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An Unqualified Apology to Every Untouchable
Dr Bhaskar Dasgupta
The untouchables of Hinduism are a wretched lot. For hundreds and thousands of years, this group of people have been forced to inhabit the bottom end of the Hindu totem pole.
While it is not at the level of genocide, it is an institutionalised social discrimination over a very long period of time. When I read a press release from a Hindu reformist group apologising to the Untouchables for the deep seated discrimination, it struck a chord in my mind and I wanted to write about it, as well as share in this apology.
For example, only recently there was a big brouhaha when a temple in India refused entry to dalits (who are also Hindu) simply because they were of a lower caste. In this day and age! I was so furious and when I complained bitterly that none of the mainstream Hindu organisations or leaders in India did anything, I was accused of patronising them. These so-called Hindu organisations are very quick off the mark when absolutely silly things go on, but when there is clear cut painfully evident confirmation that there needs to be reform, they are nowhere to be found. This is absolutely ridiculous and a clear example of intellectual incoherence at best and incompetence at worst. But I digress.
Apologies are very strange and at the same time, very human. It is extremely powerful and at the same time, looked upon with deep cynicism. It is also extremely difficult to do so, while there is nothing like this to draw the teeth out of any angst ridden situation. Just ask me, I have to apologise regularly to my sister. But this apology is one, which is valid on so many different levels and this is an apology to the untouchables of Hinduism.
The basics of this religiously mandated behaviour are well known and I will not spend too much time on going deeper into the intricacies of this. Other than saying that the idea of difference and discrimination was institutionalised despite a huge amount of debate on what this differentiation meant. On one hand, there were statements effectively saying that everybody is born the same, while on the other hand, there are statements in religious books talking about how some are born from the head and some from the foot. Irrespective of what the religious justification is, one found that there are literally thousands of groups who consider themselves different from other groups. This groupism extended to bans on intermarriage, taking meals together and even extended to group dedicated watering holes and wells.
Quite a lot of Hindu reformers ranging from Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi, Guru Rabindranath Tagore, Dayananda Saraswati, etc. kept a strong pressure on changing this religious practise, but even when India became independent, this was still present.
The then leader of the untouchables, Shri Bhimrao Ambedkar, a brilliant lawyer, even incorporated caste based reservations into the constitution, to provide them with the leg up.
As it so happens, this is something which I disagree with, because this has institutionalised discrimination and is not leading anybody anywhere towards the true equality in the eyes of the state and citizens, but that's beside the point.
Discrimination was outlawed by the Indian constitution in 1936, but little has changed for the 300-400 million people who belonged to the Untouchable Castes of India. I am also conscious of the fact that calling it 'the caste system' is dangerously simplifying it, as the actual theological aspects behind the differentiation is much more complex.
What is also beside the point is that all other religions and cultures have had the same groupism and differentiation and were trying to create a separate identity through religious or cultural factors. Whether we are talking about the Japanese way of looking at the difference between the samurai and peasants, the difference between the faithful and the dhimmi, the difference between Catholics and Protestants, the difference between white and black skin, the difference between Christian and pagan, you name it, discrimination has occurred all the time and everywhere. And yes, just because it happened in other religious, regions and cultures, it just tells me that it is pretty much human. This is, however, neither an excuse nor a reason to stop trying to rip out this disgusting practise.
But what good is an apology? We have to address the cynics in our midst as well, because I have seen this form of visceral reaction from both sides.
The side of the Hindus, who totally refuse to accept that this happened and go off into theological arguments and ignore the real life actions around discrimination. The other side are the Dalits, who would be happy to tear down the entire country to satisfy their rather strange desire for revenge. Both extremely simplistic in the extreme and frankly not worth talking to or about, but then, that's what happens to fanatics. Their feet are planted firmly in the air!
But this is not for the fanatics, they won't listen anyway, it is for the vast majority of Hindus, people who have a social conscience, care about their culture and are conscious of a vast historical injustice done to a whole group of other people. And it is not a simple binary equation, high class Brahmins discriminating against lower class dalits. It happens on every group intersection, so there is no point in getting up on the high horse about just one group.
An apology is a very good means to bring things out in the open. Hiding behind a religious tract or pointing at other instances does not change the situation on the ground. Every Hindu has to be open about this discrimination, and understand what this has done to us, our culture, history and reputation. No longer! This apology means that we understand and accept the fault. Not only that, but an apology actually provides the impetus or the foundation to do something about it.
This is the other good thing about an apology for the cynics out there. Once one has gone through the cathartic process of apologising, one can start to address this issue, if only by small measures. If a friend says something demeaning about a lower caste person, even a raised eyebrow is a small but significant step in telling people that this form of behaviour is not appropriate.
One will definitely ask me the question if somebody might actually accept the apology? I am afraid this is the wrong question. When Tony Blair apologised for the British role in Slavery, he did not do it because he was worried whether anybody might or might not accept it. He did it because this was the right thing to do. Despite the fact that I am personally not responsible for this reprehensible and horrible historical fact, as a Hindu and as a human being, it is but right to apologise. As a Hindu, I hold responsibility to my religion, my nation, my society, my government, and indeed to my children as well. An apology can, in a small way, lead towards making the world a fairer place.
The Hindu Reformist group, Navya Shastra (http://www.shastras.org/), who actually made the public apology, also invited a whole host of other Hindu luminaries to join in this effort. I am not sure how far this went but it should be remembered that this caste based discrimination is not simply religiously mandated, but also socially mandated. Hence besides religious figures, cultural and social figures need to be brought into this as well. In many ways, an appeal by one of the Bollywood actors may actually provide more push to changes in behaviour, rather than very many Hindu religious leaders combined. But still, more luminaries joining in to complain, apologise and push Indians to remove this distressing social condition is good.
So here it is, I fully endorse and join Navya Shastra, in apologising to the other castes, for what I and my forefathers may have done and promise that I will raise my voice against this disgusting practice, and hopefully help remove this by my words as well as my behaviour.
At the UN World Conference on Race (WCAR) held August 31-September 8 2001 in Durban, South Africa, President Thabo Mbeki said:"...there are many in our common world who suffer indignity and humiliation because they are not white ...These are a people who know what it means to be the victim of rabid racism and racial discrimination. Nobody ever chose to be a slave, to be colonised, to be racially oppressed. The impulses of the time caused these crimes to be committed by human beings against others."
And while there was quite a hullabaloo about whether 'casteism' is appropriate in this race conference, this is quibbling over details. Discrimination existed, it exists and it behoves us to address it. May this apology be a first start to a better implementation of religion!
All this to be taken with a grain of salt!
An Unqualified Apology to Every Untouchable
Article
- » Published on December 19, 2006
- » Type: Opinion
- » Filed under: .
- » This is part of a regular feature, With a Grain of Salt.
temporal
URL
December 19, 2006
10:42 AM
beady:
a noble gesture from you...but it has to be meaningfully translated to alter the ground realities...am afraid that is where good intentions run into the Cultural Everest
Atlantean
URL
December 19, 2006
01:05 PM
A very good article Dr. Dasgupta. I'm glad you brought this up.
I join you, as a Hindu, in apologising for all the crimes we have committed not only to the untouchables but also women for over two millenia.
I am aware that my apology will not make any difference to all those who suffered and are suffering from casteism and gender-bias in India but I choose to express anyway.
bd
URL
December 19, 2006
01:53 PM
T, its a small step, mate. I cannot do anything for others, but what I can do, I do. I apologise, I write, I protest at every reported atrocity, I cajole, motivate, threaten, blackmail, help, others to remove this. But an apology is a must, the sense of personal responsibility is important. And I disagree that nothing will happen, it will happen. Even if 1 additional person changes their mind, mate, that's one little stone removed from the mountain :), small steps, mate, small steps. Raja Ram Mohon Roy is credited with the stopping of sati, he worked for 40 years, and in all that time, he is credited with stopping NONE of the sati's. Not that I am comparing myself with him, but social changes like this take time. Take a look at the sastra.org site, quite creditable, what those chaps are doing.
cheers
bd
bd
URL
December 19, 2006
02:01 PM
Atlantean: Thank you for your comments, and no, it will make a difference if we wish it to be, my friend. Call the panda's stupid for judging people by their birth, spread the word and it will be worthwhile. Every little helps! :)
temporal
URL
December 19, 2006
02:06 PM
beady:
for your sake i hope you are right!
discrimination of this variety is so well ingrained in our psyche that a total cleansing might take centuries not decades
but i still admire your gesture... a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step...
Sumanth
URL
December 27, 2006
12:06 AM
Should not we also apologize to "Kshatriyas" who have the only "job" (according to their caste) to defend the state in war?
Why the hell a society force people of only one particular caste to get miamed and get killed in war (when people of other castes including lower castes are exempted from this)?
By the way, have you heard of "Car Castism" in urban India? It is practiced by urban Indians (especially women) who divide themselves (into an hierarchy) based on what car they have.
It is in our blood to divide ourselves into hierarchies and dream of serving a "Mai Baap" (upper caste rich, influencing fool). If we do not get a "Mai Baap" in India, we import one from Italy.
Its better we cleanse ourselves daily (of castism) than apologizing to escape from the grim reality.
Carefreechandra
December 31, 2006
11:46 AM
Million thanks for taking the initiative. Its not only correct thing to do but necessary step to make ammends and necessary sacrifices to heal.
I had always felt that caste-ism is painful to majority of the people and early on I have been siding with dalits and being a protector, advocate and a mentor. Arya Samajis have a tradition to not to use caste-based last names and I think, this approach will help the Indian society as a whole.
It is time that we all own up and be the source of healing and stop caste based prejudices and discriminations.
commonsense
April 14, 2008
10:56 PM
BD:
Thanks for this great piece. Whether you will change any mindsets or not, is not the issue. You have, as many others, continued the task of exposing this beyond shame crap.
As well: (regarding the UN Durban conference)
"And while there was quite a hullabaloo about whether 'casteism' is appropriate in this race conference"
The Durban conference was NOT simply about race, but clearly about "race and other forms of discrimination". The issue of Dalits was absolutely a relevant issue to raise there. Unfortunately, even our "progressive" scholars such as Dipankar Gupta and Andre Beteille fudged the issue by arguing that "caste is not race" when in fact, nobody ever made that argument in the first place. The point was that treatment of Dalits is discriminatory and shares similiarities with racial discrimination, not that caste and race are identical. I mean, untouchability, people getting their genital hacked off for marrying low-caste people, residential segregation, separate wells for them etc. etc...how can it not be similar, even worse than racial discrimination. Unfortunately scholars like Dipankar Gupta who should no better, began to khhechon baal ki khaaal, and deployed their anthropological knowledge to become "sarkari anthropologists" at the UN inquiry later over this issue. A good thing that he got a dressing down and was ridiculed by the UN commissioner who was in-charge of the proceedings. A lot of it had to do with the old syndrome of "let's not wash our dirty laundry in the global arena", a variation of the "what will the foreigners think of us??" syndrome...
It is beyond shameful what the Dalits have gone thru and continue to go thru...beyond belief, but real as you and me...
Going off on a tangent here: bottom line, thanks for this piece and for drawing attention to the organization that is spearheadin it.
Chandra
April 14, 2008
11:42 PM
CS
As much as i agree with your assessment i think it is none of anybody's business to tell us how we have to manage our society. From a strategic perspective this is not a wise idea at all. You give these guys a palm and they gobble your hand...
commonsense
April 15, 2008
12:40 AM
chandra,
I agree with you...there is always that other angle too and yes it can lead to unnecessary complications...the chance/opening for all sorts of other international organizations to interfere, patronize, relive colonial rule through proxy etc....on the other hand though, India is no banana-republic either that will cave in to anyone...
bd
URL
April 15, 2008
01:28 AM
CS and chandra, holy moly, i didnt realise this board was still active. CS, you need to take some insomnia pills :).
but seriously, this is something that is close to my heart and I strongly suggest anybody who cares about hinduism to join NS. One will learn much from that list.
Secondly, its not progressive to worry about caste. It is simply caring for your fellow human being and that does not need political labels. Ascribing labels to this makes this a bit tougher, if you know what I mean.
Thirdly, I am also a firm believer in focus. People compare Affirmative Action in the USA to reservations in India. No Sir, they are not the same, if we confuse things, then solutions cannot be determined. Caste is a religio-socio-economic issue which has not that deep roots. Racism has deeper roots. Caste can be removed, race, no, not that easily.
So when the UN conference mixes up things, then it diffuses the problem. What's the result? they bring in race, they bring in the israeli palestinian crisis, they bring in caste. Ok, so what have they achieved? not much. Hence focus.
Now, I am tending towards what chandra said, this is a peculiarly Hindu and Indian problem, if one internationalises this, they simply make people defensive about it, and then resolution is much more difficult. We are disproportionately sensitive to outside criticism and commentary.
But then, to go back to removal of this, its problematical and much more complex because our religion does not work on the basis of scriptural orders unlike Abrahmic religions. But first step for all of us is to recognise the debt we pay and the mistake we all made...
sorry for going on..., lol
Man Singh
URL
April 15, 2008
12:12 PM
Untouchability is a social ill in Hindu Society.
It is cruel, unscinetific and inhuman. And I side with BD unconditionaly to put my apology for such inhuman crime against humanity pervailing in our society.
To eliminate the problem we have to go to the roots of the problem and strike where root is.
Social ills are Adharma. Just opposite to Dharma.
Dharma is meant for upliftment of humanity and not to exploit it.
Landlords who acted like traitors and sided with foreign invaders in cnnivance with some greedy priests established such nonsense inhuman exploitative traditions in our society.
Even Dr Ambedkar agreed that before 6th century there was no untouchability in India. he refers to Baanbhat's `kadambari' in which a chandal girl freely used to enetr in Kings palaces and sell her pet animals like parrots. King Shoodrak was so imprssed by here talent that he marreid here.
Untouchabilty florished alongwith landlrodism jamindaari system when everybody became dependent on landlords for their living and they used the rest as slaves.
Those who are familira with rural India know pretty well its landownership that commands resepct. There are some landlords from so called lower casts rewarded to protect lives of Britishers in 1857 war of independence and they also behave in same discriminatory ways.
I have hundreds of evidence from Ancient scriptures proving untouchability altogather unrelated to Dharma.
Shivpuran (Shivpuran/Vidhyeshwara Samhita/pranavpanchakharmantra chapter17 shloka 52 to 60) tells how step by step we humans who are Shudras by Birth(as per Purush Sookta of vedas) go beyong varna and get Mukti.
Sri Ramcharitmanas Kakbhushandi says he was a shudra in previous birth and lived in kausalpur. A Brahmin Guru gave him mantra and he used to chant mantra sitting in a temple.( Utterkand doha 96 to 105 contains full story) proves beyong doubt that Dharma never restricted Shudra from entering temple or seeking spritual developement.
Bhagwatpuran Chapter 6 (parayan Vidhi) shloka 6 clearly says wherever there is Bhagwat katha Shudra and women who usually don'nt find time for spritual pracices also should be invited to katha.
Shivpuran again says Shiv Puran /Rudra Samhita /shivpujan vidhi Chapter 11 shloka 4) that Lord Shiva is worshpped by all varnas including Shudras.
Niralambopnishad openly raises this question :
ka jaati. what's jaati and conclused that Blood, flesh bones and muscles come by birth and can'nt be basis of jaati. It is our actions and behaviour that determines what we are.
Niralambopnishad
What's Jaati(cast) :
Skin, blood, flesh ,bones (all obtained by birth) or soul , none determines cast.
Its behavior of a person that determines
Therefore elimination of Landlordism and feudalism is dierctly linked to elimination of cast discrimination. This Adharma being done by landlords greedy priests and crooked politicians has to be eliminated and Dharma has to be reestablihsed.
First step immediately needed is forming a All India temple similar to Shiromani Guru dwara Prabandhak Commitee or All India Wakaf Borad to manage temples, reforming society and using donations for welfare of dalits and other weaker sectionss of society. This was the original purpose of temples as temples are not needed for individual spritual developemnt.
temples are for social welfare only.
I again apologise for any adharma done to our Dalit brothers by our forefathers and request all of us to do our bit to reestablish Dharma.
let's always remember Tulsidaasji's final definition of Dharma and Adharma :
`Parhit saris dharam nahi bhai, parpeeda sam nahi adhmai'
(helping others is Dharma and torturing others is Adharma)
Those landlords and associated greedy priests who tortured dalits and other weaker sections of society are simply Adharmi people in teh garb of dharma and clean is the need of the hour.
bd
URL
April 15, 2008
01:37 PM
good of you to write, Man Singh, do join the navya shastra mailing list group, very good bunch of people there.
Morris
April 15, 2008
03:20 PM
bd
I fully agree with you. You are coming out some good ones.
My guess is that caste system may linger on for a few generations. But is it so difficult to tackle the discrimination? It is unbelievable that even now some temples will not allow low caste Hindus to enter. Is it not illegal? Are all levels of Governments commited to remove this shameful practice? Should'nt temple trustees be held responsible and perhaps fined?
If it is removed in the places of worship, rest will probably become a little easier. Just wondering!
bd
URL
April 15, 2008
03:46 PM
Morris, discrimination is unfortunately built into human beings. Positive discrimination means that out of 100 guys, a girl likes one. Negative discrimination means that the girl likes one because he is black and not green (in case of racism) and the girl likes one because he is upper caste versus lower caste (in case of casteism).
it is very difficult to break it, my friend, if you want to see it, compare the brides wanted section of our indian newspapers versus say the wanted sections of a british newspaper. Why on earth would we see a notice like, "risthta required for nair/maratha/khattri girl, wheatish complexion...."
Morris
April 15, 2008
05:18 PM
bd
I understand the kind of descrimination you pointed out. I agree it is built in all of us more or less. I am simply talking about giving eaual respect to all. I may not marry a particular woman, but I would support her right to be in temple. I am talking about this basic right. How long does it take to rectify that. And that is why I asked those questions.
Man Singh
URL
April 15, 2008
07:44 PM
BD #13
I have visted that site and they are doing good work. But I do not agree with them on one issue ie who is to blame for the eveil?
They blame Dharma and Scriptures for it.
I consider it as a social ill originated out of adharma (kaam krodh lobh moh and mad) ir lust anger greed attachment and ego about which scriptures are full to denounce. Adharma done by landlords and some greedy priests should not be put on teh head of those great people known as `Brahmins' who led a pious life dedicated to society who lived in forest did research and spread the findings to humanity free of cost without patenting and making money?
In spite of that I happyly support their activities as I belive they have very noble intentions and when they will read scriptures themselves sometime they will understand the truth and stop `demonising Brahmins' for the misdeeds of landlords and greedy priests.
I am happy to see that Hindu youth today are onserving, analysing and taking corrective action to solve their social ills.
Let's all support such noble minded people.
bd
URL
April 16, 2008
01:25 AM
#16 Morris, you are right, since we have signed up for equal opportunities and no discrimination, we should definitely shout against the woman in the temple issue, but while there is a role for the state, there is a bigger role for the citizen. When you and I say more about that, then the behaviour will change, when we say more about inheritance laws, then the behaviour will change...
Morris: sure, we all do not have to agree with it, plus I do not keep scriptures in the same reverence as they do, I have a mind and I use it :), discrimination is stupid anyway, anybody who says that it is because it was written down in some bloody book immediately tells me that he is some grey cells short of a brain.
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