Remove Manu statue from Rajasthan HC: 600 Dalit activists write to Sonia Gandhi

Counterview Desk
A letter by well-known Dalit rights leader Macwan Macwan, signed by over 600 concerned citizens, including scholars, writers, teachers, activists and journalists, has asked Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s intervention to remove the statue of Manu from the Rajasthan High Court premises.
Insisting that should be done before December 25, 2020, anniversary of the historic day when Dalit icon Dr BR Ambedkar burned copies of Manu Smriti, the letter says, the statue, installed by non-state actors, is a shame for India and Rajasthan in particular.
It adds, “The statue of Manu is also an insult to Indian Constitution as well as Dalits, women and all those who believe in equality and justice. The statue weakens the call of Dr Ambedkar to annihilate caste for India to grow as a nation.”

Text:

We are writing this letter because we believe that as the President of the Indian National Congress which has the Government in power in Rajasthan, you have the required power to take a step which would prove historic in the strengthening the Dalit movement for equality.
We are asking you to act on something which directly attacks the Indian Constitutional values, the very humanity and which promotes the caste ideology rendering Dalits, women and the poor (referred as shudra) as impure. This caste ideology is the sole reason for continuing and increasing violence on Dalits and women. It is the duty of every Government to ensure that the values enshrined in the constitution are nurtured and protected.
In 2020, we will be celebrating 73 years of Independence, as freedom from the slavery of the British.
In 2020 we will be also celebrating 70 years of the Indian Constitution which liberated India from the slavery of the caste system and untouchability.
In 2020 we will be also celebrating 93 years of marking the day, December, 25, 1927; when Dr BR Ambedkar had burnt Manu Smriti, a code/law which justified and upheld impurity of status for Dalits and Women. The resolution to burn Manu Smriti was moved by Sahastrabuddhe, a Hindu Brahmin.
You would agree that the presence of Manu’s statue erected by non-state actors standing tall in 2020 in the premises of Rajasthan High Court is a shame for India and Rajasthan in particular. The statue of Manu is also an insult to Indian Constitution as well as Dalits, women and all those who believe in equality and justice. The statue weakens the call of Dr Ambedkar to annihilate Caste for India to grow as a nation.
Moreover, the law of Manu stands in total contradiction to what the Indian Constitution has committed itself to – while the latter upholds equality and fraternity, social justice and freedom, the former indulges in archaic teaching about inequality and social segregation, hierarchy and division, injustice and servitude. That this country has tolerated this contradiction for post-Independence 73 years is testimony to our failure to live by the invaluable heritage of the Constitution bequeathed to us by Dr Ambedkar and the Constitution-makers.

Sheela Pawar, Kantabai Ahire who sprayed black ink on Manu statue in 2018

Your party, Indian National Congress, is dedicated to the values of secularism, democracy and removal of untouchability. Along with bitterness of the Poona pact that engaged Gandhiji as the head of Congress and Dr Ambedkar on the issue of separate electorate for Dalits, the two great men along with all important figures of our national independence movement had one thing in common: reject in totality the practice of untouchability.

The two great men, Ambedkar and Gandhiji, had one thing in common: Rejection in totality the practice of untouchability

Presence of statue of Manu in a public place amounts to justification and glorification of the varnavyavastha (caste system). While we hoist the national flag twice in a year to remind ourselves of ills of slavery and the Constitution that guarantee the citizens their dignity, the statue of Manu stands in public unmoved each day.
The presence of the statue of Manu, in public place is an insult to the Indian Constitution, because the State Government of that time and the Rajasthan High Court allowed its construction and installation on March 3, 1989 after 42 years of Independence.
This was despite a full bench resolution of Rajasthan High Court not to allow the same, the appeal for stay on removal of the statue was admitted by a single judge bench and the Rajasthan high Court has not been able to resolve the matter arising out of the injunction against removal of the statue for 31 years.
This open letter is to request you and Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot to take measures to ensure that the Statue of Manu is removed from the Public place in Rajasthan. We request you to do the following:

Pass a resolution in Indian National Congress and direct such resolution to be passed by the Rajasthan Congress Committee before 15th August 2020 to remove Statue of Manu from the Rajasthan High Court premises before 25th December 2020.
Pass a resolution in the Rajasthan Assembly to explore all constitutional means to remove the Manu statue before December 25, 2020.
Rajasthan government should move Rajasthan High Court before August 15, 2020 for an early hearing to vacate the stay order on removing the Manu statue.
Withdraws criminal case filed against Sheela Pawar and Kantabai Ahire who expressed their protest against the statue of Manu.

We expect a response from the Indian National Congress by August 15, 2020.
Through this open letter, we are collecting the signatures of people from all strata of society who are wedded to the values enshrined in Indian Constitution to join the campaign. We will also be urging all the political parties to support, removal of the MANU statue from Rajasthan High Court premises.
---
Copies of the letter sent to Ashok Gehlot, chief minster, Rajasthan, and Dr. CP. Joshi, speaker; Rajasthan Assembly. Click here for list of signatories

Comments

Sudhakar Sardar said…

It must be done by the present Congress state govt at least to show Congress is different from RSS and its cohorts including BJP

July 31, 2020

Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan raises concerns over Jharkhand Adivasis' plight in Assam, BJP policies

By Our Representative The Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan (Save Democracy Campaign) has issued a pressing call to protect Adivasi rights in Jharkhand, highlighting serious concerns over the treatment of Jharkhandi Adivasis in Assam. During a press conference in Ranchi on November 9, representatives from Assam, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh criticized the current approach of BJP-led governments in these states, arguing it has exacerbated Adivasi struggles for rights, land, and cultural preservation.

Promoting love or instilling hate and fear: Why is RSS seeking a meeting with Rahul Gandhi?

By Ram Puniyani* India's anti-colonial struggle was marked by a diverse range of social movements, one of the most significant being Hindu-Muslim unity and the emergence of a unified Indian identity among people of all religions. The nationalist, anti-colonial movement championed this unity, best embodied by Mahatma Gandhi, who ultimately gave his life for this cause. Gandhi once wrote, “The union that we want is not a patched-up thing but a union of hearts... Swaraj (self-rule) for India must be an impossible dream without an indissoluble union between the Hindus and Muslims of India. It must not be a mere truce... It must be a partnership between equals, each respecting the religion of the other.”

Right-arm fast bowler who helped West Indies shape arguably greatest Test team in cricket history

By Harsh Thakor* Malcolm Marshall redefined what it meant to be a right-arm fast bowler, challenging the traditional laws of biomechanics with his unique skill. As we remember his 25th death anniversary on November 4th, we reflect on the legacy he left behind after his untimely death from colon cancer. For a significant part of his career, Marshall was considered one of the fastest and most formidable bowlers in the world, helping to shape the West Indies into arguably the greatest Test team in cricket history.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Andhra team joins Gandhians to protest against 'bulldozer action' in Varanasi

By Rosamma Thomas* November 1 marked the 52nd day of the 100-day relay fast at the satyagraha site of Rajghat in Varanasi, seeking the restoration of the 12 acres of land to the Sarva Seva Sangh, the Gandhian organization that was evicted from the banks of the river. Twelve buildings were demolished as the site was abruptly taken over by the government after “bulldozer” action in August 2023, even as the matter was pending in court.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual.

Will Left victory in Sri Lanka deliver economic sovereignty plan, go beyond 'tired' IMF agenda?

By Atul Chandra, Vijay Prashad* On September 22, 2024, the Sri Lankan election authority announced that Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) alliance won the presidential election. Dissanayake, who has been the leader of the left-wing JVP since 2014, defeated 37 other candidates, including the incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe of the United National Party (UNP) and his closest challenger Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.

Will Bangladesh go Egypt way, where military ruler is in power for a decade?

By Vijay Prashad* The day after former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka, I was on the phone with a friend who had spent some time on the streets that day. He told me about the atmosphere in Dhaka, how people with little previous political experience had joined in the large protests alongside the students—who seemed to be leading the agitation. I asked him about the political infrastructure of the students and about their political orientation. He said that the protests seemed well-organized and that the students had escalated their demands from an end to certain quotas for government jobs to an end to the government of Sheikh Hasina. Even hours before she left the country, it did not seem that this would be the outcome.

Green Revolution’s reliance on chemical fertilizers, pesticides contributing to Punjab's health crisis

By Bharat Dogra, Jagmohan Singh* Punjab was once synonymous with robust health, particularly in its rural areas, where farmers were known for their strength and vitality. However, in recent years, reports from these villages tell a different story, with rising cases of serious health issues, including cancer. What led to this decline? The answer lies largely in the erosion of good nutrition, once a hallmark of Punjabi village life. The health of a population is closely tied to its nutrition, and Punjab's reputation as a provider of high-quality nutrition has suffered greatly. The loss of biodiversity in agriculture has led to a decrease in the variety and quality of crops, resulting in poorer nutrition. Pulses, a key source of protein, have seen a steep decline in cultivation due to the disruption of traditional farming practices by the Green Revolution. This has had a detrimental effect on both soil and human health. Although pulses are still available in the market, they are exp

A Marxist intellectual who dwelt into complex areas of the Indian socio-political landscape

By Harsh Thakor* Professor Manoranjan Mohanty has been a dedicated advocate for human rights over five decades. His work as a scholar and activist has supported revolutionary democratic movements, navigating complex areas of the Indian socio-political landscape. His balanced, non-partisan approach to human rights and social justice has made his books essential resources for advocates of democracy.

Search This Blog