[Reader-list] Caste System, Dalits and Hinduism

[Aditya Raj Kaul]

The following is from a document by Dhirendra A Shah …

SECTION – I

Caste System, Dalits and Hinduism

"There is a misconception in some minds that Hindu scriptures
sanction the caste system. But being based on Vedas, Hinduism does
not permit any caste system, whatsoever.
Vedas, the proud possession of mankind, are the foundation of
Hinduism. Vedas are all-embracing, and treat the entire humanity
with the same respect and dignity. Vedas speak of nobility of entire
humanity (krinvanto vishvam aryam), and do not sanction any caste
system or birth based caste system. Mantra number 10-13-1 of Rig
Veda addresses entire humanity as divine children (Shrunvantu vishve
amrutsya putraha). Innumerable Mantras of Vedas emphasize oneness,
universal brotherhood, harmony, happiness, affection, unity and
commonality of entire humanity. A few illustrations are given here.
Vide Mantra number 5-60-5 of Rig Veda, the Divine Poet
declares, "All men are brothers; no one is big, no one is small. All
are equal". Mantra number 16.15 of Yajur Veda reiterates that all
men are brothers; no one is superior or inferior. "Mantra number 3-
30-1 of Atharva Veda enjoins upon all humans to be affectionate and
to love one another as the cow loves her newly born calf.
Underlining unity and harmony still further, Mantra number 3-30-6 of
Atharva Veda commands humankind to dine together, and be as firmly
united as the spokes attached to the hub of chariot wheel.

Bhagvad Gita, the essence of Vedas and Upanishads, has many Shlokas
that echo the Vedic doctrine of oneness of humanity. In Sholka
number V (29), the Lord declares that He is the friend of all
creatures ('Suhridam Sarva Bhutanam') whereas Sholka number IX (29)
reiterates that the Lord has the same affection for all creatures,
and whosoever remembers the Lord, resides in the Lord, and the Lord
resides in him.

Hindu scriptures speak about 'Varna' which means to 'select' (one's
profession etc.); and which is not caste; and which is not birth-
based. As per Sholka number IV (13) of Bhagvad Gita, depending upon
a person's Guna (aptitude) and Karma (actions), there are four
Varnas. As per this Sholka, a person's Varna is determined by his
Guna and Karma, and not by his birth. Chapter XIV of Bhagvad Gita
specifies three Gunas viz. Satva (purity), Rajas (passion and
attachment) and Tamas (ignorance). These three Gunas are present in
every human in different proportions, and determine the Varna of
every person. Accordingly, depending on one's Guna and Karma, every
individual is free to select his own Varna. Consequently, if their
Gunas and Karmas are different, even members of the same family will
belong to different Varnas. Nevertheless, notwithstanding the
differences in Guna and Karma of different individuals, Vedas treat
the entire humanity with the same respect; and do not sanction any
caste system or birth based caste system.
Being divine revelation, Shrutis (Vedas) are the ultimate authority
for Dharma, and represent its eternal principles whereas being human
recapitulations, Smritis (Recollections) can play only a subordinate
role. As per Shloka number (6) of chapter 2 of Manu Smriti, "Vedo
akhilo dharma mulam" (Veda is the foundation of entire Dharma)
whereas Shloka number 2(13) of Manu Smriti specifies that whenever
Shruti (Vedas) and Smritis differ, stipulation of Vedas will prevail
over Smriti stipulation." (J. G. Arora – Organizer Weekly)

"A Brahmin boy who had developed more of the Tamsic Guna was not
allowed to remain a Brahmin in his adult age. In the same way, a
Shudra boy could become a Brahmin if he had developed more of Satvic
Gunas. Let us look at the history of Vedic period. Vedas were
codified by Ved Vyas who was a son of a fisher woman. Valmiki who
wrote Ramayana was of a Shudra Class. Guru Dronacharya was a Brahmin
but he took up weapons and faught as a Kshatriya in the Mahabharat
war. One can give many such examples of how this Varna system
worked. For a long period of time this system worked reasonably well
which is why the Hindu civilization was the most prosperous in those
days as compared to other civilizations.

It is a fact that the type of caste system (with its present
rigidity) we today talk about came into being only after the British
census. When the British began to conquer India, the majority of the
kings/rulers in different parts of India had been from amongst such
castes which have been placed in the sudra varna. Chandra Gupta
Maurya was from a Shudra class The British demonized caste because
it stood in the way of their breaking Indian society, hindered the
process of atomization, and made the task of conquest and governance
more difficult. The word 'Caste' comes from the Portuguese
word "Casta" which was then coined as "Caste" by the British and
used it to divide the Indian society to perpetuate its colonial rule
in India. The real rigidity of the caste system came into being only
sometime in 1800 AD."

Albaruni (AD 973 – 1048) describes the traditional division of
Hindu society along the four Varnas and the Antyaja -- who are not
reckoned in any caste; but makes no mention of any oppression of low
caste by the upper castes. Much, however the four castes differ from
each other,they live together in the same towns and villages, mixed
together in the same houses and lodgings. The Antyajas are divided
into eight classes -- formed into guilds -- according to their
 professions who freely intermarry with each other. They live near
the villages and towns of the four castes. (Sachau:101)
This is exemplified by the fact that in Bali Hindu society in
Indonesia, there is no dalit, no untouchability, no caste.
Therefore, castiesm and untouchability are social problems in India
and are not part of Hinduism as propagated by the Christian
missionaries and evangelical folks. Can you say that homosexuality
and pedophilia are rooted in Christianity because there are
practiced by many Christian priests in America and Europe?
Dalit: George Ooommen notes that the word 'dalit' was first used
only in the 19th century by a Marathi social reformer, Jyotirao
Phule. The 'dalit' word was appropriated by a political group called
Dalit Panther Movement of Maharashtra in 1970. And, now the
term, 'dalit' is appropriated by Christian theologians and
missionaries to create anti-Hindu sentiments and convert poor and
illiterate Hindus to Christianity by unethical, immoral and
fraudulent methods.