Udupi, November 17, 2010
Dalit group questions seer's gestures
Staff Correspondent
Members of Karnataka Dalit Sangharsha Samiti (Bheemavada) taking out a
procession as part of Dalit Shudra Swabhimani Samavesha in Udupi on
Tuesday. Photo: Special Arrangement.
The former chairman of Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission
C.S. Dwarkanath said on Tuesday that Hinduism was at the crossroads
now.
Mr. Dwarkanath was inaugurating the Dalit Shudra Swabhimani Samavesha
(convention) organised by the Karnataka Dalit Sangharsha Samiti
(Bheemavada) here. Mr. Dwarkanath said his concept of Hindu religion
was the one supported by Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi, and Lord
Krishna. It was a tragedy that the broadminded ethos of Hinduism was
getting buried in Udupi. He said Vishwesha Tirtha Swamiji of Pejawar
Math was trying to consolidate Hindu vote bank in the name of giving
"Vaishnava Deekshe" to Dalits. "While I respect the Pejawar seer as he
is senior to me in age, I cannot accept his thoughts," he said.
He said Lord Krishna had given his message that devotion was more
important than caste. There would have been no problem if the swamiji
wanted to give "Hindu Deekshe". But by saying that he would give
"Vaishnava Deekshe" to Dalits, the swamiji was giving more importance
to sectarianism.
He said the Krishna Temple in Udupi belonged to all the Hindus and not
to any particular math. Even the Supreme Court had in its ruling in
December 1961 made it clear the Krishna Temple had not been built for
private "pujas" of the swamijis of the Ashta Maths. Republican Party
of India State unit president M. Venkataswamy, State Convener of DSS
R. Mohanraj, Sarvajan Samaj Vedike State unit president B. Gopal, head
of Karnataka Komu Sauharda Vedike K.L. Ashok, State convener of DSS
G.P. Keragodu were present.
Mr. Dwarkanath said the Pejawar swamiji should allow Dalits to enter
the sanctum sanctorum of the Sri Krishna Temple. The BJP Government
was totally heartless to the plight of Dalits, he said.
Earlier, members of the DSS cleaned the Kanakadasa Mandira near Sri
Krishna Temple and prayed there. They took out a procession from the
Town Hall. A large number of people attended the convention.
------------------------------------
----
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/
