Dalit poet, RSS chief exchange notes

It was an unusual encounter at a book release function here today as RSS chief KS Sudarshan and noted Marathi poet...

It was an unusual encounter at a book release function here today as RSS chief KS Sudarshan and noted Marathi poet and Dalit Panthers founder Namdeo Dhasal engaged each other in debate enveloping caste, Hinduism and communal harmony. The two, however, carried on parallel arguments, with Dhasal seeking answers to larger contemporary social issues and the RSS Sarsanghchalak peddling the Parivar line.

The function was organised by Sangh Parivar outfits Seva Bharati and the Navyuvak Dalit Utthan Sangh to mark the release of a the book, Samrasata Ke Sutradhar. Dhasal, an ardent follower of BR Ambedkar, said he would have to face taunts back home now that he had attended a Parivar function, stepping into 8220;the enemy camp8221;. 8220;They would call me names from tomorrow but I don8217;t mind,8221; he said, adding, 8220;I don8217;t consider the RSS untouchable8230;If the RSS can do something to bring about social change, it is welcome.8221;

Dhasal, who is the subject of a chapter 8212; A million Mutinees 8212; by VS Naipaul, ended with an appeal to Sudarshan. 8220;What will happen to the 800 castes which exist in our country? Do something about them.8221;

Sudarshan, who spoke after Dhasal, said, 8220;The Sangh does not believe in caste8230;We told our people don8217;t worry about caste, let it be. The feeling of superiority or inferiority should end. Call leaders of all castes and ensure that they have their meals together8230;We say we all are Hindus. We strive for Hindu consolidation, transcending castes.8221;

The Parivar audience cheered and Sudarshan looked pleased when Dhasal, recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Golden Jubilee Lifetime Achievement Award, said: 8220;Nothing can be more wrong than any attempt to separate Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism from the Hindu track.8221; The Sarsanghchalak went a step further when his turn came. 8220;It were our people who took our religious practices far and wide,8221; he said, claiming that the religious rituals of the original natives of the US 8220;are similar to ours8221;.

In response to Dhasal8217;s appeal for social change, Sudarshan cited several token Sangh gestures, including the shilanyas of the Ayodhya temple being performed by a Dalit and the collective vow of Hindu religious leaders under the auspices of VHP to eschew untouchability. As for the future, the RSS chief said, 8220;The theme of the year-long celebrations of the MS Golwalkar birth centenary is social amity and we will hold big Hindu conventions in October and November.8221; Thereafter, Sudarshan dwelt on the difference between religion and 8220;dharma8221;. But by then, Dhasal was looking to his watch.

Vajpayee calls on Somanth

NEW DELHI: Weeks after the dust settled over his sharp letter criticising Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee called on him on Wednesday. Though there was no official word on the meeting, sources said it was arranged at Vajpayee8217;s request. According to sources, Vajpayee wanted to meet the Speaker soon after the Parliament session was over to patch up, but Chatterjee had to leave for Kolkata. Chatterjee, who returned on Tuesday night, has so far refrained from commenting on the letter. 8212; ENS