I agree and you have a point. Class
economic equality is one which is needed to get rid of this upper
caste sanction. Education is another. What Ambedkar did, he could do
only because he got rid of this upper caste sanction mentality through his
education. We need to learn how to make everyone an Ambedkar so that religion
can get its auto-reformation on its own without lecturing from the top. And
that will do. What Himenda is trying to do will not work becausee he is trying
to it from the top by showing models and examples. Give me education or
give me money. I will prefer eucation though.
RB
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, March 25, 2006 1:14
PM
Subject: Re: [Assam] Fw: Caste System
-and Racism, slavery reforms
Rajen-da,
If you ook closer home -in US you might see how the Christian church has
reformed in US since slave era. Then in SOuth esp the Blacks went to separate
churches and were barred from entering those attended by their masters. The
White priests quoted the Bible saying that slavery existed in Biblical era
also - and thus mainatined slavery.
Once the Blacks have become rich and powerful now all Christian priests
invite them -- seeking their donations.
>To show them what is possible, I am
planning to hold a religious ritual in Puri in the month of January
2007, to be >performed by Priests (Pujari) who do not belong to any
Brahmin or Upper caste Hindu. The Puja will also be >performed by Women
Priests (Pandita), again belonging to the so called lower caste. The
Delegation of Priests will >come from South Africa where they have broken
all the barriers right at the grass-root.
Himenda:
I can see your sincereity of
purpose. But I am afraid that the above will not serve the purpose and
simply won't work. Do you know why?
Because, the people in the
lower caste look for a Brahmin Priest. Your ideal, presented with so much
effort and sincerelty, will simply be looked down by the very lower
caste people for whom you are trying uplift.
One will have to go deeper in
Hinduism, digging the past ruthlessly, to find out why the lower caste
want the sanction of the upper castes. Otherwise all these type of reform
works are simply 'galw balw khwlakotor tal'. Just think about this, this is
happening in 2005. Lip service to uphold Hinduism simply won't
work.
Rajen
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, March 25, 2006 12:33
PM
Subject: Re: [Assam] Fw: Caste
System
Dear Rajen,
This kind of things must be stopped in two
fronts:
(1) Laws are very clear. This is a criminal
violation in Indian Penal Code. The perpetrators (the entire village
panchayat in this case) must be punished. During the
Suttee Eradication Days in 1829-1837, entire villages were deported
to kalapani for life --- that eventually stopped Suttee. Current
recurrences are very rare compared to what happened in the
1800s.
(2) Law alone cannot eradicate a social evil.
You are very correct to say that the "caste system is very much there in
the Indian blood". We must work to "Change the Mind-set" of people at the
grass-root. To show them what is possible, I am planning to hold a
religious ritual in Puri in the month of January 2007, to be
performed by Priests (Pujari) who do not belong to any Brahmin or Upper
caste Hindu. The Puja will also be performed by Women Priests (Pandita),
again belonging to the so called lower caste. The Delegation of Priests
will come from South Africa where they have broken all the barriers right
at the grass-root. The netters should be prepared to help by raising
funds to meet the expenses.
With love to everybody,
Himendra
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, March 25, 2006
10:44 AM
Subject: [Assam] Fw: Caste
System
Ramgopal:
This shows that some Hindus are not allowed
to temple and caste system is very much there in the Indian
blood.
RB
BHUBANESWAR, INDIA, December 15, 2005: Another
controversy over temple entry has hit Orissa. In Keraragard village in
Kendrapara district, four Dalit women who entered a temple were
beaten and later fined US$22.24 (a considerable sum) by the village
panchayat. Sebati Muduli, Annapurna Mahali, Jharana Jena and
Sakuntala Muduli had entered the Jagannath temple in Keraragard as a
matter of right, as only non-Hindus are barred from entering some
temples. But this invited the wrath of the priests and upper-caste
villagers. After the women were beaten, the village panchayat issued a
decree to recover $22.24 from them -- to spend on temple-purification
rituals. BJD MP Mohan Jena said, "If the women who entered the temple
are Hindus, then why should they be barred from entering the temple? The
mindset of such upper-caste people who oppose the entry of Dalits into
temples should change, otherwise the Hindu religion will crumble." The
priests, however, remained unmoved. Niranjan Panda, head priest of the
temple in Kerargard, defended the practice. "The entry of scheduled
caste people has been prohibited for many years," he said. Kendrapara SP
Pratik Mohanty said: "The district collector has ordered a probe.
Depending upon the findings, the district police will take
action."
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Umesh
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Ed.M. - International Education Policy Harvard Graduate
School of Education, Harvard University, Class of 2005
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