Author: Tarun Vijay
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: November 13, 2005
Instead of advising India on caste system,
the US would do better to address its own social problems, says Tarun Vijay
In November, the US Congress will discuss
a Bill on Indian Dalits that deals with their treatment. Congressman Christopher
Smith, a New Jersey Republican who chairs the House International Relations
Subcommittee on Global Human Rights and International Operations, held previous
discussions on the topic in October this year.
Mr Smith convened the hearing titled 'India's
Unfinished Agenda - Equality and Justice for Victims of Caste System', during
which, he said, "The Dalits and tribal peoples are treated as virtual
non-humans, and suffer pervasive discrimination and violation of their human
rights."
In his discussion, Mr Smith alleged that Dalit
girls are becoming temple prostitutes and tens of thousands of tribal women
have been forced into situations of economic and sexual exploitation. He further
said that despite constitutional safeguards, the rights of indigenous groups
in the eastern parts of the country are often ignored and mob violence such
as lynching, arson and police atrocities against tribal persons are all too
common.
Mr Smith, bringing out the 'real' issue, said,
"Over the years, many Dalits and tribal groups have converted from Hinduism
to other faiths (read Christianity). However, such converts often lose benefits
conferred by the Government's affirmative action programmes because these,
according to the Constitution, are reserved only for those having Scheduled
Caste status. Converts to Christianity and Christian missionaries are particularly
targeted, as violence against Christians often goes unpunished."
Any person blind to Indian interests would
find such blatant lies offensive. Why take refuge in lies and falsehood in
a country where god speaks directly to its President? And why are such concerns
always limited to Christians? Is the US the sole protector of Christian rights,
globally? Are Indian Christians comfortable when another country interferes
in their matters? Why are they silent? Do they feel only US can help them
and not the Indian Constitution or people? Do they know that Indian Dalits
are lured into Christianity by announcements preaching that only Hinduism
has caste based discrimination; that once you become Christian, you become
equal in the eyes of all?
Missionaries fail to mention, however, that
even after conversion, Dalit Christians have to go to separate churches and
have designated separate cemeteries, too. The same happens to the Dalits when
they turn to Islam but are still told to demand reservation! An Dalit receives
Government reservation by virtue of being a Hindu to rectify the injustices
faced due to caste-based discrimination. The moment he leaves Hinduism and
is baptised or Islamised, the raison d'etre for benefits automatically ceases
to exist.
Hungry for battle, US President Bush has now
unleashed a war on Hindus through sanctioning billions of dollars for proselytising
campaigns. The US Congress's debates about Indian Dalits provide Christian
missionaries with a 'cover' to convert weaker sections of Hindus in the same
way that Pakistanis provide cover to the jihadi infiltrators along the LoC.
This process has two steps: First, creating
an atmosphere of baseless allegations and stating Christians alone are victims,
thus making Indians defensive. Second, asking for safeguards from these allegations
from the proselytisers and unleashing a billion dollar campaign to take advantage
of a disjointed Hindu society.
It is sad to see a complete absence of protest
from the Government of India that claims to represent all sections of the
Indian society and, above all, national honour. Still worse, Dalit movements
have not been able to produce nationalist leaders like BR Ambedkar, who would
stand up against blatant US interference in our internal matters. Most of
the present lot thrives on the support of foreign NGOs and US groups which
use them for their nefarious designs. They forget that the eradication of
untouchability and caste-based discrimination has been the single most important
issue for all Hindu social reformers and political leaders, across party lines.
From Guru Gobind Singh to Sahuji Maharaj to Vivekanand, Mahatma Gandhi, Ambedkar,
Hedgewar, and the present political groups, all are unanimous regarding this.
But, due to vote-bank politics, caste still plays a major role in hampering
progress needed to achieve an egalitarian and casteless society. Though it's
a serious problem, Indians are addressing it with full support from the Constitution
and their socio-religious and political groups.
Americans should set their own house in order
before interfering in the affairs of other sovereign countries. According
to Human Rights Watch, US figures reveal the continuing, extraordinary magnitude
of minority incarceration and the stark disparity in their rates of incarceration
compared to those of whites. Out of a total population of 1,976,019 incarcerated
in adult facilities, 1,239,946 or 63 per cent are black or Latino, though
these two groups constitute only 25 per cent of the national population. Instead
of giving baseless commentary on the caste situation in India, the US Congress
would do better to address social problems in America.