Karnataka - Mysore
Dalits have more serious issues than religion: swamiji
Special Correspondent
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'Such issues should be addressed after curbing atrocities against them'
Earlier, Pejawar seer had expressed concern
that conversion is a threat to Hindu religion
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MYSORE: Basavananda Maadara Channaiah Swamiji of Madiga community
Gurupeetha in Chitradurga said here on Wednesday that it was not the
time to discuss the issue of religious conversion, when life and
dignity of the Dalits was under threat from upper-caste Hindus.
He was reacting to a concern expressed by Pejawar seer Vishvesha
Theertha Swamiji over the danger being posed to the "monolithic" Hindu
culture and religion by religious conversion.
In a meeting with the Pejawar seer Vishvesha Theertha Swamiji at the
Krishna Dhama, Basavananda swamiji clarified that the issue of
conversion was not of paramount importance to Dalits when they were
being hunted by upper-caste Hindus consistently. It had led to loss of
trust among Dalits, he added.
When the Pejawar seer said that he was prepared to extend "Bhakti
Dikshe" to the Dalits, to restrain them from converting to other
religions "either by force or through enticement in view of protecting
Hindu culture", Basavananda swamiji said that Dalits had way more
serious issues at hand than religion. Issues such as conversion could
be addressed only after curbing the atrocities committed against them,
he emphasised.
Stressing the need to protect the "ancient" Hindu religion that was
"facing threat of religious conversion", the Pejawar seer had said
that his concern was to see to it that the Dalits got to lead a
dignified life and to dissuade them from falling prey to religious
conversion. However reacting to the observations of the Pejawar seer,
the Maadiga community seer asserted that Dalit culture was as rich and
ancient as any other forward community culture.
"Dalits have been denied the right to equality for centuries and have
been faced physical and mental torture by upper-castes for
generations. The question of protection of religion and culture comes
in only after we instil confidence in them," he noted.
When asked whether he supported Pejawar seer on the anti-cattle
slaughter Bill, Basavananda Swamiji said that the Pejawar seer was of
the opinion that food system was one's personal matter. Dalits should
also have a similar freedom to exercise their choice of food. "It's
more needed to stop killing of Dalits before speaking about cow
slaughter," he said curtly.
On whether his new initiative to visit the Dalit colonies was an
attempt to stop religious conversion, Pejawar seer noted that visiting
Dalit colonies was not a new thing for him. "When Dalits of
Meenakshipuram converted to Islam in 1981, I visited the colonies to
instil confidence in them. Now I am 80 and as a last effort to contain
religious conversion, I'm trying to end untouchability and bring
equality in society," he clarified.
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