Author: Sreenivas Janyala
Publications: Indian Express
Date: February 5, 2009
URL: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/tirupati-vedic-schools-open-doors-to-dalits/419320/
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has
opened the doors of its prestigious Vedic schools to Scheduled Caste and non-Brahmin
students. Considered sacred, admission to Vedic schools was restricted only
to Brahmins and the TTD's decision goes a long way in its attempt to shed
its image of a caste-rigid organisation.
TTD Board chairman D K Aadikesavulu Naidu
said the Scheduled Caste students could now take admission in the Sri Venkateshwara
Vedic Pathasalas and they would be imparted Vedic education without any prejudice.
The TTD has also decided to support the SC students after they learn the Vedas
by giving them a stipend of Rs 1 lakh which will help them till they find
employment.
TTD public relations officer Ram Pulla Reddy
said the TTD believes in equality and oneness of all and has decided to open
the doors of the Vedic schools to everyone. "Already several students
have taken admission. The first student, Pavan Kumar, applied from Tirupati
itself," he said.
The TTD runs a Vedic University besides one
school at Vedagiri at Tirupati and one at Hyderabad. The Vedagiri school at
Tirupati was established more than a century ago.
Last July, in a rare gesture, the Tirumala
Tirupati Devasthanam had decided to take idols of the world's richest God
to several Dalit villages in the district not only to provide them a glimpse
but also to enable them to worship Him right in front of their homes. Named
'Dalit Govindam', the initiative that has become immensely popular now involves
Dalits in prayer rituals and ceremonies without any prejudice or cutting costs.
Aadikesavulu Naidu says these initiatives
are aimed at drawing the SCs into the mainstream. He said the Board was also
considering constructing Lord Venkateshwara temples in Dalit villages if land
is allotted by the village. A special fund of Rs 5 lakh for construction of
each temple is being set aside for this purpose.
