|
|
|
Fed up with the denial of their Fundamental Rights by the "oppressive but
ubiquitous, caste system, thousands of Dalits of central and eastern Uttar Pradesh
would embrace Buddhism at a function at Sarnath in Varanasi on May 22.
Over 10,000 Dalit men and women are expected to embrace their new religion as they
find Hinduism "too oppressive" to bear any more. This function would be followed
by another two-day conclave of Buddhists at Chitrakoot at Banda on May 29 and 30,
where nearly 20,000 Dalits would convert to Buddhism.
Chief Minister Mayawati has also shown her inclination to attend the Sarnath
function on May 22. However, she wants the date to be advanced to May 20 as she is
too preoccupied on May 22. She has not opposed the move of the Dalit leaders aimed
at mass conversion of Dalits from Hinduism to Buddhism.
The organisers have not taken any decision on the demand of a large number of
Dalits to embrace, Islam or Christianity after abandoning the religion of their
birth Hinduism. his move has been discouraged so far to avoid a renewed build-up
of communal tension in Uttar Pradesh
Former UP Minister and founder president of the State BSP from 1973 to 1995 (for
21 years) Raj Bahadur told The Hindustan Times in an interview that the Dalits had
been deprived even of their Fundamental Rights, which led them to abandon
Hinduism. "They are treated as worse than animals", he said while maintaining that
even the constitutional provisions had failed to ensure their Fundamental Rights.
Mr Raj Bahadur, who fell out with Mr Kanshi Ram and Ms Mayawati after the duo had
accepted BJP support in June 1995 to form the BSP Government, said the Dalits had
been deprived of education, security, property and health by the upper caste
dominated Manu's social order.
He said the Dalits could not secure education while there was little by way of
their security in society. "They have no ownership of property and were even
prevented from drawing water from the public wells", he said while lamenting the
sorry state of the Dalits eve after 50 years of Independence.
Mr Raj Bahadur said that he had been receiving anonymous threatening letters from
the Hindu fundamentalists for organising the religious conversion programmes at
Sarnath and Chitrakoot. But he is determined to go ahead with the programme at
Sarnath and Chitrakoot. "When Dalits are not allowed to enter temples even if they
are educated, why should they remain as Hindus, he said.
Mr Raj Bahadur dismissed as political humbug' the BJP's idea of bringing the
Dalits into its fold and said the BJP was pursuing its political ideology to
capture the Centre in the next elections. "If the BJP is sincere about the welfare
of the Dalits, why did it not make Ms Mayawati -the Chief Minister of UP for a
full term of five years," he asked while ridiculing the social philosophy of the
BJP.
Though Mr Raj Bahadur is not unduly Worried about the anonymous threatening
letters, he has informed the district administration of Varanasi and Banda about
the proposed conversions of Dalits to Buddhism.
Mr Raj Bahadur, who is now a senior Janata Dal leader, said that short term and
long term steps were being taken to bring about a "cultural revolution" in
society, which could lead to jettisoning the yoke of the upper castes on society.
"For us Hinduism is a way to a slavery system which ignores human and moral values
and our short and long term measures are aimed at throwing away this yoke of
slavery", he said.
He lauded former Prime Minister V. P. Singh's Mandalisation of political sceiario
and said the step had created an unprecedented awakeness among the Dalits and
Backward Castes. "It was VP who got a picture of Dr Ambedkar installed in the
Central Hall of Parliament and also held a year-long Ambedkar Jayanti in the
country." he said.
Mr Raj Bahadur does not believe in Violent methods to undo the 'sins' of the caste
system. "Our peaceful and non-violent movement is aimed at giving to the Dalits
and disparaged what has been denied to them for centuries." he elaborates
 |
||
|
||
|
||
