Respected friends,
It was a quite thrilling experience to interact with delegates from this divided geopolitics as well as from USA and Europe during the Peace event in Tumkur. Our visit to rural Tumkur divided in eight zone and direct interaction from the dalit population well organised into Dalit Panchayat have enhanced our vision in Dalitology , Cosmology and Dalit Think, I believe. The concept of Bhooshakti is quite inspiring. I thank the Dalit Reds team from the innermost of my heart and I feel one amongst you provided you accommodate me! I talked to Jyothi already that we are planning to replicate the experience in north and east India. I am getting mails from North east, too. I have told you all that I often avoid to join workshops and seminars as those prove to be air-conditioned excursions only. But the experience in Tumkur was quite different from the word Go! I told you that I wanted to touch the heart of South India. Certainly I did. The beats were quite rhythmic. I felt the Reds team including Jyothi and raj, Archana, Roshni, Jobo and AMita George, the Bhoo sevikas, Bhooshakti students, rural participants, drivers and cooks always singing and dancing with full energy and lifeforce. To see the Bangladesh delegates hoisting their national flag, to hear the Srilankan Sinhali, Tamil and Tamil Muslim experience and to feel the peace attempts in different part of Asia including North east India have been memories reserved in the Ivory Towers of Human sensitivity. The topography, landscape, coastline appearance, weather and above all warmth of hospitality have been rare achievements. Group discussions, interactions, heated exchanges and individual to individual dialogues we relished most and enhanced our commitment and vision. I demand you to include this experience in the peace charter. For example I got Mr Chandra Shekhar as my room partner who shared all my thoughts awakened three full nights. In group discussions I found friends no less than John Dayal and VB Rawat. NCDHR, Bangladesh Dalit Human Rights organisation plus other orgs and NGOs and participants like Dr Manorama Ruth , a beautiful lady like Sayeeda Hameed , Bishakha Dharmadassa, Mina Devburman and so on encouraged us most. This spirit should have to be included in the charter.
Why?
Simply because Peace is an experience as I insisted during sharing, you remember! We have to escalate this experience. As you have already documented so well the concept of dalit empowerment in your books as well as in works, it should be highlighted to mobilise a worldwide Black Untouchable Resistance against Untenability, apartheid and Zionist, Hindu white supremacy well expressed in Post Modern global Manusmriti Order run by US Imperialism with full cooperation from emerging super Power Japan.While there is constant threat of War and civil War boosted by MNC Raj and Weapon industry with chemical flavour worldwide, while natural resources, indigenous people and their language, culture, society and economy are exploited on large scale, while the deployment of Nuclear War Heads continue with complete space dominance and colonisation of Moon and Mars, While Islamophobia and intense Dalit Hatred are the main elements of so called growth and sustainable development in Sensex shining India, while the Zionist Brahminacal Ruling class continue infinite persecution, marginalisation and eviction of majority Dalit, tribal and minority people in every part of the world, while political borders are quite irrelevant- we may not bank on false nationalism awhich is nothing else but naked communalism and in India it is the Brahminical Hindutva. You rightly have explained in your Dalitilogy why Dalits have no religion and no god. Hence I must emphasise on to finalise the Peace Charter with this correct Dalit perspective and surgical precision. Why should it not be.

The enslaved majority population is victimised, quite paradoxically by a polity elected by Majority Electorate system where minorities as well as Dalits and tribals have no say. We have to co relate this experience and share it with Black Brother hood as Caste System and Apartheid are the two sides of the same Hegemony coin! Since the causes of violence, strife,injustice and inequality consist of the singular worldwide global phenomenon of post modern Galaxy Manusmriti Order, we have no choice to resist this from broader liberal and democratic worldwide forum! The peace charter should clear ground for such a charter!

Remember, I quoted continuous refugee influx, persecution and opting for military solution and finally demographic rearrangement with large scale displacement.
You have quite correctly pronounced the negative role of the Government of India in south Asia. but some enlightened friends friends led by John Dayal who incidentally is a member of national Integrity council insisted to delete the criticism of Indian ruling Hegemony. While the borders have been made quite irrelevant by the Ruling World Order and the Ruling polities have nothing to do but to serve the Imperialist Interests, while we know that this nationality is only duping and the ruling classes use it as a tool of continuous enslavement, why should we hesitate to call a spade a spade after all? Policies of Ruling classes including GOI are responsible for the violence and strife in the most part of the third world countries including south Asia. What the GOI has done to stop minority persecution in Bangladesh and refugee influx across the border ? If we don`t question and avoid the objectivity of facts, we also contribute to the infinite genocides by Regemented Violence cadres crying Non violence! This peace charter must not pursue the destiny of Poona Pact glorifying Gandhi. Dalits and Minorities, Blacks and tribals need not any Gandhi, Lohia or JP, I am afraid to insist!

Remember I insisted also on misinformation campaign launched by the Ruling Hegemony with IT boost and Information explosion. unfortunately Tumkur Peace event is also victimised as the mainstream media highlighted the personal opinion of the Chief guest, a member of Planning Commision of GOI in favour of Indo US Nuke Deal. The delegates never expressed any favour to the disastrous deal. Hence the Peace Charter should include a rejoinder to contradict the misinformation camapign, too.
The charter should direct the ruling class to behave! We may not be detached with all the happenings around us ie Nepal, Bangladesh, Srilanka, Pakistan, Iran, China, Myanmar, Afganistan, Male and so on.We have to ensure discontinuation of SEZ, MNC, Chemical drive, Big Dams, continuous minority persecution, practice of Untouchability, refuggee influx and manupulation of Demography, military intervention within and outside, arms race, exploitaition of natural resources and environment and ecosytem, annihilation of indigenous production system, culture, language and society.
We may not address all these elements until and unless we are equipped with a black untouchable prespective. We must address the nationality problem and ensure the withdrawl of AFPSA in Kashmir and North East. At the same time we have to support Dalit Muslim Peasant Insurrection against ejection from life and livelihood.
I appreciate the draft and the labour and care shown. I also support the spirit. But once again I emphasise to single out the causes of injustice and inequality as without civil and human rights Peace is quite impossible. We all acknowledged that there won't be any Island of peace. It has to Worldwide and omnipresent as has been the sweet, energetic, young Girl, the programme coordinator Archana during the Peace event!
Well, I hereby submit the suggestions and reservations and the draft of the Peace charter to the General Readership to have further interactions.
Palash
Kolkata
15 the October 2007

Friends

It was wonderful having you amidst us during the Peace Event of
tumkur. Please find attached a Draf of the Charter of Peace. Send
you comments at the earliest.

Warm regards
jyothi and Raj

Let Justice Come! Let There Be Peace!

Peace Event Of Tumkur

10 – 12 October 2007

REDS, Tumkur

(This document is only a Draft. It is not a final charter. We shall wait for your suggestions till 18 October. If we do not hear from you we shall take it for granted that you are in agreement with the Charter. Your suggestions will be integrated into the document keeping in line with the spirit of the sharing we had during the Peace Event of Tumkur)

Preamble

In a world where hegemony and dominance are increasingly overpowering human realities of life Peace is becoming a rare and precious more by its absence and less by its presence. This has to be reversed to make peace become a human reality by its active presence in the living reality of the people who have every right to occupy the space that nature has generously provided. The reality of peace is constantly being disrupted by the emergence of engineered conflict in different parts of the world by forces that have a design to hold the reins of governance of nations in their hands. Such engineered disruptions of peace take place within communities of people, within nations and among nations. The whole world is put in an alarming situation of destroying its own peace and soon many communities of the world may be wiped out existence as a peaceful existence and co-existence may become impossible. Recognizing the increasing difficulties of peaceful existence 102 delegates from 19 States of India and from 4 countries outside of India assembled at the Rural Education for Development Society in Tumkur of Karnataka to celebrate peace and share the inspirational experience of establishing peace in situations where conflict are wrought by dominant forces of all hue and cry. The Celebrations and deliberations were part the National Peace Event that was held in Tumkur from 10 to 12 of October 2007. This Charter of Peace is the result of multiple endeavor not only of those who desire peace but also of all those who have worked consistently for peace either in their personal situations or in their community/national and international contexts.

Peace is Possible

This Peace Event firmly believes that despite the reality of peace becoming a rare human commodity, peace still has a chance if all lovers of peace and peacemakers come together and share their energy and commitment to spare the world of unnecessary conflict, war, systemic and structural destruction of peace. The world still has a large number of unrecognized ordinary and simple people who love peace and who believe in the possibility of peaceful co-existence despite differences or because of differences. Therefore, this Peace event makes the first and fundamental assertion that "Peace is Possible".

You Can Inspire

This Peace Event of Tumkur deeply appreciates all the simple and ordinary people of the world, especially those who have been researched and whose personal stories of Peace have been published in the book "You Can Inspire". This appreciation comes out of a recognition that these ordinary and simple people of Asia have worked in an extraordinary way for ushering in peace in their micro situation on their own. This Peace Event of Tumkur recommends that world peace is possible through such generally unrecognized rural and indigenous people of the world.

Causes of Conflict

The Peace Event of Tumkur acknowledges that the situation of extreme poverty is a major cause of conflict. The world claims to be very powerful with its modernization and weaponization. Yet it is a matter of great concern that even today there are many villages in many countries of the world that go without power and are plunged into darkness without electricity at all. The same can be said of education, health and many areas of basic needs of human communities. When people are deprived of their basic needs that have been enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the Constitutions of countries and at the same time a few people are allowed the privilege the enjoying unlimited luxuries disruption of peace becomes inevitable. This Peace Event of Tumkur asserts that such inevitable conflicts are caused by those who appropriate the right to unlimited wealth and power and not by the poor themselves as is generally attributed to them.

This Peace Event of Tumkur asserts that such gross neglect of the rights and dignity of poor, the Dalits, the Tribal people, the indigenous people and women of the world is the cause of injustice and its consequent untold misery for these sections of people. In the face of such enormous injustice conflict is not only inevitable but is often more than necessary in order to rectify the mistakes of misplaced priorities of ruling oligarchies as well as to establish justice on earth only which can bring about lasting peace for all people of the world.

Unipolar World

The Peace Event in Tumkur is aware that global governance in contemporary times is completely conditioned by the emergence of a Unipolar world constricting the possibility of a world of differences existing together with mutual respect. The world is moving more and more towards the adherence of the norms put forward by one unchallenged super power which is the United States of America. The Peace Event in Tumkur understands clearly that the emergence of a Unipolar world with its dominant strategies is not the atmosphere conducive to world peace. By its dominant discourses and strategies as well as by its crude attack on nations of the world the United States of America is constantly challenging the peace loving people of the world to take recourse to an inevitable conflict and sometimes even to violence in sheer self defense. Such unprovoked challenges will lead to destruction of peace in the absence of which humanity may be unable to exist. This Peace Event in Tumkur strongly condemns the dominant strategies of the United States and recommends that it gave up its role of being a promoter of military conflicts with weapons of mass destruction.

Nuclear Weapons

The Peace Event in Tumkur takes serious stock of the situation in India vis-à-vis world peace. The ruling classes and castes of India announce to the world that India is non-violent land of peace. While this Peace Event deeply appreciates the possible desire for peace beneath such global propaganda it recognizes a wide gap between what is professed and what is being practiced, especially by the dominant forces of India. Joining hands with the United States of America for nuclear power under the garb of development has many natural underpinnings that will not augur well for the realization of peace in the world and within India. Possession of nuclear weapons by India stands in stark contradiction to its profession of being an ambassador of peace. This Peace Event proposes to the ruling powers of India and appeals to all citizens of India to transform this country into a model of genuine non-violence and peaceful coexistence in Asia.

North East India

The Peace Event in Tumkur views with great concern the conflicting situation in almost all of the North Eastern States of India. The pace of the disruption of peace in these States is increasing at an alarming speed. The Peace Event recognizes that most of the conflicts in the North Eastern States are designed and executed by external forces that have vested interests. We also recognize that because of these external interventions for conflict the people of North East are often forced to be in conflict with the government whose agents are the bureaucracy and the armed forces. Unfortunately though, such conflicts which are forced upon the people of the North East are presented to the rest of the world as conflicts of the people of North East. This Peace Event of Tumkur recognizes that the root cause of conflict all over the world, as well as in the North East is injustice. This Peace Event asserts that gross injustice by external forces in the North Eastern region of India be removed according to the Constitution of India.

Vested Interests

The Peace Event in Tumkur recognizes the fact that there are intra and inter tribal conflicts of a less much magnitude among the different tribal communities of the North Eastern region. However, such conflicts are often engineered by vested interests that do not belong to any of the tribal communities of the region. While recommending to the Government of India to put in place appropriate conflict resolution capacity building for the people of the North East the Peace Event also strongly demands that the Government of India effectively prevent the predominant role of such engineering groups from outside as well as to remove the over-imposing presence of the military from the region. That India listens to the sound of guns is the loud message that one often hears from the military presence in the North East.

Sri Lanka

This Peace Event in Tumkur recognizes the fact that if the conflict in the North East of Sri Lanka stops there will be peace in the whole of Sri Lanka. In war torn Sri Lankan ordinary people are the ones who pay a heavy price for peace. There is also something called the war of silence. Many lives are being lost without any noise. The war of silence is not peace. Where human life is not respected it is a war of silence. We cannot win the war of silence with weapons. We can achieve peace only through negotiations. There needs to be a spirit of give and take in the negotiations for peace. Therefore, this Peace Event of Tumkur asserts that international mechanisms of peace making should be implemented with an unprecedented vehemence. The Event stresses the need for effective prevention of wars of all kinds and simultaneous conflict resolution mechanisms.

Peace with Dignity

This Peace Event of Tumkur is of the opinion that it is ordinary and simple people of the world who are the torch bearers of peace as they have a natural inclination to live in peace. The type of peace they sustain is based on mutual respect and theirs is peace with dignity. This Event asserts that in order to achieve peace with dignity there is a need to overcome the subjugated peace that is now prevailing in many parts of the world. Therefore, this Peace Event asserts the need for adequately integrating the peace culture of ordinary and simple people in many parts of the world and also equipping them with capacities for negotiating peace at the level of communities and governments.

Women Centered Peace

In this assuming of the responsibility for the restoration of world peace the Peace Event in Tumkur appeals to all women of the world to take up leadership positions. This Peace Event recognizes that women are naturally peace loving and are best equipped with capacities to spread peace and make peace possible. This Event acknowledges that often it is women and children who are the direct victims of violence that destroys peace and therefore the type of peace that they desire and establish will be the most needed one for the world.

Local Peacemakers

The Peace Event of Tumkur recognizes that external interference in conflict situations can lead to further disruption of peace among people of the region. Therefore, this Peace Event asserts the need for integrating the capacities of local peacemakers in conflict regions for the realization peace all over the world.

Distributive Justice

Dalits and Adivasis

The discrimination of Dalits, Adivasis and indigenous people by the governments in different countries is a major cause of the disruption of peace in their respective regions. Therefore, the Peace Event of Tumkur urges governments of different nations of the world to constitutionally and practically safeguard the rights and dignity of these marginalized sections of people and thus ensure lasting peace in the world. We further remind governments of nations that efforts for peace do not preclude the right to defend oneself. When discriminated people are pushed against the wall they will be left with no option but to defend themselves with limited resources.

People to People

In this context of marginalization of sections of people and the prevalence of widespread practice of untouchability and atrocity on Dalits in the South Asian region this Peace Event of Tumkur urges the people and civil society actors of India to apply unlimited pressure on the government of India to genuinely play a major role to establish lasting peace in the region based on mutual respect and dignity. Getting dominant caste dominance out is a precondition for peace. In order to apply a collective pressure in the region this Peace Event recommends a people to people exchange for peace.

People’s Participation

This Peace Event of Tumkur reminds the Government of India and all people of the world that untouchability is still being practiced predominantly in India but also in other countries of South Asia. This is bound to cause disruption of peace as it is already doing in India. While this Peace Event urges the Government of India to implement the Constitution of India in favor of the Dalit people we also urge the people of India to participate in all the peace efforts of the civil society in India. People’s participation is much necessary for peace.

Land Distribution

Land is a bone of contention, a locale of conflict. There is enough land but the Dalits do not have land. This is injustice. There cannot be peace under these circumstances of injustice. Five acres of land for each Dalit family will go a long way in bringing about economic equality in the rural areas. Therefore, this Peace Event of Tumkur urges the Government of India to make a policy decision to give five acres of land to each Dalit family in India.

Proportionate Electoral System

The Peace Event of Tumkur recognizes that another locale of conflict is the lack of adequate representation of communities of people in the Instruments and Mechanisms of national governance in many countries. Majoritarian Electoral systems that are in practice in many countries of Asia is highly problematic for peace as it effectively gives representation to a minority dominant sections of society. Therefore, this Peace Event urges the government of India to reform its present electoral system and bring about a Proportionate Electoral System as is being implemented in 24 out of 28 Western European nations.

Dalit Panchayat

Dalit Panchayat is a noble concept and method which has no parallel in many other States of India. The replicability of the Dalit Panchayat model is very good. Civil, political and economic rights as visualized by the Dalit Panchayat Movement will bring lasting peace in many micro situations as it is being witnessed in the District of Tumkur in Karnataka. One of the most important aspects of Dalit Panchayat is that it is totally participatory. Dalit Parliament can connect people of the world because it is a world forum. Therefore, this Peace Event of Tumkur recommends to all civil society actors and organizations to actively promote the model of Dalit Panchayat and Dalit Parliament in their respective engagement with the liberation and development of the poor, Dalits, Adivasis and women. This Peace Event recognizes the Dalit Panchayat Movement and Dalit Parliament as the harbingers of hope for future world peace.

Conclusion

Reds, Bhoo Shakti Kendra: Peace Convention, inauguration by Poorna Tangaraj, book release by Dr Syeda Hameed, K N Rajanna presides, Dr Gubbi Veeranna Kalamandira, Time 2.30 pm.

A three-day "Peace Event" was launched by Syeda Hameed, Planning Commission Member, here on Wednesday. It is being organised by Rural Education Development Society of Tumkur, Booshakthi Kendra of Nelehal and the Dalit Panchayati Parliament. The three-day "Peace Event", organised by Rural Education Development Society, Booshakti Kendra and Dalit Panchayati Parliament ended on Friday,12 th October.

Delegates from nineteen States in India and from Sri Lanka, Sweden and the U.S. exchanged their views on establishment of world peace at seven parallel sessions held here and at Nelehal, near here. Delegates visited several villages in the district and evinced keen interest in the working of the Dalit panchayats being formed to bring about amity between the Dalits and other sections of the people in the villages. They appreciated the peace that prevailed in these villages.

Speaking at the valedictory function of the event, President of the Booshakti Kendra, Dalit Thayi Jyoti Raj, said: "Women and children are easy targets during any violence. Lasting peace must be established in the world to ensure happy living for all."

Tumkur is one of the districts of Karnataka state, located North-west from Bangalore at a distance of 70KMs. Tumkur town, locals call it Tumakooru, is the most populous and is the chief administrative, commercial and business center of the district. It is a center for education too with TumkurUniversity, four Engineering and a Medical college. Tumkur is well connected by rail and road. Nearest airport is at Bangalore. Etymologically Tumakuru is believed to have been mutated possibly from "Tumbe uuru" due to the abundance of Tumbe huuvu a kind of flower, or Tamate Uuru due to the folk musical percussion instrument Tamate, that might have been used most here.

Tumkur is a district of Karnataka. Tumkur town is the district head quarter. Tumkur occupies an area of 10597 sq km. The total population according to 2001 census is 2,579,516.Tumkur is the headquarters of the district of the same name. It is located to the North West of Bangalore at a distance of 70Km.City is in close proximity to Bangalore and has a decadal growth of about 40% over the last few decades. This is a city surrounded by mountains and hills ,pleasant place for learning , Siddhaganga Mutt is one of the god send to poor and Orphan children for getting educated , is gate way for Karnataka ,more than 15 Districts should pass through Tumkur to reach Capital city Bangalore , this city is also famous for good tourist palces like Kaidala Temple ,Devarayana Durga, Namada Chilume, Shiva Gange, Goravanahalli MahaLakshmi Temple etc.The area of the district is 4158 m². It consists chiefly of elevated land intersected by river valleys. A range of hills rising to nearly 4000 feet crosses it from north to south, forming the watershed between the systems of the Krishna and the Kaveri. The principal streams are the Jayamangala and the Shimsha. The mineral wealth of Tumkur is considerable; iron is obtained in large quantities from the hill-sides; and excellent building-stone is quarried. The slopes of the Devaray-durga hills, a tract of 18 m²., are clothed with forests, in which large game abounds, including tigers, leopards, bears and wild hog. The annual rainfall averages 39 inches.

Demographics
As of 2001 India census[2], Tumakuru had a population of 248,592. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Tumkur has an average literacy rate of 75%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 79%, and female literacy is 70%. 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

The population in 1901 was 679,162, showing an increase of 17% in the decade. The cultivated products consist chiefly of millets, rice, pulses and oil seeds. The chief industries are the making of coarse cotton cloths, woolen blankets, ropes, watches(Hindustan Machine Tools),. WIPRO, TVSE and Karmobiles Ltd. which is merged with Rane Madras. have their industries around the town. Sri Siddaganga Mutt is situated in Kyathsandra and is governed by Dr Sri Sri Sri Shivkumar swamiji, and has more than 8000 students studying there coming from all over karnataka and of different community. It also have its own Engineering College by name Siddaganga Institute of Technology. On completion of 99 years and stepping into glorious 100th year, the Swamiji was honoured with " Karnataka Ratna" by government of Karnataka.

On the occasion of "Suvarna Karnataka", the 50th anniversary of the present Karnataka state, the formal name of the city was Tumakuru.

Another 10 cities of Suvarna Karnataka were renamed from November first marking the Kannada Rajyotsava day. The others are: Bengaluru (Bangalore), Mysuru (Mysore), Mangaluru (Mangalore), Chikmagaluru (Chikmagalur), Shivamogga (Shimoga), Belagaavi (Belgaum), Kalburgi (Gulbarga), Hubballi (Hubli), Hosapete (Hospet).

Tumkur is called the "Pensioners' Paradise" of Karnataka. The cost of living is much cheaper compared to nearby Bangalore. The city has all basic facilities like good hospitals, shopping centers and educational institutions. In fact, Tumkur can be called "Takshashila" of Karnataka, as it has educational institutions at all levels - right from schools to renowned engineering and medical colleges. With fresh vegetables at a comparatively cheaper cost, unpolluted air and good picnic spots around, Tumkur is a good place to stay for children's education and/or a retired life. There are few renowned industries in and around Tumkur, which have contributed to its working population.

Ms. Raj said it was the ordinary people who strived hard to establish peace in the world. They worked within the means of available resources and never aspired for recognition. She said, as a forerunner for the Peace Event, research was undertaken to identify persons working for world peace in Asian countries. Sixteen were chosen for the study. Sharada of Kanakuppe in Tumkur district was among them. The findings of the research group were published in the book "You Can Inspire".