The Ram Mandir bhoomi pujan in Ayodhya Wednesday was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and governor Anandiben Patel. Besides being the only woman on the stage, Patel was also the only Shudra present at the ceremony. Among the priests who performed the bhoomi pujan ritual, there was not a single Shudra — not even from Yadav, Jat, or Kurmi communities of UP, let alone from one of the Other Backward Classes and Dalits.
We can only predict this, since we do not know the name of all the priests who participated in the ritual — but Shudras, historically and even now, have not been given a spiritual right to Hinduism or trained in Hindu theological schools and colleges.
The construction of this upcoming Ram Mandir in Ayodhya would not have been possible, and the RSS-BJP would not have achieved their goal, if not for the participation of Shudras in Babri-Masjid demolition in 1992 and the subsequent BJP government formation in 1999, 2014 and 2019. It is Shudras and Dalits who are engaged in food production work in these hard Covid-19 times for the survival of all, including the temple system, but their work is not accepted as spiritually respectful and hence they do not get the right priesthood, even though they are considered as Hindus. This discrimination is purely due to caste. Around Ayodhya and elsewhere in UP, even the temple maintenance, food and resources come from the labour of Shudras and Dalits. The RSS-BJP defines all of them as Hindus. But they do not have the spiritual right to become a priest at the Ram Mandir and study in Sanskrit gurukuls even in the 21st century.
Ramayana, too, mentions the Varna dharma theory and lists the four caste categories — Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra. Ram himself is known as a Kshatriya king; his guru Vasishtha as a Brahmin.
We do not know what the status of the Vaishyas was during the time of Ramayana. Most probably, they would have been cattle owners and grazers, while Shudras were ‘slaves’ assigned different tasks of production and were in service of the Dwija castes. At the time, there was no notion of one religion called Hinduism under which all four caste groups were clubbed together.
Even if we leave aside all other historical issues and opinions of modern writers, the RSS-BJP consider Hinduism as one religion, which includes all Shudras and Dalits. But what about their spiritual rights? If Ram belongs to all and if we have to fulfil, as PM Modi said, the dream of Mohandas Gandhi to bring about a so-called “Ram Rajya” in India, the inclusion of Shudras and Dalits is a must. When they were defined as Hindu and mobilised into what they called the ‘Ram temple movement’, caste-based assignment of duties in temples should have been abolished too, at least theoretically.
Also read: A Dalit laid first brick for Ram Mandir. Now, Modi must appoint a Dalit woman as its priest
Denial of spiritual inclusion
Did the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ask for this spiritual inclusiveness? PM Modi, in his bhoomi pujan speech, said Ram was a believer in total equality and can be a source of modern development. His re-interpretation of Ram as a divine force and developmentalist is positive. In fact, Modi said Ram accepts both man and woman as equal. This argument goes against the theory of respecting parampara (tradition) that RSS ideologues have been propounding ever since the organisation was founded in 1925. The RSS has never talked about gender and caste equality.
But the RSS-BJP aren’t the only ones to be blamed. The Congress intellectuals, too, never allowed a discourse around equal spiritual rights on the pretext that they believe in secularism and hence do not go into religious affairs and that such issues must be left to the religious organisations. They, therefore, did not do anything to abolish caste in Hinduism and also in civil society when they were in power.
The Communist intellectuals also do not raise such questions under a false theory that they do not believe in religion, and believe in atheism. This again is a false argument to wash hands off the issues of caste and religious inequality since both West Bengal and Kerala, where they were in power for a long time, saw many of their leaders and cadres actively participate in Hindu religious activities. They have shut their eyes to the two major issues of India — caste and religion.
Also read: Large number of Dalit-OBC on Kanwar Yatra isn’t a sign of Hinduism’s inclusivity. Here’s why
Denial of English education
These questions are passed off in the intellectual and party organisations because the national-level discourse is conducted by people largely belonging to five communities — Brahmin, Bania, Kshatriya, Kayastha and Khatri.
Earlier, there was a strong Sanskrit-educated force among these five communities but now there is a far more English-educated intellectual force among them. The vernacular voice in national and mainstream media on the topic of religion is largely invisible. Unless the debate is intensified at the national level, every ruling party, including the BJP, can take the Shudras and Dalits for granted.
Another problem is the absence of English-speaking intellectuals from Shudra communities, including Jats, Yadavs, Gujjars, Patels, even though there are a number of regional political leaders who want to manage votes and rule their states. They do not have a transformative philosophical and ideological agenda. This is a major deterrent because they are unable to impress or cater to the urban, English-speaking audience.
The RSS-BJP raise the issue of inequalities within Muslim society, particularly gender inequality, on all platforms. But Muslim intellectuals lack this courage to raise caste and other inequalities inherent in Hinduism.
Shudras today do not have the intellectual power because they have been historically denied education, which Brahmins and other Dwija castes held as their prerogative. They also did not acquire literary status when Persian and Urdu were dominant languages. They were kept engaged in production and services, and continue to be a resigned force when it comes to becoming modern intellectuals. They obeyed the priestly Brahmins earlier and now follow whatever RSS-BJP tell them today without asking for equal rights. This is a tragic status of a major productive community, which feeds the nation with its labour power.
Also read: Dalits have a special place in the new Hindutva matrix. Ram Mandir is proof of that
Ram Mandir and equality
Ram Mandir is different from other Hindu temples. It is a temple that is being projected as historical and there is talk that it will become more significant than the Vatican of Rome and the Mecca of Saudi Arabia. According to Home Minister Amit Shah, the bhoomi pujan in Ayodhya is the start of “a new yuga (era)” in 2020.
PM Modi has said that the figure of Ram at the upcoming Mandir will reflect justice more than any other divine figure in the world. If that is what this temple stands for, what about abolishing caste and gender inequalities in the spiritual and religious system that Ram represents? Why is there a total silence on caste inequality, particularly the representation of Shudra in the core team of priests who work at temples? It is the priests who decide what shloka should be recited and what etiquette should be followed inside the temple premises. Priesthood is an important position within religion and for attaining the status of spiritual command.
Will the RSS-BJP assure Shudras and Dalits that there will be Hindu theological school and college in Ayodhya where admission will not be based on caste but religious background alone?
The problem is that the mainstream media in India won’t allow this debate. The fact that most media organisations are run by members of mainly Dwija castes makes it all the more difficult for such a debate. They are also confident that there will not be a movement in India like #Shudra/DalitLivesMatter along the lines of #BlackLivesMatter.
To conduct a major movement peacefully at the national level, the Shudra/Dalit communities need a large number of highly modern, English-educated intellectuals who can take their space in today’s media. But where will they come from?
The author is a political theorist, social activist and author. Views are personal.
let us look at the BIG PICTURE !
No Story of Dalit oppression is complete w/o Brahminism
No Story of Brahminism is complete w/o Brahmins
No Story of Brahmis is complete w/o Ade Shankara !
And who is this clown ?
Shankara, from Kerala – a Shaiva exponent of “pure nondualism (Advaita)” and idealism – who was “a Shiva avatar” and “had sex with the wife” of a Dead King, after “entering into the body of the dead king”.
Madhavacharya called Adi Shankara “a bastard & a son of a harlot” who copied, edited and pasted Buddhism” and repackaged it, for the Hindoos.dindooohindoo
He was born of a widower,and thus,was taunted as a “bastard” and also,mocked for his mothers chastity (or lack thereof).
At that time,India was ruled by Buddhists who mocked,abused and ostracised Ade Shankara,on account of the above traits.So what did Ade Shankara do ? He wrote his Magnum Opus,wherein he targeted Women (complex of being born of a widow,with no clear lineage),Dalits (who mocked him,as Buddhists) and Buddhists (who called him a “bastard”).
Ade Shankara destroyed Buddhism and Buddhists,and said that women had a status lower than that of a cow,and the Dalits had a status,lower than cow dung !
This is the BIG PICTURE of the Indian Maimonides (in terms of stature – not intellect).The Dalit persecution,is the product of the diseased and complexed mind,of this Brahmin !
But this ain’t it !
This man used his yogic powers to enter the body of a dead king (Parakaya Pravesa),and had sex with the wife of the dead king – for a long,long,long time !
He then journeyed with his disciples to a city in which the king, named Amaruka, had died, and employing the ‘science of entering into the body of another’ (parakayapravesavidya), he revived the body of the king, which was lying on the funeral pyre. ‘The yogic power (yogabalam) of the teacher, which was joined to his subtle body, entered the body of the king, and that connoisseur of yoga (yogavit) guided his breath upward from the toes. Leaving his body via the fontanel, he slowly entered the body of the dead king via the fontanel…’
Reanimated by Shankara’s presence, the body of King Amaruka rose from its funeral pyre, and with it, Shankara quickly mastered the erotic arts through extended love-play with the principle queen
People ask – Y is Hindooism doomed ?
Y ? They say Y was Hindoosthan enslaved for 2000 years by invaders ?
I say that the entire Hindoo Pantheon and the crazed dementia of Jallikattu and Kali worship,is all a copy and paste from the Assyrians,Babylonians,Sumerians,Persians,Nubians and Kushites
People say – No – don’t say that – it breaks me heart !
I present the copy and paste of the Indian Maimonides !
Ramanuja called Shankara a “crypto-Buddhist” (prachanna -bauddha).Sample the “copy and paste” of “Shankara the Shiva avatar”
– As per Buddhism,the “world is Sunya-tattva” (non-existent) and Sankara says, the world is “mithya” (non-existent), devoid of past, present and future.
– As per Buddhism,the way to achieve nirvana is “prajna-paramita” (knowledge of reality),and Sankara says that “tattva-jnana” (true knowledge of reality), is the method to attain moksa.
– As per Buddhism,”Sunya = Prajna-paramita-sutra = mano-vacam agocara = The Sankaras Brahman”.
– As per Buddhism,liberation = “removal of samvrti” (the veil of illusion), while for Sankara it is = “removal of veil of ignorance”
BIG PICTURE ! It is all in the HISTORY of THEOLOGY and the PSYCHOLOGY of the ARCHITECTS of THEOLOGY.
Buddhism was such a scientific and equalising religion.
No concept of God. meant to truly liberate the coomon man. However now the way it is practised may be very different with rituals also taking place.
In contrast, Brahminism was about maintaining a hierarchy and controlling the minds of common people through storytelling and myth. There are secrets in Advaita Vedanta and other texts which were not exposed to anyone else lest the control of society was lost. It was the Westerners who studied these Brahminical texts and translated them to English. That’s why we know today what was written in the Vedas, Upanishads and other texts and therefore the core ideas of how Brahmin beliefs developed.
The author had said that some communities still dont have a place in hindu spiritualism which is a false statement , the vedic schools of the kanchi Peetham are open for everyone to learn and be trained in vedic literature . Before making allegation try to see what’s going around .
I hate this ‘Hindu spiritualism’. It is the refuge for Hindu mumbo jumbo and perverted sadh gurus and babas.
What is Hindu spirutualism other than the caste system ?
लेखक ने ऐसे ऐसे झूठे अनुमानों को अपने लेख में शामिल किया है जो वास्तविकता से दूर हैं,जैसे लेखक ने कहा की भारत में दास थे ,जबकि सच तो यह है की इस्लामिक और ईसाई धर्म से भरपूर पश्चिमी और अरबीजगत में दास प्रथा थी, इस्लाम में तो यौन दासियों की भी इजाज़त है जैसा की आइ एस आइ एस (ISIS)वालों ने यजीदी बच्चियों को बनाया ,भारत में दास प्रथा कभी नहीं थी, दास प्रथा का कोई ख़ास ज़िक्र नहीं मिलता भले कोई भी वर्ण हो ।मगर वर्ण प्रथा थी जो अब समाप्ति की ओर है ।
दूसरी बात यह है कि भारत में शिवाजी महाराज हों या चंद्रगुप्त मौर्य , यह दोनो भारत के सबसे बड़े हिंदू शासक माने जाते हैं। दोनो ही तथाकथित सवर्ण जाति में नहीं जन्मे थे मगर दोनो को महान राजा बनाने में ब्राह्मणो का हाथ था, चाणक्य और समर्थ गुरु रामदास। शिवाजी ने तो हिंदू राज्य की स्थापना भी की थी, रामायण और महाभारत लिखने वाले दोनो महर्षि भी ब्राह्मण नही थे ।
दूसरी बात राम मंदिर निर्माण ट्रस्ट में दलित सदस्य हैं जिनका नाम है- कामेश्वर चौपाल , ओ बाई सी – विनय कटियार , उमा भारती ,कल्याण सिंह हैं । लेखक का झूट यहाँ भी पकड़ा गया ।
आख़िर मे सबसे बड़ी बात , राम मंदिर में बहुत से दलित पुरोहित भी होंगे, उनका प्रशिक्षण शुरू हो चुका है । जबकि लेखक ने झूठा दावा किया ।
इस सब से स्पष्ट है , यह लेख हिंदू घ्रणा से पीड़ित मानसिकता वाले किसी व्यक्ति ने हिंदू घ्रणा को बढ़ाने और समाज में वैमनस्यता फैलाने के लिए अतार्किक , फ़ेक न्यूज़ से युक्त और तथ्यों से उलट लेख लिखा है, यह झूठ से भरपूर लेख है।
ऐसे लेख लिखने वाले लोग कभी यह सवाल नहीं उठाते कि शिया की मस्जिद में सुन्नी को जाने की इजाज़त क्यों नहीं है??
मुस्लिम महिलाओं को भारत में मस्जिद में नमाज़ पढ़ने की इजाज़त क्यों नहीं है??
मदरसा में मोलवी छोटे छोटे शिष्यों बच्चों के साथ बलात्कार करते पकड़े जाते हैं।
चर्च में पादरी बच्चों के साथ दुष्कर्म करते है । इन ज़रूरी बातों पर यह कभी लेख नहि लिखेंगे, इसमें इन्हें islamophobia दिखाई देगा मगर हिंदू धर्म के ख़िलाफ़ झूठ का प्रयोग कर कर के लेख लिखेंगे।
सत्य तो यह है संघ में जातियों का नाम नहीं लिया जाता ,लोगों को सिर्फ़ प्रथम नाम से बुलाया जाता है जी लगाकर जैसे कमल जी. नरेंद्र जी।
राष्ट्रीय स्वयमसेवक संघ में एक गीत भी प्रचलित है ,जिसकी पंक्तियाँ हैं :-
“भूल से भी मुख से ज़ाति पंथ की ना बात हो , भाषा प्रांत के लिए कभी ना रक्तपात हो ।”
जिसका अर्थ है, जाती, पंथ, का ज़िक्र तो कभी भूल से भी नहीं करना चाहिए और प्रांत के लिए नही, देश के लिए सोचना चाहिए।
Learn to write English.
Learn to listen truth😂😂😂
I don’t get it. Someone has to piss in a party. Modi is OBC, there are others in the audience who represent the various Varna.
The system was and remains a sin, but rubbing it in the face time and again won’t help. Consider starting or participating in a meaningful dialog.
Modi redefined secularism with Ram Mandir as Hindu voters were fed up of Sonia-Left version
Nice article…hope your intellectual thoughts will enlighten the manu-polluted minds.Even if not it will definitely create a spark.
So, called secular print.in, can a Protestant become a pope, can Shia follow his rituals in Mecca? Why this in justice.
Just for argument sake, can a Protestant become a pope or Vatican administrator? Can a Shia follow his rituals in mecca? Now if you think I am getting into religious matters.. FYI, you are doing the same.
Kerala the Indian state ruled by communist more than 30-35 years and had a shudra chief minister in 2016 only….so you can easily understand the gimmicks of Communist in India…Bangal ruled by communist more than 40 years and never had a chief minister other than Brahmins cast…..
It is not gimmicks of caste, it is gimmicks of Hinduism – because even the Communists and Congress are led by Brahmins and caste Hindus.
To cleanse India of the caste system, Ambedkar said conversion was needed.