Dear Editor,

I happened to come across your website and read through the literature. The effort to help the community is laudable. Most of the societies in the name of our Guru, Guru Ravidasji Maharaj have the basic objective of propagating HIS teachings and preaching.But this objective is soon eclipsed by the innumerable objectives that are listed to be performed by the society. In the process both main objectives remain unfulfilled. We talk of removal of poverty, caste, dowry etc. These are a part and parcel of society at large. Why remove casteism? This is the only way you are identified as a separate sect. It is a show of strength and unity. If you remove caste you become a 'nothing'. Our community has already been divided into Ravidasia, Ad dharmis, Ramdasias, balmikis, chamars. We have embraced Hinduism, Sikhism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism etc. The result is that we are fighting one another despite the fact that we are untouchables of socially and economically deprived community. Where other caste people are proud of their birth we try to hide our identity thereby exhibiting a sign of weakness and weak people are always exploited. This is the true fact. Too many societies though with a good cause we tend to wander away from our objective. Religion and social work though intimately connected should remain separate entities so that one does not lose sight of the objective. Societies are formed for good cause with a lot of enthusiasm and fanfare only to be followed by groupism and individual popularity. I don't mean to point at any individual or society but we have to come to term with reality. First create a unity/identity and once done that then form the objectives and act. The need of the hour is for all societies/foundations etc in the name of our religious/other leaders to come under a common umbrella, pool the resources and then finance the developmental works for the betterment of the community. After so many years of independence our community has prospered about 5% only. We are aware that the upper caste people procure SC Certificates and enjoy the benefits in education and employment at our cost. The recent case of Delhi University admissions is a clear cut case where other caste people have secured admissions through fake SC Certificates. While in Canada I had mooted such a plan of commonality but before it could even reach the discussion stage someone had already announced one such formation. I am involved with a number of organizations but there also the senior officers who though attached to the society hardly take part and the workload is left to the lower strata of employees who happen to be sincere in their efforts. I thus feel that we relook at our aims and objectives and strive for a strong and effective SC Community. If the community is strong all will fall in place.
Wish you the best in your endevour.
Regards
Dr. S.K.Bali