In yesterday's newspaper (25.05.2017) there were reports that in a village in Tumukur district a three day traditional village festival which is being conducted since ages was stopped abruptly in the beginning itself because dalit families entered the temple to offer Pooja to the diety. What is wrong in it?
Untouchability is in practice in this village. Dalits should not enter the temple to offer Pooja. They have to offer Pooja from outside of the temple. The flowers brought by the Dalits are not accepted. They have to buy flowers from the temple to offer to Pooja. Fruits and the coconut brought by them is washed before offering for Pooja. They are not supposed to offer Aarati for the diety. Even though the procession of the diety passes through the dalit colony, it never stops there to enable them perform pooja. Incensed by this practice of untouchability a few educated dalits entered the temple defying the embargo. And the villagers thought the temple was desecreted by the entry of the dalits and they stopped the three day village festival in the beginning itself.
In another village in Karnataka a similar incident happened a few days ago. A marriage was fixed in a dalit family. On the day of marriage the entire village was closed down. What is the meaning of closed down? The entire villagers left the village for the day locking down their houses, closing even hotels and tea shops. Their grouse was lot of dalits enter the village for marriage and the village gets desecrated.
And Yeddiyurappa a few days back made big news by visiting the house of a dalit and do the drama of having food in the house in the company of Shobha Karandlaje under the glare of clicking cameras. The food was brought from outside is the subject for discussion is another matter. Even H. D. Kumaraswamy has resorted to this kind of cheap and low publicity gimmicks in the past. Even Rahul Gandhi for that matter is not far behind.
The irony is when these two incidents of practice of untouchability is being practiced in the state and has hit the headlines of newspapers and TV, the leaders who enacted the drama of having food in a dalit's house are conspicuous by their silence. They never made a statement condemning this obnoxious practice. They never uttered a word.
Is it not hypocrisy? Is it not dichotomy? Is it not deceit? According to me it is a fraud. It is a fraud on the psyche of the poor and the gullible dalit community. It is commodification of the community for vote bank purposes. They should realize that nobody's hearts are warmed up by these kind of cheap histrionics.
I appeal to all the saner people in the upper caste bracket to oppose, condemn and criticise the practice of untouchability. It is required to keep a harmonious and healthy society. Only peace can foster progress. Strife, ill will and mistrust will only vitiate the communal harmony. There is an urgent need for this because then only the movement against the practice of untouchability gets some meaning. The affected class (Dalits) fighting untouchability is age old and it is nobody
's problem and will never receive the attention and importance in this caste-ridden society.
And one word for dalits. You have forgotten Dr. Ambedkar and therefore this kind of misery.
K.N.Krishnan. 9449612446
Yes true we are involved in such unproductive acts for which our netas are also contributing instead of true development
ReplyDeleteThanks Kumar sir.
ReplyDeleteUntouchability has become the Scourge of Hindu Society. Though Matthadhipatis have formally declared that Untouchability has no place in the Hindu Scriptures, the practice continues in several rural pockets. It is the most heinous practice on a psychological level.
ReplyDeleteStrangely, there is hypocrisy and dichotomy in the practice of untouchability itself. Some so-called Upper Castes sexually exploit Dalit women on the strength of economic stranglehold. Where is untouchability then?
Truly speaking, treating every human being, in fact, every living being, as a venerable creation of God is Spirituality.
The greatest ignoramuses are those who believe the Human Form is the greatest creation of God, but, at the same time, will worship/respect the Cow and insult a Human Being. I too venerate the Cow, for being so gentle and useful to mankind, but, all said and done, a Cow is an animal and a Dalit is a Human Being!
Bangladesh area became Muslim majority when the Dalits realized that Bhadralok Bengalis were giving respect to those who had converted to Islam while being dismissive towards Dalits who were actually part of Hindu Society. And, later, they turned their ire on the Bhadralok Bengalis.
As far as politicians are concerned, well, they will be politicians only. Actually, we need Statesmen, not politicians. Even, so-called Dalit leaders believe in confrontation rather than reconciliation.
But, wait, there is a silver lining. Our youth, particularly in urban areas, are out of this rut and do not hesitate to even get into inter-caste marriages, including with those belonging to Dalit families. And, more and more parents are accepting it. And, practices continued over centuries will naturally take some decades to go out of our system. And we must all work patiently and perseveringly towards it.
Have many more thoughts on this subject but must stop now.
Hoping for a United Strong Bharat in the near future.
E.Raveendra
Untouchability has become the Scourge of Hindu Society. Though Matthadhipatis have formally declared that Untouchability has no place in the Hindu Scriptures, the practice continues in several rural pockets. It is the most heinous practice on a psychological level.
ReplyDeleteStrangely, there is hypocrisy and dichotomy in the practice of untouchability itself. Some so-called Upper Castes sexually exploit Dalit women on the strength of economic stranglehold. Where is untouchability then?
Truly speaking, treating every human being, in fact, every living being, as a venerable creation of God is Spirituality.
The greatest ignoramuses are those who believe the Human Form is the greatest creation of God, but, at the same time, will worship/respect the Cow and insult a Human Being. I too venerate the Cow, for being so gentle and useful to mankind, but, all said and done, a Cow is an animal and a Dalit is a Human Being!
Bangladesh area became Muslim majority when the Dalits realized that Bhadralok Bengalis were giving respect to those who had converted to Islam while being dismissive towards Dalits who were actually part of Hindu Society. And, later, they turned their ire on the Bhadralok Bengalis.
As far as politicians are concerned, well, they will be politicians only. Actually, we need Statesmen, not politicians. Even, so-called Dalit leaders believe in confrontation rather than reconciliation.
But, wait, there is a silver lining. Our youth, particularly in urban areas, are out of this rut and do not hesitate to even get into inter-caste marriages, including with those belonging to Dalit families. And, more and more parents are accepting it. And, practices continued over centuries will naturally take some decades to go out of our system. And we must all work patiently and perseveringly towards it.
Have many more thoughts on this subject but must stop now.
Hoping for a United Strong Bharat in the near future.
E.Raveendra
Thanks Raverndra sir for that wonderful support. May your tribe increase for the good of the nation and the society. Thanks once again. It should be fought collectively. Then only some progress can be made.
ReplyDeleteI strongly codemn the practice of untouchablity. The Dalits must shun this drama of hypocritical political leaders dining in Dalit houses for photo opportunities. Free aacess for Dalits in temples must be enforced by law and violators must be prosecuted.
ReplyDeleteIt is strange but true that untouchability is more existent in rural masses. This is certainly due to opportunistic politics from all politicians who want to see a divided society to meet their selfish ends.
ReplyDeleteThanks Krishnakumar and Srikanth for your kind words of support. May your tribe increase.
ReplyDeleteThanks Krishnakumar and Srikanth for your kind words of support. May your tribe increase.
ReplyDeleteI would like to invite your attention to an incident that took place in a village of Chitradurga district few days back.
ReplyDeleteOur sitting MP from Chitradurga constituency Mr Narayanswamy was not allowed to enter the village as he belongs to SC . Nobody did nothing. No protest by any organisation including our own dalits. No condemnation by our CM or even state BJP and not even by any swamys. If it is happening to a sitting MP , better not ask about common man ...