated for giving scholarships for scavenging children, we will use it for helping scavenging children only (either by giving scholarships or by adopting them). Same in the case of regular scholarships. · If money is donated for any other purpose, we will use it for that purpose only. · We will not mix them up and use your donation only to serve the purpose you intended us to do. · We will provide details of beneficiaries as usual to all donors. If possible, we
[ZESTCaste] FFEI Powerpoint presentation- please watch and suggest
Dear donors and friends, Goods news pours in from time to time and that encourages us to work more vigorously. A few days ago, I got a call from Indian American Students Organization In Ohio State University. An US based Indian journalist Mr Rajeev Ravishankar (also a donor of FFEI) introduced our project to the student body. They did some research, liked what we have been doing and contacted me. They have decided to have a gathering, host a dinner party, and donate the proceedings to our project. How sweet the news to my ears? My spirits lifted up as I am going through tremendous pain due to joblessness for more than three months. They asked me for more details and some videos. I promised them a powerpoint presentation as well and it is for your information. Please comment on this and suggest me if any changes are needed. My aim is to execute this project with everybody’s involvement and so I am sharing with you. Please help me make more effective. You can watch the presentation at : http://www.friends4education.org/scholarship/FFEI-ppt/FFEI.htm Download it from: http://www.friends4education.org/scholarship/FFEI-ppt/FFEI.ppt Also, I have 2007 Scholarships function videos. If anyone wants to watch it, please let me know. Thanks Benjamin -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or ambedkarscholarship.org
[ZESTCaste] 2008 Ambedkar Scholarships update
Dear donors and friends, 2008 donations: On behalf of FFEI, I thank all the donors in the year 2008. In this year, we were able to raise approximately Rs. 7,70,000 though it was a economically tumultuous year. I am still waiting for some more donations committed and with that we may cross Rs. 8 lakh figure. I salute all donors for the faith they put on us. Please click the following link for all donations. http://www.friends4education.org/scholarship/2008/08donations.htm 2008 scholarship distribution ceremony: We are planning to conduct scholarships function sometime in April 2009 in Hyderabad. Our organizers in India are working on modalities. We will update you when we finalize the date. Proposed changes: In fact, I am a miser. I do not want to spend a single penny unless I am convinced that each penny is used in the best way possible. I treat your donated money the same way. Wastage is want I want to avoid at any cost. As a person responsible for every penny you donate, I always think of ways and means to improve the project for better results. We have already ventured into several areas (microloans, awards, individual student help, victim help etc) and successfully implementing them within our limited resources. As I have already communicated, recently concluded award ceremony in Maharashtra was a great success. With regard to scholarships, I am thinking of the following changes in future, if not this year. · We will give scholarships as usual, but in small number. Rather than giving scholarships in cash, I prefer to give it in kind – like reimbursing tuition fee, buying books etc. But, that requires a full-time employee. So, we may not be able to do it unless we have more general funds (not tide to scholarships) to spend. · More emphasis will be given to “Educational Adoption” project. Through this project, FFEI will identify poor/rural/slum Dalit and scavenging children, adopt them at an early sage (preferably in 1st grade), and educate them in nearby schools (preferably English medium) by paying the educational expenses. We try to get the progress reports from time to time and make them available on our website. I have already spoken to a couple of school principals and organizations to help us to identify these children. Though I have been thinking of it for several years, I hesitated to get into it as I do not have enough human resources to support. But, I think it is more satisfying (to me and to the donor) to help a single child for 10 years and watch him/her grow educationally and intellectually rather than giving scholarships to 10 different people in 10 years and do not know what happens to them after that. · We will be working with known and dedicated individuals/organizations to select students. For example, we will take the help of Mr Vidya Bhushan Rawat in UP, Sankya hostel in Tamilnadu. I spoke to a couple of schools in AP. They helped us last year and we are 100% satisfied with their work. We also got good feedback from other sources about these organizations. · So far we have only unpaid volunteers and we will continue to use them wherever available. But I am also thinking of appointing a couple of part-time paid staff with a small honorarium to handle this additional work. We promise the following while using your donations: · If money is donated for giving scholarships for scavenging children, we will use it for helping scavenging children only (either by giving scholarships or by adopting them). Same in the case of regular scholarships. · If money is donated for any other purpose, we will use it for that purpose only. · We will not mix them up and use your donation only to serve the purpose you intended us to do. · We will provide details of beneficiaries as usual to all donors. If possible, we will start working on the proposed plan this year itself, at least by adopting a couple of children in 2009. If any donor has any objection, I would like to hear it by 02/20/2009. In that case, we will use his/her donation as he/she desires with zero deviation in purpose. If I do not hear from you by 02/20/2009, I assume that you have agreed with our proposal and we will do whatever we think best with your donation. I will till 02/20/2009 for your reply. So, please rush your replies. If you have any other suggestions, you are welcome to let me know ASAP. I once again thank you for your generous donations and the opportunity you have given me to help others. With regardsBenjamin P Kaila --- On Wed, 2/4/09, Benjamin Kaila benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com wrote: From: Benjamin Kaila benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com Dear donors and friends, Goods news ... -- An educated man without
[ZESTCaste] 2007 Ambedkar award presented
Dear donors and other other friends, As you all know Ambedkar Award was presented to Ms Baby Kamble, the author of “The Prisons We Broke” on her 81st birthday on Feb 2, 2009 at her native village Phalton. According to reports reached me, it was a grand success attended by hundreds of people including many dignitaries. I am still waiting for complete report on it. For now, please read the mail from Br Vidya Bhushan Rawat who represented FFEI despite his busy schedule. He had taken the responsibility and completed with precision and dignity. I am lucky to associate with such a personality. On behalf of FFEI, I thank Br Rawat. I uploaded a few photos for your information here. http://www.friends4education.org/scholarship/2007/07awards/07bkamble.htm I will write in detail when I get complete report on the fucntion. I thank all donors for this purpose, Br Rawat, Prof Maya Pandit, Dr Swati, our coordinators in India Mr Devdas and Rao for their assistance to complete this task with honor and dignity. Please write to me if you have questions. Thanks Benjamin -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.ambedkarscholarship.org or www.friendsforeducation.org --- On Mon, 2/2/09, Vidya Bhushan Rawat vbra...@gmail.com wrote: From: Vidya Bhushan Rawat vbra...@gmail.com Subject: re : Honoring Baby Tai Kamble To: Benjamin Kaila benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com Date: Monday, February 2, 2009, 5:12 AM Dear Brother Benjamin, Greetings !! This is to inform you that the programme to honor Baby Tai Kamble went off very well. It was attended by nearly 400-500 people. The programme went off for nearly three-four hours. It was well received. Speakers were well versed with their subjects. There were academics, writers, activists all who facilitated Baby Tai Kamble. Maya Pandit was there so were other luminaries. Swati will send u the photographs and a summary of the programme soon. I have spoken to her about the same. I have also taken photographs and will send them to you as soon as possible. I will also write a summary of the programme soon. As do not know many names and the programme was essentially in marathi I can not really make a summary. There were media people who reported. Our banner was there and the citation was read there. Every body appreciated the efforts u have been making. I informed them how you are trying your best to help the Dalit students, and the community people in India. It is a mission for you, I informed them. I said, I am just a messanger to the work that you have undertaken. Since it is a small town, I think if they try only then it will be published in the media from Pune. I have talked to friends here and hope they will do the needful.. I opened the cheque and gave to Baby Tai. I have taken all the photogrpahs inclding those of cheque and the citation things, our banners.. will send them soon. regards, Vidya I will leave tomorrow morning. I will try to get baby Tai's house number so that u can speak t her. -- Vidya Bhushan Rawat Visit my blog at www.manukhsi.blogspot.com For information on the issues, movements and priorities of Scavenger community in India please log on to www.swachchakar.blogspot.com Contribute your article on freedom, humanism and human rights to www.manuski.com For information on civil society initiatives on Muslims in UP please log on to www.rehnumaa.blogspot.com For Social action, land rights, right to food and hunger issues support Social Development Foundation at www.thesdf.org
[ZESTCaste] Ambedkar Awards : Honoring a legend - by Vidya Bhushan Rawat
The credit of honoring this legend goes to the following donors. FFEI is only a facilitator. · Mr Kaki Madhava Rao, IAS (Rtd), Hyderabad · Mr Naresh Penumaka, IRS, Hyderbad · Mr Milind Thamke, US · Mr Sandeep Chavan, Hyderabad · Mr Maharaj Kaul, US · Ms Mina Kumar, USA · Mr Rayadas Manthena, US Please read. Benjamin Ambedkar Awards : Honoring a legend By Vidya Bhushan Rawat Rarely you come across such a personality whose life could inspire many yet remain invisible. Just because some body writes in the native language does not mean that things did not move in India. Baby Tai Kamble, whose 82 birthday was celebrated by a host of people together with Ambedkar Awards Ceremony conferred on her by Friends for Education International USA, an initiative of a committed Ambedkrite friend Benjamin Kaila. His commitment has given new hopes to aspiring scholars, computer scientists and engineers and would be doctors from various Dalit communities in India. Since last two years, FFEI under the stewardship of Benjamin Kaila has been honoring various new initiatives taken by the unknown Dalits. Those who have done tremendous work yet remain unrecognized and invisible. In his first contribution an award of Rs 10,000 was conferred on the Dalit women from Bundelkhand region of Uttar-Pradesh who started a weekly newspaper named as Khabar Laharia. He asked me whether I know Khabar Laharia people and I told him my opinion and thus I went to deliver this award to these brave women who have initiated a great change in Bundelkhand. And I want to inform here that it was perfectly right decision. Now, with Baby Tai Kamble, who I personally think inspire every one who believes in freedom and women's emancipation. I had the opportunity to meet Baby Tai earlier in Delhi several years back when she came to India Social Forum and addressed a gathering of Dalit women. That time when I heard her, I realized her passion, her struggle and her values. It was amazing, how in such a ripe age, she is still lively, and ready to go to any part of her state and India. Hence, when brother Benjamin and his team decided that Baby Tai Kamble should be honored for her autobiography ' The Prison we broke', it was like a long cherished dream of mine that Dalit women who are the change makers rarely got the recognition. There are many who got awards and rewards and I do not want to comment upon the merits of such people but definitely by honoring Baby Kamble, Ambedkar Awards has proved itself to be genuine torch bearer of Baba Saheb Ambedakr's movement. Baby Tai Kamble is the link between us and the struggle of Dr Ambedkar. Her experience with Ambedkar's movement is a lesson for us. When I came to Phalton to meet Baby Tai and give her the message of Ambedkar Awards and hand over the cheque to her, I had in mind the glorious struggle of Baba Saheb Ambedkar, Jyoti Ba Phule and other social reformers. . It was a great honor to be with her, listen to her and see her charming personality. I saw the number of people came to attend the programme. Despite a working day, nearly 500 people turned up. I saw big hoarding of honor being bestowed upon her. There were intellectuals, activists, the women, who look Baby Tai as their liberator. On her birthday, Baby Tai started a legal Aid cell to help the women victim of domestic violence and other issues related to women. Those who work in the social movement how difficult is to work among communities. When I saw women in large number in this gathering and later to hear Baby Tai though she did not speak much, I can assure you, Ambedkar Awards has infact brought itself to glory with honoring Baby Tai. I spent some moments with Baby Tai and I would like to spend some days at her place to know her and learn from her movement some time later. I would like to inform you that her book which is wonderfully crafted and shows how the women participated in Dr Ambedkar's movement despite hurdles created by their family persons. Dalit women's struggle is double as she has to convince the people in her family to go out as well as those outside the caste. So her struggle is much more difficult. Baby Tai is perhaps the first women among the Dalit fraternity whose autobiography has come out and is translated into French, Spanish, English, Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu languages. I have seen all those translations. Currently it is also being translated into Kannada. I am sure all those who believe in Ambedkarite vision of a liberated society would read her book and understand her struggle. She is a true follower of Baba Saheb Ambedkar. Maharastra and Tamilnadu always inspired me. May be because of the fact that I found voices of change in these two states. Dr Ambedkar and Periyar remained my icon. I loved each and every word they spoke and wrote. Hence in selecting Baby Tai Kamble, I want to thank brother Benjamin Kaila. He has honored
[ZESTCaste] Invitation: 02/02/09 Ambedkar Award ceremony (to honor Ms Baby Kamble)
Dear Donors and well wishers, Sorry for my silence for so long as I am still in search of a job. Hope, I will get it fast so that I can concentrate more on this work that is more satisfying and dear to my heart. Friends for Education International (FFEI) is pleased to invite people living near Pune to the “Ambedkar Award” distribution ceremony honoring Ms Baby Kamble, the author of “The Prisons We Broke”. The function will be held in her native place, Phaltan, Maharashtra on Feb 02, 2009, on her 81st birthday. The program details are given at the end of the message. We are pleased to honor her with a purse of Rs.75,000 raised through donations. Thanks to the following donors, though a few in number, who always come to my aid when I ask for donations. Mr Kaki Madhava Rao, IAS (Rtd), Hyderabad Rs. 11,000 Mr Naresh Penumaka, IRS, Hyderbad Rs. 2,000 Mr Milind Thamke, US Rs. 25,000 Mr Sandeep Chavan, Hyderabad Rs. 5,500 Mr Maharaj Kaul, US $500 Ms Mina Kumar, USA $100 Mr Rayadas Manthena, US $155 We believe that the recognition of a person of sacrifice and substance is important, as it will encourage him/her as well as others who may follow in his/her footsteps. Ms Baby Kamble also runs a school and we are sure this little amount will help her in her endeavors. I would like to thank the following people for helping me to conduct this function. · Prof Maya Pandit, English translator of the book who introduced me to Ms Kamble’s family. · Dr Swati Nimbhorkar, grand-daughter-in-law of Ms Kamble for arranging the logistics · Mr Vidyabhushan Rawat, Social Activitst from UP, for attending the function on his own expenses representing FFEI. Program details: Date : February 02, 2009 (on Ms Kamble’s 81st birthday) Time : 11:30 Hrs Venue: Namo-tatsa, Golibar Maidan, Near Bhoite classes, Girvi Road, Phaltan, Dist.Satara, Maharashtra, India Contact no.: +91-02166-223955, +91-9765730555 Guests of Honour · Mr.Dadasaheb Daithankar · Ms.Varsha Deshpande · Prof Maya Pandit, English translator of the book Travel hints: From Mumbai or Pune to take a state government bus to Phaltan, it would take seven hours and three hours respectively. Please free to spread this message. Write to me if any questions. With regards Benjamin P Kaila -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.ambedkarscholarship.org or www.friendsforeducation.org
[ZESTCaste] Interesting article: We are like this only
An interesting article I want to share with you. We are like this only http://week.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/theWeekContent.do?sectionName=Current+EventscontentId=4971715programId=1073754900pageTypeId=1073754893contentType=EDITORIALBV_ID=@@@ We are like this only- Big deal: Mishra spends Rs 30,000 a month on an elephant and a camel that he has owned for the last 20 years; Photo: Salil Bera SOCIETY Social status = personal bodyguards, ITraids, moustache, licensed guns, and more By Kanhaiah Bhelari Kamlesh Kumar Jaishawal was desperately in love with Ritu Keshari, who was from another caste. But the hurdle before marriage was not their differences, but money-marriage meant expenses. The teacher cum part-time journalist from Dumraon, Bihar, was then struck with an idea. He took a loan of Rs 82,700 from a local bank under the Prime Minister's Rozgar Yojana to set up a small business unit, and wedded his sweetheart on November 25. It was a boon from the Almighty to solve my biggest problem, he said. Jaishawal represents thousands of north Indians who associate pride with extravagance. Borrowing money to meet an urgent need and splurging it on a wedding, just to show they can, is common in the cow belt. Minister for water resources in the Jharkhand government, Kamlesh Singh's declared assets were a mere Rs 15 lakh. But he allegedly spent Rs 5 crore to marry off his two daughters in 2008. Mahendra Singh Tikait, the farmer leader of western Uttar Pradesh, invited about a lakh people for dinner for his daughter's wedding. The show-off just begins there. For the Indian, pride is plural. It comes in the form of guns, private bodyguards, land, house, moustache and pets. Some find dignity in flashing a high-end mobile phone; cars and jeeps make some feel special; a few don't mind an Income Tax raid at their house if that sends out the desired message! Licensed firearms are still number one status symbol in the Hindi heartland. Name and fame from cricket seem not enough for Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The dynamic skipper is still looking to fulfil his childhood ambition of owning a pistol. Around 40 million firearms in the country are said to be in civilian possession, with Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar topping the list. As per official figures, one in every 14 persons in Noida has a licensed firearm-a total of 17,717. In Greater Noida, there are 21,177 licensed guns. About 35,000 licence applications for rifles and pistols are pending. Pramod Kumar Singh alias Pappu of Ramgarh, bordering UP, bought a pistol in 2007 costing Rs 3.6 lakh, though he already owned two rifles. But a pistol is a pistol. It gives you a special feeling, he said. Laxman Pandey, a farmer in Chandauli district, UP, loves to carry his rifle around in his village, Dharawli, because it earns him respect. The Madhya Pradesh government took up the gun to shoot down population explosion in 2008. In April, the Shivpuri district administration offered gun licence for volunteers of vasectomy. Men queued up to get sterilised. In 2007, just eight men came forward for the surgical procedure in return of an incentive of Rs 1,100. But gun revolutionised vasectomy in the district-over 250 men turned up until December 2008. Guns are both a necessity and a status symbol in the district and it is not hard to find a farmer riding an old bicycle, with a gun slung over his shoulder. Reports say there are over 11,000 licensed guns in Shivpuri district, whereas neighbouring Bhind and Morena have 19,000 and 15,000 licences, respectively. Guns 'empower' women, too. Before May 2008, the women of Rewa district of Madhya Pradesh were broomstick wielders. But today, they are recognised as gun-toters. The district administration licensed 19 women with guns. The motive was to boost their confidence and social status. Another way of saying 'I can' is by hiring police personnel as security guards. The Delhi High Court in October 2007 observed that the practice of politicians moving around with gun-toting security guards had become fashionable and a status symbol. The more security men around, the more prestigious they felt. About 20,000 policemen in Bihar are engaged in providing personal security. The police manual provides for hiring of a security guard for Rs 8,000 per month. Even petty politicians with no threat to their lives have managed to get security guards by using their clout, said a policeman in Patna. But some prefer private security guards because they distrust the prowess of the police. One of them is Sudhir Singh of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. To earn respect in society today, it is necessary to live under the shadow of firearms, said Sudhir. Having land at district headquarters or state capitals is another status symbol. Rajan Rai of Dehri-on-Sone bought a plot in Indira Nagar locality of Lucknow and built a flat. I had to sell ancestral property in my native village
[ZESTCaste] Happy New Year 2009
Dear donors, friends, and well-wishers, Friends for Education International (FFEI) wishes you all and your families a very happy, prosperous, and purposeful NEW YEAR 2009 Benjamin P Kaila -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.ambedkarscholarship.org or www.friendsforeducation.org
[ZESTCaste] Thanks to Vidya Venkat
Dear Vidya, Thanks for sharing the information about Mr Israel. I will try to contact him and see how we can work together to help children in need. Thanks for your interest in our project. I am located in USA. You can reach me though my email. We appreciate if you can write an article on our project to spread our work. Please let me know. Meanwhile, please check our website www.friendsforeducation.org for more details on our project. Feel free to write to me with any questions. Thanks and appreciate your help. With regards Benjamin -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.ambedkarscholarship.org or www.friendsforeducation.org Re: Uplifting his community members through education: Need info on Posted by: vidya_venkat153 vidya_venkat...@yahoo.co.in vidya_venkat153 Sun Dec 28, 2008 9:33 am (PST) Hi, This is the phone number of Mr.Israel 9840114888. Also can I have Mr.Benjamin' s contact number? I would like to write about the work being done to promote education of poor Dalit children... Thanks, Vidya. --- In zestca...@yahoogrou ps.com, Benjamin Kaila benjamin_kaila@ ... wrote: Dear Prof Shiva, Can you please check if there is any way to reach this person. We may ask for help to give scholarships to Scavenging children. Please ask around and get the info. I am also writing to the Hindu. Friends in Tamilnadu, If anyone knows about this oraganization or Mr Isreal, please send me his contacts. Please read the story. Thanks Benjamin http://www.hindu. com/2008/ 12/21/stories/ 2008122158520200 .htm
[ZESTCaste] The Colours of Success - Mr Anand, you have done it, Thanks.
Dear Anand, Congrats, you did it. I have gone through the report and pleased for what you have done. You opened a new chapter in the Dalit movement and I am sure, its impact will be seen in the years to come. It is not a mean achievement and you deserve full appreciation. I have been hearing people talking big and do nothing. But you showed that good things could be done without much noise. Keep up the good work, my brother! I salute you. With regards Benjamin -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.ambedkarscholarship.org or www.friendsforeducation.org --- On Fri, 12/26/08, avarna navayana avarna.navay...@gmail.com wrote: From: avarna navayana avarna.navay...@gmail.com Subject: Avarna: The Colours of Success To: anand.navay...@gmail.com Date: Friday, December 26, 2008, 11:50 PM Dear All Navayana's Avarna had a successful debut in Calcutta. See http://www.navayana.org/ or read the attachment. Avarna: A Navayana Fellowship for Diversity in Publishing Navayana E92, Second Floor Saket New Delhi 110017 www.navayana.org -- Avarna: A Navayana Fellowship for Diversity in Publishing Navayana E92, Second Floor Saket New Delhi 110017 www.navayana.org
[ZESTCaste] Uplifting his community members through education: Need info on this org
Dear Prof Shiva, Can you please check if there is any way to reach this person. We may ask for help to give scholarships to Scavenging children. Please ask around and get the info. I am also writing to the Hindu. Friends in Tamilnadu, If anyone knows about this oraganization or Mr Isreal, please send me his contacts. Please read the story. Thanks Benjamin http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/21/stories/2008122158520200.htm -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.ambedkarscholarship.org or www.friendsforeducation.org
[ZESTCaste] Any takers of this challenge?
Friends, Please read the message from Jagan from Sakya Hostels, Chennai. If anyone has a heart help this promising young gentleman, please let me know. Thanks Ben -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.ambedkarscholarship.org or www.friendsforeducation.org --- On Wed, 12/17/08, S. Jayasridhar iam_sa...@hotmail.com wrote: From: S. Jayasridhar iam_sa...@hotmail.com Subject: RE: Thanks to Prof Shiva for your thoughts on Sakya Hostel To: Benjamin Kaila benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com, Shiva shankar sshan...@cmi.ac.in Cc: Devdas devadas1...@gmail.com, Banjamin. benka...@yahoogroups.com, ambedkarscholars...@yahoogroups.com, da...@yahoogroups.com, zestcaste@yahoogroups.com, karma...@yahoogroups.com Date: Wednesday, December 17, 2008, 2:03 AM Dear Friends, Greetings to you from Visuddhaloka and children of Sakya Hostels, We feel much proved to introduce one of our sakya hostels student Mr. R. Kalidass to you. Three years ago when we picked him and admitted him into our hostels he resembled on of the typical adolescent of a scheduled caste person. He found very depressed in life he was shy he was an introvert he did not speak up in crowd. He used to curse himself for his unfortunate life and for being born in to a poor scheduled caste family and his parents are illiterates. All that is said above about Mr. R. Kalidass will be seen as untrue for a visitor to our hostels. He will receive visitors cheerfully will take to them boldly will introduce our children and explain about our activities more than all this he is now on of the senior students of our hostels and guide to children. Kalidass is interested to take up a career in fire and safety management this is a one year Diploma course in engineering which has a promising future. An institute call NIFE based in Chennai is offering this course. They also arrange campus interviews of its students to place them with good companies. Total fees for one year is Rs. 35000.00/- (Rupees thirty five thousand only). http://www.nifeindia.com (NIFE, No: 10, Vasu Street, Kilpauk, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Ph: +91 44 26422112 Hence we are requesting you to sponsor the course fees for our hostels student Mr. R. Kalidass and help him to fulfill his life ambition. We look forward for your kind support and help to Mr. R. Kalidass education Thanking you, With regards S. Jayasridhar. 09841 255 342. ***
[ZESTCaste] Interesting commentary on caste from National Public Radio
I stubled upon this news item while searching web. I would like to share it, if you are interested. http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?memberId=542248articleId=281474976721122 Thanks Ben -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.ambedkarscholarship.org or www.friendsforeducation.org
[ZESTCaste] Request for accommodation in Pune (1 and 2nd Feb 2009)
Dear friends, As you know we are honoring Ms Baby Kamble, author of “The Prisons We Broke” on her 81st birthday on February 02, 2009 in her hometown near Pune. Brother Vidyabhushan Rawat, a dedicated Ambedkarite and social activist from UP is representing FFEI. Though a few I contacted in Mumbai (being locals to Maharashtra) to help us with this task never responded (even for courtesy sake), Vidya accepted it and coming on his own expenses. I am very thankful to him for his gesture. Now, I am asking a personal favor. I never cease to ask public favors, as I believe social activists should work as a fraternity helping fellow activists whenever and wherever it is possible. None of us can do social service in isolation. I never shy of rendering my help wherever I can. Anyone who knows me personally vouch for it. So, I feel, I have a right to ask it as well. So, here is my request. Can someone in Pune help us to accommodate Br Vidya for 2 days (1 and 2nd of February 2009)? I am asking this requested though he never asked me for it. He is spending from his pocket for travel expenses and I do not want him to spend on hotels as well, if there is a possibility. Moreover, is it not good and self-fulfilling to exchange views with a dedicated worker with same philosophy? I am sure there are many social workers and Ambedkarites in Pune. So, please respond as early as possible to avoid spending money on accommodation. Appreciate your help. With regardsBenjamin P Kaila -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.ambedkarscholarship.org or www.friendsforeducation.org
[ZESTCaste] Ambedkar Award for Ms Kamble - new donation $500
Dear Mr Maharaj, Thanks, Mr Maharaj for your generosity. It is always better late than never. You are always there for us . Friends, With Mr Maharaj's generous donation, Ms Kable's award amount increased to Rs.75,000. I am happy as she can use this money for the school she had been running. ThanksBenjamin -- An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. -Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar Please visit www.ambedkarscholarship.org or www.friendsforeducation.org --- On Fri, 12/12/08, Maharaj Kaul m3k...@yahoo.com wrote: From: Maharaj Kaul m3k...@yahoo.com Subject: Ambedkar Literary Award To: Benjamin Kaila benjamin_ka...@yahoo.com Date: Friday, December 12, 2008, 6:21 PM Dear Ben: Please add my contribution of $500 to the purse of Rs. 55,000 that you plan to present to Ms. Baby Kamble on February 2, 2009. Sorry for being late. I should have informed you earlier. Best wishes. Maharaj
