From left, V. Geetha, ‘Viduthalai’ Rajendran, Manoj Mitta, K. Chandru, D. Ravi Kumar and Meena Kandasamy in discussion on the book ‘Caste Pride – Battle for Equality in India’. , Photo Credit: SR Raghunathan
Retired judge of the Madras High Court, Justice K. Chandru said here on Friday that due to attempts to derail the Constitution and revive Sanatan Dharma and the varna-based caste system, it is now more important to discuss caste.
He was speaking at a panel discussion on journalist Manoj Mitta’s recent book Caste Pride – Battle for Equality in India, which deals with the intersection of law and caste in India by tracking two centuries of legal reforms against caste discrimination. Is. Insisting that there was a “major attempt to derail the Constitution”, Mr Chandru said caste has become important in that context as it is essentially linked to the constitutional guarantees of Articles 14, 15 and 16. Is.
While these articles destroyed Sanatana Dharma and the Varna system, at least legally, he said efforts were underway to revive them. He said there is a tendency to brush caste under the carpet with the hope of making it a thing of the past or doing away with it.
Highlighting instances of India’s legal system degrading Dalits, it said that there was strong opposition from the privileged castes in some places in the US against the introduction of anti-caste laws because they knew that such laws would be effective there. will work properly. Unlike India.
Villupuram MP Ravi Kumar said that the book has achieved something that has not been done so far by any work in Tamil and only in English by highlighting the caste bias in the Indian penal system. He specifically cited the book’s discussion of the inhumane punishment of “imprisonment in the stocks” imposed only on the lower castes in the past.
He noted that a significant portion of the massive book dealt with events taking place in present-day Tamil Nadu, which made him wonder whether the reason was the active presence of movements against caste discrimination or widespread caste discrimination. Pointing out that there are about 300 temples in Villupuram district where Dalits cannot worship even today, he said that such constant humiliation made him think that the reason was the latter.
Poet and novelist Meena Kandasamy said the book reminded of the need to discuss the idea of ”reform” in Hinduism as it relates to current issues such as legalizing same-sex marriage or allowing women to worship at the Sabarimala temple Is.
The RSS is also speaking about reforming Hinduism, he said, except to discuss who will stake Hinduism and who will reform it, dangerously playing into the hands of “fascist” forces.
Author and social historian V. Geetha said the book indicated that if one was to write the history of the making of the Constitution of India, perhaps one should trace the beginnings of democracy to the fight against caste and untouchability, mainly Rather than just looking at the freedom struggle by Dalit MLAs.
‘Viduthalai’ Rajendran of the Dravida Viduthalai Kazhagam said that the book clearly established that Sanatana Dharma, which is now being projected as the culture of ‘India’ by those in power, is apart from the varna system of caste. There was nothing else.