The HinduR. Adhiyaman, founder-president, Adi Tamizhar Peravai, releasing Kadhavadaippu. S. Tamil Selvan, State president, Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers' Association, receiving the first copy in the city.

Dalit literature played a prominent role in the Dalit resurgence which took place in the 1990s in the State and one among the prominent writers was the former Civil Services Officer P. Sivakami.

Ms. Sivakami's poetry collection "Kadhavadaippu" was released at De Nobili Centre here on Saturday. The book was released by R.Adhiyaman, founder-president, Adi Tamizhar Peravai, and the first copy was received by S. Tamil Selvan, state president, Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers' Association.

Advocate Rajni who presided over the event said that Dalit literature played a prominent role in the Dalit political resurgence that took place in the 1990's and in that as a woman Dalit writer, Sivakami's works were very influential for the Dalit renaissance.

Mr. Adhiyaman said that Sivakami's writings dealt with feminism, Dalitism and body politics.

Her repertoire, which includes novels, short stories, non-fiction and poetry talk largely about the Dalit angst against discrimination and questions patriarchy.

Mr. Adhiyaman said that her writings brought out many subtle forms of discrimination meted against Dalits and women.

Among the Tamil Dalit women's writings, the poems which form part of this collection 'Kadhavadaippu' by Sivakami will find a unique place, said S. Tamil Selvan.

Writer, Stalin Rajangam said that Sivakami's writings had a role in drafting the 1990's Dalit resurgence.

P. Sivakami in her acceptance speech talked about how the poor were exploited by a small per cent of rich who have control over not only economic resources but also society as a whole.

The ruling classes which form this elite section have no regard for the poor and the recent increase in prices state that, even schemes like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme does not result or work towards empowering the poor but enslaving them, she opined.

Poet Sukirtharani and Writer Yaaz Chandra offered their felicitations on the poetry collection. The book was published by Uyirmai Pathipagam and is priced Rs.60.

The Hindu

Dalit organisations boycott meeting

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/karnataka/article2675451.ece

The HinduDalit leaders, who boycotted a meeting convened by the Chief Minister, talking to Home Minister R. Ashok at the Vidhana Soudha in Bangalore on Wednesday. Photo: K. Gopinathan

Representatives of Dalit organisations boycotted a meeting convened by Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda in Vidhana Soudha on Wednesday to discuss problems faced by Dalit communities in the State.

Accusing Mr. Gowda of pursuing 'divide and rule' policy, leaders of various Dalit organisations alleged that some prominent Dalit organisations had been intentionally not invited to the meeting and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Republican Party of India (RPI), which represent Dalits, had been equated with Dalit organisations.

Upset over not inviting Dalit leaders such as Lakshminarayana Nagavara, Guruprasad Keragodu, V. Nagaraj, D.G. Sagar and N. Giriyappa for meeting, they said this showed the lack of concern of the BJP Government towards Dalits.

They set December 5 as the deadline for the Government to "correct its mistakes" and convene a meeting of representatives of all Dalit organisations.

Representatives of Dalit organisations opposed to temporary shifting of B.R. Ambedkar's statue from the Vidhana Soudha premises to facilitate Namma Metro work said any attempt in this regard would result in grave consequences.

Attempts made by Mr. Gowda to assuage the feelings of Dalit leaders failed to yield results.

IBN Live

Centre for Dalit and Adivasi studies inaugurated

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/centre-for-dalit-and-adivasi-studies-inaugurated/207588-60-121.html

HYDERABAD: "Studies on Dalits and Adivasis are need of the hour as their cultural and socio-economic life will be significant in today's society," said C Damodar Rajanarasimha, deputy chief minister.

Speaking at inauguration of the Centre for Dalit and Advasi Studies & Translation at the University of Hyderabad on Wednesday, the deputy chief minister congratulated the varsity for starting such a centre and called upon more such centres in other major universities like Osmania and Andhra universities.

Rajanarasimha, who is also the minister for higher education said he is making efforts to get the National Hindi University established at Hyderabad.

"The CDAST has been established with the aim of preparing an atmosphere of national integrity and emotional binding between marginalised communities like Dalits and Adivasis with mainstream literature through translation in Hindi," said Prof. V Krishna, coordinator of CDAST. The centre will offer MPhil and PhD programmes.

Later the deputy chief minister also attended a seminar on Implementation of Reservation to SC/STs in Universities organised by the SC/ST Employees' Welfare Association. In his address he said, "Care should be taken to ensure that education reaches to all communities." He called upon Dalits and Adivasis to get their children educated, to help them in securing higher position in career.

UoH vice-chancellor Prof. Ramakrishna Ramaswamy, other faculty, staff and students were present on the occasion.

The Times Of India

Dalits, backwards must unite toensure BSP's win, says Maya

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-11-28/lucknow/30449627_1_anti-dalit- ` thakurs-power-with-absolute-majority

LUCKNOW: Recognising caste realities in UP politics, chief minister and BSP chief Mayawati on Sunday sounded the election bugle, exhorting Dalits and backwards to bury differences and join hands to bring the party back to power in 2012. She denied allegation of promoting her family and accused rivals of harbouring anti-dalit mindset.

"Even if you (Dalit and backwards) don't want to have 'roti our beti ka rishta' but the master key to socio-economic and political empowerment is political power, which can be grabbed only when Dalits and backward are united," said Mayawati while addressing a gathering of over two lakhs at a Dalit-backward convention. The message was loud and clear: though Dalits and backwards don't have social ties when it comes to sharing food, or having matrimonial ties, they must unite to vote BSP to power and ensure their uplift.

Express India

Dalit's house torched in Kanpur, four children hospitalized

http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/dalits-house-torched-in-kanpur-four-children-hospitalised/881870/

Express news service

Posted: Nov 29, 2011 at 0435 hrs IST

Lucknow A dalit's house was allegedly set on fire, leaving four of his teenaged children critically injured, in Kanpur while another dalit was allegedly burnt to death in Kannauj district, on Monday. Both incidents were reported to be fallout of the land disputes.

In Kanpur, DIG Rajesh Kumar Rai said a fire broke out in Hari Ram Gautam's house at Sidhhanath Nagar locality early this morning when three of his daughters - Maya (23) Mamta (19) and Sunita (17) - and son Babu (22) were asleep inside. Gautam's wife Elaichi Devi, who was sleeping outside the house, woke up after hearing screams of her children and raised an alarm.

The locals somehow doused the flames, but the children had suffered extensive burns by then. They were rushed to the Ursala Hospital where the doctors confirmed that Maya had suffered over 70 per cent burns and was critical. Elaichi Devi lodged a complaint with the Chakeri police station alleging that Pappu Jaiswal of the same locality had torched her house following a dispute over land.

Kanpur SP (City) East Kushahar said Gautam and Pappu, both, claimed possession over a small piece of land, but neither had legal document to prove ownership. Gautam lives separately in another house in the same locality while his wife and children were staying at his parental house.

Pappu, who was arrested, denied his involvement in the incident. The police is investigating Elaichi Devi's claim that she had seen Pappu and his associates running away after torching her house, Kushahar added.

In Kannauj district, 75-year-old Ram Kishun Kori was burnt to death after a fire broke out in his hutment in Thathia area this morning.

Kannauj Superintendent of Police (SP) Rajender Singh said Kori's nephew Ahibaran has lodged a complaint alleging that his neighbour Shiv Narain and latter's family members Akhilesh, Awadhesh and Ram Shanker set his uncle's hutment on fire when he was asleep, causing his death. The SP also said that Kori used to live alone since his wife died about 10 years ago. He had no child and his nephew used to look after him. Kori had two bighas of land and a dispute with Ahibaran over the land was pending in court.

IBN Live

Include dalits, minorities in Lokpal panel: Aruna Roy

PTI | 08:11 PM,Nov 28,2011

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/include-dalits-minorities-in-lokpal-panel-aruna-roy/917691.html

New Delhi, Nov 28 (PTI) Arguing for inclusion of dalits and minorities in Lokpal system, National Advisory Committee member Aruna Roy today said any law without provisions for these communities is invalid. Addressing a rally organised by Udit Raj-led All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations, she said, "Any Lokpal or law should not keep out the minorities. A law without provisions for minorities is an invalid law." Maintaining that corruption includes not just money- related corruption but also injustice and discrimination, she demanded that a search committee which will look for Lokpals should have members from minority community and salits. It should also have regional representation. "If the Lokpal committee has five members, two should be from the Dalit community and suppose two elected candidates have equal votes then preference should be given to the one from dalit community," Roy said. On Anna Hazare's decision to resume fasting if Jan Lokpal bill is not passed in the winter session of Parliament, she said, "We are not against Anna, we only demand reservation for all categories. In a country where people are discriminated against corruption will not go away." Raj told protesters that he agrees with Hazare on the issue of corruption. "We support his demands within the framework of the constitution, but he has not included our demands for reservation in his draft," he said. "Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal had said that they will include representatives from all communities in Lokpal but that was just a statement, it has to be included in their draft of the Jan Lokpal bill," he said. "We urge the government that Lokpal bill be passed in current Parliament session only but after addressing these genuine demands," he said.

--
.Arun Khote
On behalf of
Dalits Media Watch Team
(An initiative of "Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre-PMARC")
...................................................................
Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre- PMARC has been initiated with the support from group of senior journalists, social activists, academics and intellectuals from Dalit and civil society to advocate and facilitate Dalits issues in the mainstream media. To create proper & adequate space with the Dalit perspective in the mainstream media national/ International on Dalit issues is primary objective of the PMARC.