Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on caste issue

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Stick To Your Ground

 

The article appeared in Times of India editorial

 

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on the caste issue

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1285155.cms

 

In the village adjacent to the Art of Living ashram, a garbage truck

dumps the waste of Bangalore city on

the roadside. When the village youth realised this was a major health

hazard, they decided to stop this. When the garbage truck came they

punctured its tyres, instead of sending it away.

 

The garbage had to be dumped on the roadside in order for the tyres to

be repaired. The purpose of the protest was to chase the truck away,

but it ended up achieving quite the contrary. Often, our actions do

not bring the desired goal. Instead of taking us towards the goal they

take us away from it.

 

The actions of leaders such as Kancha Illiah have done more harm than

good to the cause of Dalit upliftment. It's unfortunate for India that

they have taken the issue to the US Congress. In the name of Dalit

upliftment, they are pursuing their own personal agenda and damaging

the image of the country.

 

If they are really interested in the betterment of the Dalits, they

should work in the villages, instead of going to the US Congress. The

only solution to the problem of caste discrimination is to educate

people and make them realise that caste by birth is not sanctioned by

religion.

 

This can happen only through grass-roots social reforms, not through

foreign inter-ventions. History abounds in instances of reformist

movements to address the caste menace in society

 

Several saints such as Basavanna from Karnataka, Narayana Guru from

Kerala and Swami Dayanand Saraswati of the Arya Samaj are shining

examples of people who fought caste. Instead of highlighting such

reforms, these people are maligning Hinduism for personal gain.

 

Rather than converting people to other faiths and running away from

Hinduism, the most potent action would be to create Dalit purohits.

Brahminism as understood some decades ago doesn't exist anymore.

Today, there are innumerable instances of Brahmins serving under Dalit

bosses.

 

No doubt, there are instances of atrocities, but these are not

confined to the Dalit community alone. Often the members of upper

castes have also been victims of social conflict. There are several

instances of sadhus being attacked.

 

For instance, last year in Uttar Pradesh alone, 20 sadhus were

brutally murdered. When the human consciousness is loaded with tension

and mistrust, violence can erupt under any pretext. In the absence of

ethics and morality, there are atrocities against women and children.

 

Similarly, oppression of the poor is a global problem, not confined

just to the Dalit community. It's not just Dalits who are poor;

poverty exists among people of all castes. Caste discrimination is a

social problem and needs to be addressed through social reforms.

 

Politicising the issue and presenting a distorted picture of social

atrocities to the world community is not going to solve the problem.

It will only weaken national resolve to tackle the social menace.

 

There are thousands of committed soldiers of justice and equality,

from among upper castes and NGOs, who are working for the betterment

of Dalits. Indian Parliament and state assemblies have a large

representation of Dalits. By taking the matter to the US Congress,

these so-called community leaders are denigrating Dalit lawmakers.

 

Udit Raj and Kancha will do well to learn a few things from the US.

They have to learn about national pride and progressive attitude from

the Americans. There are three million homeless beggars in America, a

little over 1% of the population.

 

But the American media never publicises it. No blacks, native Indians

and minorities have ever asked another country to interfere in their

internal matters. Caste discrimination can be solved only through

reforms and educating people in human values, not by creating hatred

between communities.

 

For sure, a Hindu hater can never bring about the needed reform in the

Hindu society. Hatred will only polarise the society and create civil

wars. Without the whole-hearted participation of upper caste people,

Dalit empowerment will remain a dream.

 

The younger generation of upper castes cannot be held respon-sible for

the discrimination practised by people of previous generations. If a

section of society starts hating the upper castes and blaming them,

how can they participate in the empowerment of the Dalits?

 

It is time to change the strategy. Sixty years ago during Ambedkar's

time, when people were not open to change, a revolt was essential. But

today, a reform is necessary as a revolt will not work. In the process

of reform, people from all castes and communities have to be involved.

 

A reform is a social phenomenon where people from all caste and

communities will have to be motivated to join. Reform can't happen out

of anger or hatred; we need a sane mind and a loving approach.