Let’s join the movement against caste discrimination!

2007-11-14T10:53:00.000-08:00

Nab Raj Roshyara , Germany

Member of group of International campaign

Against caste discrimination in Nepal

The development of Nepal has become our main dream. First and foremost, we need social change for the development of the country. There should not be any kind of dissimilarities in the society. Everybody should have the same rights and the same opportunities politically, socially and economically.

Instead of the four basic castes in our society, namely Brahmin Chhetri Baisya and Sudra, our society should now be associated in the minds of the people with equality, freedom, peace and no corruption. If we are ready to abolish our old,(of course only bad) traditions, only then can we achieve development and progress in our society. We all know that there is no difference between people. In the 21^st century it should be obvious to everybody that there is no such think as ‘untouchable’ persons, it is nonsense even to think about the fact that somebody should not touch me or should not enter into the temple. That is why Non-Dalits should also get involved in the movement against caste discrimination. Caste discrimination is not only about lower caste and upper caste. Discrimination happens within the upper caste as well. For instance, discrimination occurs when two young people from different castes want to marry or share friendships.

Our forefathers have started the bad tradition of the caste system. Our parents and our older generations have been brought up knowing and practicing only this system. It is deeply rooted in their minds. They don’t know it any better. Therefore, it is clear that we cannot abolish the caste system by force. On the other hand, it is the main responsibility of our young people to abolish the caste system completely which does not grant equality to everyone, which does not allow our children, our new generations to come, to think in a progressive way. That is why it is essential to finally start different kinds of campaigns to motivate the old generations and to make them realize that the caste system has died and we should all take part in a funeral ceremony of the caste system.

The true fact is that if we want to see a new Nepal , we Dalits and Non-Dalits should be ready to work jointly and to do away with all kinds of justification for discrimination and racism. This is not only needed by the Dalits of Nepal but it is the need of whole Nepalese Society.

If you look at the matter from religious points of view, turn your gaze to South India . There are thousands of people who are changing their religion every day. Just think for a while! Why do we need a religion? Please spend a couple of minutes to think about this problem. Religion is the ultimate way to reach freedom, peace and equality. But what if you get only hate from it? Look at the Dalits, what are they getting from the Hindu religion? “Do not touch here! Do not touch there! You can not enter the temple! Oho o oho! Be careful! Go away, I have food with me. You are not a human being! How could you dare to enter my restaurant? You will be punished if you use the public tap of upper caste people! I will kill you if you look at my daughter!” These are common sentences Dalits hear in their everyday life. Dalits are being treated as if they had no rights at all and they are like living slaves. But why is this so?

Does Hinduism suggest that people should be discriminated against or labelled ‘untouchable’? Every religion talks about freedom and peace and equality. Some people believe in religion and some do not, that is a different question. But religion tries to teach us that we should treat others just as if that person were our own soul.

Therefore, the elimination of the caste system is most important even for the Brahmins and Panditas who are impeding Dalits from entering the temple. We as members of the younger generations should be able to make them realize that we have no time to lose and should abolish the caste system now. Hindu Pandits should know that the abolishment of the caste system will only make the Hindu religion strong and well. If Panditas or Gurus realize it, then the caste system will be abolished within a minute.

I will tell you how it could happen:

The story is about a Panditji, a man who used to live in a remote village area of Nepal, and his grandson. The Brahmins and Chhetris (who call themselves Thakuris) have declared themselves very clever for a long time by making a rule that they are not allowed to plough the field. All of us know this rule as it still exists in many parts of the county. One day, the grandson of that Panditji gathered all his courage and suddenly started to plough the field with bulls, even though it is socially forbidden for a Brahmin to plough the field with bulls.

The news of that event spread quickly not only within the village but also in the neighbouring villages. Consequently, the Chhetris (Thakuris) who had been holding the main power in the society, organised a gathering and decided to order the Panditji to pay a male goat (BOKA) as a punishment because his grandson went against the tradition!

Poor Panditji now started to look for a way to escape from the punishment. After a short time of thinking, Panditji found a reasonable explanation to convince others why his grandson did not hurt the basic traditional law. “My grandson has not made “BRATABHANDHA (the ceremony of putting a thread)’’. That means, a person who has not done BRATABHANDHA still has an impure soul. That is why it is not a problem if he ploughs the field,’’ Panditji explains.

Everybody who was gathering there said “Panditji, you are really a Guru! And your argument is valuable.” Since then all Brahmin children of that village who have not done BRATABHANDA have been ploughing the fields without any problem.

Nowadays, all Brahmins of that village need not even hire a person to plough their field. They are enjoying this new rule. I see them enjoying with my own eyes because the Panditji was my own grandfather. My villagers now find it very good that I broke the old tradition. Otherwise they would have been in great problems now, as it is almost impossible to find a person who is ready to work in the field of other people for almost nothing.

It’s the story of a littlie change in a small village. However this event can prove that if the old tradition of the caste system is abolished now, even the Panditji will be happy later.

Views about the campaign against caste discrimination in Nepal

Let’s join the movement against caste discrimination!