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Editor-in-Chief: Prem Kumar Chumber Contact: 001-916-947-8920 Fax: 916-238-1393 E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] VOL- 13 ISSUE- 4 April 7, 2021 California (USA) www.ambedkartimes.com www.deshdoaba.com Babu Jagjivan Ram Former Deputy PM A True Democrat and Savior of Downtrodden Agrarian Lives and Livelihoods: Prem K. Chumber Editor-In-Chief: Ambedkar Times & Desh Doaba Babu Jagjivan Ram (April 5, 1908 – July 6, 1986) was known for his patriotism, straight forwardness, and con - Contextualising Farmers’ Movement 2020-21 cern for lower castes and poor. When in 1937, the British - t the time of Independence, Indian agriculture century. Some of these ers wanted to set up a puppet government in Bihar, Babuji A was an example of everything that was wrong movements were led by was approached with an offer of a large sum of money and with the economy of an “underdeveloped” the Congress Party under a Ministerial berth and many other similar benefits to shake country. Even when nearly three-fourth of its work - the leadership of Gandhi, hand with them, but he simply refused to be on their side. ing population worked on its vast farmlands, served while others by commu - Rather, he stood like a rock with his people who were to byan extensive spread of rivers and a wide range nists. They all demanded tally committed to lay their lives for the liberation of the of climatic conditions, India could not produce change in the political motherland. He earned the love of the people and leaders of the Indian freedom movement for his patriotism and in - enough food for its population. The newly inde - regime and restoration of tegrity. Showering praises on Babu Jagjivan Ram for his pendent country had to import a considerable their rights over the lands bold stand on to be remained with his people, Gandhiji said amount of food grains from the “developed” coun - they cultivated. It was in that he ‘had emerged as pure as gold in the test of fire’. tries of the First World, with United States of Amer - this context that the Babuji was a born fighter and a crusader for ica being the chief supplier. While the food-surplus agrarian question be - freedom, dignity and social justice. During his middle countries of the western world eagerly agreed to came an urgent priority school education, he refused to avail scholarship meant for sell, or even give-away food as aid, their supplies with the native political Scheduled Castes students and earned it by appearing in Surinder S. Jodhka open competition and becoming successful on the basis of came with “conditions” unfavourable to a nation elite who inherited power Prof of Sociology, CSSS, SSS, JNU, his meritorious academic performance. It was also during trying to restore its scarred dignity after a long his - from the colonial rulers New Delhi his Arrah Town School days that he smashed twice tory of colonization. after Independence in Email: [email protected] separate pitcher meant drinking water for Scheduled The local agriculture during the pre-colonial 1947. Mob: +91-9811279898 Castes students and forced the principal to withdraw his period had not been a “backward” system where The early initia - discriminatory decision of segregated water arrangement cultivating peasant had little knowledge of the va - tives by the independent Indian state were in form at the premises of the school. He proved his exceptional garies of nature or qualities of the soil they culti - legislative interventions that attempted to restore talent by excelling in studies despite extreme poverty at home as his father (Sobhi Ram) passed away (1914) while Babu Jagjivan Ram was still in his village primary school. He and his mother (Vasanti Devi) fought boldly against poverty and social exclusion all around. Despite such an oppressive social environment and poor economic conditions at home, Babuji acquired proficiency in Hindi, Bengali, English and Sanskrit besides Bhojpuri – his native Bhasha. It was his command over Hindi and English that attracted the attention of Pt. Madan Mohan Malviyaji during the welcome address by him that finally took him to study at the prestigious Banaras Hindu University. It was at the Banaras Hindu University that Babuji organized, for the first time, Scheduled Castes students to protest against the denial of basic services like meals for Scheduled Castes students in the hostel and hair cuts by local barbers. After qualifying his Inter Science examination at BHU, Babuji left BHU and completed B. Sc. degree from the Calcutta University in 1931. It was during his stint at Calcutta University, Babuji organized Mazdoor Rally at Wellington Square in1928. This mammoth rally in which approximately 50,000 people participated brought Babu Jagjivan Ram closer to Netaji Subash Chandra Bose who got convinced of his organizing skills and political acumen. Babu Jagjivan Ram devoted his entire life strengthening India and empowering poor and lower castes. He was a great inspirer and organizer of people against oppression. He was an eloquent orator, a distin - vated. Indian cultivators had evolved a range of ownership right to tillers of the land and provide guished parliamentarian and a talented administrator. From sustainable systems, including modes of irrigating them security of tenure. The Land Reform legisla - his school days to the celebration of freedom at midnight, their fields with wells and ponds. They did not de - tions were enacted by the state governments on he remined in the forefront of various struggles (including pend only on rains. Indian agriculture also produced the directives of the national government and pro - the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930 and the Quit a substantial surplus. Thriving urban centres and duced mixed results. They helped in reducing the India Movement in 1942) launched during the historic free - dom movement of India. On the national political platform, flourishing political empires of medieval times are hold intermediaries and traditional zamindaris in he established himself as the savior of lower castes and a proof of this. Much of their wealth was sourced some parts of the country. They succeeded only in poor people. He became the youngest minister in the from the land revenues they collected from the cul - those states where the cultivating peasants could interim government of Jawaharlal Nehru in 1946, Labor tivators. It was during the British rule, with their build a pressure on the local state functionaries.The Minister in the first cabinet of India as well as member of alien policies driven exclusively by their colonial in - government of India also introduced a Community the Constituent Assembly of India. He played a terest that the Indian agriculture lost its balance. Development Programme (CDP) hoping the villages constructed role in the meeting of the Constituent They introduced land revenue systems that re - to cooperatively work towards rebuilding the local Assembly of India for promoting the cause of the Sched - uled Castes and poor people. He served as a minister of quired the cultivators to produce cash crops, such communities, as Gandhi had envisaged. However, various portfolios at the level of Central Government as cotton, which was exported to England for the these initiatives had very limited success in improv - exceptionally for more than forty years as a member of the newly opened cloth mills in emerging industrial ing productivity of land. Indian National Congress. In 1977 and joined the Janata cities. Their policies also killed the local craft and By the late 1960s the Nehruvian state man - Party alliance, along with his Congress for Democracy. He industry of India, leading to de-urbanizing and in - aged to find the resources to invest in modernizing also served as Deputy Prime Minister of India (1977-79). creasing burden of population on the agrarian its agrarian economy.Helped by some global agen - In 1981, Babuji formed Congress (J). Till his passing away economy. cies, and using the newtechnologies developedelse - in 1986, he remained active in the service of the nation and the downtrodden. The frequent famines in different part of where, India moved on to a path of increased “Ambedkar Times” and “Desh Doaba” Weeklies the subcontinent and a general sense of despera - productivity. Though confined to a few promising fondly remember Babuji on his Birth Anniversary and pay tion in the countryside produced anger against the pockets, the state investment in agriculture pro - him floral tribute! colonial rulers. It manifested itself in a series of vided an impetus and, within ashort period of a Read more: www.ambedkartimes.com ‘peasant movements’ during the first of the 20th (Contd on page 2) www.ambedkartimes.com V0l-13 2 Issue-4 www.deshdoaba.com April 7, 2021 Urban Space, Administrative Rationality and the making of New ‘Ordinary’ Citizens edcities/neighbourhood as well. ing how the state acts at the behest essentially relates differently to the These ‘new’ micro cities adjoining the of both corporate sector and ‘new or - two sets of people: underclasses and larger older cities are plannedexclu - dinary citizens’ (read upper- the ‘new’ middle class. The youth for sively to cater to the consumerist middle/metropolitan class) instance belonging to the latter cate - needs of the ‘new’/metropolitan mid - constituting supposedly democratic gory would be allowed to develop dle class, beneficiary of the neo-lib - civil society. The stateinvokes selec - their ‘new association’ with the eral economic reforms in ‘new’ tively the language of administrative street,‘taking back’ the street so to globalising India. Viewing itself as rationality/efficient administration for say, by performing raahgiri (street ‘primary agent’ of market forces, the the ‘proper’ use of the legal public play) in the streets. However the peo - ple coming from to the city for their livelihood from nearby villages or un - derprivileged neighbourhood would be kept under ‘cultural surveillance’ by the guards as well as the state agents, be it them having access to Prof. Sanjay Srivastava park, open spaces or even the street Institute of Economic for offering prayers or other collective Growth, Delhi University, Delhi activities. The subalternity would be thus defined by both caste and reli - gion along with the class divides in epartment of Political Science or - D economic terms.The netizens on the ganised Shaheed Bhagat Singh other hand would be celebrating their MemorialLecture which was delivered cultural and religious festivities in by Professor Sanjay Srivastava, a these spaces and it would be okay noted and widely published sociolo - with the corporate sector and the gist from Institute of Economic state. Not only this, the corporate Growth, University of Delhi. In his lec - sector would be virtually dictating the ture titled ‘Space, Administrative Ra - state and ownersto allow or not to tionality and the making of New allow the usage of public land, le - Ordinary Citizens in Gurgaon’, Srivas - upper middle class living in these spaces in the self-enclosed city. Sub - galised or not, depending whether a tava with the help of his field based privileged spaces unabashedly pur - alterns from the neighbouring un - particular construction would add or research in a particular self-enclosed sues a ‘good life’ marked by profes - planned/ unintended semi-urban rather undervalue the property at its city within the city of Gurugram re - sional mobility, security, luxury and spaces who come to work daily in the disposal in the gated city. This is how ferred to the intricate relationship be - market based wider choices. To cater offices, high risesand the shops in the the much celebrated ‘new’ forms of tween private and public space in the to the material desires of the inhabi - planned/intended citybasically to urbanisation is taking place in the upcoming gated/self-enclosed town - tants, these self-enclosed townships serve the local inhabitants areasked ‘happening cities’, in terms of ideas ships all over India especially near the are dotted with multiplexes, exclusive regularly to ‘behave’, ‘maintain order’ and practices in contemporary India, mega cities like Delhi, Bangalore, clubs, community centres, and high- and not ‘misuse’ or create ‘nuisance’ Srivastava concluded. Mumbai, among others. As was clear rise residential complexes. The intri - in the public spaces. However, the The memorial lecture was during his presentation, his research cate relationship between civil same rules are not made equally ap - presided over by Professor Ronki findingswould easily havemuch society, private capital and the state plicable to the privileged netizens of Ram, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Chair widerapplicability in case of othergat - was unravelled by Srivastava, show - the gated community. So the state Professor in Panjab University. Agrarian Lives and Livelihoods: Contextualising Farmers’ Movement 2020-21 (Continue from page 1) The broader orientation of the Indian ture and food processing began to attract rate houses such as ITC, Reliance, Tata decade or so, the country was producing economy also began to change. Once un - them as avenues of possible investments Rallis, Mahindra, Hindustan Lever an - enough food for its rapidly growing popu - leashed, the private corporate sector and incomes. The growing size of the dAdani Group,many companies have been lation. Green Revolution was made possi - began to grow rapidly. Thus,the size of urban middle-classes and its increasing slowly expanding their operations. Profit ble not only by the enterprising farmers the national economy expanded.But the aptitude for consumption provided a sure in the food business, hasspurred an ex - but also by the kind of investmentsthat corporate economy was at first largely fo - source of demand for processed food. pansion of their operations in the agricul - the Indian state made in establishingagri - cussed on the high-end service sector, Processed food products could also be tural sector. cultural infrastructure. From the construc - which did not generate many jobs. exported to emerging markets abroad.To Knowing the eagerness of the In - tion of dams and canal networks to Unlike the “classical” growth tra - the neo-liberal policy makers of the Indian dian state for corporate investment in setting-up agricultural universities, mar - jectories of the industrialized nations of state, theseappeared to be the most de - agriculture, they have also been lobbying keting networks and provision of cheap the global North, even when the share of sirable solutions for an agricultural sector with the government for doing the re - credit from institutional sources on “pri - India’s agriculture declined rather rapidly, complaining of crises for a long time. quired ground work for them to enable ority” basis, the Indian state played a crit - a much larger proportion of the workforce Given the diversity of legal this expansion. The new agricultural laws ical role in enabling its farmers to pursue remained employed in agriculture. Such a frameworks governing agricultural lands must be seen in this context. However, the path of intensifying production. The decline in the relative size of agrarian and restrictions on corporates buying or the farmers’ experience of contract farm - idea of Green Revolution has since spread economy in terms of its value addition lease-in agricultural lands, however, they ing has at best been mixed. The available to other“less-developed” pockets as well, has produced many imbalances, going be - could not easily enter the agricultural evidence tends to suggest that while it is though the required investments in build - yond the sphere of income and employ - economy. easierfor big farmers to work with corpo - ing agricultural infrastructure are no ment. The growing size and power of the The only mode available for rate entities, the smaller farmersfind it longer coming forth from any agency of urban and corporate economy marginal - themwas through contract farming. Post- hard to benefit from contract farming and the central or state governments. ized its agrarian economy in the national liberalization India also saw global agro are often at the mercy of bureaucratic Envisaged in North America, the imagination, the effects of which began and food processing corporates expand - business arrangements. The farmers also Green Revolution was a technology driven to also be felt by those working in the ing their operations. While they were al - see the new lawsdisturbing the existing programme focused on increasing produc - sector.For example, the earlier growth in ready invested in supplying seeds and marketing eco-system, with which they tivity of land. It assumed that an increase agriculture had given enough incomes pesticides, they began to expand their op - are familiar and find them moreeasily ac - in income would eventually also “trickle- and aspiration to the landowning classes/ erations to consumer goods, ranging from cessible. All this was done without any down” to the poor. However, the empiri - castes to educate their wards, hoping potato chips and tomato sauce to active consultation with the primary cal research showed that this was not that they would find employment outside processed cereals and dairy products. stake-holders creates even more anxiety happening and the number of those living the village. However, those who con - Contract farming operations are and mistrust. below a subsistence level of nutrition, the trolled the corporate capital preferred as such not new to India. They are legal - The passing these laws has also poverty-line, was quite large. The central their own, those from the urban upper ized by the state governments under their become a context for the farmers and government responded by introducing castes and urban educated individuals Agricultural Produce Market Committees those closely tied to agrarian economy to special programmes targeting the poor. with the required cultural capital, leaving (APMC) or AgriculturalProduce and Live - bring their issues to the table. The ongo - These initiatives were put together into a those coming from agrarian backgrounds stock Market Committees (APLMC). Be - ing farmers movements will thus decide single scheme called the Integrated Rural in the lurch. ginning with production of seeds to how the Indian state manages to balance Development Programme. As the power and influence of procurements of tomatoes and potatoes, different interests and bring them to - The neo-liberal reforms of the the corporate capital grew, it also began a good number of corporates have been gether in a manner that the farming citi - early 1990s fundamentally changed the to diversify its economic enterprises. Be - working in different parts of the country. zens do not feel marginalized and orientation of the Indian state towards yond the traditional manufacturing and Ranging fromglobal companies like Nestle, excluded from the national agenda of de - agriculture and its farming populations. business outsourcing in software, agricul - Monsanto and Pepsi to the Indian corpo - velopment and a better future. www.ambedkartimes.com V0l-13 3 Issue-4 www.deshdoaba.com April 7, 2021 SOME IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ABOUT DOUBLING THE INCOME OF FARMERS n March 28, 2021, Dr. Ramesh (Agriculture) in the NITI Aayog set up are implemented immediately, in the keep the O Chand, Member (Agriculture) of after the Planning Commission was remaining 1 year out of 6 years, how stove burn - the NITI Aayog, said that if the abolished by the NDA government will the private markets increase the ing for Agriculture Acts are not implemented and now he is advocating market income of farmers by more than 75 merely two soon, the target of doubling the in - forces to double the income of per cent when their aim is to increase time meals. come of farmers by 2022 would not farmers. the profits of the businessmen and The be achieved. He said that the govern - The first question regarding not the benefit of the farmers. worst of ment was ready to discuss these doubling the income of farmers by In 2016 and even now, state - the differ - laws with the farmers section by sec - 2022 is that on 28 March 2021 Dr. ments are being issued by the rulers ent farming tion. Farmer leaders should consider Ramesh Chand is pushing for speedy to double the income of farmers. sections are this offer. He said that the solution to implementation of the three Agricul - There are some very important ques - landless this problem could be found only by tural Laws enacted by the Union Gov - tions in this regard. According to the farm giving and receiving something and if ernment, while Prime Minister government's own data, the per labourers Dr. Gian Singh the farmers persisted on their de - Narendra Modi made this promise in capita income of farming families dur - and rural ar - Former Professor, Department of Economics, mands then it would be difficult to a speech on February 28, 2016 in ing 2015-16 was Rs.54. If the Cen - tisans as Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab. find a way forward. He also said that Bareilly. At the time of his promise, he tral Government keeps its promise, the increas - the government has made a good al - had not laid down any condition for the per capita income will reach Rs. ing trend of +1 (424) 422-7025 ternative for the farmers not to imple - enactment of any new law relating to 108 by 2022. An income of Rs. 108 mechaniza - ment these laws for a year and a half. agriculture. When inquired about the does not even cover the cost of three tion and the use of herbicides in the The UPA government had income figures of farmers in the Lok meals a day, while basic necessities agricultural sector are rapidly reduc - constituted a committee headed by Sabha, it was found that the govern - of life include food, clothing, housing, ing their employment. Both these Dr. Ramesh Chand in April 2013 to ment does not have such figures. education, health care, clean environ - sections have no means of production review the procedure adopted by the Based on the 2011-12 estimates of ment and social security. Per capita other than selling their labour. These Commission for Agricultural Costs the National Sample Survey to know income represents the average in - two sections are the two poles at the and Prices while making recommen - the income of farmers for the year come. Often the average figures con - bottom of the agrarian economy lad - dations of MSP of different crops to 2015-16, the annual income of an In - ceal more than what these reveal. All der that are more prone to wear and the Central Government. The commit - dian farming family for 2015-16 was the farmers in the country do not be - tear, and more likely to be beaten. In tee submitted its report to the Central estimated at Rs. 96703 which works long to one category. Different cate - this regard, it is important to consider

Government on April 1, 2015. The out to Rs. 8059 per month for a fam - gories of farmers include marginal, the fact that even in the promises recommendations made by the com - ily of five and Rs. 1612 per capita per small, semi-medium, medium and made to the farmers to double their mittee headed by Dr. Ramesh Chand month or around Rs. 54 per capita large farmers. According to the Cen - income, these two sections were regarding the MSP of agricultural per day. In order to double the income tre's own data, around 68 per cent of completely neglected, while increas - commodities far exceeded the sug - of farmers in the six years from 2016 the farmers in the country have less ing their income should be the gestion made by Dr. M.S. Swami - to 2022, their income has to increase than 2.5 acres of land and around 18 first priority. nathan to pay 50 per cent profit on by 10.4 per cent per annum. Lack of per cent have 2.5 acres to less than The COVID-19 pandemic has the total cost of production (C2) due access to accurate income figures for 5 acres of land. These figures make reminded us that human beings can to which Dr. Ramesh Chand's recom - farmers is a major problem. The data it clear that around 86 per cent of the survive without cars, bunglows, air - mendations were considered pro- from the National Sample Survey, one farmers in the country fall into the planes, phones and the like, but bread farmer at that time and were also of the Union Government's own of - categories of marginal and small is essential for their survival. The appreciated by the farmers' organiza - fices, was the subject of newspaper farmers and the remaining 14 per well-being of the farming community tions. In addition to the other recom - discussion on the declining income of cent fall into the categories of semi- is essential for the survival of the mendations of this committee, it was farmers during 2018. The govern - medium, medium, and large farmers. human race. Overcoming economic, recommended to pay 10 per cent ment later withheld the release of the The category-wise break up of farm - political, intellectual and other types extra on MSP in view of the risk in - figures. Gross Value Added in the ers makes it clear that the income of of pollution is essential to make the volved in agricultural production and agricultural sector (Agriculture GVA) marginal and small farmers will not lives of farmers, farm labourers, and its management functions. The com - can be used to estimate the approxi - double even after doubling the in - rural artisans comfortable. In order to mittee suggested that to consider the mate growth of farmers' income in come of farmers. In addition to these overcome the growing economic and labour charges of the head of the India. Since 2016, when the farmers' facts, there are considerable inter-re - other inequalities in the country, the household he/she should be consid - income has been promised to double gional variations in the income of corporate economic development ered as a skilled labourer. The com - in 6 years, there has been an increase the farmers. model must be replaced by a people mittee also recommended that to of 24.5 per cent in the last 5 years About 50 per cent of the and nature-friendly economic devel - pay the gap between MSP and mar - and according to Dr. Ramesh Chand, country's population depends on agri - opment model. To control political ket prices is the responsibility of this increase may be 3.5 per cent in culture for livelihood. This population pollution, it is necessary for the peo - the government. the coming year. includes farmers, farm labourers and ple to unite and question the politi - These recommendations were As per the promise made by rural artisans. Different research stud - cians and force them to fulfill considered pro-farmers. Apart from the country's Prime Minister to dou - ies conducted in different parts of the their promises. these recommendations, according to ble the income of farmers by 2022, country have revealed the fact that In order to control intellectual the committee, it is not possible for the six-year increase would be 100 the income of marginal, small, semi- pollution, the pro-people economists the farmers to meet their needs due per cent, compared to only 28 per medium and medium farmers, farm have to compile the relevant statis - to non-availability of remunerative cent achieved during the first five labourers, and rural artisans is so low tics, conduct major studies and ex - prices, which leads them to commit years. Farmers and other working that they have to bear the burden pose the so-called intellectuals who suicide due to debt burden. In this re - classes in the country are struggling of debt. are fabricating data for conclusion- gard, the committee had expressed for the repeal of the three Agricultural What to think about repay - oriented studies to please the govern - the view that farmers need protection Laws enacted by the Central Govern - ment of debt, they are not even in a ment and the corporate world in the from market forces (looting). Dr. ment. The serious consideration in position to pay the interest on their hope of getting meaningless Ramesh Chand became a member this regard is that even if these laws debt as they have to take loan to petty benefits. www.ambedkartimes.com V0l-13 4 Issue-4 www.deshdoaba.com April 7, 2021

Sue Frost Shortchanging Sacramento uted. There is some explanation for Facts Week. The weeklong health ob - “We want teens to have the County on Vaccines this, including that Sacramento servance was organized by the Na - opportunity to learn what science has As we work toward what will hope - County's population of eligible or pri - tional Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) taught us about drug and alcohol use, fully be the end of this now year-long ority populations is lower than neigh - and the National Institute on Alcohol abuse and addiction,” said Lori Miller, pandemic, a natural discussion topic boring counties. The best explanation Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), both Division Manager, Substance Use is around vaccines. Through the roller I've heard came from our Acting Di - part of the National Institutes of Prevention and Treatment, Sacra - coaster of the COVID-19 response, rector of Public Health. During the Health. The goal of the observance mento County. “There are so many for many people the vaccines offered March 9th Board of Supervisors was for teens to feel comfortable to myths about drugs and alcohol clut - hope for bringing all of it to an end. Meeting, he said that what is essen - ask questions about drugs and alco - tering our popular culture. National Understandably, since the first doses tially happening is that the governor hol and to get scientific answers from Drug and Alcohol Facts Week® is for changes his mind every two experts. teens to get honest answers about weeks. The distribution for - While drugs can put a drugs so they can make good, in - mula changes, and it never teenager’s health and life in jeopardy, formed decisions for themselves and benefits Sacramento County. many teens are not aware of the share accurate information with At this point, are any risks. Even for those teens who do friends.” of us surprised? The state's not abuse drugs, many have friends A presentation by Sacra - response to the pandemic has or family who do, and they are often mento County Office of Education on been a series of changes looking for ways to help them. How to Talk to Kids about Alcohol based on state officials' Let’s shatter three drug and and Drugs is available to view on the whims uninterested in looking alcohol myths according to NIDA! Sacramento County website. at challenges at the local Myth: Cannabis is legal in Got a Room or House For level. As other counties take California, so I shouldn’t worry if a Short-Term Rental? of vaccines became available, I have larger percentages of the state's dis - teen is experimenting with cannabis Got a room or a home you want to heard from countless constituents tribution of doses, they are blazing use list, or are listing, on Airbnb or a re - frustrated with how challenging it is past Sacramento County through the Fact: Cannabis can be addic - lated service? Sacramento County to access the vaccine or even get tiered system of eligible vaccine re - tive and can have long-term effects would like to remind homeowners connected with information on the cipients. Meanwhile, my office is still on teens’ brains, which are still devel - that prior to accepting guests, short- process. I get it. Some of the chal - receiving calls from individuals eligi - oping. Studies have shown links be - term/vacation rentals require a permit lenges in this process fall on the ble since the first dose was adminis - tween cannabis use and psychosis, and a business license, and they must county. We could have come out with tered, struggling to access the anxiety and depression. These are register to pay transient occupancy a better website and had a more vaccines that will bring them peace important reasons why recreational taxes for visitors. thought-out plan for distribution. Like of mind or closer to normalcy. At the use of cannabis is only legal many of the struggles we have all same time, Sacramento County's for adults age 21 and over in gone through over the last year, I am public health officials have to spend California. afraid that the leading cause of our their time advocating to the state for Myth: White youth woes is the state once again. a distribution method that accounts drink less alcohol than other When vaccines first became for the fact that Sacramento County groups their age. available, there was a simple explana - is a regional distribution hub, and FACT: A greater pro - tion of why there were not enough even with 3% of the state's popula - portion of California students vaccines to go around: limited supply. tion, we have never received 3% of who are white report having Not all of the vaccines that are avail - the state's distribution. consumed alcohol at least able today were even approved for I think everyone that wants four times more. distribution back in January. The ones the vaccine should be able to get the While substance use that were approved and in circulation vaccine. I understand the challenges disorders are not more common in Short-term/vacation rentals were limited and had to be stored with rolling out an emergency vaccine communities of color, people of color are defined by stays of less than 30 under specific conditions. Of course, amid a global pandemic, and I knew are less likely to access treatment. days. Sacramento County updated its there is also the fact that both the it was never going to be easy. How - That’s because communities of color regulations in 2018 to clarify that Moderna and Pfizer vaccines required ever, the reality of what is going on have faced longstanding discrimina - houses and apartments cannot be recipients to receive two doses, limit - at the local level continues to be an tion, institutional racism and barriers used exclusively for short-term/vaca - ing the supply even further. Thanks to afterthought for the state, and it to insurance coverage. tion rentals. Rentals must be an “ac - the approval of the Jansen vaccine, seems Sacramento County is some - Myth: Using tobacco is a nor - cessory use” to the property, the total supply is increasing. Unfor - where in the far back. mal part of growing up meaning the owner must live in the tunately, the state's increase in sup - Thank you for reading – and Fact: Fewer than one in eight house for at least six months of the ply being distributed does not as always, if you want to contact me, California students report using to - year. necessarily benefit Sacramento call me at 916-874-5491, or reply to bacco, so NOT smoking actually is far The Board of Supervisors County residents hoping to get their this e-mail. more popular. adopted this requirement to make dose(s). Learn About Drug and Sacramento County Sub - sure short-term rentals do not disrupt The inconsistency in distribu - Alcohol Facts stance Use Prevention and Treatment neighborhoods and to limit traditional tion became blatantly apparent in In late March, teenagers and scien - Services would like to remind the rental units from being converted to February when the state's total vac - tists across the United States took community of their prevention and short-term use. cine supply rose 20%, and Sacra - part in “National Drug and Alcohol treatment services for youth and fam - Stays of 30 days or longer do mento County's allocation dropped ilies. The program contracts not require a permit. by 18%. Unfortunately, this has be - with an array of community- If you are using your primary come a pattern. In January, Sacra - based service providers residence as a short-term rental, or mento County received 2.83% of the throughout Sacramento are thinking of taking the plunge, state's total distribution of doses. County including outpatient please follow these steps: Since then, we have seen that per - treatment, medication-as - Review the guidelines and ap - centage steadily decrease. On March sisted treatment, withdrawal plication materials for a Short Term 8th, even with the newly available management (detoxification), Rental Permit Jansen vaccine, Sacramento residential treatment, perina - Apply for a General Business County's allocation from the state fell tal services, and sober living License. You will need to set up an to just 1.65% of total doses distrib - environments/recovery resi - account with the Department of dences. (Contd. on next page) www.ambedkartimes.com V0l-13 5 www.deshdoaba.com Issue-4 April 7, 2021 (Continue from page 4) dams, former Labor Secretary than institutions. Others serve individ - learn skills such as job searching, re - Finance to complete the application. Frances Perkins, and civil rights lead - uals that are gravely disabled and sume building and interviewing. The Please do not submit until after you ers Dorothy Height, Whitney Young those who are living with severe men - biggest division of HSSWs in DHA have received your Short Term Rental and Ida B. Wells have helped Ameri - tal illness, supporting them to live in supports those who are homeless Permit. cans secure voting rights, equal the least restrictive settings within and assist with resources, crisis re - Register with the Tax Collec - rights, Social Security, unemployment our community. sponse and addressing barriers to tor’s Office for Transie nt Occupancy insurance and other programs. DCFAS social workers link in - housing. There is also a team of Tax returns once you have your busi - You will find social workers dividuals and families to housing HSSWs that help customers navigate ness license. throughout society – protecting chil - services and supports, benefits, em - the challenging disability benefits For more information, please dren and vulnerable adults from ployment and so many other re - process and a social worker who pro - contact the Office of Planning and abuse and neglect and providing men - sources that promote the safety, vides support at the General Assis - Environmental Review at health and well-being tance office to assess client needs [email protected] or the Busi - of community mem - and makes referrals to other social ness Licensing Division of the Depart - bers across the age service agencies and community ment of Finance at span. During the service agencies. [email protected] . COVID-19 pandemic, Despite the great value of so - social workers have cial workers, the social work profes - Our Essential Social Workers also been on the front - sion faces challenges. There is a Sacramento County is helping cele - lines along with doc - shortage of social workers in schools brate this year’s Social Work Month tors, nurses, law where they are needed to help young with the theme “Social Workers are enforcement, grocery people cope with complicated issues Essential” to highlight the priceless store employees and such as trauma, poverty, the opioid contributions social workers make in other essential em - addiction crises and the need for our community, especially during ployees that provided more resources to help students learn COVID-19. tal health and substance use disorder critical services during this time. during the pandemic. There is also a The goal of Social Work treatment. They can be found assist - Sacramento County Depart - need for more social workers in the Month is to inform the public, policy - ing active-duty military, veterans and ment of Human Assistance (DHA) fields of child welfare and aging and makers and legislators about the way their families; in schools; helping cor - currently has a team of 45 Human adult services. the nation’s social workers each day porations better serve their communi - Services Social Workers (HSSWs) as - “Social workers are unsung meet people where they are and help ties; in community organizations; and signed to various programs, including heroes that are essential to commu - them live to their fullest potential. So - in local and state government. Employment Services, Homeless nity well-being. They are driven by cial work is one of the fastest-grow - Sacramento County Depart - Services and CalWORKs. Since the several core values, including service, ing professions in the United States, ment of Child, Family and Adult Serv - onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic, social justice and the dignity and according to the Bureau of Labor Sta - ices (DCFAS) has 524 social workers much of the customer contact asso - worth of human beings,” said tistics (BLS). across the department. They work ciated with this work has shifted Michelle Callejas, Director of Sacra - There are currently about across a number of areas, including from in-person to virtual services. mento County, Child, Family and 700,000 professional social workers child and elder abuse and neglect in - HSSWs in DHA are busy help - Adult Services. in our nation, but that number is ex - vestigations and follow-up. They help ing customers receive necessary re - “During social work month, pected to rise to more than 800,000 keep children and families safely to - source and case management we hope you will reach out and say a by 2029. Social work has been gether and/or reunify them or help services. Some focus on helping fam - kind word to the social workers in around for more than a century and children find “forever families.” Some ilies who are experiencing homeless - your lives, and, if you are so inclined, has made significant contributions to social workers assess the need for ness, domestic violence, truancy or advocate for policies and legislation our nation. For example, social work - home care services that allow individ - other family crisis. There are other that benefit the profession and the ers such as social reformer Jane Ad - uals to remain in their homes, rather HSSWs in DHA that help customers populations they serve.” SKY TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS STRIVE FOR MORE

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The TInhtroeducotio-n PoliticsIn tohisf a rtSicleh, I coonrtetn d Sthatt othisr oice- su rgien D alSits iton udnithe biy Pforerwoarnginrg etshe sSiivndhei Literature indhi society and its rural culture casional intervention into Dalit spaces them that they can succeed in their language S is predominantly Sammat by the progressives has been counter- goal only through their own politically has the (samm āṭ) in its values. Sammat productive for Dalits as it hampers conscious efforts, and that ‘no other second is the groupof castes that share lo - Dalit agency and rather appropriates Mahatma, or emancipator, will de - richest calpolitical economy with Baloch it.One of the potent ways to counter scend to change their lot, neither did stock of lit - castes. At the periphery of this Sam - or legitimize narratives and, thus, dis - it come in the past, nor it will ever erature in mat–Baloch nexus (mostly sipate dissonance is to use literary come in the future’.This Ambedkarian Pakistan. Muslims)live Dalit communities media, such as short stories to render trajectory of thought thus demands This rich - (mostly Hindus in culture if not in re - the narrative accessible to the com - the explicitly self-reflective anti-caste ness to ligion). The construction and appro - mon people.I specifically critique the stance from the social critics, acade - Sindhi liter - priation of local semi-historical casteist aspects of the progressive lit - micians and scholars. ature, how - narratives is one of the ways this dis - erary-political terrain as it manifests This way of analyzing ever,is not criminatory structural imbalance is from the presentation of short stories casteism from the Ambedkarian per - equally har - Dr. Ghulam Hussain regulated by Sammat, Baloch, and in everyday politics by the progres - spective considerably improves upon monized in Senior Research Associate Sayed elite. This Muslim caste elite is - sives. Despite occasional anti-caste the existing critical approaches to the terms of Institute of Policy Studies Islamabad generically referred to as Ashrafia and anti-patriarchal narration in a few sociological and literary-historical crit - content Email: [email protected] (ashr āfiyy ā), and of ‘upper caste’ Hin - short stories, the progressives prima - icism. It differs from the Gandhian cri - and the so - dus as Savarnas. In Sindh, the rily frame these issues in a manner tique of ‘untouchable’ treatment of ciopolitical location of the writers. province of Pakistan, theAshrafiaelite that makes them correspond with Dalits that was first adopted by Since the Sindhi Ashrafia-Savarna frames and presents its narrative their agenda of ‘political Sufism’ and MunhiPremchand who wrote short elite have dominated the literary-po - through Sindhi, the dominant lan - facilitate the appropriation of the stories both in Hindu and Urdu. Ghu - litical domain for centuries, most of guage of the province.The supposedly spaces and histories of Dalits. I inter - lam Rabbani (2016) writes: the prominent short story writers, progressive section of Ashrafia elite poets and the scribes have hailed frames its ideology in Sufi-nationalist from Ashrafia castes. Inspired by the idiom that I call political Sufism, an progressive movement that ushered ideology that asserts Hindu-Muslim in subcontinent in early 20th century, harmony without necessarily con - the Sindhi Ashrafia class also evolved fronting the issue of casteism and its own version of progressive idiom Dalit exclusion. Inspired by the inter - framed in Political Sufism. Departing national modern progressive move - from their predecessors,they qualify ment in politics and literature during their Sufism with the modern (Marx - the 1950s and 1960s, the Ashrafia ist-nationalist and romantic ideas). (also Sindhi Savarna) writers identi - This modernist, but theo-po - fied themselves as ‘Taraqqi-Passand’ litical drift, also reflects in the short (progressives). Irrespective of seem - stories whereby they condemn ingly egalitarian modernist impulses, wader ā culture (feudalism) and Mul - the postcolonial theo-political terrain lah (the superstitious religious cleric). seems to have led the progressives to For instance, feudalism is critiqued in produce the literature that under - storiessuch as in ‘BilluDad ā’ and mines the Dalit question and sancti - ‘Kutte jo maut’by Ayaz Qadri; fies thehegemony of ‘MunhK āro’ and ‘PashooPash ā’ by Ashrafia-Savarna classes. Jamal Abro; ‘SheedoDh ārel’ by Ghu - During my fieldwork in 2016 Bhagwanti, wife of VersiKolhi knitting Raksha Bandhan, the ritual thread lam Rabani Agro. Similarly, religious in lower Sindh,I foundthat the popular fanaticism and extremism is busted in literature produced by the progressive that symbolizes brother's commitment to a Sister, at a Kolhi settlement stories such as, ‘M ānIns ānAhiy ān’ (I class had deeply influenced Dalit is - near NaonDumbaalo, Sindh.Source: Author (Sept 5, 2015) am human) by Ayaz Qadri,and sues. It was not only the level of ‘Am ānM ān School naWendus’ ‘hegemonic’ influence of Ashrafia - rogate this appropriation of Dalit The Harijan lives like dead (‘Mom, I won’t go to school’) by Savarna class over Dalits, but also spaces and Dalit identities as it is re - soul, having accepted all the exploita - Hafeez Shaikh. Notwithstanding the their epistemic narratives played a flectedin thoseshort stories consid - tion and atrocities as their destiny. egalitarian import of when it comes significant role in the coordinatization ered as having emancipatory potential They might develop a defiant attitude to religious and gender-disparities, of Dalits n their self-perception.For in - for the Dalits, in general, andDalit against these injustices but it remains these stories or the narratives emer - stance, when the ‘Dalit’ question was women, in particular. confined to their minds. On the con - gent of it do not intersect with the invoked using the ‘Dalit’ and the Theoretical Framework trary, Ambedkar’s Dalit is audacious, problem of casteism, and rather give ‘Scheduled Castes’ identity markers The Ashrafia-Savarnaclass of courageous and infused with zeal and an impression that casteism, particu - by the Dalit activists, the Sindhi na - feudal, Pirs(spiritual persons) and zest to fight against exploitation and larly Dalit exclusion, is a normative tionalists and most of the contempo - Vaniyas (Hindu merchants) ‘imag - live with dignity. His rebel doesn’t just phenomenon about which agents of rary Sindhi progressive writers and ined’social solidarity essentially on imagine being one but steps into the social and political change need not their followers attempted to reject the basis of a modern nation that real world. worry about. Take as another example Dalit activists’ re-identification and could accommodate their tribal and This critique of literary-politi - the story in which ‘upper caste’Sam - their claims. They discouraged the casteist legacy.The ‘Sindhi national - cal landscape will explain how the mat-Baloch protagonist Pishu Pasha Dalit activists from problematizing ist’ narrative, promulgated by these hegemony of Ashrafia-Savarna is depicted asa socialist revolutionary Dalit exclusion beyond a certain classes before and after partition has classes functions at the empirical against a local landlord. Pishu Pasha threshold. grown over the decades through the level in spaces that otherwise should is depicted as the untouchable who Such an underplaying of - extensive use of print media, literary serve as anti-caste anchor for the dares to drink water in the glass of casteism and Dalit exclusion was pri - circles, and lately through social Dalit protagonists. It will enable to Raes Gul Khan, the local landlord. marily legitimized through Political media to construct the social imagi - see if the historical narratives and While narrating the incident, the Sufism based on Hindu–Muslim har - nary that it hardly identifies the their fictionalized characters allow writeruses the metaphor of ‘Chuhra’ mony as against the two-nation of Ashrafia-Savarna elite as the internal Ashrafia intrusion in Dalit spaces; and (Dalit caste) to explain the reaction theory of Pakistan based on Hindu– oppressor.The local Ambedkarites, it helps to invoke Dalits to protest against Pishu Pasha’s daring act.He Muslim binaries.Consequently, the however, do not wholeheartedly ac - against the oppressors, and achieve writes: progressives did not consider cept the Progressive’s narrative and the egalitarian goal of caste-parity or Once, [Pishu] passed by the casteism as the major problem, and complain of its casteist bias. While social inclusion. guest of house Raes Gul Khan. He did not make Dalit exclusion the sub - holding the Progressives,the society Situating Short Stories in Sindhi Pro - was dying of thirst. Without caring ject of political debate or critical en - at large and state, responsible for gressive Literature for consequences, he entered the quiry. Notwithstanding, the casteism, racism, and extremist ten - The Progressives boast of, and prob - guest house and grabbed the glass of progressives did indulge in Dalit dencies, local Ambedkaritesalso criti - ably rightly so, that both in terms of Raes Gul Khan. All present on the spaces on occasion, particularly cize their own Dalit community for quantity and as the instrument to cre - scene tried to stop him, saying, when Dalit agency compelled them. not reacting against oppression. They ate political awareness, after Urdu, (Contd. on next page) www.ambedkartimes.com V0l-13 7 Issue- 4 www.deshdoaba.com April 7, 2021 Appropriation of Caste Spaces in Pakistan:

The(C oTntinhuee from- pPageo 6l) iticsbe goin fab uSsinhg hoimr’. tT hiSs shtoowsr tihee sth eir nela bSoratiing dupohn it, IP qurotoe fgrom rewsills remivaine un tLoucihtaebler ina thteuir eryee s). ‘Nope, Nope!; But, by that time this level of the critique that Manik had the story a dialogue between a sup - Seetal’s adventure eventual - gentleman had drunk two-three mounted, and because of which he posedly Hindu Dalit convert to Islam lyends up with his realization that in glasses of water. Putting down the was deliberately alienated from the and a Mukhi (a community head): case his ailing wife (who had also glass, [Pishu] said ‘Brother why af - mainstream progressive circles as he Mukhi, the panchayat headman of converted along with him) dies, he front!Did that glass belong to any did not even explicitly subscribed to Oad [Dalit] community begged in the cannot be given woman for marriage Chuhra?’ Sufi nationalist narrative and delved name of holy Gita and even threw his from Muslim castes, simply because The last sentence ‘Did that in existentialism. turban at Seetal’s feet, but Seetal he was considered as ‘lower caste’ or glass belong to any Chuhra?’, clearly Notwithstanding their extraor - just didn’t care much and replied: ‘untouchable’. Ultimately, Seetal con - shows that while untouchability dinary self-critical and anti-Sayed “Mukhi! Do whatever you like, but I verts back to his former faith. The against Chuhras (Dalits) was/is nor - stance and the feminist inclinations, shall change my religion. story, thus, ends with the bigoted dis - mative, it is not as such practiced these selective progressive writers do Mukhi: But why after all you want to appointment of the Molvi (religious) against ‘upper castes’ to which Pishu not draw the clear line between the change your religion? at the re-conversion of Seetal, who Pasha belonged. Since Pishu Pasha level of exploitation and humiliation of Seetal: My choice, my wish simply. says the ‘Infidel is after all infidel’. was not a Chuhra, but an ‘upper the Sayed women and the Dalit Mukhi: Even then? Hence, from this narrative, it becomes caste’ and equal in status to the local women, or the Dalit Sindhi and Seetal: I just don’t like my religion. evident that the writer of the story landlord, therefore, they should not Savarna Hindu.In fact, the Progres - That’s it. conveys the social fact that although mind his drinking water in the same sives applied their own standards of Mukhi: Alas! Why on earth don’t you Mullah (religious cleric) primarily ex - glass in which the landlord drinks. gender (dis)parity when it served their like your religion? presses his social imaginary through The real thrust of the narrative here purpose. For instance, the two stories Seetal: Alright Mukhi. Tell me, who religious binaries, yet caste comes is not to bring to light to untouchabil - ‘Mub ārakhoon’ and ‘Sagar je La - are we? into the foreground when it comes to ity against the Chuhras (Dalits), but actual relations. Unlike a Mullah, the the class difference within Ashrafia Hindu Dalit community is presented castes.This portrayal of Pishu (upper as more realistic as they imagine castes) as the new ‘untouchable’, caste and religion as embedded in and the projection of socialist con - each other. They are presented as frontation depicted as merely lying cognizant of the fact that they even between the two protagonists of the cannot marry into Shaikhs (converts privileged castes, one dominating the from Savarnas). However, what if other, may not be vouchsafed by the Muslim Oad families also existed as Ambedkarites who, first and fore - do Shaikhs converts from Bheels, and most, want to problematize caste- Baghri Muslim families? The based discrimination and story/narrative does not help under - untouchability. stand the consequences of the volun - The progressives have also Oad caste is known for walls and houses tary conversions in such cases. written a few remarkable short sto - that they build from raw mud Hence, although at the ries that expose the exploitative char - generic level, the story brings out acter of Sayeds. For instance, Jamal very sharply that caste discrimination Abro’s (2015) story ‘Shah Jo Pharr’ is a trans-religious phenomenon, and (Progeny of Shah) first published in harunTe’, which show Sindhi women Mukhi: We are Hindus. even stronger than religious affilia - 1959 directly confronts Sayedism, in rebelling against patriarchyandthe Seetal: Why then Hindus cremate the tions, yet the Progressives try to bring which the discriminatory differentia - forced marriage, are not held in good dead, whereas we bury them? into focus its religious dimension tion between Sayed and Ummati light by Progressives, such as Rasool Mukhi: It’s our ritual. more than that of caste.Rita Kothari, (Subject Muslim) is depicted, and in BuxPaleejo, who considers it the Seetal: Alright. Why do we eat goat a Sindhi (Savarna) based in Ahmed - ‘Mau Ji Jholi’(Lap of Mother) an primeillustrations of ‘negative’ rebel - after butchering it (like Muslims)? abad in India, has translated ‘Infidel’ Ashrafia class woman is depicted as lion. Moreover, the scathing criticism Mukhi: This too is our ritual—since from Sindhi into English, and has dis - embracing a Bhangi (Dalit) child. Sim - that a few of these anti-Sayed the times of old ancestors. cussed primarily to show that such ilarly, Noorul Huda Shah, a Sayed Ashrafia class writers faced is also an Seetal: But these are the rituals of stories were the product of nostalgia woman herself, has written a few indicator of the lack of ‘shared space’ Muslims? of business class (Jati) Hindus and anti-Sayed short stories that indi - for the Dalit intellectuals (mostly Mukhi: These are theirs. But ours the post-Partition redemption of rectly defend the Dalitbahujanright to identified as Hindus as well) to ex - too!! Sindhi Muslims who desired to re - equal social treatment. Her short pose Sayedism. Hence, although their Seetal: Then how can you say, we are claim their imagined syncretism that story ‘Dozkhi’ also brings to light the ideological and discursive trajectory Hindus? supposedly existed before Partition racism of Sindhi people against was highly critical from the Ashrafia Mukhi: Then what the heck are we, between Sindhi Hindus (mostly Sheedi caste of the Black African de - egalitarian or the Sufi nationalist per - crank? Savarnas) and Sindhi Muslims. With scent. spective, it did not seem to qualify for Seetal: Half Hindus-half Muslim. (We her emphasis on Sufi identity of One highly critical short story the wholehearted approval by the have) body of sheep, head of goat.” Sindh, Kothari, however, does not ‘Secrets of Mansion’ by Manik de - Dalit-feminist intellectuals and or the (Excerpt translated from Kāfir , a short shed much light on the anti-caste di - picts the nexus between patriarchy Ambedkarites. In the sections that story by Naseem Kharal). mension of the story and rather treats and Sayedism. In it, the writer shows follow, I would further explain through In this conversation, Seetal both religion and caste as being how strict caste endogamy and patri - Ambedkarian perspective, the ex - stands accused before theOad (Dalit) equally implicated. In this particular archy prevalent in Sayed families cre - cerpts from these popular short sto - community of betraying communal case, deviating from the Progressive’s ates conditions of celibacy for ries by Amar Jaleel and Naseem norms to convert to Islam, and pro - typical stance, Dr. Ghafoor Memon, women and sexual relations outside Kharalwith respect to how they claim that the Hindu religion is based however, argues that major import of of wedlock. A progressive activist (mis)fit as the anti-caste and anti-pa - on falsity. Although infuriated, mem - the story is to show that cultural and told that Manik was abused, triarchal progressives. bers of the Oad‘panchyat’ (caste class/caste-based norms are stronger ridiculed, and even socially boycotted The Reframingof ‘Infidel’to Uphold council) were not very harsh at See - than religion. He argues that Muslims to the limits to eventually commit sui - Interfaith Harmony tal, as they believed that Seetal had are proved to be hypocrites as on the cide. Some of the leading Sindhi pro - ‘K āfir’ (infidel), a short story been bewitched by a Mullah (Islamic one hand as they believe that there is gressive writers vehemently criticized written in 1960s by Naseem Kharal – cleric). They tried to convince Seetal no discrimination in Islam based on him for his exposition of patriarchy the Ashrafia class feudal – furnishes that he had made a blunder, but See - caste;while on the other hand they embedded in Sayedism. Shaukat one of the exceptionally counterintu - tal remained adamant that he was continue to discriminate as do the Shoro, a progressive short story itive anti-caste narratives. Presented happy with his conversion. Having Hindus.Rasool BuxPaleejo, a leading writer opined that, ‘Manik is [a] mer - by the Progressives presented it as seen his resolve Mukhi made the final Marxist-nationalist also affirmed the ciless, murdering and oppressive the explanation of both the religious attempt to convince Seetal saying, factual relevance of the story: writer. Amongst the comity of Sindhi and caste discrimination. It also ‘Remember Seetal! No matter how One the one hand we surpass writers, he stands apart and alone, to proves that Sufi nationalist path is the lavishly you harness donkeys like all limits of exaggeration and slogan whom the most privileged Sindhi lit - most appropriate one for the (Hindu) horses, they will remain donkeys, and mongering to prove that there is not erary writers do not accept, while the Dalits to mutually coexist in the pre - never become horses.’ (i.e., no matter caste system in Islam and on the readers, after having avidly read, dominantly Muslim Sindh.Before, fur - how good a Muslim you become, you (Contd. on next page) www.ambedkartimes.com V0l-13 8 Issue- 4 www.deshdoaba.com April 7, 2021 Appropriation of Caste Spaces in Pakistan: The Theo-Politics of Short Stories in Sindhi Progressive Literature (Continue from page 7) Pushpa Kumari has done M.Sc. from ically motivated narratives may influ - Jaleel certainly seems to stand other, in reality, we are the leading Agricultural University Tando Jam. ence Dalit activists, particularly the against Sayeds and Pirs in so far as custodians of the system of untouch - Third daughter Nimrita, is a lecturer Dalit middle class not to convert, his own caste privilege (dis)allows ability and casteism. in Sindh University’s microbiology de - such as through the specific rendition him to be, yet the frequency and the The recognition of casteism, partment. Fourth Sushhma Devi who of short story ‘Infidel’, the poorest or number of such stories that depict however, does not bar the Progres - did M.Sc from botany and serving as the ultra-subaltern castes or sub Dalit oppression in relation to sives to resort to Marxist and nation - lecturer in Karachi. castes and the most vulnerable Dalit Sayedism is comparatively very low. alist explanations as an antidote to it. As it is evident, Taj Joyo sug - families may often see conversion as This story, therefore, is the only one The moral of the story that is often gested the Dalits to get Sindhized - an open option. of its kind written by him that proj - upheld by them emphasizes‘interfaith without conversion. He tried to Invoking Self-Pity in ‘Dust of Earth ects Dalit-women’s oppression, but harmony’ instead of patriarchy and convince them that there was caste and Stars of Sky’ that too does not take the reader to - casteism that is embedded under the discrimination and untouchability The short story ‘Dust of Earth wards Dalit emancipation and social gloss of religion. As Memon argues, even among Muslims. This sugges - and Stars of Sky’ (Dharti ji Dhoor, As - protest deemed necessary by the this story ‘Infidel’ supports the argu - tion was in line with the Sindhi na - manjaaTaara) by Amar Jaleelarouses Dalit activists.This fact then compli - ment of the communists that social tionalist ideology that desired unity the compassion for Bali, a Bheel cates the writer’s personal life at the equality (devoid of casteism) can be between Hindus and Muslims, and (Dalit) woman who had been seduced level of commitment to eradicate achieved through socialist change or that did not offerthe political way out and raped by Shahu, a Sayed patri - caste discrimination or to emancipate throughcommunism, and that would of the caste discrimination and un - arch.Although, the story seems to be Dalits.Playing the role of the Dalit lib - eventually eradicate casteism and un - touchability. The best of the solutions highly critical of Sayedism, which is erator, Amar Jaleel, in fact, defines touchability). In this manner, this con - that Joyo proffered to these struc - a rare theme in the Sindhi literary do - the Ashrafia definition of Dalit ventional Marxist-nationalist tural and political issues was the up - main, it does not sufficiently invoke women’s oppression. Colored in Sufi approach relegates the problems of lift through educational achievement Dalits to resist against it. The reasons nationalist ideology of interfaith har - casteism and untouchability to the at individual level. Dalit activists for this epistemic and ontic lopsided - mony, Jaleel condescends to take second-order issues supposed to van - seemed to take the suggestion of ness can be partly attributed to the Sayed Patriarchy and misogyny to the ish away once communism would Joyo, as they began to discourage politico-ideological predilections of task that does not help invoke Dalit prevail. conversions. the writer, and the targeted Progres - women’s emancipation as the Dalit ‘Infidel’ is also presented as Like Joyo did, the Progres - sive audience receptive to Sufi-na - women’s depiction of her naivety and the explanation of caste discrimina - sives have convinced many Hindu tionalist narrative. The story depicts sexual vulnerability to Ashrafia patri - tion by the Muslims against the Hin - Dalits not to convert and express the tragic socioeconomic vulnerability archy are not sufficiently counter - dus in general to convince the Dalits their fidelity with the Muslim-domi - of Dalit women due to which they are poised with the Dalits or Dalit that conversion cannot bear the req - nated and Ashrafia-led Sindh through often raped by Ashrafia men. The women’s agency to strive for eman - uisite benefits. For instance, moti - the Sufi nationalist medium. This has writer enters into the minds of both cipation. Resultantly, the Ashrafia vated by Taj Joyo (the Ashrafia Sindhi rather led Dalits to get Ashrafizedor the oppressor and the oppressed and reader of the story,instead of feeling nationalist activist and the writer), adopt certain norms of dominant brings out the casteist arrogance of remorse or shame on his or her patri - who projected that story to prove Muslims that reflected in their ex - the Sayed, and the haplessness and archy, is led to enjoy the Dalit that the recurrent abortive attempts pressed reverence forSayeds, Pirs and humiliation of the Dalit woman. In a woman’s sexuality and body. at conversion to get rid of ‘untoucha - Sufis.This form of ritual inversion to highly pro-Sayed society in which Hence, it can be safely as - bility’ and religious discrimination do adopt Ashrafia values without con - even the Progressive writers are reluc - sumed that the story does not specif - not work. Taj Joyo, for instance, version, however, does not seem to tant to speak against Sayeds, the ically take the anti-caste stance and wrote in HemandasChandani’s resolve the fundamental problem ei - writer has shown a great dare to im - wavers in its emphasis on Hindu-Mus - (Scheduled Caste activist and poet) ther, that is, caste discrimination and pute Sayeds, the risk that no Dalit in - lim, Sayed-non-Sayed, Dalit-Sayed, book: untouchability. Resultantly ‘disso - tellectual can afford to take. women-men binaries.It, thus, casts I remember for sure that it was the nance’ persists between the assump - The Ambedkarites may not the ambiguous and rather counterpro - night of 11 December 1977, when I tion of being Sufi Sindhis and the accept that apology and the confer - ductive impact on the public opinion met at Hemandas’ home. I had a chit empirically existing caste based dis - ring of credit to the Ashrafia-laden as regards the nature and the level of chat with Kanji Mal (officer national criminatory practices.Moreover, con - Progressive class, and may raise cer - religious and caste-based persecu - bank), Ganesh Balani, Bhani Mal, Sar - trary to the claims of Progressives, tain fundamental concerns. They may tion. The sociopolitical consequences van Kumar, Naraern and Heman [all the Ashrafia intervention into Dalit acknowledge that although the story of this ambiguity can even be seen on Dalits of Meghwar caste]. If I remem - spaces of decision-making and iden - has considerable emancipatory value, the Sufi nationalists as well as on the ber correctly, either Ganesh Mal (or tity (re)formation proves the persist - yet may contend that the writer does Dalits impressed by the narrative of - any of the friends present) put up a ence of hegemonic influence of not suggest any escape for the Dalits fered by Amar Jaleel or the Progres - proposal that ‘we Meghwar are con - Ashrafia elite. This, I argue, is tanta - out of that situation thereby leaving sives. For instance, Dalit activists sidered as lower-class Hindus, by mount to the appropriation of Dalit’s them in the depressed state. Hence, were found to be carried away by the caste Hindus. Therefore, our survival epistemic space as it disallows and it fails to invoke agitation against the Savarna-Ashrafia narrative of ‘forced lies in converting to Islam’. There, I discourages Dalit activists to come structural violence meted out to Dalit conversion’ of Hindu and Dalit girls or opposed that thinking that it is not up with their own alternative counter- women and infuse the spirit of resist - women. the solution, because caste-based hegemonic narratives. ance against Sayedism.For instance, Despite the fact that most of class discrimination also exists There are, however, very few Bali, as a Dali woman, is shown to such marriages and conversions are among Muslims. No Sayed Muslim among Dalit activists, particularly the give birth to the child, but her psycho - consensual, Dalit and Hindu girls will allow marry his daughter into any Ambedkarites, that radically depart logical strength is not depicted as to were depicted as Marvis (oppressed other caste, not to mention of Machi from Sufi-nationalist trajectory. Con - surpass the social and political women) of Sindh under the bondage Muslim (fisherman caste considered sciousness of being sandwiched in prowess of his Sayed seducer. Fear - of Umar, a mythologizedSavarna/ the lower among Muslims). Although between Brahminic and Ashrafia ing that her child could be killed by Ashrafia king of the yore who had the days have much changed now, hegemons, these Ambedkarites have the Sayed(s), she even hides the act kidnapped Marvi, a Dalit girl. This re- but even then, I narrated them the turned into crypto-Buddhists, that is, of seduction and the fact that a framing of the folk narratives serves fiction story (based on social reality while politically they tend to follow Sayed was a father of her child.Al - as the hegemonic instrument to re - of casteism among Muslims) of B.R.Ambedkar and cherish Buddhist though this exemplifies the caste- duce seduction, rape, consensual sex, Naseem Kharal. practices, but also loosely adhere to based and religion-based structural or marriage-based conversion to a Finally, we came to a consen - the normatively sanctioned Hindu and violence of high order and the single libelous denominator of ‘forced sus that the solution of social dis - Ashrafia practices. These varied ap - counter-resistance by the individual conversion’, the religious connotation criminations lies in education and proaches to live a dignified life, how - Dalit woman, the Ambedkarites may that is in line not onlywith Sufi na - only education. Today I feel proud ever, does not bar a common Dalit to have liked to take it further into the tionalist ideology but also acceptable that it is the effect of my ideas and try out conversion to Islam, Christian - collective domain of resistance to en - problem identifier forthe protagonists the fiction story of Naseem Kharal ity, or Ahmedia sect/religion.Gener - thuse the spirit of collective resist - of Political Islam and Hindutva ideol - narrated by me, that Ganesh Balani’s ally, at the level of society, the ance.Hence, the story ends up ogy.Hence, in this manner, these nar - four daughters have now reached the voluntary conversions of Dalit fami - abruptly leaving the Ashrafia reader in ratives of force, coercion, seduction highest educational achievement: lies, particularly the poorest and the a state of compassion for Dalits, and and rape derived from the folktales Shabnam Rathore made Sindh fa - most vulnerable ones, continues un - to Dalits in a state of self-pity. and re-framed by the Progressives in mous by doing PhD from Germany in abated, and often go unnoticed. This Although in many other short Sufi nationalistidiom are conveniently ‘Underground Saline Water’. Another proves that while Progressive’s polit - stories and public statements, Amar (Contd. on next page) www.ambedkartimes.com V0l-13 9 Issue-4 www.deshdoaba.com April 7, 2021 Appropriation of Caste Spaces in Pakistan: The Theo-Politics of Short Stories in Sindhi Progressive Literature (Continue from page 8) that was resisting against the British. Phule…she writes that they were the port for Kolhis, Dalits, and the Pro - and uncritically grafted upon Dalit In a latest ‘progressive’ compilation English people who came in and freed gressives alike. It has contemporary women’s vulnerability. This re-fram - of essays in Sindhi, RooploKolhi’s us from clutches of the upper castes. political relevance as it seems in line ing of vulnerability in Sufi-nationalist confrontation with the British is rep - They see the coming of the British as with the Dalit’s tendency to Ashrafize idiom hides both the casteist and pa - resented not just as fidelity to the the precursor of emancipation. They by labeling Rooplo as ‘Shaheed’ (Ara - triarchal bias of Savarna-Ashrafia Pro - local ‘upper caste’ rulers but to supported the British during the 1857 bic-Sindhi term for the martyr), and gressives and the hegemonic class to nation. war, the Sikhs allied with the British by tracing the existing descendants which they primarily represent. This nationalist reframing, to get rid of Mughal persecution. Sim - of him. Off and on, individual Kolhis ‘The Prisoner of Karoonjhar’ and the that legitimizes the subordination of ilarly, Meghwar like Madhu, and the claim to be Rooplo’sgrreat-grandsons Appropriation of Dalit Heroes the oppressed castes to the local op - people of Parkar, particularly Dalits, and are invited in annual anniversaries and Spaces pressor castes for the sake of free - sided with the British as the emanci - organized to pay homage to Rooplo The inversion of the history of dom from or resistance to the pators who got them rid of the dom - as guest speakers. This desire to as - a Dalit rebel/fighter is exemplified in external forces (the British), under - ination of Sodha Thakurs. And this sociate with Rooplo is a post-1970s ‘The Prisoner of Karoonjhar’ (Karoon - mines the agency of the Dalits both [Rooplo], who was the paid merce - phenomenon, resonating with the jhar jo Qaidi), a short story written by in the historical past as well as in the nary of Sodha Thakurs, is now reck - Sindhi nationalist narrative as it was Ali Baba (Rind Baloch by caste). In present by suggesting Dalits to play oned as the hero in history. But those reframed through political speeches this story, RooploKolhi is depicted as second fiddle as loyal subordinates to like MadhooMeghwar who supported and the politico-literary writings as the hero of Sindh who fought bravely the Ashrafia-Savarna castes. In con - the British to get rid of Sodhas perse - that of Ali Baba. during the middle of the 19th century temporary Sindh, where these caste- cutors are condemned as the rebels. The narrative of the story, when the British attempted to estab - based or the tribal relations of Like Dalits themselves, this counter- however, loses its historical grounding lish its writ over Parkar, a small moun - domination and subordination still narrative is also very marginal and and the authenticity as there is not tainous region surrounded by Rann of exist with some minor variations, very few even among Dalit activists much historical evidence to support Katchto the south and the Thar though this nationalist logic that has subscribe to an essentially Ambedkar - the facts related to Rooplo or Kolhi

Figure 1. The painting by Poonja Ram Kolhi, first appeared ParuMal’s book Lok Sagar Ja Moti. It was popularized by ParkariKolhis depicting RooploKolhi along with his rebel friends attacking the British in Karoonjhar Mountains at Parkar (Source: Parkari Audio-Visual Project, PCDP).

Desert of Sindh to the north (see Fig - re-identified Pakistani establishment ian perspective on history and histo - community’s role in the fight against ure 1, painted by a Kolhi for the book or Punjabi domination as the new riography. Yet there are many points the British.The historical chronicles, on RooploKolhi). RooploKolhi, as the ‘other’, in a way, allows the subordi - on which they converge and that de - mostly written by the British officers, locals believe, was a Girasia, that is, nation of Kolhis or Dalits to Sodha viate from the Ashrafia-dominated do not mention any such dramatic de - the tribal chief recognized as such by Thakurs, Khosas, Mir Talpurs, and nationalist narrative.Before the parti - bacle involving RooploKolhi.Although rulers of the time, particularly by the even to Sayeds. Hence, this tribal-na - tion of the subcontinent, Parkar was the narrative apparently looks eman - Mughals. Although the narrative de - tionalist ethic even applies today, and imagined by Kolhis, as well as by cipatory for Dalits as it highlights picted in Ali Baba’s (1994) story is may continue to be applied by the other Parkari communities, as ‘Mulk’ RooploKolhi, yet it loses ground as it not much different than most of the Ashrafia-Savarna castes on the ex - (literally, a country different from fails to fully discredit the dominant Kolhis and Sindhi people believe in, it cuse of the external threats to the in - Sindh). This social imaginary often role of the Sodha Thakur rulers of becomes problematic when Dalit ac - ternal tribal-caste (dis)harmony. sometimes reflects in the political Parkar.Ali Baba’s narrative under - tivists undermine its pro-Savarna his - Prior to that appropriation of claims of ownership of Parkar made mines the fact that Rooplo fought as tory and let the Ashrafia elite RooploKolhi by the Sindhi national - by Kolhi activists (see for instance, a tribal chief of Kolhi’sGohel sub- appropriate their agency. Hence, it ists, it was almost vice versa. The re - pamphlet in Figure 2, of local Kolhi caste under the supervision of Lad - has both the emancipatory as well as view of the vernacular literature leader, whichreads‘Parkar is not the hoo Singh, a Kshatriya or upper caste hegemonic and counter-hegemonic written by ParkariKolhis, and the con - private property of anybody, but our Hind ruler.Parkar had been under the aspects depending upon who patron - versations held by me with the local fatherland’). control of SodhaThakurs during the izes whom. Parkaris in 2019 indicate that Parkaris Given the profile of the char - past several centuries. Talpur and Ali Baba’s narrative of did not always imagine Parkar as a acters, which look more of history Kalhorarulers of Sindh occasionally Rooplo’s bravery portraysRooplo as if part of Sindh. A Tharparkar-based turned into legend, this story by Ali used to intervene in Tharparkar to es - in direct confrontation with theBri - Dalit activist inverted the nationalist Baba (1994) cannot be interpreted tablish their writ, which was often tish.The character RooploKolhi is de - narrative in the following manner: like the other two discussed above thwarted by the Sodhas. Sodhas of picted as the independent freedom MadoMeghwar, who gave that are essentially based on fictitious Parkar had their own communal sys - fighter that fought against the British refuge to Trawat [Tyrwhitt]. Do you characters. In this story history is in - tem of management that they used to to reclaim his ‘Mulk’(Parkar). The im - know why he gave refuge to tarawat? flated through fiction while, in the call ‘Gurr Raj’, and variant of land tax pression is created that Parkar was a Very few know. You must see, during previous stories, fiction is created to collection called ‘Raney jo part of Sindh and Rooplo, therefore, that period, the poor classes…in depict contemporary social reality. Jalang’(sack of Rana) was invogue by fought for Sindh. Karoonjhar symbol - 1800s.the first Dalit woman who Hence, the characterization of virtue of which all Rajputs/Sodha izes Sindh in miniature and the local wrote a letter...she only was class RooploKohi through Ashrafia literary Thakurs were exempt from the land castes symbolized the Sindhi nation VIII pass. She was …Savatri Bai narrative has the historically real im - tax. (Contd. on next page) www.ambedkartimes.com V0l-13 10 Issue- 4 www.deshdoaba.com April 7, 2021 Appropriation of Caste Spaces in Pakistan: The Theo-Politics of Short Stories in Sindhi Progressive Literature (Continue from page 9) by Tharparkari people. Abdul Qadir Kolhi’ (Dalit). It’s not just that simple, that democ - While Parkar had its own Junejo writes: This ritual of inversion by racy fascinates Dalits.Under it, they semi-autonomous political economy, Thari people have unique instinct of Ashrafia elite to arbitrarily identify eagerly sell out their heroes to nation - it was not completely independent of liking and making heroes for them - with the Dalits, under the influence of alists, and give away their gods to the influences of the rulers of Sindh selves. Mughal Emperor Akbar was a the Sufi nationalist narrative, dilutes Brahmins and Lohanas; they are will - and were given various exemptions legendary figure for them only second the question of casteism such that ing to banish all their ancestral gods and waivers to collect taxes from the to local deities, so was General Taroot Rooplo Kolhi (a Dalit), HoshooSheedi to exclusively worship Ram, Krishana local pastoralists and peasants. When (Tyrwhitt). Despite the fact that Ta - (an Afro-Sindhi descendant of and Ganesha. root was the one who overwhelmed slaves), Dodo Soomro (Sammat ruling The unabated influence of the Sodha Rajputs and hanged caste elite), and Raja Dahar (7th cen - Sindhi Progressive narrative had been RooploKolhi, he was highly praised tury Brahmin king of Sindh) are rep - lately (between 2016 and 2019) dis - and eulogized by Tharis in folk resented as standing on the turbed by the group of activists affil - songs, and folklore during and after horizontal socioeconomic plane that iated with Dalit Sujaag Tehreek, who Taroot’s times. demands of them to struggle for were working within several other This pre-colonial narrative Sindh. It creates the false dichotomy splinter groups. The change was no - was gradually overtaken bythe post - between the two groups of Ashrafia- ticed during the 160th anniversary colonial nationalist narrative Savarna classes, namely the Sindhi celebrations held at Judho and Hyder - whereby the praise of Tyrwhitt was nationalists and separatists, and the abad by Sindhi KolhiItehad and Pak - considered as symbolic of the slav - pro-state feudal Sindhi Ashrafia class. istan KolhiItehad in which they ish imperialistic attitude. Given this For instance, a Kolhi activist aligning consciously took the decision not to ambiguous history, it can be argued himself with the nationalists as invite, as chief guests, the feudal or that the Progressives’ narrative of against the ruling feudal class of political class person elite. Yet this not Rooplo Kolhi, that is inadvertently, Sindh uploaded a Facebook status: yet institutionalized and abrupt picked up by Dalits as well, is The 159th anniversary of Shaheed change is not without ideological premised on the self-serving all-uni - RooploKolhi was celebrated by Jeay problem as the majority of Dalits con - fying nationalist fantasy that more Sindh Mahaz at Sachal village, tinued to imagine Rooplo and Dalits than giving the emancipatory push Karachi. Chairman of Mahaz, Abdul through a Marxist-nationalist lens in - to the Dalit cause rather hampers it. Khaliq Junejo said that Raja Dahar, stead of an Ambedkarian one. Pahla - Kolhi activists consider this repre - HoshooSheedi and RooploKolhi are jKolhi, the organizer of anniversary at sentation as the sort of recognition our valiant heroes, and that Muham - Jhudo, posted on Facebook a happy of the value and worth of Kolhi com - mad-bin-Qasim is historically con - note: munity within the comity of Sindhi demned as the imperialist. He said This was apolitical anniversary. In this castes, and see this re-nationaliza - that the anniversaries of Rooplo are anniversary there was no minister, ad - tion of ‘Amar (eternal) or ‘Shaheed’ being celebrated lately by the ruling visor or senator. Despite that the sea (Martyr) RooploKolhi’, as the drive elites since the last two-three years of people flooded in, which proves Figure 2. Local government elections to create social and political space to appropriate Rooplo for their vested that people have now do not accept (2013) pamphlet of VeerjiKolhi. for their marginal community.Hence, interests. But they must remember this waderko-bhotarko (feudal) Source: Author (2016). except the minor antipathy towards that the resistance of Rooplo was not system. Ashrafia-dominated Sindh that simply for capturing seat in legislative This supposedly apolitical the British conquered Sindh in 1847, sometimes reflects inKolhi’s hidden assembly or to appease any specific statement about the program in they reduced the Rana’s right and script, Parkar is largely imagined by sect, but for his land Sindh, the which they awarded Dalit activists af - share of taxes to a half, while allow - them as the integral part of ing them to maintain their own ja - Sindh, and Rooplo as the greers (fiefs). (Similarly, both the Ali foremost Sindhi national Baba as well as ParkariKolhis do not hero, the recognition that bring into framework the fact that the could not be had without the Meghwar community (Dalits) had al - approval of ‘authentic nation - ready submitted to the British to alists’ (i.e.,Ashrafia-Savarna emancipate from the Sodha elite). Thakurs.They also undermine the fact To reciprocate that that Talpur rulers of Sindh were also recognition and to reaffirm subdued by the British and even em - their fragile bonding with the ployed against the Sodha Thakurs. Ashrafia class, Kolhis invite They also neglect the fact that it was Mirs, Sardars, and Sayeds as the army of Talpur rulers of Sindh that special guests in their pro - fought together with the British to grams held to commemorate crush Sodha Thakur resistance in the martyrdom of Rooplo. Nangarparkar. They do not acknowl - See, for instance, Figure 3 in edge that ParakariKolhis, in fact, which Nawab Yousif Talpur (a fought as army men for the Sod - local Ashrafia politician from haThakur (Savarna) rulers of Parkar, the ruling elite stands in the who did not even consider Kolhis as middle surrounded by local proper Hindus. Kokhiactivists during the The historically anomalous 157th Anniversary of ethnic and geographical status of RooploKolhi at the Ghousia Parkar can also be confirmed from the Complex, Umerkot on 20 Au - fact that, before the annexation of gust 2016). Yousaf Talpur, in Figure 3. Ashrafia Picture taken during the 157th Anniversary of RooploKolhi at the Parkar to Sindh by theBritish,Parkar his capacity as the member Ghousia Complex, Umerkot on 20 August 2016. Source Dalit Sujaag Tehreek (2016). was under the jurisdiction of Bhuj of National Assembly an - (Katch, now in India), and that both nounces additional school building for legacy of which rule-hungry elite can - filiated with different political parties the Dalits and the Savarnas of Parakar a Kolhi village. To demonstrate their not be the inheritors. for raising voice of indigenous were ethnically and politically aligned closeness to and confidence in These acts of counter-appro - ‘Darawar’communities, framed the more with their respective caste fel - Yousaf Talpur, local Kolhi activists priation, condensation and equalizing issue in the Marxist language of class lows and co-religionists in Kutch than NemdasKolhi,Poonjho Mal Bheel (Ex, Savarna-Ashrafia and Dalit heroes in struggle that obfuscates the problem with the land and people of Sindh the MPA),Asu Bai Kolhi and other Dalit the name of resistance against the of casteism. Hence, this Dalit agency borders of which lied where from the activists stand close to Yousaf Talpur non-nationalist ruling elite are not that is carried away by the Marxist– Thar Desert began. Similarly, the local on the stage. The innovatively decep - liked by some of their co-Dalit ac - Ashrafia ideology, many Kolhi ac - narrative about the British agent Tyr - tive inversion of caste identity was tivists, best classified as Ambed - tivists see this re-nationalization of whitt, who is now demonized as the observed when Sardar Shah (Sayed) karites. For instance, an Ambedkarite ‘Amar RooploKolhi’ as the drive to persecutor, was hailed as local hero proclaimed in a procession that ‘he is interviewed by me lamented: (Contd. on next page) www.ambedkartimes.com V0l-13 111 2 Issue-4 www.deshdoaba.com April 7, 2021 Appropriation of Caste Spaces in Pakistan: The Theo-Politics of Short Stories in Sindhi Progressive Literature (Continue from page 10) stead of feeling remorse or shame on the Ashrafia reader and the activist and inclusion of Dalits into privileged create social and political space for his or her casteist patriarchy, is led to with the reasons to objectify the spaces of politics, society, and cul - their marginal community. Given this objectify Dalit bodies and appropriate Dalit’s vulnerability, helplessness, and ture.Given the epistemological dispar - ideologically-confused nature of Dalit Dalit agency and spaces. womens’bodies.ThisAshrafizedand ity between the vast volumes of activism, many of them are not par - Given this hegemonic influ - appropriated reframing of Dalitness Progressive literature that ignore ticularly optimistic that the social hi - ence of local Ashrafia class, the inter - by the Progressives and Sindhi civil casteism, and the politically signifi - erarchies would alter in any nal caste frictions are glossed over society leads to the conclusion that cant demographic strength, this fundamental ways. through political Sufism or Sindhi na - although Dalits assert against the Ashrafia (Savarna) intervention into Looking from the Ambedkar - tionalism. The seemingly pro-Dalit caste oppression by priding in their Dalit spaces seems highly problem - ian perspective, this anti-colonial nar - narratives are, in fact tropes of inter- past, their agency to subvert atic. rative could have been truly faith harmony, such as in the case of Ashrafia-Savarna hegemony is con - Related to this epistemologi - emancipatory, if it had also brought the exchange of persuasive dialogue siderably hampered and appropriated cal disparity is the lack of privileged into focus the internal colonialism in ‘Infidel’, which is often interpreted to sever the interest of their oppres - space afforded to Dalit writers to ex - based on exclusion of Dalitbahujans. by Sindhi nationalists and the pro - sors.It can, therefore, be argued that, press their feelings and emotions that Since, it was not the case, and the gressive writers as a caution against colored in Sufi nationalist ideology, no Ashrafia writer can. Except a few, Sufi nationalist representation of the the threat to an ‘exemplary’ interfaith the progressives’ definition of Dalit’s which lie at the margin, there are no Progressives undermined caste (also harmony that once existed between oppression does not help invoke Dalit noteworthy Dalit short story writers gender) as the political factors of op - (Savarna) Hindus and (Sindhi) Mus - agency to emancipate from Sayedism found among the comity of the Pro - pression and exclusion, the postcolo - lims; or they, at best, proffer self-pity or Ashrafia domination. gressives in Sindh.This situation, at nial emancipation from the British as in the case of the short story ‘Dust Moreover, the Progressive’s least, at the level of epistemic justice imperialism cannot be understood by of Earth and Stars of Sky’. narrative resonates with the function - or equality, continues to be heavily the Ambedkarites as the Dalit eman - These narratives could be alist approach that does not allow for tilted in favor of the Progressive cipation from the internal colonial - imagined out of the semi-historical radical questioning of caste. Amar Ashrafia writers whose primary aim, ism.Hence, the story of RooploKolhi, narratives, such as in the case of Jaleel, Naseem Kharal’sdepiction of even while giving voice to the Dalits, as it is depicted and reframed, seems RooploKolhi’sreframing as the Sindhi Dalits and women, as it is inspired by has been to suggest the unity of all quite the reverse of Ambedkarian way national hero along with Dalit heroes, the Progressive predecessors who Sindhi castes, including Dalit castes, of hero-making. For instance, it is to graft the oppression upon the ex - were influenced by Gandhi, is compa - against the external Ashrafia quite the opposite of the battle of Ko - ternal ‘other’—that previously was rable to the Hindi short stories of oppressor. regaon, often mentioned by local the British Colonial power, and now it Munshi Premchand. Premchand has The literature produced in Ambedkarites in Sindh, in which has been identified as the Pakistani given space to Dalit characters and Sindhi language essentially gives about 500 Mahar (Meghwar) of Bom - state. Hence, it does not help expose brings forth Dalit’s exploitation in his voice to the Ashrafia-Savarnasenti - bay Native Infantry of the East India the internalcolonialism that predated stories, but his antidote was inspired ments and cherishes Ashrafia value Company fought against the Peshwa the British.An Ambedkarite might by the functionalist approach of Arya systems that are fundamentally rulers. The event is considered as the have taken these stories or the narra - Samaj, Dayanand Saraswathi, and premised on the superiority of revenge of decades of treatment of tives further and have inverted the in - Gandhi.It seemed supportive of the Sayeds, Sammats, Baloch, and Mahars as untouchables, and which dividual Dalits’ tension into the idea of ‘purity’ and was against reli - Savarna (Lohana, Brhamin, Thakur) is reframed as the source of revolu - collective resistance at the level of gious conversion.The same holds true castes. The Dalit middle class finding tionary inspiration by the Ambed - community. They may make the of the Sindhi progressives. This ideo - herself incapable to cope with the karites. Millions of Dalits gather each counterintuitive demands from the logical trajectory goes against the highly elaborate Progressive narrative year on the 1st ofJanuary in Bhima- Progressives to invert both the pure fundamental premises of Ambedkari - either takes sides with the Sufi na - Koregaon village in Pune, India to cel - fiction and the fictionalized history so anideology that aims at inspiring tionalists (Sindhi separatists, Marx - ebrate the event. that the frictions of caste and gender, courage and zeal to resist not merely ists, pro-Pakistanis) of one type or the or the embededness of caste, gender, against untouchability but for the an - other, all of whom are invariably pro- Conclusions and religion, could be brought to the nihilation of caste and the dignified Ashrafia in their social and political The analysis of the discourse emer - fore. Most of the Progressives seem life.In the context of Sindh, Progres - orientation and indifferent to the gent of popular Sindhi short stories incapable to fulfill that demand as it sives, unwittingly or wittingly follow - plight of Dalits. Given this Dalit reveals that even seemingly pro-Dalit conflicts with their Sufi nationalist ing Gandhian line, come up with the predicament, it can be argued that narratives do not adequately expose narrative. post-hoc explanations and the narra - the Progressives’ social imaginary de - the problem of casteism in the man - Contrary to what Ambed - tives of history of the oppressed for fies theAmbedkarian approach to so - ner that could lead to Dalit emancipa - karism may demand, the stories, in fulfilling their Sufi nationalist goal of ciety and politics that argues for the tion.It was evident that although the general, did not seem to sufficiently uniting caste or, rather, diluting eradication of casteism through con - Sufi ethic of interfaith harmony arbi - grasp the Dalit lifeworld. Resultantly, casteism without necessarily con - crete measures and conscious en - trarily invokes Ashrafia morality, and instead of giving Dalits emancipating fronting casteism and gender discrim - gagement. It can, therefore, be temporarily creates an anxiety in thrust, the stories end up abruptly ination. concluded that the seemingly pro - Ashrafia consciousness to confront leading the Ashrafia reader (for Hence, it is evident that while gressive narratives framed in theo-po - casteism, yet, at the empirical level, whose consumption they primarily the ‘Progressives’ in their writings litical idiom may offer to the it facilitates the Ashrafia(but also write) to pity the Dalits and sympa - and the ruling Ashrafia elite in their oppressed no more than token sym - Savarna) elite to appropriate heroes, thize with them, while leaving Dalits political acts apparently assume a pathy, compassion, self-pity, and histories, events, and spaces of Dal - in a state of self-pity. The occasional critical posture towards religious sup - false pride in history turned into a leg - its, and invokes token sympathy and appearances of Dalit men and women pression, casteism,and/or Sayedism, end. Instead, they allow the appropri - compassion for the Dalits and in Progressive narratives rather prove they are largely apologetic in their ation of spaces and events of the women. Hence, the Progressive the periheralityof Dalits in Ashrafia- tenor, and do not show any commit - oppressed, and the objectification of Ashrafia reader and the activist, in - dominated spaces, and rather furnish ment to the annihilation of casteism oppressed bodies by the oppressor. URGENT CARE CLINIC DR. TAKHAR’S FAMILY MEDICINE & URGENT CARE CLINIC 8191 Timberlake Way, Suite # 400, Sacramento, CA 95823 Phone: 916-688-8888 Fax: 916-688-8837 Clinic Hours: Monday to Friday 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, Saturday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM & Sunday closed Dr. Paramjit S Takhar, MD We speak your language: Panjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Farsi, Arabic and Spanish Goodie Takhar, PhD www.ambedkartimes.com V0l-13 12 Issue- 4 www.deshdoaba.com April 7, 2021 Sri Guru Ravidass Sabha Pittsburg organized a health camp for Vaccination Sri Guru Ravidass Sabha organized a health maintaining social distance, set up and di - We look forward to more health camp for Vaccination on last Saturday, recting traffic. They made sure that every - camps and community service programs by 4/3/21 at 10AM Volunteers from Contra one was wearing a mask and provided the committee of Sri Guru Ravidass Temple. Costa County Health Services administered masks to people who came without one. We are thankful to all the volunteers the Janssen vaccine to 350 Gurghar mem - Sangat was served tea and snacks for their help. bers and other community members. Some after vaccination. Ramesh Summan people came from Fremont, San Jose and This was a great community serv - Former President & Chairman Sunnyvale. Janssen vaccine requires only ice (SEWA )by the Gurughar committee Sri Guru Ravidass Sabha Pittsburgh (CA) one dose. Committee members helped with members and other volunteers.

Congratulatory Message It is matter of gratification to note that the esteemed mouth piece of the weaker sections of the society, The Ambedkar Times has entered its 13th year of publishing last week on Mach 13, 2021. I take this opportunity to congratulate its Editor-in-Chief Prem K. Chumber and fondly remember its founder and motivator Late C.L. Chumber on the occasion and wish it further success and prosperity in the service of the community and the society at large. I am confident that the “Ambedkar Times” will continue to provide due space and priority to the issues of the marginalized sections of the society to realize the mission of Babasaheb Ambedkar, Babu Mangu Ram Mugowalia and Manyawar Kanshi Ramesh Chander Ram in the years to come to whom the paper is dedicated. Ambassador - I.F.S. (Retired) (Ramesh Chander) 91-99885-10940