Not only so called high caste men and women but their children also are jealous of the Dalit children’s education. It is true that family is the first school for the children. They learn and devolep ideas which they hear in the family. They act upon the stories told by their fathers and forefathers. In our [...]

Few weeks ago, I read a person who was suggesting/advicing Dalit people to remain in the Hindu religion in spite of all the oppressions and discriminations. I felt that I should reply to his view because it is very important.

I don’t know the person was a Dalit or not but I’m sure that he did not like our people getting rid of the oppressive philosophy of religion. So I asked him, are you suggesting this as a Dalit or as any other member of Hindu faith. The person did not reply, so I had to guess and go on to present my views on the issue.

If you are Dalit…then don’t you believe in What Dr. Ambedkar said, practiced and made provisions in the constitution for the oppressed people?

Do you want to spend your energies on reforming a society which is based on the unequality? How long will you do that? The oppressed have a history of injustices and brutalities of more than 3000 years. And the Hindus still not ready to give up that evil philosophy.

If your shirt is torn apart or became rag, and you have the means to change/replace it then what’s wrong with you that you still want that old one to continue.

Don’t you change your pots, shoes, Tv’s, bus, hospital, doctor, books, cellphones, computers, jobs, living place?

Why not religion, if it helps us to get our dignity and gives us better philosophy to live? The change and freedom should be excercised in any thing.

Have you not read, “Believe in the Best”?

If something better is available in the world then why not opt for it?

Are you more wiser than Dr. Ambedkar, who himself, after getting tired from Hinduism, being the most educated man of his times chose to reject it. He said, It was not in my control to be born as a Hindu but to die yes, and he did not loose the opportunity.

Let’s read his thoughts on conversion:

Dr Babasaheb in his speech at a Massive Mahar Conference held on 30th and 31st May, 1936 in Mumbai said:

“I do accept that the untouchables need equality as well. And to secure equality is also one of our objectives. But nobody can say that this equality can be achieved only by remaining as Hindu and not otherwise. There are two ways of achieving equality. One, by remaining in the Hindu fold and another by leaving it by conversion. If equality is to be achieved by remaining in the Hindu fold, mere removal of the sense of being a touchable or an untouchable will not serve the purpose. Equality can be achieved only when inter-caste dinners and marriages take place. This means that the Chaturvarnya must be abolished and the Brahminic religion must be uprooted. Is it possible? And if not, will it be wise to expect equality of treatment by remaining in the Hindu religion? And can you be successful in your efforts to bring equality? Of course not. The path of conversion is far simpler than this. The Hindu society does not give equality of treatment, but the same is easily achieved by conversion. If this is true, then why should you not adopt this simple path of conversion?” *

Don’t think just for yourself but think for the little ones (your future genereations). Do you want them also to be humiliated like Dr. Ambedkar and others and even you if you are a dalit.

Think and decide ……..you only have this birth to do something……No ReBirth…

*www.jaibheem.com

“… Indian society needs to change; it needs to inculcate the values of doubt and dissent….Nowhere in the world would you find the kind of abominable caste system that still persists in India, and the indignities that are heaped on humanity. Yet such issues are very cleverly skirted by organizations like the VHP (World Hindu Congress).”*

Well said swami Agnivesh. This is the need of the time. If our society don’t change our superstitions and baseless beliefs then we can not imagine, India becoming a developed nation in the world.

If there are differences at home how can you talk about the peace and unity of the world? What is the meaning of vashudhev kutumbhkum (whole world one family) from your concept? At home you divide people into four divisions and countless subdivisions then how can, we be one people? What kind of religion is that which asks to pay homage to stones and to worship the animals and birds yet when it comes to treat our own fellow being we consider them lower beings?

The foundation of beliefs like caste system, (untouchability) and making women inferiors, which does not make sense any more, must be done away. After all, don’t we throw away garbage which hinders daily life? Do we keep the dirty and old clothes in our home? Do we keep the old plastic or leather shoes in our homes don’t we do away from them? Do we keep the garbage in our home which disturbs the beauty of the home? Don’t we sell it to the junk people (the kabadi)? Don’t we chage our jobs to get better payments? Don’t we change the doctor if we dont improve from sickness? Don’t we change the bus or train if getting late or want a comfortable seats? If this is the case with the physical beauty and cleanliness of homes and body, IF this is case with our daily life and necessacities, then why shouldn’t we think doing away it in the religion too?

If  Indians can not do it then don’t blame the people who want freedom and dignity through other faiths and conversions. It is always important to believe in the best.  If my forefather or any other were living today they might have asked me to do the same, son! “Do away with the things which keep you enslaved and under oppression. Throw away the chains of slavery which we had been carrying generations after generations.” They might say, “We wish we could do it in our time but there were no provisions for it. Nobody thought about other alternatives but son, “you have the alternatives. Why people should still consider you degrading, when you have all the talents and qualities of life? Why should you be humiliated like us in the 21^st century like our times?”

While all Indians know about this bitter truth that untouchability exists in our society and it degrades the countless human beings, not many seem to bothering about it at least the Hindutva contractors. Why should they bother about it, for if they do, their ‘chair’ will be shared by the “lower humans?” These ‘lower people’ will ask to sit beside, to send their children in better schools, to pay them appropriate amount of wages for their hard work, to give them equal opportunity. It is absurd to talk about “India is shining” or calling “ India is great.” without solving the problems of social evils like caste system and low treatment of women’s at home and work.

Yes, if things don’t change, let people follow the steps of Dr. Ambedkar in rejecting those sacred books and unwanted practices of our society.  The Dalits and the oppressed must find the solution today for them and for their dear children, so that they don’t anymore be degraded, just because of their birth in a particular caste or belief system.  No problem, if others don’t play a role for change,  now lets do it ourself. Don’t wait for the last time. Good work should be done as soon possible. We have seen the history and there is nothing to be doubt of our success. Throw away the chains imposed on you and on your children and let the change begun today…

Jesus said, “YOU WILL KNOW THE TURHT AND THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE.”

* http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,100748,00.html

Opposition is not new to Christian faith. The prophets of God were criticized by the people and the wicked kings for speaking against the sins of the people. The Prophets sided with truth of God. They criticized the people for not behaving according to God’s law. They preached against sexual sins, stealing, oppression of poor and injustices. Many repented after hearing the message but others refused and instead of turning to God and to the path of rightousness they turned against God and persecuted the men of God for speaking against them.

When Jesus came preaching truth and healing people, he too face the similar people in His time. They did not like Him for teaching the Truth and for identifying with the sinners, lepers, the samaritans, outcastes, the prostitutes etc. But He did not stopped His mission but continued it even in temptations and trails. And just before His death, He gave that mission to the Apostles and disciples to carry it to the suffring people in the world and to liberate them from all kinds of bondages.

Jesus’ believers carried that same message of God to the nations. One of His Apostle came to India too. And many followed him in the course of time inspite of sickness, death, persecution, the work of God continues, because, the men of God love the oppressed and people in sinful condition.

While people might be hating us for many reasons, Christian service is hated in India because it is a greater threat to the Hindu social order than the phony ones.

Consider this scenario:

 Kallu grazes his landlord’s cattle. He is an illitrate, landless, poor, “untouchable” peasent who dresses in rags and goes barefoot. He gets a little cut on his dirty feet. which turns septic. He goes to the village doctor who sells him an ointment. The oitment is good, but ineffective without proper washing, badaging and shoes. kallu has little sense of hygene and the upper caste doctor isn’t going to wash a Shudra’s feet. The infection ulcerates and spreads. Kallu is not able to keep his job, his family is not able pay for his treatement, so he is thrown out on the streets of Kolkatta to beg and die. His family loves him, but is unable to cope with a white elephant whose “karma” is taking him to an early death. His caste may be sad for him, but the rest dont care.

A mother Teresa (or a Graham Staines) comes along and interrupts Kallu’s “karmic suffering. The misionary is scandalized that a family and a culture can discard a human being with such indignity. She washes the “untouchable”s feet with her own hands. She not merely treat him but also appeal to generous Western donors to hel feed him. The misisonary belives that she is simply obeying Jesus’ command to love her neighbor as herself. she dies not have the faintest idea that in fact she is stirring up a revolution. She has thrown down a gauntlet at a three thousand year old worldview and religious system. kallu is shocked to discover that he is not an ‘untouchable’, that he is in fact precoius. Why? The misionary says that she loves him because God does and because he commanded us to love our neighbor. “How do you know God loves me?” “I know because He sent his Son to take your sin upon himself. Jesus shed his blood as the sacrificial lamb of God to save you from eternal death in hell.” Kallu can not belive anyone loves him, let alone that someone would love him enough to die for him. But the missionary is irrfutable evidence that someone does love him and holds him precious.
 
Kallu is attracted to the missioanry’s belief system. His family is overjoyed by the new life that has been given to him freely. They want to convert to new faith; in fact, their whole caste has become interested in exploring a worlview that affirms their dignity. 

 The upper caste in their village are infuriated that their slaves want to escape their slavery. Weren’t these folk born to serve us because of their bad “karma”? Do they now want to become our equals? Will these misionaries educate these sub-humans and make them officers- our doctors, inspecters and judges?

Who will then graze our cattle? If upper caste landlords don’t prevent Kallu’s conversion, their economy, life-style and culture would indeed be ruined. Options open to the upper castes? a) To out do the misionary’s service. b) To condemn her, and forcefully prevent her from serving the likes of Kallu.But if they can’t get the govt. to throw the missionary out of the country then, they claim their only option is c) to murder her. The misisonaries try to show the love of God in practical ways to the needy and despised.1
 
Dr. Udit Raj says, “The upper caste Hindu oppose anything which impowers marginalized people. Newborn abandoned Dalit children can be eaten by dogs and animals, but if a Christian missionary gives the same child shelter in an orphanage, the RSS,-an outfit of Hindu fundamentalists- will attack the missionary saying he is forcibly converting the child.”2

Dr. S. Jayakumar quoted one source,  “The reson behind the persecution was, as mentioned earlier, that the gospel of Christ came on the one hand as a message of liberation to the poor and the oppressed, on the other hand as a threat to the Brahmins and caste Hindus.3

The missionaries obey their Lord to love their neighbor, the image of God. And they want to make the society and our courrpted culture better but some don’t like it for above mentioned reasons. Should misionaries stop this work No not at all. Jesus loves us and commanded us to serve God and his people till the end of the age as He will be with us there. So the work of God, transforming the lives, cultures and society and nations still continues…

The readers may join us in prayers for the Work.

The resources:

1. Mangalwadi Vishal, The Quest for Freedom and Dignity, Bibles for the World, CO, USA.
2. D’souza Joseph, Dalit freedom now and forever, DFN, CO, USA, pp154-155
3. Jayakumar Samuel, Dalit consciousness and Christian conversion, Mission Education Books, chennai, India, p.139

Almost every day there is news related to Dalit atrocities. On September 1 also, it was reported by  Indian Express Daily that in Danapur (Bihar), “ Steaming ‘dal’ was poured on a Dalit woman and her six-month-old daughter, while several others were beaten up for allowing their children to play in the premises of a temple here, police said on Saturday.”*1

These children of Dalit caste never knew that they will be punished for playing in the local temple premises. When a man belonging to Yadav caste saw this he “objected and roughed up the children”. Later on, the parents of these children came and spoke in favor of their children, which the Yadavas did not like. They made a decision to teach a lesson to the dalit women and children. So these ‘high caste’ man and his family members, later on on the same day evening, beaten the 3 women and their children, and not only that “ Steaming ‘dal’ (boiling soup of pulses) was poured on a Dalit woman and her six-month-old daughter.”

What a sad thing to read. Children who knew nothing about what was their fault, were punished. These children may not know that  they were “lower’ humans and not allowed to enter in the temple of their gods. Shame on our society, and on our system, where the educated people involve in such inhuman activities. The man, who involved in the crime was an educated one, retired from the Indian railways.

Yes, For these reasons, Dr. Ambedkar protested against the Caste system. And he literally burned the book called Manusmariti, publicly on 25th December- 1927, which divided the people into different sections, making them lower and higher. And on that same day Dr. Ambedkar asked his followers to take the following wows:

1. I do not believe on Chaturvarna based on birth.

2. I do not believe in caste distinctions.

3. I believe that untouchability is an anathema on Hinduism and I will honestly try my best to completely destroy it.

4. Considering that there is no inequality, I will not follow any restrictions about food and drink among at least all Hindus.

5. I believe that untouchables must have equal rights in temples, water sources, schools and other amenities.*2

Well, Dr. Ambedkar did his best to fight against the evil of societies in regards to caste system. And little has improved but mostly, it is same even today, as it was during the time of Dr. Ambedkar. He has been called ‘Messiah’ by the Dalits because of his love and contribution for his people.

Nothing is wrong in calling Dr. Ambedkar as Messiah, but let me point out that, ‘Messiah is the biblical term and has been used only for Jesus Christ, who loved his people, cared for them, fought for them against injustices and ill practices of then religious and social system.

Jesus Christ, the Messiah stood with the lepers, the outcaste, the unclean, the Samaritans (the untouchables), the tax-collectors and with the weaker section of the people. He became the voice for the voiceless. His love and work was  perfect and great for his people. The weaker section of the people, the womens, the sinners, the uncleans loved HIM and liked Him but the religious, social and political authrities hated him very much. But Jesus did not disassociate Himself from the service of the humanity. He said to the people, “I have come to serve and not to be served.” His teachings inspired his disciples to carry the misisons in the first century until now. He stands with with the people even now invisibly and speakes for them.

The Church today is Messiah’s agent to do the same for the weaker sections. Many people hate the Church and its teachings, not because they are wrong  or corrupt but because they attack the evil practices of the societies and brings dignity, equality, peace, freedom, liberation to the adhrents. The oppressers and the evil minded people can not bear that. They want a system which will protect their system of enequality and social injusctice.

The same loving  Messiah shouts for  Dalits (children) today, “Let the little children come to me and do not forbid them, for the kindom of God belongs to such as these.”  Jesus’ discples had thought, the children would disturb the function and meeting with Jesus but Jesus asked his disciples, not to stop the children from His presence. When children were brought to Him, He loved and  blessed them. What a love of the SAVIOUR! Many thanks to the Messiah of the oppressed and the lover of children.

Jesus teaches us a lesson to love the children, work for them and to do our best for them. The children ministry of the Church plays an important role in the eyes of their CREATOR.

All the children, women, and people are welcomed in the house of God (the Church). And there is no discrimination. If there is, then, those people do not know who Christ, the Messiah is and They are liars according to the Bible, though they claim to know God but they have no relation with HIM.

Will our poeple understand this?

*1.http://www.indianexpress.com/story/213973.html

*2. www.ambedkar.org