Author: Abha Sharma
Publication: Deccan Herald
Date: February 1, 2005
URL: http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb012005/n10.asp
For the first time a dalit becomes
a Jain monk. After a screening, the Jain saints allowed him to be a part
of their religion.
In a caste-dominated society, where
dalit bridegrooms are often discouraged to ride a mare in their wedding
processions, upper castes treat them with disdain and untouchability remains
a stigma irrespective of what the Indian Constitution outlines, the induction
of a dalit youth in Jain religion comes as a welcome change.
In a historic event, a 22-year-old
youth belonging to Meghwal community was anointed as a Jain monk at Ahore
town in Jalore district on Monday. Hailing from Mandwaria village, Sirohi
district, Chandaram Meghwal alias Sandeep got a new identity as Anant Punya
Maharaj at a diksha ceremony attended by a large number of people from
Shwetambar Jain community and Sandeep's relatives from Sirohi.
Sandeep who went to Mumbai in search
of a job a few years ago was so impressed by Jain saint Suryodaya Maharaj
that he expressed his desire to dedicate his life to the religion. He travelled
with him to various holy places and attended religious sermons with deep
devotion and sincerity to the surprise of the saint. On expressing his
desire to join the religion, he was sent to Ahmedabad to study the Jain
ideology for almost four years. Seeing his intense desire to lead life
of a Jain monk, his family gave in after initial hesitation, reliable sources
told Deccan Herald from Ahore.
He was given a warm send off from
his village two days ago and reportedly there was a mad rush among the
villagers to touch his feet to show their reverence. His monkhood moved
about 1,500 people in the village to go vegetarian and give up drinking.
Monday onwards, he would be known with his new name Anant Punya, said Mahaveer
Jain, a businessman from Bangalore, who was currently in Ahore to attend
the diksha ceremony. His 26-year-old sister also took diksha along with
Sandeep, he said. A commerce student at the MES college in Bangalore, she
gave up her studies to pursue the same path.
A tough life awaits the newly inducted
monk from Tuesday as he will have to walk barefoot, clad in a white robe
and seeking alms. No physical comforts will be allowed, including the services
of a barber.