I requested this organisation to establish such schools in late the 1990s where, the poor can study English medium within in the village across the nation. I interact with my village students, parents  and see that they are taught reasonably good English, mathematics and also the Dignity of Labour.

For this purpose I wrote “Dignity of Labour in Our Times’’, a book around their own parental tasks. There are 376 kids are studying there this current academic year. This organisation runs 107 such schools with an intake about 27,000 kids from SC/ST/OBC and minority background in very remote villages in the country.

From my village school four kids have got into medicine, few got into NITs, and many are in good engineering colleges. But for that school they would not have dreamt of accomplishing and completing such courses and neither they could have studied with a confidence. The society charges a fee ranging from Rs 3,220 per year for LKG and Rs 5,260 for Class X per year. The SC students of the village pay only Rs 1000 per year. Hence they need help from outside. They mobilise such financial help. I have nothing to do with it or its management. I only give academic advice.    

One Mr.Albert Lael, who worked with this organisation established one such school in his own village, Kaukuntla, Devarkandra Mandal Mahabub Nagar (dist) and managed to put his own mother as principle. It appears that he wanted take over the school for himself and thereafter developed some problems within the organization. Anyone can compare both Papaiahpet and Kaukuntla schools. Lael and Jerusalem Mattiah who mediated the vote for note (Revanth Reddy case) started a campaign in association with Paripurnanada,  who attacked St. Mother Theresa as a person of ‘low’ or ‘loose’ character (women’s trafficking character), and who was also anti-Dalitbahujan and anti-English education for the SC/ST/OBCs in the villages. This is a dangerous trend.  English Education for the SC/ST/OBCs is my long term commitment.  

These forces which educate their children in urban Christian schools in English medium have no right to accuse me. Any harm unleashed on these village children’s English medium education is nothing but crime against humanity.    

 (The author is also Member T-MASS)      

The post My Association with Christians, A Clarification: Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd appeared first on SabrangIndia.

 
The speech was delivered on 12^th October, 2017 in the U.S. House of Representatives and the speech available at http://houselive.gov/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=11904
 
The transcript of Speech by Mr. Franks is as follows;
 
Thank you Mr. Speaker.  

Mr. Speaker, the first amendment of our constitution gives us this precious freedom of speech that we so cherish in America. Contrary to the heated debate in public opinion, we’re in the United States rarely facing the kind of persecution that necessitated this great protection.  So I rise today to shed light on the abridgement of freedom of speech that is often widely discussed but few Americans ever have to endure.  Individual freedom of speech is infringed.  Sharing one’s views freely on the internet can be punishable, even by death. Late one evening in September, a well-known Indian journalist Gauri Lankesh was murdered outside her home. She was an establishment figure with a reputation for her fearless criticism of undemocratic elements within the parties in power.  The circumstances of her death were strikingly similar to the murders of three additional Indian activists.  
 
And just weeks ago, another  India’s most prominent political journalist, Professor Kancha Ilaiah, who continuously questioning the caste social order and was threatened by BJP allied member of India’s parliament.  This member issued a statement that ‘the professor should be publicly hanged’.  He received numerous death threats.  These threats had significant effect.  A mob tried to attack Professor Ilaiah with stones.  Prof. Ilaiah is now under self-imposed house arrest because he’s simply not safe otherwise.  Was professor Ilaiah’s crime significant?
 
Kancha Ilaiah was called as modern day Dr. Ambedkar, the father of the Indian Constitution.  The crime of Professor Ilaiah is that he was the author of “Why I am not a Hindu?” and a recent translation of his “Post-Hindu India” (2009) is what sparked the threats book was described in a polarized context of modern day India, specifically dealing with the productivity of ‘the dalits’ and ‘the lower caste’ and seemingly spiritual and monetary monopoly of ‘the higher castes’.  These became more relevant in the crisis. This resulted farmers’ suicides due to hopelessness and massive joblessness due to the de-monetization and economic slowdown.
 
Mr. Speaker, I stand on the floor of the United States House of Representatives to state unequivocally that the United States and the entire global community is and should be deeply concerned about this threat to the life of Professor Kancha Ilaiah, one of the world’s well-known intellectuals. Our trusted ally and friend, India, is better than this, Mr. Speaker. Professor Kancha Ilaiah’s freedom of speech should not be infringed and his protection and that of those like him should be the utmost priority to the Indian government.  I’m able to express freely this viewpoint because we have freedom of speech in this United States of America. Mr. Speaker.  May we remember at what cost and for what purpose we were given this priceless freedom. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I yield back.

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Noted writer Kancha Ilaiah’s car being mobbed during the attack at Parakal town on Saturday.

This was done in my book entitled  ‘Post-Hindu India’ published by Sage in 2009 after the lower castes and Adivasis failed to get any reservation agreement within the private sector.  The Telugu translation was published in 2011.  The booklet that has been made controversial with a title Samajika Smagglerlu is only the Teluguised version.  The central theme of the whole book is whose merit is merit and on what is merit quantified? And how every sort and kind of work has its own merit? Therefore, the private sector has to open up for the entry of the lower castes and Adivasis, as they too are meritorious.    

The UPA-I government had conceived of  such a proposal that created a mechanism but top scions of industry rejected it on the ground that lower castes and Adivasis have no MERIT to handle the jobs in the private sector.

I wrote this book to show that the real producers of the wealth of the nation are castes that range from Adivasis to all Shudras (including kapus, Kammas, Reddys, Jats, Patels, Gujjars and so on).

The two dwija castes—Banias and Brahmins— by my generation (with a personal experience all around) are outside the basic production controlling the business from rural grain markets to Ambani, Adani, Vedanta kind of monopoly capital. The richest among them come from the Vysya community. Caste, thus, is  a reality.  The Brahmins have a control over the Hindu spiritual system and also educational institutions and the bureaucracy.   
     
The Brahmins are there in all Government jobs, the software industry and higher education. They are also there in all kinds of private sector jobs. The ratio of Directors of the Companies as per a study by Prof. D. Ajith, Han Doker and Ravi Saxena ((EPW-2012), Corporate Boards in India -Blocked by Caste? August 11, 2012, Vol. XLVII, No. 31, p.41)) shows this representation, caste-wise in the industrial and financial sector: Banias 46%, Brahmins 44.6%, Kshatriyas 0.5%, OBCs (that includes all Shudra castes) 3.8%, SC/ST 3.5% and others 1.5%.  This shows an absolute control of these two castes on the industrial and financial power.  

Everything is being linked to nationalism these days. That is, in a way, good.  When foot soldiers are fighting on the Himalayan borders facing cold and bitter winds, in overall difficult situations on the Pakistan border, why should not Indian Industry give one job to a person from one soldier’s family member within industry based on qualifications?  Why does Indian industry not create a Farmer Protection Fund from its annual profit at least to the tune of 1 percentage?  In a caste based system, they too should have a Social Responsibility towards then lower castes and Adivasi masses. This system can run through the economic system: from top industry to the grain market Shahukars in the rural sector.  Why do not the Shahukars establish humanitarian relations with farmers, at least by helping them at the time of suicide deaths by going and helping them? Today the social relations between the Bania Shahukars and the farmers are very negative.  This has to change at all levels.

The private sector can provide one job for those constables died in bouts of internal conflict.  Anybody can see their family conditions being pathetic after such sudden deaths.  Year after year, the state’s public resources are being shifted into the private sector, by rendering that sector JOBLESS.  In the last three and half years of this ultra-nationalist regime,  so-called development has become JOBLESS.  Therefore, everybody should have a share in the private sector jobs.  

Why is the Modi regime silent on this fundamental issue?  Our demand is at least start an opening with 5 per cent reservation for the above mentioned nation defending forces and the lowest caste categories like Adivasis, Dalits, Dhobis and Barbers depending on their qualifications. In a country like this industry must also show its nationalist commitment combined with positive moral sentiment as Adam Smith theorised, several centuries ago.

It is a researcher’s duty to do research on all communities. If the richest community does not have any positive moral sentiment towards the poorest and weakest people, hurting that sentiment in the process of writing is unavoidable. When Dr.B.R.Ambedkar wrote the Annihilation of Caste Mahatma Gandhi in his dissent letter said that you have used less harsh words for the hardships that the untouchables suffered for centuries. Why is that spirit missing today?

If the Vysyas that include many top industrialists like Ambanis and Adanis take the initiative to give some token preferential treatment for the people I mentioned above the health of the national economy will  certainly improve. In our view that is their nationalist responsibility. 

Also Read

Why are we silent on the grave threat to Kancha Ilaiah?
What is Social Smuggling by Sahukars (Traders)? asks Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd

The post In this Age of Nationalism, It’s Not Just Citizens but Industry that Should be Nationalist appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Kancha Iliah Shepher’s Own Account:

“As I and Dr. Bheenaveni Ramaiah (Assistant Professor of Sociology, Osmania University), one of my relatives, my Driver narrowly missed a major murderous attack at Parakal, Bhupalpally district on 23/9/2017 by the Arya-Vysya forces at 4.45 pm. In this context, I am issuing this statement.  

They were about 30 and more people with big stones in their hands at the Ambedkar statue at the road turning point junction towards Warangal. Some attackers started chasing my car hitting it from behind from Bhupalapalli onwards with hands. They would have attacked us at the Bhupalapalli red light cross. But my driver’s speed movement once the green light appeared saved us there. With a pre-plan a team was also waiting at Parkal. There also my driver took quick turn to the right drove to the nearby police station in Parakal with highest speed possible. The mob was also followed my car upto the police station.

Thankfully all the police personal quickly covered my vehicle. The CI and SI really provided protection. The Arya-Vysyas tried to push themselves into the Police Station. They waited there till I gave the petition and started with two protection police vehicles.  

As the police followed us in two vehicles, as we reached Ghanpur, there were several Arya-Vysyas on the road to attack our car even when the police were there. There again the local CI protected with a great skill by taking us through village roads and could reach Hyderabad safely in the night at 10pm. It was a fear stricken travel.

Ever since my effigy burning on September 10, 2017 started I had to lodge three cases. Two in Osmania PS after Arya-Vysya leaders Ramakrishna and Ramana’s threats. The second one after the Fatwa issued by TG Venkatesh MP, TDP and at also Parkal murderous attack.

The national parties like Congress, CPM and CPI did not even condemn at the national level.

The Telangana Congress, TDP and other parties were also silent. Only Telangana CPM and CPI condemned. The ruling TRS and BJP were all the time supporting the Arya-Vysays and abusing me on the TV channels. No major human right activists came forward in my support within Telangana, quite tragically.

In my two petitions at Osmania I requested for strong police protection at my house. That is also not provided.

I am losing faith in the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of Speech also.
In this fearful situation I took the following decisions:
1) Till October 4, 2017 end I impose a Self-House Arrest myself  and remain at Home. If I need to go out on personal needs like (medical and other) I will inform the Osmania Police Station.
2) I remain silent for all the media networkers of the State are concerned. If they are national or international by appointment I may speak. That is also in good faith.

I thank my driver and the police officials involved in my protection.  

Editor’s Note:

Kancha Iliah Shepherd writes biting on the hegemonies and exclusions by caste. Especially the economic domination by caste elites.

Read:
1. What is Social Smuggling by Sahukars (Traders)? asks Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd
2. “A TDP MP issues a fatwa to kill me and the Telangana, Andhra and central governments say nothing”: Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd
 

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