Vedic society and equality

To
The Editor,
The Astrlogical Magazine,
Bangalore


Dear Sir / Madam,

Subject: Vedic society and equality

Time and again you have upheld the lofty character and the superiority of the
vedas. I am a Hindu and a beliver. I have a smattering knowledge about our religion -
mostly through the English translations.I am a Sudra, one who was declared unfit to
have the sacred knowledge and to learn sanskrit. I have a few questions ; I don't insist
on your reply. But please try to honestly answer these questions to yourself. Of course
this needs a bit of courage.


1. Do you believe in the equality of humans - not as some theoretical ideal as prescribed
in Manisha Panchaka but as a everyday fact of life - the absolute equality of humans
before God, that everyone is entitled to pray, to reach God, to read the sacred literature,
irrespective of their social status ?


2. Do you believe that salvation is possible to all - Hindus, Muslims, Christians & Jews ;
Brahmana, Vaishya, Kshatrya, Sudra and Panchama ? That birth and social status
doesn't disqualify anyone from reaching the supreme knowledge ?

3. What are the steps that you have taken to propagate the sacred knowledge found in the
Vedas ? Any Christian who can read, can read the Bible in his own mother tongue.Have
you ever tried to translate noble portions of Vedas into Kannada, to begin with ?

4. Do you believe that the sacredness of the Vedas would be lost in the translation ? The
medieval Church believed that only the Latin Bible was sacred - even though the Bible was
written originally in Hebrew - and it should not be translated. If you believe so, what are
the steps you have taken to spread Sanskrit among us the Indians so that we can learn
the Vedas as they are ?

5. Can you deny that for centuries this Sanskrit was not taught to Sudras and Panchamas,
even though foreigners like Alberuni (11th Century), William Jones (18th Century) and
Max Mueller were allowed to learn it ? Max Mueller was able to learn the Vedas, but not
the Kshatriyas, Vaisyas, Sudras or the Panchamas. Why ? Does it mean that Panchamas
and Sudras are inferior to Milechas ?

We were prevented from learning Sanskrit and the Vedas, and now you ask us to
appreciate their wisdom.This is like asking somebody to appreciate a painting he had
never seen, not even in photo, just because some scholar thinks it is the greatest painting
in the world.

The white races conquered the Americas,captured most of Asia, sold the Africans into
slavery,exploited them ruthlessly,exterminated the Red Indians and the Australian natives,
and impoverished India, China and numerous other countries.But even they acknowledged,
at least in theory,that all men are created equal.(Please remember Purusha Sukta).

6. If a Vedic dictum runs contrary to the spirit of our times, which shall prevail ?

7. It had been held that while the Srutis are eternal, Smritis are subject to the effects of
time. Hence, the smritis must be revised to suit the times. What steps have been taken
in this direction ?

8. What shall be the basis of our society in future - Chaturvarna -reformed and refined, or
equality as assured by our constitution ? Please do not obfuscate.

The Celebrated Manu had provided a very nice escape route from the inconvenient questions
of ignorant busybodies like me. He had ruled that a Sudra (me ! ) who presumes to teach a
Brahmin (need not say who ! ) should be "shown his place". Unfortunately these Whites
had overthrown the Sacred Order of our Society and started off thousands of Sudras like me.

Under the old system (the Sacred Varna) I 'd be eking out a miserable living as an
illiterate artisan and you would be content to call it my karma, and would not educate me.
The modern education had enabled me to stand up like a man, to earn a living suitable to my
intellectual capacity, not to feel inferior or superior to anybody and to seek the truth for myself
instead of depending on a priestly class.Now, which system, do you think will get my undying
loyalty and vociferous support ? Why ?

The Western society is plagued by many social evils - juvenile delinquency, single parents,
violence, high divorce rates and others. But let us not presume that we can show them the way -
with our untouchability, dowry deaths, caste violence, rigid caste system, and people who still
think all men are not equal and women are certainly inferior.

The West has nothing to teach us in religion and philosophy, but we have everything to learn
about liberty, equality and that doctrine totally alien to us, fraternity. Please do not quote -
" Vasudeva Kudumbakam". The Sudras and Panchamas were not family members of that
Kudumbakam, but helpless servants.

I am yet to see one Hindu religious head who upholds the equality of humans,says that the
smrithis must be revised, accepts that some excesses had happened under Chaturvarna, that
untouchablity is not suitable to our times and proclaims that everyone is entitled to study the
Vedas. When we are considered not even humans,why should someone care for our support ?
Only some miracle had prevented a wholesale exodus of Hindu masses to Islam and Christianity.
(May be the sudras felt that thir "Superiors" will follow them there also and continue to be the
"Superiors" ! This what happened to Budhism and led to its downfall). But that does not mean
that every Hindu is swallowing all the half baked theories of their "Superiors".

Unless and until the guardians of the old order really regret the mistakes of the past,accept that
equality shall be the basis of our future society and teach the sacred knowledge to all deserving
people, more and more Indians will repudiate the Vedas, on which the old order claimed it was
based. Let charity begin at home. May He lead us all to wisdom and enlightenment.

Om Tat Sat.