“we need books” is the answer. The question is ‘what can be done to improve the situation of Dalits in rural Maharashtra.’

Gyaneshwar Suryavanshi tells me that students from Dalit backgrounds who have graduated high school (12th) or even graduation with high marks find it next to impossible to go on to higher education. They cannot afford to purchase Rs.150 to Rs.250 (US$ 3.5 to US$4.5) books that are required to pursue higher education.

I met Arjun – a law student – who had stalled his education at the university. He earns around Rs.500 to Rs.750 per month (US$ 11 to US$ 16) and the cost of books are too exhorbitent to be conisdered.

In Ahmedpur, where 10th standard students have been topping the board every year for the last few years, there is an ironical quandry. Local kids – especially for those of Dalit backgrounds – cannot get admission to local schools, because paying parents have arrived from across Maharashtra, to admit their kids in Ahmedpur Schoos – for a shot at the no.1 position.

We met a couple of girls who could not finish their 10th standard. The reason the school wanted Rs.2000/- (US$55) as her admission fee. The name of the school Mahatma Gandhi Vidhyalaya.

Where wages are low and employment not regular, where survival is the priority and books a luxary – the sheer poverty ensures that one more generation of Dalit children do not escape the cycle of oppression.

At the end of the first day, Amit wanted a Gun – prefrebly one that did not run out of bullets. At the end of the first day i began understanding what the Naxalites are talking about. And even if i don’t agree with their tactics, i can see the desperation that led them to such a step.

We have decided to start a pool and collect money for books- 6 of us – our own private cess on education for a few months – and maybe we will have the start of a library.