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In a message dated 16/06/01 15:52:50 Eastern Daylight Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
<< Dalit
to me sounds a great deal like the argument put forth by the early Zionist
movement. >>
Louis,
I think you are still missing the point about "Dalitism". The Dalits are
representing the lower castes in Hindu society, they are not an "ethnic",
"religious" or "racial" group but a layer of Indian society that is the most
oppressed. Consider the following description by a close personal friend of
mine Shivrang Setlur speaking about the politics of class and caste in India:
"Being from the South [of India], where anti-Brahmanism is an established
political reality, I think there's a little more perspective on the whole
phenomena that leftists and other activists in the North [of India] miss
picking up. Like the fact that Hinduism ain't an organized religion, and
there is no caste "System", there is a similar world view and social
structure that results in hierarchies in local society. Many groups that are
considered high in the south are considered low in the north and vice versa.
It varies. the only common denominator is that there is a hierarchy and
exploitation."
The Dalits support the rigths of the lower classes and all those marginilized
by the Westernized neoliberal portions of the Indian elite. Louis if I were
you I would reserve judgement on Indian politics a little more before jumping
down peoples throats. Its easy to brand someone a certain thing without even
trying to understand their views. Yes, I too am uncomfortable by the attacks
on the Hindu religion made by the Dalits, but then again there is no
essential "Hinduism" and the whole notion of "Hindu" as perceived in the West
is largely a construct of misguided Western attempts to explain religion on
the Indian sub-continent in Judeo-Christian terms. Furthermore, the Dalit
attacks on this tradition come from within the tradition, thereby producing a
healthy debate over the nature and future of Hinduism and its relationship to
Indian statehood. Soooo...wait, learn, and be patient before casting
judgement on the Dalits or any other force in modern day India because the
categories that make so much since to both me and you in our own respective
contexts do not necessarily mean or translate into the same things all the
time in the Third World. Unfortunately (or should I say fortunately?), most
Western intellectuals still haven't learned how little the labels they have
learned in the academies of Europe and America actually apply outside of
these bubbles. Essentially all I'm saying Louis is for you to rethink your
position on this issue and try to break out of the current framework you are
working within. If it doesn't work out fine. But there is no reason not to
try : )
cheers!
Kosta
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