The struggle of Dalits against discrimination and untouchability has shown to the world how tolerance can win against intolerance through a sustained movement following the ideals of ‘ahimsa’, Dalit writer Mogalli Ganesh has said.
He was here on Friday to inaugurate a two-day Dalit Yuva Sahitya Sammelana. Mr. Ganesh said that Dalits had tolerated discrimination, atrocities and killings by the upper castes for centuries.
Referring to the debate on tolerance and intolerance, Mr. Ganesh said that there were varying views among thinkers and writers on how intolerance could be tackled. Dalits fought against intolerance of the upper castes silently and bravely without getting involved in such debates.
He said that the Dalit movement and the Bandaya Sahitya had played an important and crucial role in bringing equality in society and creating awareness among Dalits on asserting their rights and fighting against discrimination.
The early Dalit writers espoused the ideals and philosophy of B.R. Ambedkar, Periyar Ramaswamy and Ram Manohar Lohia and followed the path of leftist ideologies to take up the issues of farmers and oppressed sections of society.
However, he said that the budding new writers among Dalits were taking up the cause of beef eating and other basic issues through their writings.
Mr. Ganesh said that Dalits should not get involved in the debate with right-wing groups on who committed atrocities and discrimination against them all these years and spend their energy to bring together the oppressed sections, including backward classes and minorities, under one platform to fight against the caste system.
Literary activities
Chairman of the Kannada Book Authority Banjigere Jayaprakash said that the youth should take interest in literary activities and take up writing of books on the issues concerning the society. He wanted every college to have a book lovers club.
Mr. Jayaprakash said the authority would provide financial help to these clubs to conduct literary meets by in their colleges every year.
In the first phase, the authority would provide financial assistance to 200 colleges in the State, he added.
Writer Channanna Walikar and Shivaganga Rumma of the Central University of Karnataka were present.
