Dalit Students' Union (DSU), University of Hyderabad

i got forwarded message from friends saying ' that Dr. B.R. Ambedtkar has been recognized as first talented person out of 100 talented peoples' list prepared by Cambridge University. U.K. plz find the conformity of the news. n lets celebrate the honour

hi friends our unity is must for our sucess

the full volume where Sraddha's article appeared; lots on beef / vegetarianism in India here.
South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies
www.informaworld.com

A somewhat dated article on the food hierarchy in India- maybe of interest
SSRN-Glory to the Cow: Cultural Difference and Social Justice in the Food Hierarchy in India by Shra
papers.ssrn.com
SSRN-Glory to the Cow

Cow in contemporary political chessboard | TwoCircles.net
www.twocircles.net
Arts/CultureDalitEconomyFeaturesHealthIndiaIndian MuslimInternationalLiteratureMuslim WorldScience/TechnologySportsTerrorismWomen


Beef Eating: Strangulating History
www.countercurrents.org
While one must respect the sentiments of those who worship cow and regard her as their mother, to take offence to the objective study of history just because the facts don't suit their

DEAR BROTHERS,
As I have come across several rituals of Madiga Community People, eatling BEEF is a HOLY RITUAL and it is also a TRADITIONAL CUSTOM of MADIGAS, so you are doing a very great job by observing all these programmes. Please kindly think of other COMMUNITY PEOPLE who are living in other states and you are requested to start a separate matrimonial web site for madiga community people of entire nation.

Dear Brothers,
I am one of your relative from Mysore. Please kindly turn your attention to Karnataka because there are large numbers of people of your community will come to your notice.

http://unbrokensilences.blogspot.com/search?q=
This is the Blog, which can give some information about Santhil Kumars death in the University of Hyderabad.

Dalitha Vandanaalu for all those involved in creating and maintaining this site of DSU.

I am happy to note that Beef stall has been put up at Sukoon though I feel beef should be served in hostel mess as well.

Would it be possible to change the banner image of this site to some thing which stands for dalit culture.

Untouchability: Tackling the invisible

A survey in 565 villages across 11 states reveals that in 73% of villages, dalits cannot enter non-dalit homes, and in 33% of villages non-dalit health workers will not visit dalit homes. Clearly, independent India’s efforts to eradicate untouchability have not substantially shaken core beliefs

This list was long and by itself gives an indication of the extent of untouchability practices. Among the list of sites/forms of untouchability to be observed was:

entry into some or all parts of the house of an upper-caste person

crossing the threshold of a temple

walking up to the counter of a shop

accessing water from a public source

physical contact while giving and receiving things and money in a shop

taking measurements for stitching

working in the fields with non-dalits

physical contact while receiving wages

using umbrellas, cycles, chappals on public roads

taking out marriage and funeral processions on public roads

using new, clean or bright clothes

eating with non-dalits

wearing sunglasses, smoking in front on non-dalits

using the services of a non-dalit carpenter

entering panchayat buildings

using water facility in schools

visiting doctors

entering police stations

sitting in self-help group meetings


Dalits and non-dalits do not stand in the same line to fill water.

Dalits and non-dalits use separate pulleys to draw water from a well.

Dalits cannot dip their pots in a well or pond when a non-dalit is drawing water; dalits can draw water only when non-dalits have finished drawing water.

Here are the major findings:

In 73% of villages, dalits cannot enter non-dalit homes.

In 70% of villages, dalits cannot eat with non-dalits.

In 64% of villages, dalits cannot enter common temples.

In 53% of villages dalit women suffer ill-treatment by non-dalit women.

More on
http://www.infochangeindia.org/bookandreportsst114

Dear Friends,

First of all my hearty congratulations for the web initiative. This is an excellent idea. This site helps us to know the activities of the DSU in the Campus. I especially enjoyed listening to Mr. Krupakar Madiga's speech, delivered on the occasion of Prof. Muttaish's book review session. I urge the organisers to upload other speeches as well, particularly Dr. K Y Ratnam and Prof. Muttaiah's speeches. From Mr. Suresh's introduction, it was understood that Mr. E. Krishna Rao came up with new arguments. Keeping this in mind, I also request our DSU friends to write a kind of small report of the book review session, especially of the arguments that came up against the categorisation.

I was quite disturbed when Krupakar mentioned about 'not mentioning about Madigas' in their writings by the Mala writers. Although we should criticize the double-standards (propagating Mala culture, history or present as the Dalit culture, Dalit history or Dalit present), we should not confine ourselves to mere criticism. In our community we have renowned scholars, such as Prof. Yandluri Sudhakar, Dr. Venkateswara Rao Dalra and many others. We do not have rely upon other writers to represent ourselves, i.e., we can represent ourselves. Of course, this does not mean that others (people from other castes or countries) should not write about Madigas. What I am trying to say is that let's move ahead and let's write.

From Krupakar's speech it is understood that the question of categorisation has a political dimension -that despite rendering support to the categorisation there is a fear among all the political parties in the state; that once the categorisation is realized, there is a possibility for the emergence of the BSP as a strong political front of the 'Dalits' in the state political arena. BSP's emergence means weakening of the present political players - that way they all will surely join hands to drag the categorisation issue as long as possible. Such a strategy is not merely halts the progress of the Madigas, but also other Dalit castes, including Malas. Both Madigas and Malas (and of course other Dalits and marginalised sections) should understand these political strategies of the ruling castes and classes. And our long-term goal should be not to remain at the receiving end, but at the giving end. For that we need to become rulers. Thus, our immediate step is not to fight for categorisation but for the political power - the master key.

I am extremely happy that DSU has been taking up important issues pertaining to Madigas and Dalits (for instance, beef stall in sukoon) and general students. I wish you all the very best for the DSU members and organisers.

Sambaiah Gundimeda.

It is good work for dalit students
http://vrdarla.blogspot.com