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Is violence against Dalits in India an example of religious hypocracy, or is saying so an example of...?
the west (i.e. small baptist church) imposing its values on a culture that they do not understand?
I had to go to church today (which always makes me want to scream). Today there was a little message on the back of the program for the day, telling people about an incident where "Three colonies of Dalits (a.ka. untouchables) (of the Adi-Dravida community) near Naikkankottai in Dharmapuri district of western Tamil Nadu remained benumbed on Thursday by the fury unleashed on them by a rampaging mob of caste Hindus on Wednesday". People were a bit shocked that this happened 2 miles away from an orphanage. My parent's church has a mission in India, and that's why they get these updates from time to time.
I certainly don't agree with the caste system, but I'm not sure that I would go so far as some other church members as to say that it's hypocritical for Hindus to still have these prejudices. I don't know enough about Indian society, or Hinduism to really comment on the issue... but I would like to know what others think so that I can have an Intelligent conversation with people who see this as simply an example of non-Christians being barbaric and hypocritical.
4 Answers
- NDLv 69 years agoFavorite Answer
Before anyone else answers I should just add this bit of info:
The hereditary, hierarchical caste system never had sanction from the scriptures of authority in Hinduism - it was merely an ancient form of division of labour on the basis of ability (VarN) and age (ashrama).
Unfortunately this is a class system (upper class, middle class etc.) parading as Hindu injunction so it's wrong to call the current format the "Hindu" caste system.
This hereditary, hierarchical caste system is an atrocity on humankind in the name of Hinduism.
Many Hindus in India have a problem with people from other religions trying to convert Hindus since Hindus themselves do not believe in proselytizing and conversion. Also the way some of the missionaries try and convert in India is truly appalling and pathetic through fraud or denying an ill person help until they promise to convert etc.
However, I am not excusing the atrocious oppression that Dalits and other "lower castes" face. In fact I'm constantly interacting and telling the Hindu bodies in India that if they want to stop these conversion activites then they better give the Dalits and other communities the respect that the Hindu religion says ALL humans deserve.
Source(s): Feel free to email me if you have any questions on Hinduism: nucdev@yahoo.com I am a British Hindu educationalist - Anonymous9 years ago
The anti-Dalit violence was due to a Dalit Man eloping with Vanniyar Woman
This would be similar to pre-1960 black man in South USA eloping with white woman in South USA
Similar to Emmet Till case
A lynch mob formed
The Vanniyars are not very literate and are classified as a most backward caste
During British colonial rule, the vanniyars were classified as a violent criminal tribe and had to report to the police every week
The Vanniyars are Shudra or low caste, just 1 level above the Dalit untouchables
If you google 'Dalit Eraiyur'. you will find that in the town of Eraiyur about 75 miles away from Dharmapuri, where the entire town has been christian for 300 years, there are similar frequent riots between Vanniyar Christians and Dalit Christians
For centuries there have been riots between Vanniyars and Dalits, and both Hindu Vanniyars and Christian Vanniyars have attacked Dalit Hindus and Dalit Christians
Vanniyars though a low caste are also a violent caste and will attack anyone , from Brahmin to Untouchable if they feel challenged
Vanniyars are peasants and Dalits are landless agricultural workers who work on Vanniyar farms
There is a class-warfare aspect to this also
Source(s): Hindu - AlexLv 49 years ago
Since the untouchables are Hindus and believe in karma and the caste system they believe that if they rebell karma will pay them back. On the other hand if they are obedient, they believe they will have a better life the next time they reincarnate. India's consitution has outlawed the caste system but many ppl still use it to discriminate against the untouchables. It is very sad and it is religious hypocrisy from Hindus to treat them like that.
- 9 years ago
We Hindus created the first Civilization and it was the most balanced and advanced.
I know there are some people who are anti-Dalits, but it's just because of the ignorance.
Source(s): Hindu