DH News Service
MANGALORE, March 11

Speakers from different walks of life came down heavily on the caste-ridden hierarchical structure of Indian society and its inherent exploitative nature. They called for a struggle against the injustice being meted out to the Dalits by vested interests.

Taking part in a symposium on 'communalism and society`, organised by the Binner forum in memory of late writer P Lankesh here on Saturday, politician A K Subbaiah referred to the destruction of Buddha statues in Afghanistan by the Talibans and said, ''Now, we raise a hue and cry about that event. But Buddhism itself was destroyed in India long back and we upheld such an anti- Buddhist tradition. To shed tears now is hypocritical``, he remarked.

Criticising the politics of the Sangh Parivar, Mr Subbaiah said the Hindutva is nothing but another name for Brahminical hegemony where there are no equal rights for lower castes. The Dalits should be aware of the Parivar`s designs because Hindutva does not address the cruelty of hierarchical society. Mr Subbaiah also invited the Sangh Parivar for an open debate on the issue.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Ramdas from Mysore also criticised the tendency of politicians, especially the Constitutional authorities, to fall at the feet of religious heads. ''The current President K R Narayanan is an exception who has upheld the honour of his positiion``,.

Stresssing the need for a sustained effort to create an anti-fascist wave, Prof Ramdas said the institutions of higher learning such as varsities have failed to create such an awareness and instead have become domains of crass casteist tendencies.

Both the speakers lauded the late P Lankesh for providing a fearless forum for free debate through his Lankesh Pathrike. Speaking on Mr Lankesh further, columnist Bhuvaneshwari Hegde recalled sense of humour in Lankesh. Writer Subbu Holeyar explained how Mr Lankesh lent a voice to the voiceless and oppressed sections of society.

Pathrike Editor Gowri Lankesh pointed out how her father encouraged many women writers and asserted that the tradition will continue. Journalist Mysoormath described Lankesh as an 'epoch- making writer`. Poet-politician B M Idinabba, Fr William Martis and Mr Gafoor also spoke.

Presiding over the function, Sri Veerabhadra Chennamalla Swamiji of Nidumamidi Math, described Mr Lankesh as a 'giant talent`. The Pathrike stood as support to all progressive movements in the State, he noted. But there is a need to exercise caution while criticisng others, he suggested. Mr Lankesh never became socially corrupt and hence it was possible for him to write fearlessly, the seer said.