Taking Hinduism to the host nation

[Guest guest]

Dear Colleagues (feel free to distribute)

 

We have worked hard to take Hindu teachings to the host nation. We manage to do

this through mainstream schools where we are allowed to present Hinduism to a

large number of Western youth.

All such sessions have created a very positive impact. We are now attempting to

take Hindu teachings to the mainstream population through the media.

 

This week, the 'Sunday' programme on Radio 4 (To be Broadcast Between 7.10 to

7.45am on 26th September), is examining the issue of 'Caste discrimination' in

the UK. A small group of Hindus in Coventry had shown concern about caste

discrimination operating in England, so the Radio 4 team went to interview them.

They asked us to comment on this topic to see if we would perhaps

defend the caste system.

 

We told them that to understand this issue, one has to make a clear distinction

between the

'Caste system' and 'Hereditary Caste system'.

 

The 'Caste system' is presented as follows in the scriptures of authority of the

Hindus:

In the Rig Veda X.90, we have a hymn called the Purush Sukta which says in

brief:

" Just as different parts of the body perform different tasks for the benefit of

the body,

people with different aptitudes should use their varied skills for the benefit

of the whole society. "

 

Then in the Bhagavad Gita we have verses like 18.41 & 42 which say that the

'Caste of a person is determined by the qualities that a person possesses.' For

example

a Brahmin is described as a person who is peaceful, self-disciplined,

established in truth

and leads a God centred life. In no scripture of authority is there any mention

that

caste is a 'hereditary trait'.

 

So then what is: 'Hereditary caste system?'

This system says that at birth you are either upper or lower class. Some people

are even

classed as downright 'outcastes' and that your profession is also fixed at

birth. Now anyone

familiar with the central tenet of Hinduism that proclaims 'divinity of man',

would know that

such a divisive system that treats human beings in this obnoxious manner, just

cannot

be sanctioned in Hinduism.

 

One of the unique features of Hinduism is that it continues to refresh its

teachings through

contemporary proponents of Hinduism. All of them have been scathing on the

hereditary

caste system. Hereditary Caste system is an atrocity committed in the name of

religion.

 

So to promote 'hereditary caste' as Hinduism is like promoting the 'Crusades as

Christianity'

or 'Child molestation' as Catholicism... We have fought hard with the education

system in

the UK to ensure that 'hereditary caste system' is taken off the syllabus for

GCSE. The representative of the Oxford Cambridge University board has

categorically told us that

they do not promote 'Hereditary Caste as Hinduism.

 

Some Boards like Edexcel have been slower to move but we are going to ensure

that in the

new syllabus this topic is yanked out of the syllabus. We are quite aware of

some English schools deliberately using Hereditary Caste system equated to

Hinduism in order to promote

Christianity in schools. 'Comparing the best of ours with the worst of others',

is not exactly

a clever way of promoting any religion.

 

So what happens to people from various caste backgrounds when they come to the

UK?

We said we have met up with thousands of Hindu youngster, not one of them has

been

pressurised to follow any particular profession fixed by their caste background

neither

is anyone expected to show greater reverence to youngsters from the so called

upper castes.

The caste system turns into a 'clan system'. These social groups get together,

celebrate

festivals together, may build their own temples, have a tendency to marry within

their own

groups as it is socially more compatible......there is nothing wrong with in any

of these.

There will always be social groupings but this does not come about as a

religious prescription.

I told the presenter " If you want to find hereditary caste being practised in

the UK, there is

one place where it continues to thrive with great pomp and ceremony.... it is

called the

English Monarchy.

 

We have said much more.....We just hope that some of this material is aired this

Sunday morning.

 

jay (dilip)

Vivekananda Centre London