18th January, 2005

Hon’ble Prime Minister of India
India

Sub. : Caste Discrimination among the Victims of the Tsunami in Southern part of India

Respected Sir,

Jai Hind !

With ref. to the article in local newspaper “THE TRIBUNE” confirming allegations of discrimination on the basis of caste during the relief work at Southern Coastal part of India.

On December 26, 2004, a devastating flood rocked the Southern coastlines around the Indian Ocean. Within days of the country's worst natural disaster in recent history at least 40,000 were declared dead and millions were left homeless. Nearly 56-hundred residents of the Nicobar and Andaman islands are still missing and presumed dead.

In the months since the flood, residents of the state of Southern part of India have been besieged by a man-made disaster: caste and communal discrimination in the distribution of relief and rehabilitation, corruption in the handling of aid, and political squabbling that has done little to help the Tsunami's neediest victims.

"It's been confirmed that the higher castes are receiving more of the aid than the lower castes."

This is the headline carried out by many major networks and papers in India and around the world. We all sympathised with the victims of the Tsunami in Southern part of India.

Inspite of all these monumental help to the people of Southern part of India, we are shocked to hear what happens among those people even in this most tragic time. The world communities came together to wipe out the tears of the affected people. Indians in India and around the globe came forward to help their own people to offer them relief and comfort. Many international organizations have been very generous in helping India in dealing with this natural tragedy.

We still love our people and would like to continue our support and help in everyway we can.

India's caste system is perhaps the world's longest surviving social hierarchy. While the government has allocated equal amounts of monetary compensation and food supplies to members of all communities, Dalit population did not have the same access to adequate shelter, electricity, running water, and other supplies available to others. Racial discrimination in the society, especially in rural areas, is still in existence.

The tidal waves of Tsunami in Southern part of India affected the Dalit communities more seriously because of the poverty and oppression under which they labour. Dalits are doubly affected because of the mental pressure of untouchability on top of this great tragedy. The tides of Tsunami has provided a dramatic illustration of caste oppression, and now offers a tremendous opportunity to overcome past divisions. We therefore view with very grave concern reports of discrimination in the distribution of assistance in the aftermath of the tides in Southern part of India. We look for the building of new communities on a basis of equality in the reconstruction process.

We therefore ask the following questions :

1.  Are you monitoring the distribution of relief and the progress of construction work to ensure there is no caste discrimination?

2.  How are you monitoring the situation to ensure this is the case?

3.  How are you overcoming caste discrimination in the relief programmes to which Government money is contributing?

4.  Are you ensuring that your relief and reconstruction work after the Flood is not subject to any caste bias? How?

5.  Are you seeking to overcome caste divisions in the reconstruction work? How?

6.  What proportions of Dalits are among your staff both for relief and ongoing development work in Southern part of India and the rest of India?

We urge to continue to press the authorities to act more effectively to challenge caste discrimination and to eradicate an evil, which bears too many similarities to the apartheid system, which was so abhorrent to the world community of the last generation. Caste is the apartheid of today.

"Indian villages look like a mess, but you know by the house what caste lives there," "You cannot think that a village is homogeneous. If you don't know that, you can make a mistake."

Jai Hind !

Virender Singh Gill
A part of people of INDIA

The Valmiki family
Living globally

"for all flesh is as grass and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. the grass withereth, and the flower there off falleth away - I peter 1:24"

I noticed that in many parts in the worlds still many people are facing racial discrimination. Still many people are bound to irrespectful/ dirty jobs. We advice these people to shunt out their traditional profession and do some other jobs, come forward.  Please spread educations amongst people for the welfare of downtrodden people.

I mean to say you that why these poor people are still after there long long back professions why these people not understand the current scenario.  Why these people are not able to teach their community to shunt their profession, which other people see with haltered.  This is our duty that as much possible we have to teach these communities try to find out other jobs, which are respectable in the whole society.  I agree that in many parts in India these community is very forward and respectable but in other part of India people still disregard them hate them. 

For the benefit of the poor and down trodden; in the memory of our community, the elders of the society, who sacrificed their life for the uplifting of the needy and poor of the poorest & underprivileged people of the society.

We cannot take to our heavenly home whatever wealth amassed in our lifetime. The moment our heart stops immediately people talking about the burial time of the body. We are zero no one on earth knows about our last breath. Why cannot we do a little for the needy? In our life we come across many things but we get full satisfaction when we are able to work for the poor. In the world there are many people without food and shelter and even clothes. We are blessed with all this fortunes. When we look at the gypsies in India they are the poorest of the poor. They earn their lively hood by collecting the wastepaper. At the same time they are eating the left over materials dumped in the hotels or marriage halls in the dustbin. That is the left over material in the plates / banana leafs. What a pitiable condition. God has created man and woman and we are all same before the lord. Why this discrimination? Even a small child at the age of 2 or 3 starts the same job of collecting and eating from the dustbin, they are not taught properly. When god has provided us every thing as spacious bungalow, fridge full of eatable, almarah full of clothes and limousine for travel we are not thinking of this poor brethren in the society. Just think about this poorest people taking shelter in the road pavements and without food. So try to rehabilitate these people in their way because it is

Not possible to change their culture all on sudden. I urged every Organization to help them by creating simple jobs. Apart from this also conduct free medical clinics and free medical camps. Sponsor a child and donate for that child's food, education and a bright future. Spread the word to your friends. Give your friends a chance to brighten their lives also.  

Virender Singh Gill

Sub. : Letter from GOD

If you were to get a mail from GOD………

Hi,

As you got up this morning, I watched you and hoped you would talk to me, even if it was just a few words, asking my opinion or thanking me for something good that happened in our lift yesterday-but I noticed you were too busy trying to find the right outfit to put on and wear to work, I waited again. When you ran around the house getting ready I knew there would be a few minutes for you to stop and say hello, but you were too busy. At one point you had to wait fifteen minutes with nothing to do except sit in a chair. Then I saw you spring to your feet. I thought you wanted to talk to me but you ran to the phone and called a friend to get the latest gossip.

I watched as you went to work and I waited patiently all day long. With all your activities I guess you were too busy to say anything to me. I noticed that before lunch you looked around, maybe you felt embarrassed to talk to me, that is why you didn’t bow your head. You glanced three or four tables over and you noticed some of your friends taking to me briefly before they ate, but you didn’t. That’s okay. There is still more time left, and I have hope that you will take to me yet you went home and it seems as if you had lots of things to do. After a few of them were done you turned on the T.V. I don’t know if you like T.V. or not. Just about anything goes there and you spent a lot of time each day in front of it, not thinking about anything – just enjoying the show. I waited patiently again as you watched the tv and ate your meal but again you didn’t talk to me.  Bedtime I guess you felt too tired. After you said goodnight to our family you plopped into bed and fell asleep in no time. That’s okay because you may not realize that I am always there for you. I’ve got patience more than you will ever know. I even want to teach you how to be patient with others as well.

I love you so much that I wait everyday for a nod, prayer or thought or a thankful part of your heart. It is hard to have a one sided conversation. Well you are getting up again an once again I will wait nothing but love for you hoping that today you will give me some time.

Have a nice day!

Your friend,

GOD

 
Before reading this article letter let me clear that I am not at all criticizing any community and not even differentiating our community with any other. And also there is no enmity among us. Being working for www.bhagwanvalmiki.com I often go through similar question lot many people ask like :

“Will you please tell me that you are Valmikan by caste or taking SC as a whole? As this is my first question of interest and then we can share many things. ”

I often told them that the website is made to all the worshippers, admirers, and followers of Bhagwan Valmiki Ji and their creations, teaching or preaching. Whether he belongs to Valmikan caste or from any religion, caste or belief. Being born in a Valmikan family it covers most of the Valmikans religious issues on priority basis and caste or social as secondary. So this does not mean it bound to a particular religion or caste.

Where the question should be :

What is the situation of our people compared to Ravidassi and other communities that are victims of Caste-Prejudice?

Indian Society has always been based on the Caste System. Here it needs to be clearly understood that in the Indian Context even Religion, Language, Region, Profession, Occupation, Job, local Community Names and or Identities, and Tribes act as Castes.

Well I am very well known with the fact of prosperity of others and that should be an example for us to compete and prosper. People who work with leather in India are called Ravidassis and they have done really well as a community group.

It should be kept in mind that whatever we have lost in society like our status has to be again honored to us by these upper castes only. Though we have to show them a unity. And without unity we cant bring a revolution.

See who so ever have been the great scholars whether they are in our country or in the west had got a big support from the people. Peoples had accepted them and so achieved.

I do agree that some people are there with in our communities who have got egoism. But it’s not applicable to all. There are people who are really working better for our community.

Biggest drawback of our community is that these people rather encouraging someone who is excelling in the society they criticize them. WHY? These are all due to illiteracy. And why we have not prospered is just due to disunity and illiteracy.

One of the main problems with our community is that those who become successful tend to move away from our people and their suffering. This is a very old trick that Hindus have used to restrict our progress - they accept our successful people into their fold, either by marrying their daughters to them or by convincing them that they have become just like high caste Hindus. It seems things are changing and our younger members seem to be showing pride in their identity and are trying to ask questions about our distorted history. I would, however, like to highlight that we should not blame Ravidassi brothers for our failure to achieve success. Sh. Davinder Prasad, General Secretary and also a founder of an organization called CasteWatchUK work with Valmikans, Ravidassis, Indian Christians, Ambedkarites and South Indian-Dalits etc in UK says,

“I have got a wonderful support from all other communities. I am extremely disappointed with our other leaders and they do not seem to have a good understanding about how the systems work and how we can get benefits for Valmiki community. I am also from Valmiki community but find it difficult to communicate with our community leaders. There is so much we can do in the western world but it can only be done if our leaders develop their understanding and come out their selfish, egoistic and ignorant state of mind. We can bring immense resources from Western world in the direction of our community provided our community leaders show some sense of responsibility, get united - globally and give up their little ego problems. We should not be fearful from Ravidassis etc, we can learn a lot from them but we have to make efforts to get our own share in a democratic world and not blame them for our failures.”

It’s my personal wish that our community is lacking due to unity. And unity is not there due to communications with in the people who have risen and the people who are there only where our
ancestors were.

Better would be to do something by both of us to work together.

See these all other dalit castes have their own routes and when comes the question of any job or any renaissance they don’t even support the other Dalit caste. The Ravidassis have shown a great achievements in the society and they have shown courage See there are many IAS officers and also allied officers, Then they had their minister in centre like Jagjeewan Ram & Mayawati. Also they are running BAMSEF organization.

So we have to make a single front with good educated people.

There is no harm in learning and acquiring knowledge from others. If you look at the history of India, all the big leaders of the Indian independence struggle were educated in England. They learnt how the system worked in UK and how the English brain worked. They used this knowledge to their advantage. Don't forget that Indian Congress was founded by an Englishman. Similarly.

The important point is that we must be clear about what we want and then whatever and whoever is needed to achieve these aims, we should be clever enough to take advantage. I may agree that caste-prejudice is worse amongst lower caste-groups themselves. I also agree that Kanshi Ram and Mayawati are not very sympathetic about Valmiki community. But we cannot blame them because they are politicians. They represent Ravidassi community and they are doing a good job for them. We have to find our own Kanshi Ram's and our own Mayawati's and then if they do not deliver, we would be justified in criticizing them for not delivering to Valmiki community.

The need of hour is “CO-ORDINATION AMONG DALIT ORGANISATIONS”

It is therefore the Need of the time that all SC&ST Dalits should come together at least to know each other and identify what each one is or is capable of, and work together where ever and when ever necessary to Develop the Appropriate Strategies!  In the process they can share their own views, sharpen their ideologies, develop their plans, and find at least some solutions to their own problems.  Pooling together of different experiences, capabilities, potentials, ideas and plans would ensure the development of a strong and respectable Dalit Power in the near future!

This requires a lot of efforts, such as organizing at the University and College Levels, Seminars, Workshops, Discussions, Debates and Competitions, from time to time amongst Dalit Students. There should be regular meetings and get-togethers, to build up cooperation, self-help and mutual cooperation amongst everyone, in an effective way to discuss resolve and find means and ways to resolve various problems. Creating some infrastructures, to build up regular and reliable Co-ordination with and amongst our Dalit Brothers and Sisters living in the Rural Areas. For, Media is the most powerful tool that can quickly and surely brings a change in any Society.  More and more Dalit Students should come into the field of Journalism.

Having a regular Coordination amongst at least the Heads of various Dalit Organizations would help us build a strong network of understanding amongst us!.  After all We all have, and every SC/ST Welfare Organization carry a Common Goal.  It is not necessary that all these SC&ST Organizations should collapse like in a Nuclear or Neutron Bomb to form or change themselves, and make a single one organization!

Dalit Leaders should coordinate to establish and fight first for the Identity of Dalit Community as a whole.  This, at any cost should not be avoided for any individual identity.  We SC&ST Dalits are in our present conditions of total helplessness, only because of our Lack of Unity!

In my previous article I mentioned about our frustration due to the failure to bring "CULTURAL REVOLUTION". Each & every time we blame each other. We should put welfare of community first and our interests second. We should make concerted, united effort to achieve any of our objectives, that way our individuals efforts will sum up in a strong remarkable force.

I believe we need not look at any particular caste or organization and never think of violence in any form.  There are so many other sources and great people to learnt from and get inspired. Maharishi Valmiki, B.R Ambedkar, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luthar King, Swami Vivekananda, Abrahim Lincoln to name a few.

Why not We SC&ST Dalits now at least start making some communication with at least other well-known Dalit Organisations?

One more point I would like to make is we should single mindedly focus on our own development, the welfare of our community without getting indulged into this comparing casteism or enemy things which are basically weapons meant for the political strategies & because of Political Compulsions of winning their Votes!

Further to proceed we should unite first. So please share your views to explain and interact further in this issue. So to discuss better would be to make plan and please discuss with us about that. I need your views.

Be positive in outlook towards life and think high and strive hard to achieve it.

Please think it minutely.

Warm Regards,

VIRENDER SINGH GILL

 
Respected all,

On the eve of Bhagwan Valmik Pargat Diwas I want to share my views with you. Let's start acting now. Let us help ourselves and not remain dependent on external helps. Every one knows the problem we as Valmikian Community are facing today, but ironically we have become so much dependent on others we have stopped applying our own knowledge, expertise and skills for the betterment of our people.

Let us make this Pargatdiwas a memorable day in the lives of our people and I call upon every educated person be this a high school pass, graduate in any discipline and especially the people with professional skills. Can we make a pledge on this Pargatdiwas Day that we will devote at least two hours per week for the betterment of our people?

a) Be it helping the children's in their study because 90 % of our children do not have access to quality education and they do not get any help because parent too are illiterate

b) Career guidance for the children who are in 12th class or in graduation to pursue a good career and helping them in acquiring the qualifications and aptitude required for the same

c) Make women aware of their rights and educate people to respect the women and set a target to reduce the case of atrocities against women

d) Most importantly providing counseling to parents and the children to bring reduction in the number of school drop out cases and keeping children away from the smoking and other addictions

I would request all people especially who are in Govt service in various departments and request them to educate the people about various public policies and let people benefit from the Govt policies which I think remains limited to papers only  due to widespread ignorance and unawareness

And help bringing justice to our people. We have spent hundreds of years as prisoners of ignorance and poverty and I am reminded of a quote by Swami Vivekananda

                                                  "Rise awake and rest not till the goal is achieved"

Let us start action at least one for one. Please share this message with everyone you come across and do something significant to achieve it.

                                                   Remember " Together we will excel "

Regards

A humble servant in Gurujis sewa

VIRENDER SINGH GILL

 
To all Valmikian families :-

Jai Valmiki ! Har Har Valmiki !!

I am very happy to announce that www.bhagwanvalmiki.com is running successfully all over the world and the Valmikian Family/ admirers/ worshippers as well as the people from other communities are also giving us lot of encouragement.

The site not only educates about the life of Bhagwan Valmiki Ji, Valmiki Religion, Creations of Bhagwan Valmiki Ji, and Valmiki Sabhas all over the world but it also speaks of the love and brotherhood among all Valmiki Family. There is no place for hatred among us. As we preach that life is too short to hate someone. We always inspire people to help the poor section of our community as much as they can afford. Treat them as your brothers and sisters, and only then we can say that we are the true sons of Bhagwan Valmiki Ji. We do not believe in thousands and crores of GOD/ GODDESSES or DEMIGODS. But we believe in only one Nirankaar Jot i.e. LORD VALMIKI JI. Show the people you are the best and so is our Valmiki religion.

I feel sorry for those people from our community who act as if they are the Godfathers of Valmikis but behind the curtain they always speak bad for the community. I understand it needs a lot of patience and time to bring them all under one-flag/ one sabha/ one Arti/ one ardass. But the main need of the time is to educate people and to teach them the importance of self-respect. I never hate people who convert to other religion. It's only due to the reason that other persons mislead them to the wrong path, as we don't have a true Guru Mahatma except Political Gurus. But still never say badly about them. Although in a wrong way but atleast they are doing something for us, for the community.

I am thankful to Central Valmiki Sabha, Kamleshwar Valmeki Edu. Trust Regd. -Jalandar, Maharishi Valmiki Sabha (Toronto), Bhavadhas, Adi Dharam Samaj, Caste watch, VRU, VIBES and similarly all the other Valmiki sabhas for their great work and achievements. They not only think about themselves for their family but also for you, for us, for Valmiki family around the globe.

www.bhagwanvalmiki.com`never ask you for financial help as :-

1. I do not want money to organise seminars/ convention as we are only convenience ourselves again and again and are not trying to convenience people from other commumities about the truth of Bhagwan Valmiki. We are only bogged down in the battle of Aryans and dravidians. Invite other peoples to join the convention so that they may know the truth.

2. I do not want money to organise Langars as langars cannot bring any revolution except one-day meal and your publicity.

3. I do not want to publish book/ printed material as no one read them except decorate them on their bookshelves.

4. I do not want to waste money on building new Mandir/ Temples as no one go there except on the day of Bhagwan Valmiki Pargat Diwas.

5. I do not want to waste money to encourage Valmiki Singers, as they are not treated in a good way.

The main aim for building this Website site is to teach peoples about Lord Valmiki Ji, Preaching and Creation, about Valmiki Religion. It aims the younger generation to give them knowledge/ information about their community, about their religion. We never teach our children about the great efforts made by our ancestors to bring social justice in eradicating racial discrimination. We are treated badly. We are not allowed to enter temples. We do not want our children to convert to any other religion. If we are the best show them, prove them so that one day our children would say we are proud to be VALMIKIAN.

The main need of the time is to EDUCATE and to tell them the importance of SELF RESPECT

We can never rise till we are not fully educated and until we do not keep the feeling of Self respect in ourselves. This is not personal but this is our Website. This Website is a stage where everyone is invited to keep their views, give their suggestion to spread their comments to another. We all have to run the Website by our efforts.

I feel glad to be Valmikian.
Jai Valmiki ! Har Har Valmiki !!