TM Umar Farook’s book “End of Casteism” released in Bangalore

By TCN News,

Bangalore: The book "End of Casteism", authored by TM Umar Farook got released in an event organised by Discover Islam Education Trust (DIET) on Sunday evening at Daarussalaam, Queens Road, Bangalore. The convention was well attended by both Muslims and non-Muslims.

Mr. TM Umar Farook formerly known as TM Mani was a veteran who struggled for the rights of the Dalits for a period of around 52 years. He finally learnt that, the end of casteism is through conversion to Islam. His book thus details the impact of the Islamic Brotherhood and the true peace he attained through Islam.

Mr. T.M. Umar Farook, said that the thirst is there with the Dalits, while the water is with the Muslims; hinting that the Muslims must spread Islam as a religion. He even quoted the hadeeth of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), wherein the Prophet encouraged the Muslims to free the slaves, to win Allah’s boundless rewards. He said that Dalits are almost equal to slaves and it is Islam which is capable of releasing them from this slavery.

He cited incidents where Dalit women were raped and tortured and also talked on how the Dalits were brainwashed by the politicians just to make use of them, as vote banks. Besides he quoted the historical event where Dr. BR Ambedkar burnt the ‘Manusmrithi’. He said that many who have embraced Islam from Dalit community have gone out to become great Islamic scholars. He expressed his delightfulness by proclaiming that, Islam is the only hope for equality, fraternity and brotherhood.

Addressing the convention Shaikh Ismail Oomari (Khateeb, Masjid Abu Raihaan) quoted verses from Qur'an, where in Allah says that He created the whole mankind from a single male and female; and that the best amongst mankind is the one who is God conscious. He talked on Islam's mission for spreading peace to humanity.

Mr. Gulam Muhammad, the Chairman of Vergal Publications, said that he was so impressed by the book, and that he has already translated the book into Hindi, Tamil and English. Currently he is translating the book to Kannada language.

Mr. Moodnakudu Chinnaswamy (a Poet and a convert to Buddhism) shared his brotherly relationship with the Muslim community. He emphasized on the need to translate this book into all other languages. He reminded the role of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, in encouraging the Dalits and backward classes to convert to Buddhism, Christianity and Islam. He even quoted Dr Ambedkar where he said, "I am born as a Hindu, but will not die as a Hindu".

Justice Gopalakrishnan, a convert to Islam, now known as Justice Gulam Muhammad expressed his experiences, whiles his service as a judge. He said that the Judges who worked with him were racist, and even took part in laying foundation for the temple after demolishing the Babri Masjid. He asked the Muslims to invite Dalits to Islam. He noted that, Dalits being badly oppressed needs education and encouraged the Muslim community to start schools to provide education to them.

Mr. Mohanraj (State Convenor, Dalit Sangharsha Samithi) opined that casteism has reached such an extent that it is almost impossible to eliminate it from India. He recollected the time in Indian history, where the Hindu rulers on identifying a Budhist, quite often killed them. He noted uniformity in the culture of Dalits and Muslims, when it comes to marriage, eating beef, and in having many children, citing that his father too had nine children.

He brought in to notice the fact that former Chief Minister of Karnataka, Mr. B.S. Yediyurappa at two occasions donated 160 and 130 crore Rupees to temples, whereas the money was collected as tax from the Muslims and Dalits. He restated that Political power is a must to eradicate the upper caste supremacy in India.

Mr. Arvind Raj Bodh, a neo Budhist priest had his speech on Dr. BR Ambedkar's life and mission. He noted that Ambedkar lived his life for the emancipation of Dalits and so didn't leave any wealth to his wife. He questioned the relevance of the theme ‘End of Casteism’, as at present there are divisions even among Muslims, as a result of innovations within the religion. He added that Islam being a clear path has no scope for divisions and so asked Muslims to unite, by following Islam thoroughly.