UNTOUCHABILITY EXISTS IN OTHER RELIGIONS TOO: MADARA SEER
Mysore, Sept. 17 (KMC&ACP)- "Untouchability is being practiced by
people of all religions, not by the Brahmins alone," said Madara
Chennaiah Seer, during the joint interaction with Pejawar Seer
organised by the Mysore District Journalists' Association (MDJA) at
Pathrakarthara Bhavan here yesterday.
"The Pejawar Seer has on behalf of the Brahmins, assured to eradicate
the social evil 'untouchability' completely. If the pontiffs of other
Mutts and religious heads join hands with Pejawar Seer and support his
mission, the evil can be eliminated and unity among various classes of
people within the Hindu society can be attained in due course of
time," he said.
The Seer said that he had got good response from the Brahmins during
his padayatra in Krishnamurthypuram in city last Wednesday and
announced that a similar reverential welcome will be accorded to
Pejawar Seer to any of the Dalit colonies he chooses to visit in north
Karnataka.
Madara Seer said that he was against religious conversions and was of
the opinion that one must stay in the religion into which one is born.
"But I have not advised anyone against conversion," he said and added
that he would say no to conversion only after a society of equality
was created because, as long as the Dalits were deprived of their
rights, they would go to other religions where they feel they will be
accepted and respected.
Pejawar Seer opposes special constitutional privileges to minorities
Mysore, Sept. 17 (KMC&ACP)- Pejawar Seer Sri Vishvesha Theertha
Swamiji said that he opposed the Constitutional provision of giving
additional privileges to the minorities, more than what is given to
the people from majority communities.
He was replying to a query at the interaction along with Madara
Chennaiah Swamiji, held under the aegis of Mysore District
Journalists' Association at the Pathrakarthara Bhavan in city
yesterday.
"The Constitution recommending special privileges to the minorities
must be amended and people of all communities must be considered
equal," reiterated Pejawar Seer.
To another poser from the media whether he would appoint a Dalit as
the pontiff for the branch of Udupi Mutt, an apparently irked Seer
replied, "You ask such questions to a Brahmin Seer. Have you ever
asked about making the Dalit Christian the Pope or a Dalit Buddhist as
a Lama? Nobody asks any of them about such matters."
Continuing, he said, "The objective of my padayatra is not to destroy
any religion. It is against untouchability, to bridge the gap between
the upper and lower classes of the society and to bring in harmony
among the Hindus."
"Destroying any religion is impossible. Such efforts do not yield
results. It would only lead to the destruction of cultural diversity,"
he said and added, "These days, leaders of various religions orga-nise
themselves through conventions and attempt to bring in unity within
people of the religion."
"Moreover, the government conducts caste and religion-based census to
extend special privileges to them. As such, elimination of any caste
is not possible. On the other hand, the Dalits must feel proud to
state the name of their community just as a Brahmin proudly states
that he or she is a Brahmin," the Seer said.
Regarding a query about appointing Dalits as priests in temples coming
under the Muzrai Department, in accordance with a government order to
that effect, the Seer said that the issue was a hornet's nest which he
preferred not to stir up. "Attaining priesthood is not that easy. It
involves lot of tradition. Even I cannot become a priest in the
Tirupathi temple. Each temple has its own tradition and particular
class of Brahmins become its priests.
MDJA President K. Shivakumar, General Secretary B.S. Prabhurajan,
Secretary Shashikumar and others were present at the interaction.
The Seer, along with Madara Seer, watered a mango sapling to symbolise
unification of the Brahmins and Dalits. The sapling will be planted at
the Pathrakarthara Bhavan premises.
------------------------------------
----
INFORMATION OVERLOAD?
Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to ZESTMedia-digest@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/
PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com
TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/
Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
ZESTCaste-digest@yahoogroups.com
ZESTCaste-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ZESTCaste-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
No comments:
Post a Comment