RELIGION AND CASTE
| Religion |
A RELIGION is a belief in and reverence for a supernatural power accepted as the creator and governor of the universe and having a certain organization and tradition in worshipping such Supreme Being.
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| Caste |
A CASTE is a closed group whose members preferred a particular occupation and a degree of social participation. Marriage outside the caste is prohibited. A specialized labor group may operate as a caste within a society otherwise free of such distinctions (e.g., the ironsmiths in parts of Africa). |
| Tribe |
A TRIBE is a social group bound by common ancestry and ties of consanguinity and affinity; a common language and territory; and characterized by a political and economic organization intermediate between small, family-based bands, and larger chiefdoms. |
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About the physical features referred to by the author, it should be noted that Hindus of Nepal (a Hindu country) and some northeast States do have features similar to subjects of countries such as Japan, China, Korea, etc. They are freely admitted to Hindu temples. Therefore, the colour of the skin or even appearance is not considered a reason for barring entry and to consider Hinduism `racist' on that account is absurd. And to what nationality and country did Sister Nivedita, disciple of Swami Vivekananda or did the Mother of the Sree Aurobindo Ashram belong? David Frawley is a living example who has even adopted the name of Vamadeva Shastri. They were very much practising Hindus. Similarly there are many Hindus in countries such as Thailand and Bali who are not Indians. Where then does the question of racism or ethnicity come while considering their faith? Ethnicity or race has nothing to do with Hinduism as a religion. A significant percentage of the non-Hindus of this country are converts to other religions from among the Hindus. The Muslims, the Christians, Buddists, Jains and the Sikhs have a common ancestry, namely, the Hindus and they are very much Indian. So, again, how does the question of racism apply to religious faith? |
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That Dalits as a significant proportion of the Indian population had been an oppressed class for thousands of years due to a hierarchical caste structure in which they are placed at the lowest level is a most unfortunate feature of the Indian state. Attempts had been mounted in the past and even at present to eradicate this evil. In the caste structure, birth determines the caste and that is being cited to justify calling casteism as racism. It is significant that the World Conference against Racism held in Durban, South Africa, in August-September 2001 had refused to consider the caste system as a form of racism though many individuals and NGOs had forcefully argued to consider it as such. The campaign by them had even taken the very diabolic form of considering some parts of this country as `Occupied territory' (report in The Hindu, September 7, 2001). Birth being considered as basis to determine caste is due to the fact that conversion from one caste to another is not in existence |
Casteism in South Asia |
Nearly a quarter of a billion people born and die as untouchables in Hindu-dominated South Asia, most of them in India and Nepal. Although abolished by law, in practice Hindus continue to observe caste restrictions. For a traditional Hindu of the upper castes, untouchables or Dalits, are not Hindus since they pollute everything they touch. Most Dalits live out their lives in terrible poverty and humiliation. Many toil the land as bonded laborers in the rural areas, or migrate to the cities to work as day-laborers, sweep the floors and streets, scavenger, panhandle, wash the latrines, even haul away buckets of human excrement, or perform sex work. Moreover, caste-based violence, including the rape of low-caste women, is endemic. All over India, the lynching, beheading, and burning of Dalits and Christians is on the rise. These violations of basic human rights are not seriously investigated by caste Hindu authorities.
Without question, caste is the curse of Hinduism, and it has humiliated millions through the ages. Caste is Hinduism's sorrow, the apartheid that makes Hindus hang their heads in shame. Caste serves as the prime reason for conversions even today. Purity is the pivot on which the entire caste system turns. Rank, social position, economic condition may all influence caste, however it remains strong and rigid because the ideas of the people regarding purity and pollution are rigid. (Ketkar 1909:121-2). The idea of relative purity and consequent social inequality underlies the cultural rules, from marriage and death, to eating and drinking together. Even Swami Vivekananda called Kerala a "lunatic asylum" for its bizarre caste-separation rules (which were later ameliorated). |
| Caste in USA |
The nature of caste relations in Europe and North America is similar to that of South Asian passenger communities in other parts of the diaspora, in the persistence of caste and caste-based organizations. There are many caste-based groups in the USA, including the Brahmin Society of America, Rajput Association of America, Patidar Samaj and other Jat associations, each with local affiliations throughout the United States. For example, the Kerala-based Sri Narayana groupÕs global convention in New Jersey attracted delegates from chapters in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, and from other states and 10 foreign countries. Incredibly, the enormous amount of funding provided to caste, political and religious groups in South Asia by caste based groups in the "modernized" USA, is leading to an increase in religious fundamentalism and casteism in South Asia itself. |
| Caste in differnet way |
It is necessary to take a comparative look at the divisions in Hindu and other religious societies. The Christian world is divided into Catholic, Protestant, Presbitarian, Methodist, as well as Anglican, Greek, Russian and other nationalist orthodox groups. In Islam, there are the two major divisions of Sunni and Shia sects besides several other minor sects like the Kurdish, Ahmadia, Bohra, etc. Likewise, every other religious society is marked by sub-division of some kind, call it caste, creed or sect, each giving a different interpretation of the respective parent religion like Christianity, Islam, etc.
What is more, tensions and civil war situations are a common feature of several Islamic and Christian nations today due to the Shia-Sunni-Kurdish sub-divisions in Islam and the Catholic-Protestant schism in Christianity. But the Hindu caste distinctions are far different from the fundamental and dangerous schisms in Islam and Christianity.
Indeed, even today, as over the past centuries, Hindus of different castes feel proud about their castes, and are never ashamed of calling themselves by the caste to which they belong. In Tamil Nadu for instance, it is most common to have and hear names such as Kandasamy Gounder, Manicka Mudaliar, Malaisami Chettiar, Periasamy Pillay, Sivasamy Iyer, Singamuthu Thevar, Saravana Nadar, Gajapathy Naicker, etc. Likewise, there are the Lingayats and Vokkaligas in Karnataka, Khammas and Reddys in Andhra, and Nairs, Namboodris and Menons in Kerala. |
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If we look back into History:
Satavahana Dynasty (221BC-218AD) supported Brahman orthodoxy. The decline of Budhism and Jainism started with the first Satavahana ruler, Simukha, a Jain initially and converted to Brahminism. Satakarni I was the champion of Vedic religion and performed Rajasuya and Ashwamedha sacrifices.
After Satavahana dynasty Andhra Pradesh was divided into several kingdoms, such as Ikshvakus, Brihatpalayanas, Anandas, Salankayanas, Pitrubhaktas, Matharas, Vasishtas etc. Ikshwaku dynasti supported Budhism. Chalukya dynasty (540-1075 AD) was a warrior tribe/caste dynasty and was Vaishnavite, but upheld tribal/caste differences and Vedic learning and supported Brahmins . Vishnuvardhana was a staunch Vaishnavite and revived Aswamedha , but his queen was a devout Jain! Later kings of the dynasty converted to Shaivism. Toward the end of the dynasty Virashaivism came to Andhra Pradesh from Karnataka. Budhism totally declined because of lack of royal support.
Kakatiya Dynasty (1000-1323 AD) was an indigenous power that sprang from the local people (the so-called vedic fourth class, the Sudras). Jainism was prominent during 11th century but was wiped out by Shaivism during this period. Reddy dynasty (1325-1424AD) was established by Kammas, Velamas, and Reddis, powerful non-Aryan tribes/castes. Vijayanagara empire (1336-1678 AD), Vijayanagaram city as capital, was ruled by four dynasties in succession:1) Sangama, 2) Saluva, 3) Tuluva, and 4) Aravidu dynasties. With the threat of Islam (an alien religion and culture), various local religions/tribes/castes came together (christened by Islamic invaders as Hindus) to fight against Islam, during this period. The Vijayanagara rulers hailed from local peasant communities and tried to perpetuate or protect the individual religious/tribal/caste identities.
Today, the society in India is categorized into four broad groups, viz., 1) Forward Communities (FC), 2) Backward Communities (BC), 3) Scheduled Castes (SC), and 4) Scheduled Tribes (ST). This system was created after independence form British rule of the Indian continent. Preferential quotas and reservations were established for BCs, SCs, and STs. The Constitution of India endorses and enforces such discrimination. This system reinforces the old caste system, while broadly categorizing them. Here again, any caste can be included into FC community if one attains a certain social stature. Similarly, if a caste proves to the government that their social and economic status is below that of FC, that caste may be either included into BC, SC, or ST, depending upon their social, economic and ethnic background. Even today, the social interactions such as marriage and festivals are influenced by caste/tribe. Inter-caste and inter-religious social intercourse is still not fully accepted. One can see the power of caste over the society clearly in politics. |
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மனதை நெருடிய கவிதை...
கழுத்தில் சிலுவை அணிந்தால் கிறிஸ்த்துவன்.
நெற்றியில் பட்டை... இட்டால் ஹிந்து.
தலையில் குல்லா அணிந்தால் இஸ்லாமியன்.
ஒருவனே கடவுள் என்றால் பக்திமான்.
கடவுள்களே இல்லையென்றால் நாத்திகன்.
இப்படி அடையாளங்களோடு வாழும் மனிதர்களே.!!!
எதனை இட்டுக் கொண்டால், அணிந்து கொண்டால்
நீங்கள் 'மனிதர்கள்' என்று அழைக்கப்படுவீர்கள் .....?
By Gopinath |
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We, as people of Fallujah, will never forgive the Americans for the terrible things they did |
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Pupils refuse Dalit-cooked meals
: 20 Dec 2011 The Telegraph
Hyderabad, Dec. 19: Several upper-caste children have allegedly refused midday meals prepared by Dalit cooks in an Andhra school, sparking fears that one of UPA’s key welfare schemes could be turning into a platform to perpetuate caste prejudices.
The authorities of the Zilla Parishad School at Sundaragiri in Karimnagar — slain Maoist leader Kishan’s home district — have alleged that the children turning down the food are being goaded by their elders, including some village heads.
“Initially, the children complained that the quality of the food was poor. Now, they have raised the bogie of Dalit women cooks,” the headmaster said on the condition of anonymity.
Food isn’t the only problem. Dalits have been banned from social ceremonies in Sundaragiri for years.
In school, the bias has shown up elsewhere, too. “Upper-caste children are reluctant to sit with Dalit students on the same desks and stand in line for prayers with them,” said another teacher.
Attempts to end the bias in the meal scheme — aimed at reducing dropouts and preventing child labour by getting kids to school — have not made any headway.
“No matter how much we tried to convince the schoolchildren, they didn’t listen to us and agree to eat. The village elders have been advocating untouchability and provoking their children,” said Pavani, the local education officer.
The team of cooks, too, expressed surprise at the attitude of the children. “We have been doing our job well. We take all precautions to ensure our children do not fall sick. We also want them to relish the food,” said A. Mallavva, who leads the team of cooks from Chaitanya, a self-help group.
On Friday, officials conducted an inquiry and ensured that all 140 of 166 students who had come to the school that day ate the meal.
“We cannot file a case because the children are minors. We cannot take action against their parents either as it is difficult to prove that they are asking their children not to have the food for caste-related reasons,” said Tirumalai, the area’s deputy superintendent of police.
Caste bias, untouchability and superstitions are not uncommon in the area, once a preserve of feudal chiefs. Such practices were believed to have been partly responsible for the rise of Naxalites in the backward districts of the Karimnagar region, leading to the exodus of landlords.
Officials said nearly a quarter of the 11,000 villages in the region are still blighted by such prejudices.
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