DALITS DEFY BAN TO ENTER TEMPLES IN TWO INSTANCES, WITHIN A WEEK

Though they had to take administration's help, which is shameful for the society reciting "modern INDIA".

After a decade,dalits defy hindu ban,enter temple
[25 Dec 2008]

MADURAI: After a decade-long struggle, Dalits at Panthapuli village in Tirunelveli district entered the Kannanallur Mariamman temple with help of district officials defying a ban imposed by casteHindus. alits, led by district collector G.Prakash and Superintendent of Police Asra Garg, entered the temple at Panthapuli near Sankarankovil on Wednesday. Though the caste Hindus resented the entry, they did not, however, make any effort to resist the move, apparently due to a stern warning issued by Prakash. The collector has initiated speedy steps to take over the temple by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Board. In order to prevent untoward incidents, cops had been deployed in adequate numbers in sensitive areas. The temple, which was closed for nearly 10 years due to a conflict between Dalits and upper castes, has been opened and poojas will be performed on a regular basis by all, officials said. A section of the caste Hindu families resisted the entry of Dalits in the past even though the local munsiff court permitted them to enter the temple. Due to tension, both Dalits and caste Hindus left their homes in the village and settled in nearby hills. The issue gained prominence after the CPI-M state unit recently threatened to take dalits inside the temple. On December17, 200 CPI-M volunteers courted arrested, trying to enter the temple.

Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/After_a_decades_fight_Dalits_defy_ban_enter_temple/articleshow/3891513.cms


Untouchables enter Rajasthan temple
[Date:22-Dec-2008]

Alwar, Dec. 21,08: Alwar, a small town in Rajasthan, today witnessed a social revolution of a different kind as scores of erstwhile scavengers were allowed to enter a temple here. In addition to that, they also dined with families of “upper social strata”, a pipe dream till recent times. “It is dream come true for me, I have entered a mandir (temple) for first time in my 45 years of life. It is a revolution in true sense,” said Ms Anguri Devi, a former scavenger. The moment is equally “unforgettable” and “historical” for Ms Rajni Nanda, Ms Bimla Chumar and Ms Usha Devi, who were in the trade of scavenging. “Till recent times we were not allowed to enter the premises of temples in the locality, but from today we can enter and perform Puja freely,” Ms Nanda said. The socially significant development has taken place on the initiative of Sulabh movement, founded by Ms Bindeshwar Pathak in 1970. “People who used to run away even from the shadow of a scavenger befalling on them have now dined with such people and it is no less than achieving the impossible,” said Ms Pathak.

Source:
http://thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?date=2008-12-22&usrsess=1&clid=2&id=263530
http://www.sulabhinternational.org/news_detail.php?news_id=39

Full story: http://www.sulabhinternational.org/news_detail.php?news_id=38

MANUSMRITI - EPIC OF CASTE SYSTEM AND CASTEISM

[MANUSMRITI, ACCORDING TO UPPER CASTE HINDUS LIKE BRAHMINS IS ONE OF HINDU'S HOLY BOOKS. SOME EVEN DESCRIBE IT AS "ULTIMATE LAW OF NATURE"]

The Manu Smriti (Sanskrit: मनुस्मृति) is a work of Hindu law and ancient Indian society. It is also known as the Laws of Manu.

Manu divides Hindus into four varnas i.e. casteism. He not only divide Hindus into four varnas, he also grades them. Besides prescribing rank and occupation Manu grants privilege to swarnas and imposes penalties on the shudras.The status of the Shudras in the Hindu society as prescribed by Manu the Law-giver and the Architect of Hindu society. There are so many Codes of the Manu Smriti against the Shudras and Women which are below:

1. For the welfare of humanity the supreme creator Brahma, gave birth to the Brahmins from his mouth, the Kshatriyas from his shoulders, the Vaishyas from his thighs and Shudras from his feet. (Manu’s code I-31,)
2. God said the duty of a Shudra is to serve the upper varnas faithfully with devotion and without grumbling. (Manu 1-91) Manu is not satisfied with this. He wants this servile status of the Shudras to be expressed in the names and surnames of persons belonging to that community. Manu says:
3. Let the first part of a Brahman’s name denote something auspicious, a Kshatriya’s be connected with power, and a Vaishyas with wealth but a Shudra’s express something contemptible. (Manu II.31)
4. The second part of a Brahmin’s name shall be a word implying happiness, of a Kshatriya’s (a word) implying protection, of a Vaishya’s a term expressive of thriving and of a Shudra’s an expression denoting service. (Manu II. 32.)
5. A hundred year old Kshatriya must treat a ten year old Brahmin boy as his father. (Manu 11-135)
6. The Brahmin should never invite persons of other varnas for food. In case, the latter begs the Brahmin for food, the Brahmin may give them some left-over. Even these left-over must be served not by the Brahmin but by his servants outside the house. (Manu II2).
7. He who instructs Shudra pupils and he whose teacher is a Shudra shall become disqualified for being invited to a shradha. (Manu III. 156.)
8. A Shudra is unfit of receive education. The upper varnas should not impart education or give advice to a Shudra.It is not necessary that the Shudra should know the laws and codes and hence need not be taught. Violators will go to as amrita hell. (Manu IV-78 to 81)
9. “Let him not dwell in a country where the rulers are Shudras.” (Manu IV. 61)
10. He must never read the Vedas in the presence of the Shudras. (Manu IV. 99.)
11. Any country, where there are no Brahmins, of where they are not happy will get devastated and destroyed. (Manu VIII-20 to 22)
12. A Brahmana who is only a Brahman by decent i.e., one who has neither studied nor performed any other act required by the Vedas may, at the king’s pleasure, interpret the law to him i.e., act as the judge, but never a Shudra (however learned he may be). (Manu VIII.20.)
13. The Kingdom of that monarch, who looks on while a Shudra settles the law, will sink low like a cow in the morass. (Manu VIII. 21.)
14. Any Brahmin, who enslaves or tries to enslave a Brahmin, is liable for a penalty of no less than 600 PANAS. A Brahmin can order a Shudra to serve him without any remuneration because the Shudra is created by Brahma to serve the Brahmins. Even if a Brahmin frees a Shudra from slavery the Shudra continue to be a slave as he is created for slavery. Nobody has the right to free him. (Manu VIII-50,56 and 59)
15. A Shudra who insults a twice born man with gross invectives shall have his tongue cut out; for he is of low origin. (Manu VIII. 270.)
16. If he mentions the names and castes of the (twice born) with contumely, an iron nail, ten fingers long, shall be thrust red hot into his mouth. (Manu VIII. 271.)
17. If a Shudra arrogantly presumes to preach religion to Brahmins, the king shall have poured burning oil in his mouth and ears. Manu VIII. 272.)
18. A Shudra who has an intercourse with a woman of the higher caste guarded or unguarded shall be punished in the following manner; if she was unguarded, he loses the offending part; if she was guarded then he should be put to death and his property confiscated.” (Manu VIII. 374.)
19. A Brahman may compel a Shudra, whether bought or unbought, to do servile work for he is created by the creator to be the slave of a Brahmana. (Manu VIII. 413.)
20. No Shudra should have property of his own, He should have nothing of his own. The existence of a wealthy Shudra is bad for the Brahmins. A Brahman may take possession of the goods of a Shudra. (ManuVIII-417 & X129)
21. A Brahman may seize without hesitation, if he be in distress for his subsistence, the goods of his Shudra. The Shudra can have only one occupation. This is one of the inexorable laws of Manu. says Manu. (Manu VIII. 417)
22. A Shudra who wants to just fill his stomach may serve a Vaishya. If he wants a permanent means of living he can serve a Kshatriya. But if he wants to go to heaven or wants higher or superior birth in the next generation he must serve a Brahmin. (ManuIX334 & 335)
23. The most sacred duty of a Shudra is to serve the Brahmins, always, reciting the words “Brahman” with utmost devotion. Such a Shudra will get salvation. Otherwise he will die a worst death and will go to the worst hell. (Manu X-121)
24. But let a (Shudra) serve Brahmans, either for the sake of heaven, or with a view to both (this life and the next) for he who is called the servant of a Brahman thereby gains all his ends. (Manu X. 122.)
25. The service of Brahmans alone is declared (to be) an excellent occupation for a Shudra for whatever else besides this he may perform will bear him no fruit. (Manu X. 123.)
26. They must allot to him out of their own family (property) a suitable maintenance, after considering his ability, his industry, and the number of those whom he is bound to support. (Manu X. 124.)


READ TRANSLATION OF MANUSMRITI BY AN OXFORD UNIVESITY PROFESSOR:


http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/manu.htm