A sign held by a Muslim saying ALLAH WILL DESTROY THE TERRORIST STATE OF INDIA

A Critique of de-compos mentis by Dr. O. P. Sudrania

Modi Whiff Wharton Miff – Wharton  Soiled its Rugs?

The blunt knell via Wharton sting: “The rescission now is perceived internationally as an indicator of an institutional position in the vigorous ongoing political debate over upcoming elections in India.” Profs. Aseem Shukla and Saswati Sarkar

How more political or ideological? “We do not endorse any political views and do not support any specific ideology. Our goal as a team is only to stimulate valuable dialogue on India’s growth story,” the statement added.” Student Organisers of WIEF2013

Vilifying Narendra Modi (centre right) in a forum where Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Milind Deora (centre left and representatives of political arch rivals UPA II) were co-invitees, will be seen paying politically to humiliate their most hated opponent and a rival Prime Ministerial aspirant at every available stance. He is also a biggest stumbling block in the uphill road for the ‘Khurshid’s Cameo’ Prince Rahul Gandhi, the cynosure of the dynasty of Nehru-Gandhi (1^st) family loyalists; has been crucified in the media dock, is left permanently scarred, bruised and vilified. “Is Modi vilified or vindicated in this imbroglio, I feel time will prove him stronger”?

The Wharton India Economic Forum at Wharton Business School has created flutters over the disgusting invitation scandal using Modi as a petty scapegoat to please the centre-leftist political forces in India. The invitation was rescinded on March 4, 2013; Wharton declared, “As it stands currently, Mr. Modi’s keynote address at Wharton India Economic Forum has been cancelled.”

Modi never asked for in the first place. TOI quipped, “Interestingly, one of WIEF’s speakers in previous years who did not attract the attention of Ghose and his associates was BJP MP Varun Gandhi, who was accused of hate speech and more recently acquitted of the charges.”

“… The model that Narendra Modi has put forward is seriously flawed and is based on some extremely egregious flouting of human rights. That is his economic model” Ghosh said. He further added that contrary to public opinion “Gujarat has some of the worst (no data) human development index report. We need to unpack this rhetoric what development is and we will continue to do that,” he added. Read here the full text of their letter.

“In 2007, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spoke at Columbia University. Needless to say, Ahmadinejad is not exactly a popular figure and was even booed at the event, but Columbia President Lee Bollinger staunchly defended inviting the divisive figure, saying the event was “an enormous benefit in terms of advancing public understanding.”

In a candid sarcasm, “An Indian Politician’s Past Proves Too Hard to Shake”, Chandrahas Choudhury has rightly critiqued the travail of Mr Narendra Modi in the aptly worded phrase. It is less with the said Indian politician (Narendra Modi) than the paranoid current Indian biased media, with no ethics and morality are working as paid news under the patronage of patriarchal glitch.

The Modi Glitch:

In 2002, there were 58 Kar sevaks burnt in the Sabarmati Express including 38 children, infants and women by dousing the S6 bogie after stopping it just past the platform by a strong mob of thousands of Muslims preplanned, laced with all the incendiary material. It is also widely learnt that the said incidence was masterminded, funded, manned through the local Islamist groups knowing that the Hindu pilgrims were returning in the concerned compartment. This has a historical background behind it.

Historical Background: Hindus Live an Exiled Life in Their Home –

Godhra is a well known place where Ghanchi Muslim activists have always been volatile and violent as usual per their Pavlovian reaction. “The court recorded the history of communal riots in Godhra – there were incidents in 1965, 1969, 1971, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1992.”

Firstly the Hindu community has been a most peace loving docile masses termed “Hindu banya” in the pejorative hate phraseology of the most dreaded outlawed Islamist Pakistani terrorist Hafiz Saeed, chief of banned organisation Lashkar-e Taiba Vis a Vis Muslims or any other sections of people.

Secondly Hinduism has traditionally believed in tolerance and considers the entire living being as sacrosanct, equivalent to human life. Thus Hinduism has always advanced the philosophy of “Vasudev Kutumbakam” – universal brotherhood. This further translates into their practice of non conversion or proselytisation; predation is out of question. Advertisements are seen for becoming a Muslim or a Christian but never saw any such attempt by any Hindu organisation thus far. This ‘Hindu tolerance’ is being equated sadly with coward ‘Hindu baniya’.

Having said, this rampant religious evangelism and proselytisation is bound to incite Hindu retaliatory reaction, as existential threat increases in the competitive global God market. If this backlash does ever take place, it will be most unfortunate and sad news for the peaceful co-existence of the global fraternity in an already factionally torn society.

Origin of fiasco in Wharton campus:

Few names must be studied threadbare, e.g. 1. Angana Chatterjee and her live-in partner Richard Shapiro, cynosure of radical Muslims in Kashmir where he goes with his contubernal partner frequently for Jewish-Muslim interfaith promotion (?), what a travesty 3. Suzzane Arundhati Roy, 4. Ania Loomba, 5. Toorjo Ghosh, 6.Catherine Bryson, 7. Suvir Kaul 8. A M Rosenthal, etc.

These videos describe who opposed Modi’s invite and caused pressure on Wharton’s WIEF organizers via their ‘furious’ petition.

Why a blogpost relating to Jammu and Kashmir and sympathiser of Pakistan advanced by some Muslim anonymous authors (New Red Indian) have sympathy with Ms Angana and her contubernal partner? Let us examine the following extract: “Stop the termination of Chatterji and Shapiro at CIIS” October 25, 2011 by newredindian

“… the suspension of two core faculty of the Social and Cultural Anthropology (SCA) Department, Chair Richard Shapiro and Professor Angana Chatterji.” Thus far they both remain suspended. It is noteworthy that this post at this anonymous Muslim blog comes soon after their dismissal in July 2011; smacks of some complicity and is not without a vested interest.

This Pakistani sympathy and their (Angana duo) heartfelt deep conviction of Human Rights violation against the Kashmiri Muslims Vis a Via Kashmiri Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and even those Muslims who these Pakistani sponsored Islamist terrorists consider “Kaffirs”; cannot be brushed aside lightly. They were also in the best books of infamous ISI and its notorious spy Ghulam Nabi Fai, who is now behind bar for his illegal activities and tax evasion in USA. He received millions of dollars from ISI to throw lavish parties and bribe the suspected conduits and lawmakers in USA, besides the rogue elements like Angana and her unconventional contacts and partners in this murky corrupt practice. Hence her interest against Narendra Modi fiasco is extremely business related quid pro quo for Islamist cause directly against India and Hindus equivalent to treason against her nation of birth. People like hers usually engage in such attention seeking mean and cheap activities irrespective of its gravity and sensitivity.

“Her family included mixed-caste parents and grandparents, and aunts who were Muslim or Catholic.” Peruse the link for more of her biographical details here.

Angana Chatterjee’s Playback Singings:

It is noteworthy to peruse this statement and a rebuttal here. “A Rebuttal to Angana Chatterji’s Misinformation Campaign against India; 22/08/2008 20:41:53

LETTER TO OFFICE OF HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, IN RESPONSE TO INDIA BAITER ANGANA CHATTERJI’S LETTER. This letter is an eye opener as back as 2008.

Sandeep writes, “I first heard about Angana Chatterji in connection with the Narendra Modi U.S Visa denial episode. That was some six years ago at which time her name was one among the numerous folks who had ruthlessly worked behind the scenes to make sure that the US didn’t give Modi the visa.”

Sandeep further exposes her: “Angana Chatterji is one of the leading lights of the radical Leftist outfit called Forum of Indian Leftists (FOIL), which lends support to violent and banned organizations that regularly carry out guerilla wars against the Indian state. FOIL has been highly controversial ever since its inception. For a detailed account, see this chapter in NGOs Activists and Foreign Funds, a seminal volume that has found a place in the Indian Parliament’s library.

The Star of FOSA

Far more dangerous than FOIL is Friends of South Asia (FOSA)—an offshoot/offspring/sibling of FOIL—with which Angana has been associated from the beginning. Very briefly, FOSA is a combination of FOIL and the Pakistan-American Association, with very apparent sponsorship from the Pakistani Inter Services Intelligence, per the Pakistani media. Led by Gera, Ra(h)man, Vinay Lal, Mainland Chinese CIIS graduate student(s) working for Chatterji, and several Pakistanis. FOSA with the Pakistan American Association (PAA) are the worthies seen on San Francisco streets holding signs saying: Sometime in April-May 2005, FOSA, which had gotten sponsorship from the Pakistan American Alliance (PAA), took out a public demonstration jointly in San Francisco. One of the “highlights” of that demonstration includes a prominent placard that proclaimed “ALLAH WILL DESTROY THE TERRORIST STATE OF INDIA.” (Original Picture here)

When outrage ensued at this appalling, open call for destruction, FOSA resorted to blatant cover-up by removing all references to PAA from its website. The complete account of FOSA’s chicanery in this connection is available in these documents: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |

Indeed, all prominent events that FOSA has held under its banner have a distinct tinge of anti-America, anti-India and pro-Pakistan and/or pro-Islamism written all over. And Angana Chatterji is at the forefront of almost all these events. An illustrative example is the “SELF DETERMINATION IN SOUTH ASIA: South Asia’s Struggle against US-led Imperialism” panel discussion, …featuring Vijay Prashad, Angana Chatterji, Abdul Nayyar, and Snehal Shingavi…”

Showing Solidarity with FeTNA

Angana’s association with sympathizers, advocates, and supporters of violence and terror is as wide as it is far-reaching. Federation of Tamil Sangams in North America (FeTNA) is just another outfit in her long list of terror-friendly associations. FeTNA is a front of the now-decimated Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE), an outfit that finds a place in the U.S. State Department list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations. Angana’s association with FeTNA is primarily in connection with the California Textbook Controversy where she wrote a letter, under FOSA’s banner, to the California State Education Board expressing solidarity with FeTNA, which opposed the proposed textbook revision on grounds rooted in Tamil chauvinism —the same chauvinism that led to the decades-long LTTE-perpetrated bloody civil strife in Sri Lanka.” More here.

Sandeep continues in his Part 2: “…The fact that she finds America, not Saudi Arabia or Pakistan a very conducive place to pontificate on the liberating virtues of terrorism says a lot: use their money, their infrastructure, their media, and their government to help those who’ve sworn to destroy the US (Israel and India).”

Sandeep exposes her links with ISI, LTTE, FeTNA, Maoists and Naxalists, Left-winger political organisations, which involve against the ‘imperialist interests of India, Israel, USA but she finds no fault in ethnic cleansing of Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, christians, in radicalised Kashmir valley, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia including the fortyfour terrorist training camps in PoK.

Sandeep states further, “And so there we have it: the ISI agent Ghulam Nabi Fai who parrots His Master’s Line and Angana Chatterji also known as “Mary,” his associate/friend/co-activist, who takes the exact same line. But let’s hear it from the horse’s mouth: the FBI charge sheet mentions a certain Mary who “would be testifying in front of a United Nations working group. Mary is a human rights activist; Major General Mumtaz Ahmad Bajwa had requested that Fai introduce him to Mary in July 2009.” Major General Bajwa was the head of ISI’s Security Directorate, which was responsible for nurturing and helping Kashmiri terrorist groups.

With such strong evidence that nail Angana Chatterji’s credentials as a willing stooge of the ISI, it’s unsurprising that she has consistently hushed up and/or whitewashed Pakistan-backed terrorism in Kashmir and has repeatedly taken an anti-India line, a chilling echo of the ISI’s words, and guns and bombs set off by the terrorists it backs. What’s worse is the fact that her claims about India’s alleged human rights abuse in Kashmir are based on gross fabrications.”

The extent of Ghulam Nabi Fai’s lobbying success is evident when Congressman Joseph “Joe” Pitts from Pennsylvania “introduced a resolution in 2004 calling for peace between Pakistan and India in the disputed territory of Kashmir – just days after he had received a $2,000 campaign contribution from Zaheer Ahmad, one of two men charged with distributing Pakistani money to U.S. politicians.”

Pitts has donated that money to charity since Fai was discovered to be an ISI agent but the question remains: didn’t he do due diligence before accepting said $2000? … The same applies in equal measure to Indiana Congressman Dan Burton, who took $10,000 from Fai. Dan Burton already carries the tag of being too pro-Pakistan on the exact same Kashmir issue.

“…But that’s not all there is to Franks. He’s associated with the Dalit Freedom Network, a group that claims to work for the Dalits of India but is engaged in rather shady activities. It’s actually a group run by White people and everything about it starting from its address is fake. A few years ago, when a subpoena was served on them and the person serving the subpoena went to the address, he found that it was actually a Church! One wonders why an organization that claims to be a human-rights NGO needs to indulge in this kind of falsification. (It also exposes the heinous church complicity in castes in India.)

In May 2007, Trent Franks introduced a resolution on untouchability as an unacceptable practice, a move aimed at furthering the cause of the Dalits. Except that this selfsame resolution was pasted verbatim on a website that talks about the prowess of Pakistan’s defence establishment! The reach of Trent Franks is as truly amazing as it is mysterious.”

“The picture that emerges of Trent Franks is gravely disturbing: a Republican Congressman who is associated with a shady “human-rights” outfit, who supports a Communist professor (and her live-in-partner), who is herself the stooge of ISI, which has nurtured Al Qaeda, the group responsible for 9/11. Even more disturbing is the fact that Trent Franks sits on the Committee on Armed Services, and Committee on the Judiciary in the House of Representatives. It’s not too farfetched to conclude that the American people … were unaware that the Jihad-mongers in ISI were skillfully manipulating … Franks.”

One commentator in this post furnished: “Here is a link to the testimony, where you can access full-text documents submitted by witnesses, as well as video of the hearings, which included a Q&A session with U.S. congressmen in which ties to GN Fai were discussed and Angana featured eminently.”

Following excerpts from Angana Chatterjee’s blog narrating a long babble of her indulgent biographical details:

Chatterji is convener, Co-founder and Co-convener of the International People’s Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice in Indian-administered Kashmir, which she instituted with Parvez Imroz in 2008. The first such civil society-based effort in Kashmir, the (self styled) People’s Tribunal has documented witness/survivor testimonies, investigating legal-political states of exception, disappearances, gendered and sexualized violences, torture, extrajudicial killings, and unknown and mass graves. Parvez Imroz is also convener of International People’s Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice in Indian-administered Kashmir (IPTK) alongside Angana Chatterji, Gautam Navlakha, Zaheer-Ud-Din, Mihir Desai, Khurram Parvez – Liaison IPTK and Programme Coordinator, Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society.

Queries may be directed to:
Khurram Parvez
E-mail: kparvez@kashmirprocess.org
Phone: +91.194.2482820
Mobile: +91.9419013553

Chatterji has received support, including scholarships and research awards, for her work from various institutions, including the Planning Commission of India, Society for Promotion of Wastelands Development, Ford Foundation, Wallace Global Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, SwedForest, Marra Foundation, and the University of California, Berkley.

She received grants from American and Indian official organisations, only to back stab them!

Also peruse Facebook Link on Facebook developed by a group of patriotic youngsters with their own Website first developed it on 3 March 2013 following the Wharton Narendra Modi Fiasco. The Facebook link has a good collection of material relating to this episode. It sites a number of videos trying to expose this loathingly disgusting episode.

Rajiv Malhotra on Angana Chatterjee

“While she finds US intervention in Iraq and Afghanistan to be a violation of those countries’ rights and calls George Bush ‘a man who himself should be charged with crimes against humanity,’[iv] she still wants US intervention in India’s affairs, for example through the US Commission on International Religious Freedom. Chatterji provided testimony before the United States Congressional Task Force on International Religious Freedom on violence in Orissa,[v] chaired by Congressmen Trent Franks and Joseph R. Pitts, both with strong right-wing evangelical connections.[vi]

Malhotra cites several names like: Martha Nussbaum, Lise McKean, Romilla Thapar, Meera Nanda and Vijay Prasad besides off course the ubiquitarian Angana Chatterjee. He also states: “A closer look at these scholars will illustrate their funding, their connections and their agendas.”

“For almost a decade Chatterji, … had worked tirelessly to build up a body of work that took a critical record of India’s human rights violations in Kashmir. Today, most of her work has been stigmatized by her association with Fai.

Alongwith Angana, others involved were: Gautam Navalakha, journalist Ved Bhasin, Sonia-MM Sigh’s choice – Kashmir interlocutor Dileep Padgaonkar, justice Rajinder Sachar, former chief justice of Delhi High Court (who was commissioned by UPA II in 2005 to prepare a report on the latest social, economic and educational condition of the Muslim community of India, headed by the former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court Rajinder Sachar, including other six members), Kuldip Nayar.

Angana acclaimed pretentiously, “It was embarrassingly bad judgment on hindsight,” … adding that she found “the news of Dr. Fai’s alleged actions on behalf of the ISI to be highly disturbing and disillusioning.” Navalakha had a similar reaction.

Intelligence shared by the US with India indicates that Fai also sought money from the ISI using the names of these prominent Indians. “At one point Fai sought $50,000 from them using the names of Indian intellectuals like Chatterji and Padgaonkar,” a senior Indian official familiar with the case said.

More Angana Stage Facade:

Uploaded on Nov 20, 2009

The first of two panel discussions spnsored by the CarrCenter’s Kashmir Initiative. This event took place November 11, 2009 at HarvardUniversity’s Kennedy School of Government.
Panelists included: Dr. Sugata Bose, Dr. Ayesha Jalal, Alexander Evans, John Halpern and Dr. Angana Chatterji; Suvir Kaul, Parvez Imroz, Dr. Ahmad Faruqui, Robert Nickelsberg.

Suzzane Arundhanti Roy:

Angana is also close to another known Indian lady Suzzane Arundhanti Roy, also a bird of the same flock but mostly flies in Delhi. They have both co-authored a book on Kashmir and both of them are heavy weight darlings of the Kashmiri separatists and Fai Inc. aka Pakistan/ISI.

Suzzane Arundhati Roy was born in Shillong, Meghalaya, India, to Ranjit Roy, a Bengali Hindu tea planter and Mary Roy, a Malayali Syrian Christian women’s rights activist.

Suzzane is more vibrant in her than Arundhati Roy, ought to be taken note of.

She is a spokesperson of the anti-globalization/alter-globalization movement and a vehement critic of neo-imperialism and of the global policies of the United States. She also criticises India‘s nuclear weapons policies and the approach to industrialisation and rapid development as currently being practised in India, including the Narmada Dam project and the power company Enron‘s activities in India.

Support for Kashmiri separatism by both Roy and Chatterjee.

In an interview with the Times of India published in August 2008, Arundhati Roy expressed her support for the independence of Kashmir from India after massive demonstrations in favour of independence took place—some 500,000 separatists rallied in Srinagar in the Kashmir part of Jammu and Kashmir state of India for independence on 18 August 2008, following Amarnath land transfer controversy. According to her, the rallies were a sign that Kashmiris desire secession from India, and not union with India. She was criticised by Indian National Congress (INC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for her remarks.

“…she also crusaded against India’s massive hydroelectric dam projects in the central and western states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.”

Roy has raised questions about the investigation into the 2001 Indian Parliament attack and the trial of the accused. She has called for the death sentence of Mohammad Afzal to be stayed while a parliamentary enquiry into these questions are conducted and denounced press coverage of the trial. The Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Prakash Javadekar criticised Roy for calling convicted terrorist Mohammad Afzal a ‘prisoner-of-war’ and called Arundhati a ‘prisoner of her own dogma (and conscience too if not the loyalty)’.

Roy’s criticisms about Mumbai terror attack are no less impressive. In her estimation, Afzal Guru and Ajmal Kasab are war heroes. “In an opinion piece for The Guardian (13 December 2008), Roy argued that the November 2008 Mumbai attacks cannot be seen in isolation, but must be understood in the context of wider issues in the region’s history and society such as widespread poverty, the Partition of India …, the atrocities committed during the 2002 Gujarat violence, and the ongoing conflict in Kashmir. … Roy warns against war with Pakistan, arguing that it is hard to “pin down the provenance of a terrorist strike and isolate it within the borders of a single nation state”, …”. Her remarks were strongly criticised by Salman Rushdie and others, who condemned her for linking the Mumbai attacks with Kashmir and economic injustice against Muslims in India; Rushdie specifically criticised Roy for attacking the iconic status of the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower. Indian writer Tavleen Singh called Roy’s comments “the latest of her series of hysterical diatribes against India and all things Indian.”

In November 2010, Roy (along with Syed Ali Shah Geelani and five others) was brought up on charges of sedition by the Delhi Police. With such diverse perversive personality defect, the role complicity against Modi is perhaps too little. Look here for further perusal.

Professor C I Isaac dismisses her, “But Arundhati’s are masqueraded in bogus arguments of secularism and democracy.”

The right to free speech is not simply the right to talk — it is the right to have an audience. You cannot have true dialogue and advance public knowledge without a rigorous discussion involving both sides of the story.”

Allowing Modi to speak at the Forum would not have legitimized him, but the result has legitimized, to an extent, suppressing the speech of those we disagree with (by disinvite).

Blowback from Wharton Scandal

Now, Mohandas Pai drops out of Wharton show By NitiCentral Staff (Excerpt)

Pai said he was upset at the way India had been treated by a section of the international community at the forum.

WIEF has been hit by a string of keynote speakers dropping out, after its controversial decision to first invite Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to the forum, and rescind the invitation.

…He is the latest in the list of panelists and sponsors who have opted out of the forum, after Wharton’s controversial decision to rescind its invitation to Modi.

Gautam Adani from the Adani Group, and Atul Nishar from Hexaware Technologies have dropped off as key sponsors of the WIEF.

Columnist Sadanand Dhume, who is a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, an American think-tank, withdrew from the conference.

Dr Preetha Reddy, managing director of Apollo Hospitals, and Dr Ashwin Naik, CEO and co-founder of Vaatsalya Healthcare too, are no longer among the listed speakers at the forum.

Your Voice | Modi should have stayed: by Aseem Shukla is an associate professor at the Perelman School of Medicine. Saswati Sarkar a Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering professor (Excerpt)

As members of the Penn faculty, we have shared our views … Our concern is not whether Modi should be feted or condemned, but that capriciously silencing an invited speaker without (cogent) explanation wrought the following:

a) The rescission now is perceived internationally as an indicator of an institutional position in the vigorous ongoing political debate over upcoming elections in India. Extending an entirely avoidable discourtesy to Modi and the largest opposition party alliance effectively galvanized his legions of supporters. The citizens and press in India are indignant that the conference would seem to endorse the current ruling coalition. The move also fosters the perception that the University is corroborating a particular ideology, rather than considering the perspectives and aspirations of the greater Penn Indian-American community.

b) We must neither be supporters nor detractors of Modi to condemn extremist rhetoric and categorically false accusations to vitiate dialogue here at Penn. After a special investigative team appointed by India’s fiercely independent Supreme Court held that Modi did not launch a “pogrom” in Gujarat to target its Muslim minority, the United Kingdom and European Union lifted a ban on his diplomatic credentials — the United States has yet to follow. Gujarat under Modi enjoys the most economic freedom in India and, … it showed the most rapid decline in malnutrition among all Indian states between 2007 and 2011. Most certainly, neither Modi nor any mainstream politician in pluralistic India is either an anti-Muslim or an anti-Semite. Modi has resoundingly won democratic mandates of several Muslim-dominated constituencies in Gujarat, and currently, Gujarat enjoys the strongest relationship with Israel in its history.

The Wharton India Economic Forum was right to invite Modi to join its prestigious forum. His is an influential voice in the Indian polity and relevant to any dialogue on the convergence of business, policy and governance. The public disinvitation of a thrice-elected leader of a state of 60 million people invited unprecedented international censure, loss of nearly all of the forum’s corporate sponsorship and several distinguished speakers.

However, the saddest consequence of the rescission is capitulation on the value that constitutes the core of a vibrant academic ecosystem — that of encouragement of a plurality of discourse.

More reactions against the Wharton Scandal: Important reads

(1) Your Voice | Attacks on Hindus play out in the theater of the absurd

Arvind Kumar can be reached at arvind@classical-liberal.net.

(2) There were serious protests against the Wharton decision, “Members of the protest called the march a memorial to free speech”

(3) Wharton Pulls Away Narendra Modi’s Invite, Creates Controversy by Archana Chaudhary

(4) Modi Effect: Wharton Loses Main Sponsor Gautam Adani

Congress Party – Sushil Shinde

By O.P. Sudrania

(CHAKRA) Sushil Kumar Shinde is Home Minister of India and Congress MP. He is also said to be a ‘dalit’ like our esteemed Speaker – Ms Meira Kumar, Rambilas Paswan, infamous A. Raja, Mayawati UP chief minister etc. He has shamed the entire country in the eyes of global community, given an opportunity to the international terrorist like Hafiz Saeed, who is incriminated in Mumbai 26/11 blast that killed more than 170 innocent lives and injuring thousands. “The founder of Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) has described a $10m (£6.2m) bounty on his head – announced by the US on Tuesday…” reported by BBC.

Present UPA II consists of a conglomerate of multitudes of so called ‘secular’ parties because they are not communal Vis a Vis BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party – how communal it may sound). Let us examine its configuration especially in relation to ‘Saffron Vis a Vis Green moon and star parties).

The following data are from the source:

Current members for Lok-Sabha 2009

(1) Indian National Congress – 206 Seats (2) Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam – 18 Seats; (3) Nationalist Congress Party – 9 Seats (4) Rashtriya Lok Dal – 5 Seats (5) Jammu & Kashmir National Conference – 3 Seats (6) Jharkhand Mukti Morcha – 2 Seats (7) Indian Union Muslim League – 2 Seats (8) All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen – 1 Seats (Withdrew support on November 13, 2012) (9) Kerala Congress (Mani) – 1 Seats (10) Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi – 1 Seat.

Supporting parties for Lok-Sabha 2009

(1) Samajwadi Party – 22 Seat (2) Bahujan Samaj Party – 21 Seats (3) Rashtriya Janata Dal – 4 Seats (4) Janata Dal (Secular) – 3 Seats (5) Nagaland People’s Front – 1 Seats (6) Bodoland People’s Front – 1 Seats (7) Swabhimani Paksha – 1 Seats (8) Bahujan Vikas Aaghadi – 1 Seats (9) All India United Democratic Front – 1 Seats (10) Sikkim Democratic Front – 1 Seats

Indian Union Muslim League and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen really do make it look secular because they are Islamist groups. I shall not divert by delving on the long saffron “Tikka” on forehead by Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, this in itself is a fictitious bewitching symbol to deceive the Hindu voters because they are not (stress) Hindus. How secular is the credentials of this present “United Progressive Alliance II” after their second term in 2009. Yet BJP is communal by their standards. This justifies the Shinde shit of Hindu terror implying saffron terror by priori since their Muslim votebank policy is biting them. Hence “Hindu Terror” bandwagon has to be beaten to befool the Muslims, not because of the real ghost of Hindu terror but a perceived ghost of Hindu terror. If it is not there, create one. It is aptly expressed in a Latin maxim: “A posse ad esse”, i.e. from the possible to the real.

Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM)

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangha is composed of the original sons of the soil historically, who are born, brought up and has fought their battles against the invading aggressors. Sometime ago Dr. Farooq Abdullah had remarked that the Moon and Star is now outmoded and Muslims have to look forward. He was made unholy in his communalised radical Kashmir valley.

Similarly, “Today, in a stormy Majlis Shura (Governing Council) meeting, Maulana Ghulam Muhammad Vastanvi ousted from his post of Mohtamim (Rector) of Darul Uloom Deoband. Following his ouster, Mufti Abul Qasim Nomani was appointed as Mohtamim. India is secular because of Hindus, said a Muslim leader. Still Shinde must see terror in Hindus because His Masters Voice wishes it so.

Vastanvi’s fault was, “Just after his appointment, he sparked a controversy, saying Muslims too benefited from the development initiative of the Gujarat chief minister. He was also allegedly quoted saying that Muslims should forget the infamous 2003 Gujrat riots which took thousands of innocent lives.””

“The demand was raised by State Janta Dal (U) president Ghulam Qadir Wani while addressing a meeting here today. He said “What is the meaning of joining Hindu and saffron color with terror? It is a downright insult of India’s spiritual, cultural and civilization heritage. Hindus has always been generous… India is secular because Hindus respect the other view,” he went on to demand his (Shinde’s) resignation. Still Shinde cannot look beyond his prism of Hindu terror. The entire world must be laughing at his psychic IQ. He cannot be awakened who is feigning to sleep!

MIM is a branded dynastic political party about this highly secular UPA II, initially started by the patriarch Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi who was Member of Parliament for six consecutive terms and resigned in 2004 in favour of his eldest son. It was the seventh straight victory of the All India Majlis-e Ittihad al-Muslimin (MIM) in the Hyderabad seat. The seat was previously occupied by his father, MIM supremo Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi, who decided to pass on the mantle of MIM leadership in favour of his eldest son. The Party since then retaining all the seven State Seats of the State Assembly from the constituencies of Charminar, Yakutpura, Chandrayangutta, Malakpet, Nampally, Bahadurpura, Karwan, andAsifnagar in the Old city and New city as well as the Hyderabad Central Lok Sabha constituency, all Muslim dominated.

A frantic search on net has not helped to learn more; perhaps their secular credentials must have been under smoke screen that Google and Yahoo have some difficulty with it. Recent arrests of both the Owaisis in communal hate speeches must be a grotesque reminder of their secular characteristics. They have been reported enough with an international outcry but Shinde Inc must not look on that side. Let me try my luck with another secular constituent.

Indian Union Muslim League:

“Though League is a powerful pro-Muslim community oriented party, it sticks to its secular credentials. It has decided to remain their allegiance to Indian Union after Independence, when the original Muslim League went to Pakistan. The IUML is the only Pro-Muslim party, which declared its allegiance and loyalty to India in post-independent India. The party has strongholds mostly in Kerala State districts like Kozhikode, Malappuram and Kasargod. They form the second largest party within UDF.

A particular faction of Muslims in Kerala is sometimes regarded as the supporters of Indian Union Muslim League. The supreme leader of the faction, Panakkad Sayed Hyderali Shihab Thangal, is the president of Kerala state unit of Indian Union Muslim League. This unofficial support is cause of the repeating election victories of Indian Union Muslim League candidates from Muslim dense districts.”

It further goes on communal violence in Kerala, its chief place of mischief.

*IUML members were accused of alleged involvement in communal riots in Marad & Later Supreme Court acquitted all IUML members as there is no proof of their involvement in this massacre. The Marad massacre was the killing of eight Hindus by a Muslim mob on 2 May 2003 at the Marad beach of the Kozhikode district, Kerala, India. The Judicial Commission of Inquiry by Justice Thomas P Joseph that probed the incident concluded that Indian Union Muslim League was directly involved in both conspiracy and execution of the massacre.

The commission affirmed “a clear communal conspiracy, with Muslim fundamentalist and terrorist organisations involved”. The courts later sentenced 62 Muslims to life imprisonment for committing the massacre in 2009.

The role of Indian Union Muslim Leader P. P. Modieen Koya and Mayin Haji (then Chairman Kozhikode Development Authority) was also highlighted in the report but later Supreme Court acquitted all as there is no solid proof of their involvement in this massacre and found them to be aware of the conspiracy beforehand.

On 5 August 2012, the State secretary (CPI-M) Pinarayi Vijayan accused Indian Union Muslim League workers (IUML) of causing death to a DYFI activist, at Thachangad during the hartal on 2 August 2012. Though he admitted that it was too premature to comment on the basis of the preliminary report of the post-mortem. Later the post mortem report confirmed the death was due to cardiac arrest.*

The following examples in this context should also be taken as a warning by democratic parties on both sides of the ideological divide that their ‘pragmatic’ association with fundamentalist and sectarian outfits is akin to digging a hole for themselves.”

He asserts, “Historically, Muslim sects in Pakistan chose to appease the “worthy of death” rhetoric against another minority because they saw it as an insurance policy for themselves. Perhaps they should listen to John F. Kennedy’s inauguration speech of 1961: “…remember that, in the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside.”

The tiger has already swallowed so many. Just look around: Shiite processions? Terrorized. Sufis shrines? Bombed. Christian leaders? Assassinated. Hindu girls? Kidnapped.”

Yet Hindus are training terrorist in camps, Mr Shinde must assert. I think his epistemology of English language can be blamed partly when he mixed up terrorists for territoreal, who heads the sensitive portfolio of Home Ministry of India. It is not his fault – Macaulayism at best. It is your fault if you do not understand what he said, because it is the media who distorted his words and opposition parties are exploiting for political mileage.

Initially the Congress had distanced from his remarks by attributing to Shinde but later on they have jumped into the bandwagon to defend him as an afterthought.

The Conspiracy theories behind “Hindu Terror”:

This is a calculated transcript pre-empted and must be conceptualised by Ms Sonia Gandhi by herself since she is a born Catholic from Orbassano conservative village, Italy. She has known the power of Hindu nationalism and further doses must have received from her mother-in-law living under her shadow. It is variously quoted in media that she is fourth largest rich person in the world. Her assets are estimated from $2.2 to 11 Billion, while other sources quote in Indian currency to the tune of Rs. 20.80 Lacs Crores. She has never contested or denied it Vis a Vis Morarji Desai; who had sued his defamers in USA with the help of Mr Henry Kissinger despite his bad health in last days. She is also known to have links with the then KGB of USSR and Secret Vatican Intelligence Agency Opus Die proved documentarily, ISI of Pakistan, CIA of USA, even Mossad of Israel has been quoted, etc. In this report, they question the role of KGB, Mossad and LTTE in the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi since he had discovered her complicity in Bofors scandal along with Mr Ottavio Quattrocchi, Ms Sonia Gandhi’s Italian accomplice.

“Last section is from IB Chief Dharr’s book ‘Open Secret’ shows clearly that Sonia Gandhi is KGB agent. How KGB kills Lal Bahadur Shastri, Sanjay Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Rajesh Pilot, Jitendra Prasad, Madhavrav Scindhiya…” Their sons have been made Ministers in UPA II cabinet to divert their attention from her crimes.

“The darkest of all conspiracies By B. R. Haran ‘The Pioneer’ Saturday, January 22, 2011details, “Hindu terror” and “Saffron terror” are terms concocted on the basis of weak evidence by a discredited, corrupt political elite which thinks nothing of sacrificing human lives for petty electoral gains. But how long can you fool all the people? Since the formation of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) in 2004 there has been a marked rise in the number of sleeper modules of jihadi organisations across India. The high priority accorded by UPA- 1 to the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002, had a significant bearing on the career of Students’ Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).

This terrorist group, which acted on direct orders of the Lashkar- e- Tayyeba (LeT) found the latitude accorded by a pseudo-secular regime in Delhi to reinvent itself as “Indian Mujahideen”, “Deccan Mujahideen” and “Popular Front of India.”

All this amply delineates that a “conspiracy of Hindu terrorism” must be created for two reasons: One that a large section of Hindu population has been against the Indian National Congress right after independence in 1947. This found the anger of beleaguered first Prime Minister of India – Pandit Nehru, who dreaded them and assassination of Mahatma Gandhi gave him reprieve to suppress the growing Hindu nationalism to consolidate his position of secular credentials and Muslim votebank stock. This same scourge of anti-Hindu political trump card has been played to malign the Hindu society through a calculated instrument of media tirade incessantly being run through majority Indian press, which are controlled from outside the Indian borders as well as their foreign fundings detailed by Gautam Sen.

Judging from all these political and corruption and black money, the conspiracy of maligning the Hindu community for vested interests is understandable and is a necessary monster that has to be kept alive and moving.

Shinde’s lies exposed:

In an article in The New Indian Express, “True lies of Sushil Kumar Shinde”, By S. Gurumurthy, 24th January 2013, details as under:

LeT Culprit, say UN, US

“Qasmani Arif…chief coordinator of the relations of the [LeT] with other organisations…has worked with Lashkar-e-Tayyiba to facilitate terrorist attacks including…the bombing of February 2007 in the Samjhauta Express in Panipat (India).” This is what resolution [No 1267] of the Committee on Sanctions of the United Nations Security Council [UNSC] dated 29.6.2009 declares. Adding that Qasmani was funded by Dawood Ibrahim and he did the fundraising for the LeT and the al-Qaida, the UNSC said, “In exchange for their support, al-Qaida provided support staff for the February 2007 bombing of the Samjhauta Express in Panipat.” This resolution is available on the UN site. Two days later, on July 1, 2009, the United States Treasury Department said in its press release: “Arif Qasmani has worked with the LeT to facilitate terrorist attacks, including…Samjhota Express bombing.” The US named four Pakistanis, including Arif Qasmani as terrorists, under Executive Order No 13224. This press release is still on the US Treasury site. The United Nations Security Council and the US Treasury Department thus named the LeT, Qasmani and Dawood Ibrahim as accused in Samjhauta terror. This is just the beginning of the torrent of evidence pointing to the LeT and Pakistan.”

My own feeling is that Shinde is completely ignorant and at the same time running himself in the set timeline drawn by his God master/mistress. This lie has been earlier spoken by Rahul Gandhi and P. Chidambaram also. Rahul’s lie was exposed through WikiLeaks Cables, later confirmed by the ex-US Ambassador to India, viz Timothy Roemer that growth of “radicalised Hindu groups” which create religious tensions in India could pose a bigger threat to the country than activities of groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

Thus it is a calculated premeditated planned strategy to shield themselves from their own black money and scandalous scams exposed during the regime of UPA government, e.g. cash for vote, 2 G by A. Raja, Hasan Ali Khan scandal for black money laundering, Coalgate, Chief Vigilance Commissioner P.J Thomas, Commonwealth Games scandal by Suresh Kalmadi, Adarsh Society scam, Devas-Antrix deal, Abdul Kalim Telgi stamp scam, Satyam scam, Bofors scam, Fodder scam (chara ghotala) of Bihar, IPL scam involving Lalit Modi and Shashi Tharoor, Hawala scandal also involved money transferred to militants of Hijbul Mujahideen in Kashmir, Harshad Mehta and Ketan Parekh stock exchange scam, etc. Their lunger (Punjabi feast) of scams has not stopped, everyday a new one surfaces. While this scam tainted UPA was having a breather, Delhi gangrape case rocked the entire country after the public pitch raised by Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal teams, followed by Baba Ramdev. Shinde was castigated for his remarks against the Delhi rape case comparing them to Maoists.

Income tax raids, CBI misuse are two strong instruments that are regularly targeted to raid their opponents to either silence their voices or exposing the black money stashed by misuse of power and authority in crores as the unaccounted money beyond the known sources of their income. A war cry against corruption and rising inflation that is breaking the backbone of common people are some of the reasons for these diversionary dangerous politics with their long term divisive and disruptive politics of Hindu terrorism.

Whatever be the cause or culprit, it is an ample proof of governance deficit, which UPA government has to burden and share and answer for. All these everyday unpardonable and treasonable scandals with their fast declining vote bank especially in Muslims is the chief reason to raise their pitch for a fictitious ghost of Hindu terrorism to woo the Muslim votes. This is a scandalously dangerous negationist politics to pave the way for divisive cynicism. It must be condemned and exposed at every level and platforms.

(Dr. O. P. Sudrania is a senior retired teacher in surgery and a medico-legal counsellor; now also engaged in research of spiritual and socio-political analytical science as a part of service to humanity. He retired as Emeritus Professor in Surgery from Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. )

Satya Sai Baba Miracles

(CHAKRA) Sri Satya Sai Baba of India is well known globally as a Saint, philanthropist, spiritual preacher and healer, a Godman often derided by His doubting Thomases as a magician, trickster, sleight of hand, black magician, cheater, fraud, even call Him a scoundrel etcetera. One always see the same colour as one wear the glasses over the eyes. It is not my theme to counter these Thomases but dwell in some real accounts of experiences which we ordinary worldly people commonly describe them as ‘Miracles’.

To me as a trained physician, a miracle is a supranormal experience observed by our physical senses which is impossible to enact or replicate by us under normal situation. Catholic Encyclopedia states, (Latin miraculum, from mirari, “to wonder”). In general, a wonderful thing, the word being so used in classical Latin; in a specific sense, the Latin Vulgate designates by miracula wonders of a peculiar kind, expressed more clearly in the Greek text by the terms terata, dynameis, semeia, i.e., wonders performed by supernatural power as signs of some special mission or gift and explicitly ascribed to God. Words terata mean wonder and dynameis mean power.

The word dynamis, “power” is used in the New Testament to signify:

• The power of working miracles, (en dymamei semeion — Romans 15:19);
• Mighty works as the effects of this power, i.e., miracles themselves (al pleistai dynameis autou — Matthew 11:20) and expresses the efficient cause of the miracle, i.e., Divine power.

… St. Thomas teaches: “Those effects are rightly to be termed miracles which are wrought by Divine power apart from the order usually observed in nature” (Contra Gent., III, cii), and they are apart from the natural order because they are “beyond the order or laws of the whole created nature” (ST I:102:4). Hence dynamis adds to the meaning of terata by pointing out the efficient cause. For this reason miracles in Scripture are called “the finger of God” (Exodus 8:19, Luke 11:20), “the hand of the Lord” (1 Samuel 5:6), “the hand of our God” (Ezra 8:31).

In this discourse, I hope to detail in brief, the Miracles performed by Sri Satya Sai Baba in His life time; as indicated above in Bible, it is a ‘hand of God or the finger of God’, hence by priori Baba must be God. They have been variously experienced and acclaimed by noted people including myself. Baba used to express that it is my nature, what you call miracles. They are my visiting cards, i.e. by these actions, you remember my whereabouts to come back out of amazement to me and then I feed you like a mother, “What I have come to teach you, i.e. the spiritual wisdom”? It draws your attention to me. Hence they are His visiting cards.

Baba Himself explains, “You elaborate in your lectures the unique powers of Sai, the incidents that are described as ‘miracles’ in books written about Me by some persons. But I request you not to attach importance to these.” He further said, “I use My Shakti (power) to attract people and to draw them towards the Godward path. These miracles are merely baits with which I lure them towards Me. Once their faith is firmly established, they begin to look beyond the miracles and slowly start stretching their hands out for what I have really come to give- Knowledge and Bliss.”

Baba also jests on our amazement of His miracles, “Therefore, when you speak about these miracles, I laugh within myself out of pity that you allow yourself so easily to lose the precious awareness of my reality.” Indeed this is true.

Baba sends an Australian back home – through His interview room!

A group of six devotees had come to have darshan of Baba from Australia. Baba called them for a private interview.

During the normal course of the talk, Baba looked at one of the devotees and asked — “Why did you come now? Your mother is not well. She needs you there back in Australia”.

He replied saying– “Yes Baba, I called home yesterday night and this news was conveyed to me. I pray for her early recovery.”

Baba replied –

“Go home soon. She is asking for you. In fact go home now.”

So saying, Baba created a map of the world with the wave of the hand. He spread it on the wall and the following conversation took place: –

BABA: “Where is Australia in this map?”

Devotee: “Here, Baba.” (Pointing to the map).

Baba touched it and the world map changed into an Australian map.

BABA: “Where in Australia do you say?”

Devotee: “New South Wales, Baba.” (Pointing to the map).

Baba touched it and the Australian map changed into the map of New South Wales.

BABA: “Where in New South Wales do you say?”

When the devotee mentioned the place, Baba touched it and the chart changed to show all the apartments in the area.

Then Baba touched the house in which the man was staying and lo! the wall of the interview room became the door of the devotee’s home. Baba opened the door and showed the man his mother sleeping on the sofa. Baba called the man and asked him to go in and closed the door. He rubbed his hands on the door and the door became the wall of the interview room again!

Later when the Australians came out of the interview room, only five came out instead of the six who went in. The students of Prashanthi Nilayam campus saw this. Later they called back the man who was sent to Australia only an hour later, who confirmed his ‘safe arrival’.

Baba said that —

“Time and space exist only in the worldly plane. In the divine plane there is no time and space. I can easily cross time and space as and when I want to. That experience of the Australian crossing space to reach Australia from the interview room was my leela to show you that it is possible for me to do that if necessary. Time and space hold no barrier for GOD

Anita Bacha wrote as Guest Editor:

It is my equally proud privilege to narrate this miraculous episode which occurred in the life of my dearest friend Aniji that is highly enlightening and scintillating for all the spiritual seekers to uplift them from mundane to Divine journey.

Richard F. Holmes – I am proud to welcome my latest guest, Author and Sai Baba devotee Anita Bacha to my blog. Anita has a truly wonderous story to share with us.

Anita Bacha was born in 1948 in Mauritius. She studied law in London and trained as a Barrister. She is also a former Public Prosecutor and Senior Magistrate. From 1988 until 2004 she joined the Executive as the President of the National Adoption Council, set up by the Government to stop the sale and traffic of children in Intercountry Adoption. she worked as Legal Secretary in the family firm ‘Bacha and Bacha Chartered Accountants and Auditors’ in Bond Street, London. In 2005, she was called upon by the newly elected Prime Minister of Mauritius, Dr.Navin Chandra Ramgoolam to chair the Central Authority for Intercountry Adoption. In March 2008, she was elevated to the rank of Commander of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean (CSK) on the occasion of the 16th anniversary of the National Day Celebrations by Sir Aneerood Jugnauth, the President of the Republic of Mauritius. She is married, mother of four grown up kids and grand- mother of five.

She was inspired by Sri Sai Baba to write two books- THE MAKER OF MIRACLES (2006) and MY JOURNEY WITH GOD (2008) where she gives detailed accounts of her experiences of spiritual life as a follower of Baba. She joined the Sai Fold in 1978 as an active member of the Sri Sathya Sai Centre of Curepipe in Mauritius, a voluntary association based on the spiritual teachings of Sri Sathya Sai Baba. In 2007, she was selected as Ladies Convener and Executive Member of the Centre.

“Miracles are my visiting cards” Bhagawan Sathya Sai Baba.

We often hear stories about the miraculous healings and cures of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Most of them sound absolutely out of this world. In her book ‘The Divine Leelas of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba’, Srimati Purnaiya, a long-time devotee of Baba, wrote ‘to save the life of a man, Baba operated on him with His bare hands and without anesthesia’. This sounds most incredible and utterly impossible to those who have never personally experienced such a miracle. I was one of them until approximately six years ago when my life was saved by the divine intervention of Baba.

In June 2004, I was living in Mauritius. As far as my memory goes, it was icy cold that winter. I woke up at four in the morning for prayers and meditation. After the recital in my prayer room, I returned to my bedroom for meditation as it was far too cold for me to meditate in there. In my bed, I lay down in “cadaver pose” for meditation. So there I was in my bed and in meditative pose when I felt a long finger poking deep into my left breast. At the same time, I heard a voice calling to wake me up- Heeeeeeeeh! I opened my eyes and lo! Baba was standing by my bedside and smiling at me! Next moment, he was gone…disappeared into thin air.

I forgot all about the incident in the coming days but my heart kept telling me to go to London as I am British citizen.

Finally, in January 2005, I arrived in London. I immediately started to attend to my personal matters which included my mail. I found a letter from NHS inviting me for a routine mammogram which is addressed to all women over 35. The appointment date had expired, having been fixed to a date in June 2004. Nonetheless and by the Grace of God, when I phoned the X-ray department, they agreed to give me a new appointment for the following week. I went for it.

One week after the mammogram, a letter arrived from NHS inviting me for a second one. Puzzled but fearing the worst, I decided to have a second X-ray. This was followed by an appointment for a medical review at hospital. There I was examined by two lady doctors. They inquired about my general health and then asked whether I had a lump in my breast. Which breast, I asked. I was feeling on top of the world and had no problem with my breasts at all. I was told that the X-ray had showed a small lump in my left breast. Hand examination was followed by a scan and finally I was asked to lie on a couch, for a needle test of my left breast. As the needle pierced my skin and flesh, I realized that Baba had poked my left breast with his finger at that very spot.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had surgery a few weeks after. The cancer was found to be very small in size and had not spread to other parts of my body. Matter of fact, only a ‘lumpectomy’ was done to remove the tumor; my breasts were saved.

I recovered very quickly from the trauma and went back to work.

The All- Compassionate and Merciful Lord had stopped the growth of the tumor and guided my steps to London, opening one door after another until my final recovery.

Note: In UK, the standard practice for cancer breast used to be total removal of breast (mastectomy). French had started the lumpectomy as French women were very fastidious for preservation of their breasts. The long term results depend upon various ethnic, biological and individual factors among which a self confidence is highly important. It is here that the case of Anita Bacha becomes highly significant being a spiritual seeker. Such people have their strong body defence mechanisms due to positive neural, humoral and endocrinal internal milieu which guards and generates a good immunological physical makeup. It is this immunological backup, which ultimately becomes a determinant of the long term outcome. Anita has completed eight years successfully free from secondary developments. Satya Sai Baba is a very powerful force and her strongest defence will come from there. I offer my highly respectful salute to both Anita as well as Baba.

My personal Experience: Instant Recovery of stolen Bag

I have plenty of my personal experiences relating to some kind of spiritual significance and I have been a devotee of Satya Sai Baba for over a couple of decades. I was travelling to Delhi in around 1996 to attend a Surgical Conference of Asia Pacific region in Rajadhani Express. I slept in my berth in the night and in darkness at about two or three O’clock, my briefcase was lifted away from my berth placed near my head end.

At about four O’clock, I woke up from sleep with urge to pass water. After that I slept back in my berth. I did not notice my briefcase because of darkness, which was stolen. Suddenly soon after I lay in bed, started hearing strange voice in my right ear, hey check your briefcase and it kept going on incessantly. I turned over to put my right ear over the pillow hoping that the nuisance will be guarded by the pillow. To my disappointment, the voice continued unabated in the same tune and intensity disturbing me getting back to sleep. Annoyed, I got up and discovered my briefcase was missing. This jolted me in a whirlwind as I had kept all my conference materials as well as money for my expenses in Delhi inside that bag.

The entire boggy was dark due to lights switched off to sleep except the dim night lamps in the passage. In my vain search, I noticed two gentlemen gossiping idly near the toilets and smoking. On enquiring from them, I was told that a tall waiter had picked it up from near the corner of one toilet about half an hour ago and went in the particular direction. I requested them to kindly help me to spot the fellow.

I said to the culprit pretending him as good fellow. I said, “Kindly give me the bag that you safely kept somewhere; had you not done so, someone would have stolen it and I would have lost it.” This led him being put in in the eyes of his fellow workers as a Good Samaritan; he immediately came with us and gave the briefcase where he had mysteriously hidden it. I checked it for all my articles and money that was safe.

I cannot pinpoint to a particular form of Apostle or God but it was definitely a divine hand behind this episode in that dead night hours; which would have been too late by the morning. I am positive that it would have vanished if the two co-passengers had not seen and helped. How and why were they there at that time which was certainly not an hour for smoking and chat?

It may be difficult altogether to dismiss these phenomenal experiences as mere coincidences or superstitions. There are certainly some unseen forces working round the clock which are beyond our cognizable senses to discern. Call them coincidences, extrasensory perceptions, Psi-Gamma, Psi-Kappa (psychokinesis-PK), clairvoyance, precognition, intuition, or whatever in the terms of Parapsychological terms, is individual choice, it may be hard to totally ignore their scrutiny and veracity. Physical science is still on the path of discovery at the micro-element level as one hears the discovery of Boson or God particle.

Jeffrey Mishlove explains Intuition: A Link between Psi and Spirituality: “One contemporary writer intrigued by this idea is Martin Gardner. Although he is generally known as a hardline debunker of matters psychic and mystical, in 1983 Gardner wrote a fascinating essay titled, “IMMORTALITY: Why I Do Not Think It Impossible.” Here Gardner argues that from the perspective of higher dimensional space, the process that we think of as death may be no more significant than a snake shedding its skin. Perhaps no one has taken intuitions regarding hyperspace and consciousness further than physicist Saul-Paul Sirag. It is generally believed by physicists working on unified field theory that space-time is hyperdimensional, with all but four of the dimensions being invisible. The reason for this invisibility is a major subject of research. Beside space-time dimensions, there are also other internal (or invisible) dimensions called gauge dimensions. The reality of these gauge dimensions is also a topic of controversy and research. If the extra space-time dimensions or the gauge dimensions are real, this provides scope for considering ordinary reality a substructure within a hyperdimensional reality. This idea has, of course, been suggested before — e.g. it is implicit in the Cave Parable of Plato.” Is the world body reawakening to this established ancient Indian epistemology?

Unfortunately today everything is being assessed in the light of Western module as enlightenment in the terms of modernity. Anything that does not fit this definition of ‘modernity’, it is then not acceptable. Long before the era of Plato and Socrates, Indian seers and sages had discovered, described and practiced these spiritual realities which are inscrutable by any scientific physical laws versus metaphysical laws.

Endnotes: Peruse the link:

Here are some links for more miracles:

• High Quality Miracle Pictures Of Sai Baba Manifestations
• Sai Baba Manifestations At Sai Sruti Temple in Harrow, Middlesex, UK
• Sathya Sai Baba Vibhuti Manifestations in a Devotee’s House in London
• Satya Sai Baba Vibuthi Manfestations In Bali, Indonesia
• Sai Baba Manifestations In Colusa, California
• Sai Baba Manifestations At Sri Ragnapatnam, Mysore, India
• Sai Sruti’s Sai Baba Miracle Photos Galleries
• Amazing Vibuthi With Rudraksha Manifestations
• Stunning Miracle Pictures And Manifestations As Recent As 2008
• A Gallery of miracles 

 (Dr. O. P. Sudrania is a senior retired teacher in surgery and a medico-legal counsellor; now also engaged in research of spiritual and socio-political analytical science as a part of service to humanity. He retired as Emeritus Professor in Surgery from Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. )

(CHAKRA) The current upheaval in India over the brutal gangrape in Delhi on the night of December 16 Sunday has evoked a spontaneous uprising all over the country that has not been witnessed so far in the history after independence in last sixty five years. Even the top leaders like ministers in UPA II have remarked at such outrage, “He admitted that the developments of the last one week showed a “new phenomenon” of “flash mobs” resorting to protests and that the government was not fully prepared to deal with such situations.”  The Hindu reported Mr P. Chidambaram uttering in a press conference in New Delhi on Wednesday, 26 December 2012.  I only presume that the Indian polity post independence had carried forward the colonial baggage of taking people for granted and astride, which is being rightly questioned and called into action in the garb of these street protests.

Earlier in April 2011, Anna Hazare with a team of activists e.g. Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi, Manish Sisodia etc and now joined by retired military chief General V K Singh had started a public movement or call it a crusade, in the name of ‘Corruption’ that caught these leaders in their high rising luxurious posh offices and inaccessible priceless palatial bungalows, never did they dream of. These movements were initiated by these few anonymous figures in Delhi once again after the era of Late Jayprakash Narayan in Bihar in mid 1970s during the regime of Indira Gandhi.

Anna movement as it is called widely, was frittered ultimately by deceive and divide technique but it did serve a definite purpose, the purpose of a reawakening call in the vast number of oppressed people in the country without any hope, hope for living, hope for any apostolic deliverance coming like bursting of clouds. Although the so called governing class in India had taken the people for granted, Anna reaction may have been contributory to this spontaneous outrage by the young, the elderly, the male, the female alike without any provocation or instigation. Perhaps the police force also got caught in the same euphoria reminiscent of imperial mentality. No wonder that the entire higher echelons are caught in their frenzy of ‘damn care’ attitude and the Delhi police commissioner Neeraj Kumar did his best to interfere in the genuine investigation and even did not hesitate to humiliate the magistrate who was called in to record the testimony of the victim before being flown out. It is out of conception that such unholy events took place right under the nose of the double capital of governments harnessed in the same place – Delhi, the strongest powerhouse of the nation. There was an unfortunate fatal incident of death of a cop on duty in the middle of this fracas by the peaceful protesters, the police department tried their best to implicate this death to the protesters needlessly; only to further expose their insensitivities and callous manhandling of these young boys and girls physically, by lathicharge, water cannons, teargas shells and thrashings that was inconceivable. All this shabby administration by undue excessive force reflected in the intemperate and ‘who cares’ outdated imperial mentality.  It was highly despicable. The entire media were agog with the manner in which the peaceful protests have been mishandled.

The victim of the inhuman brutal gangrape in Delhi was admitted in government run Safdarjung Hospital on the night of 16 December 2012 in a serious condition. She received emergency medical care in ICU and had three surgeries carried and also sustained cardiac arrest once or twice. Her physical status kept waxing and waning in a serious state. Finally she was transferred on 27 December Thursday in the middle of the cold wintry foggy night in an Air Ambulance to Singapore to bear with the stress of that arduous journey, many including some senior experienced Delhi surgeons like Dr Samiran Nundy contended that her transfer to Singapore was triggered by reasons other than medical.

Did the UPA government, smeared into a multitudes of controversies and governance deficit issues one after the other, got panicked by the unprecedented show of live demonstrations on the street, as were also seen after the treacherous barbaric 26 November attach on Mumbai Taj orchestrated by the rogue Pakistani ISI agents via their infamous nonstate actors as they call them to hide their shabby guilt.

This young 23 year old brilliant dynamic girl belonged to a poor village family who can barely meet their daily ends. The family told, “Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar who visited When their daughter was fighting for her life in a Delhi hospital that they hardly have enough to eat at home. Their meals, they reportedly told her, are often “roti and namak” (bread sprinkled with salt for flavour).”  Yet her cacass of vibrant spirit prompted the 80 year young PM M. M. Singh and his sixtysix year young supposedly cervical cancer afflicted boss Ms Sonia Gandhi aka Antonia Edvige Albina Maino to go to IGI Airport, Delhi in the late night at about 3am to receive her when she was brought back by special Air India flight. One wonders curiously, “How come this anonymous village bud became so VIP in her valiantly fought undignified death”?

Then again, “She was cremated in Delhi against the surrounding mystery in Dwaraka after the plane was received at 4.15 am in the midst of the thick foggy sombre night hours with bare minimum visibility, the plane was taken to its technical area and her funeral planned under the highest secret mysterious circumstances with heavy police and security guard, remain a burning question mark the government has to clarify to the people and the nation”. Initially the ceremony was officially planned at 6 am but delayed for Hindu rites to be carried out after the Sunrise, ultimately at 07.30 am.

Minister of State for Home Affairs R P N Singh, West Delhi MP Mahabal Mishra, Delhi BJP chief Vijender Gupta were present at the cremation. Why was it hushed within a few limited hours under tight security and secrecy remain best known to the Delhi and UPA Governments without a plausible cause? Ajmal Kasab was one with in similar circumstances! It is highly impropriety and further humiliating her sacred and valiant undeserved end.

This entire filthy episode has evoked a worldwide condemnation and condolences with the head of the nation plunging in shame. There were heavily emotionally charged rhetorics with all claiming, “We also have daughters, sisters, wives etc only under duress of the volcanic public anger piercing the hearts of the ruling classes with a trembling fear of unprecedented mass unrest they had witnessed in last few years. Time will tell, if it is sense of democracy forced down the gullet of callous insensitive elected representatives of the people, by the people and also for the people as envisioned by eponymous US late President Abraham Lincoln. Better late than never.

 (Dr. O. P. Sudrania is a senior retired teacher in surgery and a medico-legal counsellor; now also engaged in research of spiritual and socio-political analytical science as a part of service to humanity. He retired as Emeritus Professor in Surgery from Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. )

Read Is Caste Only a Hindu Problem? PART 1 

Caste in the Dynasty of Isaac

Prophet Abraham some few millennia ago, had a son with Sarah viz Isaac who later gave rise to two religions – Judaism and Christianity. First the Judaism took its roots via Hebrewism and the well known Prophet Moses among the Jews laid down the Ten Commandments. The Holy Scripture is called the Old Bible or Hebrew Bible or Torah propounded at sometime about 1400 BC. It had a much fractured history of ups and downs; in and out of the then Canaan province, the Israel of today. Later on Jesus Christ took birth in the Jewish community from the womb of Virgin Marry by Divine Providence about two millennia ago. His life and message through the well known teachings in the New Testament or Bible is followed by the two Billion people globally. For reasons not exactly known and by the dint of fate, Jews did not flourish as much as the Christians. Hence the history of Judaism is also limited as compared to the Islam and Christianity. In this issue I wish to deliberate on the caste systems prevalent in both these Abrahamic sects to the best of my epistemology and with no malice.

Section A

Caste in Jewish people:

It is sadly interesting to know that the word “Jew” itself has become blasphemous due to the adverse historical perspectives. It is preferred to say, “Jewish or Jewish person”. If I have erred in my endeavour, I remain to be forgiven. It is not my intention to hurt the sentiments of anyone deliberately and by indulging in needless argumentative heresy.

Jonah Goldberg has addressed it, “…Anyway, he called and said, “Hey, Jonah, isn’t it sort of bad to call someone ‘a Jew.’” After a brief moment to digest the question, I knew exactly what he was talking about.

It is bad to call someone a Jew, sort of.

The newspapers and nightly news shows keep using the word “Jew” where normally you would expect them to say “Jewish” or “Jewish person.” Senator Lieberman is as often as not referred to as “a Jew” in print, television and radio.” More at: http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/jonah081500.asphttp://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/jonah081500.asp

Thus to call someone ‘Jew’ is as pejorative as the ‘Caste slur’ in present scenario.

In his article on ‘The Non Hindus in Caste System’, in India, Aharon Daniel, a Mumbai born Jewish now living in Israel, delineated his views on the Jewish caste system in the succeeding excerpt. “In the Konkan coast there is Jewish community called Bene Israel. Some claim that these Jews are from the ‘Lost Tribes’. These Jews who arrived in India after their ship-wrecked near the Konkan coast claim that they and the Kokanastha Brahmans are descendants of the survivals from the same ship. And in their version, it was not an incarnation of Lord Vishnu who converted the Kokanastha Brahmans but a local Brahman. Anyway these Jews do not have gray-green eyes like the Kokanastha Brahmans.

Different religion followers got different status in different parts of India. The Jews of west India called Bene Israel, had a different status from Jews of south India, Cochini Jews. The Bene Israels professed oil pressing and they had a status equal to a Hindu Jat called Somwar Teli, which also professed oil pressing and were part of Sudra Varna. Some orthodox Hindus treated anyone who wasn’t one of them as untouchable and therefore treated the Jews also as untouchables. But even though the Jews in west India had low status there were among them some who were landlords, businessmen and high rank officers in local armies.

Comparing to the Bene Israels, the Jews in south India had higher status. The Jews in Kerala were the business community of Kerala. They even ruled a small principality. They had aristocratic rights, such as use of elephants and sedans. They even had servants whose job was to announce their coming to the streets so that the low castes could move away from their way.

The relations between the Jewish communities of India are sometimes explained as affected by the Indian caste system but these relations can also be explained according to Jewish religious laws. There were three main Jewish communities in India; the Baghdadis, the Bene Israels and Cochinis. The Baghdadi Jews were much strict about religious laws than the Bene Israel Jews. The Baghdadis did not mingle with Bene Israel Jews. The Baghdadis did not allow marriages between their children and the children of Bene Israel. They did not eat food prepared by Bene Israel and they refused to count the Bene Israel as part of the Minyan (the ten necessary to start a Jewish prayer). Many explain these relations as an influence of the Indian caste system on the Jewish communities. According to this explanation, the Baghdadi Jews referred to themselves as higher caste than the Bene Israel Jews and therefore did not mingle with them. But these relations between the Jewish communities can also be explained according to the Jewish Halacha laws. The Baghdadi Jews who were much strict about Jewish laws and diet did not mingle with the Bene Israels because the Bene Israels were secular Jews and they perceived in Bene Israel Jews as impure Jews.” More at: http://adaniel.tripod.com/foreigners.htm

However the Jewish community never got concentrated in a place as their nation and after nineteenth century CE, they became capsized by the Anti-Semitic fervour and were largely persecuted resulting in the massive holocaust by Hitler in WW II. It resulted in their present settlement in Israel in 1948. Thus it limits their caste history also.

The Jewish community in fact became a caste in itself in the midst of the Arab land to find a foothold for them. This led to a Zionist movement in the Arab land finally to the establishment of Israel. More at:

http://racetraitor.org/sabra2.html

http://www.english.emory.edu/Bahri/Jews.html

http://www.kailaonline.net/documents/jewsinindia.pdf

The total population of Jews world over is estimated at around 15 Millions which make it about 0.24% of the world population. In such a nominally minor population also, who are said to be declining over all; there is a caste division as indicated above. The fact is that due to their threat to survival, one would rather expect cohesion in their residual population of whatever denomination.  Hence even this caste division in Jews becomes quite significant in such trying times.

Section B

 Caste in Christianity:

Christians form the largest community in the world and still growing in their evangelic efforts. Christians have used both violent and peaceful means depending on the opportunity at hand. The Christian Missionaries have organised themselves under the patronage of their single most patriarch as head priest called Pope based at the Vatican in Rome. He supposedly controls the larger Catholic sect of the Christians to the extent of about more than 80% while the Protestants constitutes about 20% whose head is the British monarch and guided by the Archbishop of Canterbury in London. There are vast number of subdivisions in both Catholics and Protestants also,.

In India Christianity is said to have first arrived with Saint Thomas in Kerala with a controversial history. He is said to have been helped by the then Travancore Kingdom to settle and they helped him in building about half a dozen churches both in Kerala and erstwhile Madras states. The present Christian history has been marred with controversial accounts, both in India and globally. A retired IAS officer – V. Sundaram wrote a four part article in 2008 under the caption, “Fraudulent myth of the tomb of St Thomas – I”. This is the first part and can be accessed at: http://newstodaynet.com/col.php?section=20&catid=33&id=8836

His other parts can be perused at the following sites:

Part II – http://newstodaynet.com/col.php?section=20&catid=33&id=8866

Part III – http://newstodaynet.com/col.php?section=20&catid=33&id=8901

Part IV – http://newstodaynet.com/col.php?section=20&catid=33&id=8914http://newstodaynet.com/col.php?section=20&catid=33&id=8914

Ishwar Sharan has resolutely written in his inimical style all these four posts on his website in the column, “St. Thomas in India: An IAS officer revisits a 400-year-old history hoax – “Baritone” V. Sundaram”. Sharan has added some extra graphics and links to supplement his column. His post can be accessed at:

Some Christians also oppose the proposed labeling of “Christian Scheduled castes” because they feel their identity may be assimilated. Pastor Salim Sharif of the Church of North India notes “We are becoming another class and caste.” ”

Incidence:

“Caste discrimination is strongest among Christians in South India and weaker among urban Protestant congregations in North India. This is due to the fact that in South India, whole castes converted en masse to the religion, leaving members of different castes to compete in ways parallel to Hindus of the Indian caste system.

There are separate seats, separate communion cups, burial grounds, and churches for members of the lower castes, especially in the Roman Catholic Church. Catholic churches in India are largely controlled by upper caste Priests and nuns. Presently in India, more than 70 per cent of Catholics are Dalits, but the higher caste Catholics (less than 30% by estimates) control 90 per cent of the Catholic churches administrative jobs. Out of the 156 catholic bishops, only 6 are from lower castes.

There are a large number of various caste groups in Kerala, Goa, Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh in the Christians enumerated in the website of Wikipedia given below.

Criticism

Many Dalit Catholics have spoken out against discrimination against them by members of the Catholic Church. A famous Dalit activist with a nom-de-plume of Bama Faustina has written books that are critical of the discrimination by the nuns and priests in Churches in South India. Pope John Paul II also criticized the caste discrimination in the Roman Catholic Church in India when addressing the bishops of Madras, Mylapore, Madurai, Cuddalore, and Pondicherry in late 2003. He went on to say: “It is the Church’s obligation to work unceasingly to change hearts, helping all people to see every human being as a child of God, a brother or sister of Christ, and therefore a member of our own family”.”

More at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste_system_among_Indian_Christians

This deposition shows, “How the Church lied to convert the local Hindu lower class people.”

“With the advent of the Christian missionaries in India under the patronage from the British rule in the eighteenth century, a new chapter of proselytisation began. The missionaries were able to use this weakness in Hinduism to convert those who were worst hit by the caste cancer prejudice.

These missionaries concentrated their “charity” work mainly in the tribal areas. They told the tribals that they were not Hindus, that their indigenous culture and religion was different from Hinduism. They taught them that Christianity, an alien religion was their own; that Jesus Christ who was born and lived in the Middle-East was also a ‘dalit’ like them and that Christianity was a religion without the caste bias and offered them socio-economic equality. In their desire to lead a life of respect, thousands of tribals got converted to Christianity assuming that they had found an answer to the wretched caste system in Hinduism.

Little did they know that conversion to Christianity would not redeem them from social discrimination and untouchability, because though Jesus never advocated the caste system, Christianity in India was not free from the caste bias? Christian outfits which criticized Hinduism for its caste system, practised discrimination based on casteism in their Churches. In spite of the fact that around 75 to 80% of the Christians are ‘dalits’ who got converted to Christianity to lose their caste or ‘outcaste’ tag, Dalit Christians within the Church were discriminated against and were denied powers within the ecclesiastical structure.”

Logically, the term ‘Dalit Christians’ is self-contradictory. How can a person be a ‘Dalit’ when he is a Christian; for Christianity (supposedly – Author) does not recognise the caste system which is an evil prevalent only in the Hindu society (supposedly – Author)?

K.K Pudur village in Maduranthugam Taluk, Chegalpattu District, 60 kilometers from Madras, has a Catholic population of 2500. Of these, 1500 are Dalit Catholics. The rest of the catholic population belong to the Reddy and the Naidu upper caste. For the past 200 years, these upper caste Christians have oppressed the Dalit Christians by not giving them their due place in the Church and in the graveyard. On 7 May 1994, there was a violent clash between the two classes of Catholics at K.K. Pudur as they were preparing for the celebration of the patron feast of their patron Saint Joseph. The case was filed with the police and eighty-four people from both factions were jailed and the church stayed closed for six months.

Rev. John Duraisamy, an editor of Sarvaviyabi, a Tamil Weekly from the archdiocese of Pondicherry-Cuddalore published two cartoons consecutively on 4 & 11th July 1999. These cartoons were an insult to the 240 million dalits or the untouchables of India. The Archbishop of Pondicherry who belonged to the same caste as the editor, was silent on the matter.

Archbishop George Zur, Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to India said while inaugurating the CBCI (Catholic Bishops Conference of India) in 1991:

“Though Catholics of the lower caste and tribes form 60 per cent of Church membership they have no place in decision-making. Scheduled caste converts are treated as lower caste not only by high caste Hindus but by high caste Christians too. In rural areas they cannot own or rent houses, however well-placed they may be. Separate places are marked out for them in the parish churches and burial grounds. Inter-caste marriages are frowned upon and caste tags are still appended to the Christian names of high caste people. Casteism is rampant among the clergy and the religious. Though Dalit Christians make 65 per cent’ of the 10 million Christians in the South, less than 4 per cent of the parishes are entrusted to Dalit priests. There are no Dalits among 13 Catholic Bishops of Tamilnadu or among the Vicars-general and rectors of seminaries and directors of social assistance centres.” More at:

http://www.christianaggression.org/item_display.php?type=articles&id=1096932004

In a column published on 20 June 2007, Times of India stated, “”Would the Christians admit that they practise caste system and that Dalits (among them) face social discrimination requiring reservation to uplift their cause? This is not all that easy,” a Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan said granting eight weeks to the Centre to report back to court.”

It further continued, “Christians claim to be a casteless society. Dalit Christian activists, who have agitated for Dalit status for long, recently got a shot in arm when the Justice Ranganath Mishra Commission endorsed their case.

Appearing for them, senior counsel Shanti Bhushan cited the Mishra Commission’s report as he argued that the SC category be expanded to include Dalits who have now embraced Christianity and Islam.

He argued for the scrapping of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, restricting reservation benefits to Dalits only among Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs.

“It is clear from the commission’s report that a mere change in religion did not bring about a change in their social status,” Shanti Bushan argued. He was supported by senior advocate Ram Jethmalani, appearing for the All India United Christian Movement for Equal Rights.

Jethmalani said the Congress government had brought in a Bill in 1996 with the objective of giving Dalits equal rights irrespective of the religion they profess. “It is only politics that has deprived the Dalit Christians their legitimate due,” he added. More at:

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-07-20/india/27987277_1_dalit-christian-sc-status-dalit-status

How the lies are propagated by the Vatican agents:

In a news column by Catholic News Agency from Rome, Italy, it is interesting to read the clip.

Sep 2, 2008 / 04:40 pm (CNA).- In an interview with Vatican Radio, the Archbishop of Ranchi in India, Cardinal Telesforo Placidus Toppo, said that the Catholic Church’s defense of the sacredness of the human person and its opposition to the caste system are what is fueling the violence against Christian minorities in India.

“In the caste system, equality doesn’t exist. That is why the Church’s commitment to overcome the caste system is not accepted. For us the person is sacred,” Cardinal Toppo said.

… “There are socio-economic-political factors at play, factors that are at the root of these incidents, of the burning of Christian-owned properties. Another factor is the law against conversions. We have clarified that we do not convert people by force,” the cardinal said.

In response to these aggressions, he continued, the response of the Church “is that of Jesus, Christians have not responded to the aggressions. I think we will be given help by the central government and by the State,” the cardinal noted, praising the many “good initiatives. And here let me underscore: equality among all is a threat for the fundamentalists.” More at:

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/opposition_to_caste_system_is_root_of_attacks_against_christians_in_india_says_archbishop/

Anyone reading this entire column can make out the blatant white lie being uttered and the crocodile tears shed through an Indian mouth piece to appear as a profound legitimate truth coming out from a person on the spot. They still claim to be the Apostles of peace and truth!

I logged in Google for “Caste System in Christianity” and got 16, 000, 000 results in 0.16 seconds. One can easily gauge the enormity of the problem. I assert but sadly, in such a vested environment where the high and mighty are hell bent on perpetuating the malaise of divisive political and religious agendas covertly where spoken words do not match the ground realities of actions performed, the larger common masses are left with very little choice to help themselves. A common person is too weak to confront these monstrous designs of the politico-religious powerful institutions. Politics and religions are both equally guilty of this nefarious act and the staged drama. My contention is further fortified by the following excerpt from a leading British news media.

Nick Cohen in his column in the Guardian.uk, “The secret scandal of Britain’s caste system” observes, “British Asians, secularists and Liberal Democrat and Labour politicians have been trying for years to persuade the government to tackle caste discrimination. They have had no success because the treatment of untouchables is one of the great unmentionables of British politics. They are certainly the victims of a form of religious prejudice – the sanction for the oppression of lower castes in a pre-ordained hierarchy comes from Hindu creation myths. Yet caste prejudice does not fit easily into established views of how discrimination works, because caste divisions exist among Sikhs, Muslims and Christians whose families came from the sub-continent, as well as Hindus.”

Cohen further adds, “The casual observer of British politics might have thought that a voluble quangocrat, who is always willing to fill empty airtime with heart rending cries for greater equality, would have denounced caste prejudice with unembarrassed vigour. For once, however, Phillips is silent. A search of the Equality and Human Rights Commission records shows that it ignores caste discrimination in Britain.” More at:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jun/26/nick-cohen-trevor-phillips-caste-discrimination

One can go on endlessly, and fruitlessly to deal on this topic of universal social malady wherein directly or indirectly, every existent society is involved with a continued hidden interest. It is being used more as rhetoric and sloganeering to exploit one section than explicitly eliminate it by demoralising. Caste appears like the system of flesh trade, which is denounced by everybody but nobody is prepared to eliminate it. They all like to immerse in it in the darkness of their daytime and enjoy it in the light of night time.

Dr. O. P. Sudrania

Caste or Class Systems versus India in Global Perspective

By O.P. Sudrania

Caste or Class Systems versus India in Global Perspective – CHAPTER ELEVEN 

All these are open facts of the British society till the end of the Victorian period (1837 – 1901).  It is praiseworthy to quote from a BBC British History Overview: Victorian Britain, 1837 – 1901. By Professor Eric Evans. Last updated 2011-03-29; as under:  “It would be a gross exaggeration to claim, as many contemporaries did, that those living in a British colony felt privileged to be ruled by a people anxious to spread the virtues of an ordered, advanced and politically sophisticated Christian nation to those ‘lesser breeds’ previously ‘without the law’.  That said, there is no gainsaying the fact that both many colonial administrators and Christian missionaries took on their colonial duties with a fierce determination to do good.” It continues further under the caption – Politics,

“What, finally, of the Victorian political structure? It is easy to see that it was far from democratic.

At the beginning of Victoria’s reign, about a fifth of adult males were entitled to vote. That proportion increased, through parliamentary reform acts passed in 1867 and 1884, to one-third and two-thirds respectively.

No women could legally vote in parliamentary elections until almost 18 years after Victoria’s death – and the queen herself was no suffragist. Women did, however, play an increasingly influential role both in locally-elected school and poor law boards and in local government from the 1870s onwards.

If not democratic, the political system was becoming increasingly representative. By 1901, few argued – as had frequently been asserted against the Chartists in the 1830s and 1840s – that to allow working men to vote would be to cede power to an ignorant, insensate and unworthy majority.

Victorian politicians increasingly learned how to ‘trust the people’. They also noted how many among ‘lower orders’ could help themselves economically while improving themselves educationally.

The working-class Victorian autodidact was an increasingly significant figure. His modest successes enabled his ‘betters’ to claim that Britain was a specially advanced, perhaps even a divinely favoured, nation.

Britain managed to modernize its political system without succumbing to the political revolutions that afflicted virtually all of its European competitors.

….

On the home front, the nation was only beginning to get to grips with widespread poverty while considerably more than half the adult population remained without a vote. Victorian supremacy by 1901 was only skin deep.” More at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/victorians/overview_victorians_01.shtml

British society was a highly colour, status and class sensitive society and this still exists to certain extent reflected in their political system of Monarchy despite the so called democracy and their upper House is still called as House of Lords, Ladies with the vast subjects. Thus it is difficult to call it truly a democracy in strict sense. Still Nehru preferred to call the Indian Democracy based on the Westminster module. The West also inflates it by ‘using’ to call it the “World’s Largest Democracy”. Indian politicians are perhaps too naive to read in between the sophisticated ‘White’ lines.

Continued Western Influence on Indian Social Engineering:

In an enlightening column on Indus Script, N. S. Rajaram observes on the influence of Western proximity with the contemporary India as follows: “This is a strange attitude for scholars to adopt. To fathom this bizarre behaviour we need to recognise that the AIT (Aryan Invasion Theory) or its latest incarnation called the AMT (for the Aryan Migration Theory, for there is no evidence for any invasion) has several faces that cater to the socio-political needs of several different groups. First and simplest, it is used to justify the political ideology of Dravidian parties of Tamil Nadu that hold that Tamil culture was ‘pure’ until it was defiled with Sanskrit by invading Aryans, especially by the Brahmins. This divisive myth was created by Robert Caldwell, Bishop of Tirunelveli as part of the missionary strategy of ‘divide and convert’. This was picked up by Dravidian party politicians like Karunanidhi to claim they were victims of Aryan, particularly Brahmin oppression. In this the politicians had and continue to have the strong support of Christian missionaries till date.

Then there are also entrenched (self styled) Indologists in Western academia whose survival is tied to this model of history. As per the AIT (now AMT), Vedas and the Sanskrit language were not created by the Indians themselves but brought by an invading superior race of Aryans, now called Indo-Europeans (to avoid the taint of Nazi horrors). Until recently, and even now to a significant extent, these invaders are portrayed as fair-skinned people related to Europeans. While these academics may be prepared to give up the idea of racial superiority — or at least claim to — they are not prepared give up the idea of being the descendants of a superior people who brought the Vedic civilisation to India. Their whole discipline is built on it; it is just not their identity but also their livelihood that is threatened by the collapse of AIT-AMT version of history.

In India, these Western interests don’t have a direct bearing except for the status of Indian scholars that goes with being associated with Western scholars. In addition, being in their good books by toeing their line can yield perks like fellowships, visiting positions and the like at Western institutions. Until recently this Indian elite prided on being seen as sharing a common ancestry with the British rulers, namely the Aryans or Indo-Europeans; this made them feel superior to fellow natives. (The British nurtured this superstitious vanity to gain Indian collaborators.)”

He goes on, “According to these, even the caste system represents a transformation of classes. On the other hand, the British attributed the caste system to racial differences, supposedly based on something called the ‘nasal index’. Its message — longer the nose, higher the caste!”

In his concluding remarks he states, “Hostility to anything Indian, especially Hindu is hard-wired into them. A real but unstated goal of making Vedas and Sanskrit foreign imports is to be able to claim that like Islam and Christianity, Hinduism is also of non-Indian origin and therefore has no special place in Indian history and culture. In this campaign it is not surprising to see Christian missionaries to be strong supporters of this version of ‘history’. Some Christian ‘scholars’ have gone to the extent of claiming that Sanskrit came to India only after St Thomas brought Christianity to India!” Full article can be perused at:

http://bharatabharati.wordpress.com/2012/05/12/looking-beyond-the-indus-script-story-of-vedic-harappans-n-s-rajaram/

http://folks.co.in/blog/2012/05/05/looking-beyond-the-indus-script-story-of-vedic-harappans/

Conclusion

From the foregoing description, it is amply clear that the Caste in Indian society per se aka Hinduism have a very complicated history like the origin of humanity. In contemporary world, centuries of intermingling of the various peoples have made it even more complicated. Its continued perpetuation is more by the extraneous forces than the Vedic culture known today synonymously as Hinduism. Now it is being used and abused by the myopic politicians for their self serving interests for vote bank issues.  Internationally also this is again used in the same vein. I have a feeling that this issue is going to go on relentlessly in the current perspective due to multitudes of powerful vested interests.

It may also be appropriate to club all the centrifugal divisive forces like caste, class, race, colour, language, gender, nationality, etcetera in the best interest and look upon them uniformly as undesirable purports. All of them are a cause for human scourge in one or the other way. Hence they may be collectively condemned equally as singular divisive monstrous instruments. These should attract equal condemnation from all the global agencies linked to the human welfare and survival. The earth has enough hate to cope with even in their absence. The attempts should be better directed towards the elimination of overly greed, hate, intolerance, anger etcetera. Let us try to make this world a liveable place in peace, love and

Caste or Class Systems versus India in Global Perspective – CHAPTER SEVEN

Chapter Seven – Section A

(CHAKRA) Dr. S. Radhakrishnan who does not need any introduction; late President of India and an unparalleled daunting philosopher, teacher and academician has suggested the value of religion in the society in his lectures compiled in the book, “Religion and Society”. In his very first lecture starting in the winter of 1942, he stresses on the need for religion where he describes, “Every civilisation is the expression of a religion, for religion signifies faith in absolute values and a way of life to realise them.” He elaborates further that the civilisation is a way of life, a movement of the human spirit. Its essence lies not in any biological unity of race, or in political and economic arrangements, but in the values that create and sustain them (P 21).

In his third lecture on “Hindu Dharma” while elaborating on ‘The Concept of Dharma’, he defines, “The principles which we have to observe in our daily life and social relations are constituted by what is called dharma. It is truth’s embodiment in life, and power to refashion our nature (P 104). He says further, “Man is a teachable animal, socially controlled. The fashion of our clothes, the food we eat, the way we go about the world, are all social products which we acquire by training.” He continues, “We can be made to do anything, if we are given powerful suggestions and moral clothings which will create in us an attitude of consent. Slavery, infanticide, the inquisition, witch-burning, were all accepted as honourable to human dignity even as wars are today.”

“Under the concept of dharma, the Hindu brings the forms and activities which shape and sustain human life (P 105).” Dr. Radhakrishnan stated. He clearly mentioned, “Hinduism is not based on any racial factor… The different communities which accepted Hinduism rose to the level of the society around them, educated themselves in its spirit, took on its colour and contributed to its growth. The epics of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata describe the spread of Hindu ideals, though in them the facts of history are obscured in a haze of legend.”

In continuing his third lecture on “Hindu Dharma” and under the sub caption, “Caste and untouchability” (P 129 – 135), he has painstakingly expressed his  ideas in good bit of details quoting various scriptures and it is worth reproducing them in his own words in entirety that are unsurpassed in their own style and purport.

Caste and Untouchability     

NB: The apostrophed numbers and the descriptions or slokas in parenthesis are from the footnotes from original text in the book – Religion and Society.

(P – 129) Caste divisions are based on individual temperament² (Sattvadhiko brAhmanah syAt ksatriyastu rajodhikah. Tamodhiko bhaved vaisyo gunasAmyattu soodratA), which is not immutable. In the beginning there was only one caste. We were all Braahmins³ (BrihadAranyak Up., I. 4. 11-5; Manu, I. 31. Cp. Also MahAbhArata, XII. 188: Na visesosti varnAnAm sarvam brAhmam idam jagat. brahmanA poorvasrstam hi karmabhir varnatAm gatam) or all Sudras. A smrti text says that one is born a Sudra, and through purification he becomes a Braahmin⁴ (janmanA jAyate soodrah samskArair dvija ucyate). People were divided into different castes according to social needs and individual actions. The Braahmins are the priests. They should have neither property nor executive power. They are the seers who constitute the conscience of the society. The Kshatriyas are the administrators, whose principle is reverence for life. The Vaishyas are the traders and craftsmen, men of technical ability who aim at efficiency. The routine workers, the proletariat, are the Sudras. They take no interest in their work as such, where they carry out instructions and contribute only a fraction. They lead a life of innocent impulse and adopt traditional ways. Their joy is in the fulfilment of family obligations of marriage and parenthood, and other personal relationships. The caste groups are more trade guilds in charge of the cultural, political, economic and industrial sections of the community. Hinduism has drawn to its fold the Aryan, the Dravidian and the Mongoloid races which had drifted (P – 130) into the Ganges valley from the East, and the Paarthian, Scythian and Hun invaders from beyond the Himaalayas. It brought into its fold a great variety of different peoples and conceded to its converts, though always with a change of form, the retention, within the new religion, of rites and traditions belonging to their old faiths. In the Mahaabhaarata, Indra tells the emperor Maandhaatr to bring all foreign people, like the yaavanas, under the Aryan influence¹ (SAntiparva, 65.). Hinduism has a bewildering variety of racial types at all levels of development. In the period of the Rg Veda we have the distribution between aarya and daasa, and there were no rigid divisions among the Aaryans themselves. In the time of the Braahmanas, the four classes became separated into rigid groups dependent on birth. As arts and crafts grew in number and complexity, castes based on occupations developed. The smrtis trace the innumerable castes to intermixture of the four varnas, by means of anuloma and pratiloma marriages. When the Vedic Aaryans found a heterogeneous population of various tribes and classes of different races and colour, worshipping different gods and spirits, following diverse customs and habits of life, and filled with the spirit of tribalism, they attended to fit them all into an organic whole by the adoption of the fourfold classification. The four orders supercede the original racial differences. It is a classification based on social facts and psychology. The recognition of the spirit in man is the essential feature of Hindu religion, and in this respect all men are equal. Caste is diversity of function, and the goal of life is a transcendence of caste diversity by disinterested service. The caste scheme is meant to apply to all mankind. In the Mahaabhaarata we are told that the Yaavanas (Greeks), the Kiraatas, the Darads (Dards), the Chinas (the Chinese), the Sakas (Scythians), the Pahlavas (Parthians), the Savaras (Pre-Dravidian tribes), and several other non-Hindu peoples, belonged to one or the other of the four classes² (SAntiparva, 55. Manu, X. 43-44.).  These foreign tribes were absorbed into Hindu society. The sort of social adjustment, by which foreigners are admitted into the Hindu fold, has taken place from very early times. So long as the foreigners followed the general tradition and common law of the society, they were treated as Hindu. The great empire-builders, the Nandas, the Mauryas and the Guptas, were according to the orthodox view low-born. The Gupta emperors married Licchavis, who were regarded as Mlecchas. Latterly, some Hindus have married European and American (P – 131) women. Though strong racial differences operate, intermarriages have not been unsatisfactory. If social conditions are helpful, they will be more successful¹ (Lord Bryce, an excellent observer, said of Brazil: “Brazil is the one country in the world, besides the Portuguese colonies in the east and west coasts of Africa, in which a fusion of the European and African races is proceeding unchecked by law or custom. The doctrines of human equality and human solidarity have here their perfect work. The work is so far satisfactory that there is little or no class friction. The white man does not lynch the Negro; indeed, I have never heard of a lynching anywhere in South America except occasionally as part of a political convulsion. The Negro is not accused of insolence and does not seem to develop any more criminality than naturally belongs to any ignorant population with loose notions of morality and property. What ultimate effect the intermixture of blood will have on the European element in Brazil I will not venture to predict. If one may judge from a few remarkable cases it will not necessarily reduce the intellectual standard.” – South America, Observations and Impressions, pp. 477, 480.). The system was designed to unite, first the heterogeneous population of India, and then of the whole world, in one economic, social, cultural and spiritual bond. By assigning definite functions and duties, and according rights and privileges, the different classes were expected to work in co-operation and to achieve a racial harmony. It is a mould into which all human beings can be poured, according to their vocational aptitude and temperament. The basis of the Varna dharma is that every human being must try to fulfil the law of his development. We must discipline our life in conformity with the pattern of our being, instead of wasting our energies in following those which we lack.

(Author: In BG 3:28 Slok “Tatwavittu mahaabaaho gunkarma vibhaagayoah, gunna gunneshu vartanta iti matwaa na sajjate” – is meaning Hey Mahaabaaho [Arjun]! Who know the difference of devotional (nishkaama) and materialistic (sakaama) karmas, those few seers of such profound truths; they never indulge in the indriya or sensual pleasures only to satisfy their indriyas or senses. This clearly states the individual goals for every one without reference to even any Varna or Jaati. It is such high ideals that have accrued it the epithet of ‘Sanatana Dharma or Perennial Belief” expounded through the Vedas.)

While it was the intention of the scheme to develop the requisite spirit and tradition in the members of the classes by a proper employment of the forces of heredity and education, it was not viewed in a rigid way. In special cases individuals and groups changed their social class. Vishvaamitra, Ajaamidha, and Puraamidha were admitted to the Braahmin class, and even composed Vedic hymns. Yaaska, in his Nirukta, tells us that of two brothers, Santanu and Devaapi, one became a Kshatriya king and the other a Braahmin priest. Kavasha, the son of the slave girl Ilusha, was ordained as a Brahmin priest at a sacrifice² (Aitareya BrAhmana, II. 19.). Janaka, a kshatriya by birth, attained the rank of a Braahmin by virtue of his ripe wisdom and saintly character³ (Ramayana. BAlakAnda, 51-55.). The Bhaagavata tells of the elevation of the Kshatriya clan named Dhashtru to brahminhood. Jaatyutkarsha is provided for. Even though a Sudra, if you do good, you become a Braahmin⁴ (ebhistu karambhir devi subhair Acharitais tathA. sudro brAhmanatAm yAti, vaishyAh kshatriyatAm vrajet.).  We are Braahmin not on account of birth or the performance of (P – 132) rites, not by study or family, but on account of our behaviour¹ {(nayonir nApisamskAro nAshrutam nacha santatih; kAranAni dvijatvasya vrttam eva tu kArnam).

And again:

(Sarvoyam brAhmano loke vrattenacha vidhiyate

Vrttisthitastu shudropi brAhmanatvam niyacchati – AnushAsanaparva.)}. Even if we are born Sudras, by good conduct we can raise ourselves to the highest status² (shudrayonau hi jAtasya sadgunAn upatishthatah; Vaishyatvam labhate brAhmam kshatriyattvam tathaiva cha; Arjave vartamAnasya brAhmanyam abhijAyate – Aranyaparva.).

Chapter Seven – Section B

Dr S. Radhakrishnan continued

The human being is always becoming. His essence is in movement, not an arrested movement. There was healthy social mobility, and for long varnas did not become hereditary, crystallised castes. The occupational divisions, however, did not work, even from early times. Megasthenes gives us a division different from the caste groupings. He puts the class of statesmen and officials at the top, and hunters and junglemen as the sixth division. Patanjali refers to Braahmin kings, and Manu to Sudra rulers. There were Braahmin soldiers in the time of Alexander, as there are today. Whatever the intentions were, caste developed a false sense of pride, and led to the humiliation of the lower classes. In the Raamaayana Raama kills Shambhuka for performing austerities³ (Kalidasa on Raghuvamsha (XV. 42. 57), and Bhavabhuti, in UttararAmcharita, put him in heaven.). Manu’s unfortunate references to the Sudras were perhaps motivated by his opposition to Buddhism, which allowed them the highest religious life of learning and monasticism. These were for Manu the Sudras, who assume the airs of the twiceborn⁴ (shudrAmsh cha dvijalinginah.). Manu limits the right to study the dharma-shastras to Braahmins, while Sankara holds that members of all castes can read them. When excessive formalism overtook the early scheme, protests were uttered by the followers of Jainism and Buddhism, who emphasised the ideal of maitri or human brotherhood. Especially those who were denied opportunity to rise to the full heights of their powers accepted the new faiths. Hindu aacharyas denounced the spirit of caste separatism. Vajrashchikopanishad holds that many who were born of non-braahmin women had risen to the rank of Braahmin saints⁵ (jAtyantaresu anekajAtisambhavAt maharshyayo bahavas santi vyAsah kaivartakan-yAyam, vashistha urvasyAm … agastyah kalashajAta iti shrutatvAt.). But soon caste bigotry and prejudices asserted themselves, and drove many of those subjected to them into the fold of Islam. To rekindle the dying embers of life and light in Hindu society, preachers of human (P – 133) brotherhood like Raamaananda and Chaitanya, Kabir, Naanak, Daadu, and Naamdev arose. As the result of the liberalising influence of Western civilisation, caste customs are being slowly modified, and connubial restrictions are getting slackened. Ram Mohan Roy, Dayaanand Sarasvati and Gandhi, among others, contributed to the silent revolution¹ (P 133) (Even the Hindu Mahaasabhaa resolved: “Whereas the caste system based on the birth as at present existing is manifestly contrary to universal truth and morals: whereas it is the very antithesis of the fundamental spirit of the Hindu religion: whereas it flouts the elementary rights of the human equality ….. this all India Hindu Mahaasabhaa declares its uncompromising opposition to the system and calls upon the Hindu society to put a speedy end to it.”). They found much support in the spirit of the ancient scriptures. A vipra is so called because of his Vedic learning, and a Braahmin because of his knowledge of God² (vedapAthena viprostu brahmjnAnAt tu brAhmanah.) A famous verse of Mahaabhaarata makes out that we are all born Braahmins, and happen to belong to the different classes on account of our conduct and occupation³ (Cp. The popular verse: anAdAv iha samsAre dur ‘Are makardhvaje; kule cha kAminimule kA jAti parikalpanA.). The whole world was of one class, and the four groups became established on account of their conduct⁴ (eka varnam idam purvam vishvam Asid yudhisthira; karmakriyAvishesena chAturvarnyam pratisthitam. – Aranyoparva.). The Hinduisation of aboriginal tribes has been going on slowly and unobtrusively, through the natural attraction of the superior ideals. For it to be speedy and successful, the caste Hindu should give up their spirit of aloofness and haughtiness. Caste divisions have prevented the development of homogeneity among the Hindus. To develop a degree of organic wholeness and a sense of common obligation, the caste spirit must go. We have to get rid of the innumerable castes and outcastes, with their spirit of exclusiveness, jealousy, greed and fear.

Physical purity (saucham) is a means to inner purity. Cleanliness is a first aid to godliness. Our ideas of cleanliness must become more scientific. In olden times the Braahmins, the Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas could eat food cooked by each other. Manu says that a twice-born man should not eat food cooked by a Sudra, ⁵ (Manu. IV. ₂₃₂; Gautama, xvii. I.) but that which is prepared by a slave, by a family friend and co-sharer in the profits of agriculture, could be taken⁶ (Manu. IV. ₂₅₃; Apastamba, I. 18. _{9, 13, 14.}). In our times such distinctions are untenable and irritating, and restrict free social movement. In ancient times meat was used by the Braahmins also. The old Vedic religion included the sacrifices of five kinds of animals: (P – 134) goats, sheeps, cows, or bulls, and horses¹ (P. 134) (I. _{17. 30, 37.}). Under the influence of Buddhism, Jainism and Vaishnavism, the practice became discredited. Manu and Yaajnavalka impose so many restrictions about meat eating that they discourage it. In some parts (Bengal, Kashmir), even today, Braahmins take meat, while in others (Gujarat) even the lower castes abstain from it. Our habits are to be based on principles of cleanliness, not on taboos. Pollution by touch must be given up. Untouchability arises in many ways: by the violation of caste rules, by the pursuits of certain occupations, by the adoption of certain non-aaryan faiths. The sin of untouchability is degrading, and the prejudice should be removed. The Bhagavadgeeta points out that there are only four varnas based on natural aptitude and vocation,² (chAturvarnyam mayA srshtam gunakarmavibhAgasah. Bhagavad Gita) and two classes of persons, divine (daiva) and demoniac (aasura) ³ (Gita: XVI. 6. dvau bhuta sargau loke ‘smin daiva asura eva ca; daivo vistarasah prokta asuram partha me srnu- Translation: O son of Prtha, in this world there are two kinds of created beings. One is called the divine and the other demoniac. I have already explained to you at length the divine qualities. Now hear from Me of the demoniac.). Manu states that there are only four divisions and no fifth ⁴ (brAhmanah kshatriyo vaisyas trayo varna dvijAtayah; chaturthA ekajAtis tu sudro nAsti tu panchamah. – X. ₄.). Any discrimination against the Harijans is unjustified. If a Samkara avoided an ‘untouchable’ it was only to be told that it is improper⁵ (annamayAd annamayam athavA chaitanyam eva chaitanyAd; Dvijavara durikartuvAnchasi kim bruhi gaccha gaccheti. At the Round Table Conference in London (1931) Gaandhi said: Let this committee (minority committee) and let the whole world know that there is a body of Hindu reforms who feel that untouchability is a shame, not of the untouchables, but of orthodox Hinduism, and they are therefore pledged to remove this blot….I far rather that Hinduism died than untouchability lived…. I want to say with all the emphasis that I can command that if I was the only person to resist this thing, I would resist it with my life.”). Places of worship, public wells, and public utilities such as cremation grounds and bathing ghats, hotels, and educational institutions, should be open to all. Reform in these matters has been more effective in the Indian states ruled by Indian princes⁶ (The Late Mahaaraajaa Gaekwar of Baroda introduced very many salutary reforms, and declared that the Hindu temples under state management shall be open to all classes of Hindus, including the Antyajas. On 12th November 1936, H.H. the Mahaaraajaa of Traavancore issued the following proclamation:

“Profoundly convinced of the truth and validity of our religion, believing that it is based on Divine guidance and on an all comprehending toleration, knowing that, in its practice, it has throughout the centuries adopted itself to the needs of changing times, and being solicitous that none of my Hindu subjects should by reason of birth or caste or community be denied the consolations and solace of the Hindu faith, I have decided and hereby declare, ordain and command that, subject to such rules and conditions as may be laid down and imposed for preserving their proper atmosphere and maintaining their rituals and observances, there should henceforth be no restriction placed on any Hindu by birth or religion on entering or worshipping at the temples by Government.”) What is being done today is a question not of justice or charity, but of (P – 135) atonement. Even when we have done all that is in our power, we shall not have atoned even for a small fraction of our guilt in this matter. Thus summarises it Dr. S. Radhakrishnan on caste and untouchability issue in his lectures delivered way back in the winter of 1942 in the Universities of Calcutta and Benares – for Kamala Lectureship organised in memory of his beloved daughter by Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee; on some aspect of Indian Life and Thought, the subject to be treated from a comparative standpoint to be delivered by a distinguished scholar in the field on invitation from The Special Committee of the Calcutta University.

The contemporary as well as the ancient Hindu society has been fairly well aware of and their attempts to eradicate this evil of caste system which has come to survive against all odds despite their best efforts to eliminate it, are laudable and self evident. This also stresses on the fact that certain situations in the human society get entrenched and manage to thrive once it becomes a convention even against the wishes of the responsible stalwarts in that society. There are always clash of vested interests of some isolated powerful sections which take advantage of otherwise helpless ecclesiastical modes. It puts the entire community on shame. In the current global diverse and highly competitive and chaotic social mechanisms and engineering, it has assumed the most virulent and malignant proportions where one is more interested in finding faults than help eliminate them. The weaker one pays the price as per the law of nature. Hindu society is no exception to it due to its mismatched ideology of peace and love in the present scenario where the opposite, like violence and envy has taken over its upper hand of pride and grandeur.  This is part of a continuing struggle for survival inherent from its very inception all over the world and is equally true for Hindus in the human society with its caste stigma.

Caste or Class Systems versus India in Global Perspective – CHAPTER SIX 

(CHAKRA) All the Vedic literature is studded with references on the divisions of various classes according to the merit and aptitude of the individual concerned.  From time to time, various scholars and elites in Hindu society has attempted to enlighten on this point.

J G Arora again in his article, “Hinduism does not permit caste system”, asserts candidly concerning the Manu Smrti, “Hinduism is all-embracing, and gives the same respect to all humans, and anything to the contrary in Manu Smriti or anywhere else is not sanctioned by the Vedas. Being divine revelation, Shrutis (Vedas) are the ultimate authority for Dharma, and represent its eternal principles whereas being human recapitulations, Smritis (Recollections) can play only a subordinate role. As per Shloka number (6) of chapter 2 of Manu Smriti, “Vedo akhilo dharma mulam” (Veda is the foundation of entire Dharma) whereas Shloka number 2(13) of Manu Smriti specifies that whenever Shruti (Vedas) and Smritis differ, stipulation of Vedas will prevail over Smriti stipulation. In view of this position, anything discriminatory in Manu Smriti or anywhere else is anti-Veda, and therefore, is not sanctioned by Hinduism, and has been subsequently inserted by unholy intentions, and deserves to be weeded out.”

It must be appreciated that the Smrtis are a reflection of the voice that was directly heard from the Almighty God, e.g. Vedas; while the Srutis are the voices passed down by the Seers from generation to generation. Hence the latter represents a human version where there could be chances of multitudes of distortions. Manu Smrti is one such document where it might incorporate some human distortions that could be attributed to Manu himself for reasons difficult to account for. However Dr. S. Radhakrishnan has tried to link Manu’s ideas to the Buddhist religion which may be another fact to be researched. But Manu himself clearly expounds that anything beyond Vedas is untenable. Thus primarily, the Vedas must be accepted as the truth and anything deviating from them cannot be accepted as authoritarian and binding.

Finally in his winding remarks, Arora further grieves, “With the fond hope that everyone will do the utmost in this regard, I conclude this write-up with the last Mantra of Rig Veda emphasizing the unity and harmony of entire humanity, “Samani vha aakutihi, samana hrudyani vha, samanam astu vo mano, yatha vha su saha asti.” (“Let your aims be one, let your hearts be one, let your minds be one, and let your unity go from strength to strength”).”  More here.

Rig Veda is said to be the first testament revealed by the Seers through Smrtis. All other scriptures took roots subsequently over the era. Hence the wisdom contained inside the Rig Veda is the most veracious and genuine.

Thus Geeta further extol the need for the four Varnas in this verse 4:13 as follows:

                                catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah
                                tasya kartaram api mam viddhy akartaram avyayam

SYNONYMS

catuh-varnyam–the four divisions of human society; maya–by Me; srstam–created; guna–quality; karma–work; vibhagasah–in terms of division; tasya–of that; kartaram–the creator or doer; api–although; mam–Me; viddhi–you may know; akartaram–as the non-doer; avyayam–being unchangeable.

TRANSLATION

According to the work ascribed to them, the four divisions of human society were created by Me. Although I am the creator of this system, you should know that I am yet the non-doer, being unchangeable. 4:13

“In Bhagwad Geeta (BG) chapter two, Arjuna accepts the position as a disciple of Lord Krishna and requests the Lord to instruct him in how to dispel his confusion and grief. This chapter is often deemed as a summary to the entire BG. Here many subjects are explained such as: Karma yoga, Jnana yoga, Sankhya yoga, Buddhi Yoga and the Atma which is the Soul. Predominance has been given to the immortal nature of the Soul existing within all living entities and it has been described in great detail. Thus this chapter is entitled: “The Eternal Reality of the Souls’ Immortality.”

In Chapter 2:16-17, 20-25, the definition and eternal immortal character of the soul is clearly defined and described. Soul is Truth and vice versa which is unchangeable and constant. Neither it is born nor does it have a death. It has been discovered by the seekers and preceptors of this eternal truth who have declared it by their profound study, penance and forecast as the déjà vu. In verses 2:23-24 it explains, “The soul can never be cut into pieces by any weapon, nor can he be burned by fire, nor moistened by water, nor withered by the wind. This individual soul is unbreakable and insoluble, and can be neither burned nor dried. He is everlasting, all-pervading, unchangeable, immovable and eternally the same.”

It has clearly propounded in the earlier verse 2:22, “As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, similarly, the soul accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones”. Thus it pays no significance to the physical bodies as such, as also to the caste based divisions between them by priori.

In the end, Lord Krishna exhorts Arjun – 18:66, while revealing the “Ultimate Truth” - Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja,

aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami ma sucah.

(Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear. Here the word religion has been used for every kind of knowledge including the Vedic Sanatana Dharma e.g. knowledge of the Supreme Brahman, knowledge of the Supersoul, knowledge of the different types of orders and statuses of social life, knowledge of the renounced order of life, knowledge of nonattachment, sense and mind control, meditation, etc.)

Some Sanskrit word translations into English are appended hereunder:

“sarva-dharman–all varieties of religion; parityajya–abandoning; mam–unto Me; ekam–only; saranam–surrender; vraja–go; aham–I; tvam–you; sarva–all; papebhyah–from sinful reactions; moksayisyami–deliver; ma–not; sucah–worry.”

These unsullied profound descriptions in the most sacred Hindu scripture leave nothing to speculation as to how much importance is subscribed to the physical body? Very little! Hence the allegations of various discriminatory social caste divisions do not appear genuine and tenable in the first place. Physically all are equal. HAF defines it further, “ Illustrates, with passages from Hindu sacred texts, the fact that caste-based discrimination represents the neglect of Hinduism’s central teaching of the inherent divinity of all beings, and that caste-based discrimination is not an intrinsic feature of Hinduism: ‘See the World Conference on Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in 2001 in Durban, South Africa’  http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.un.org%2FWCAR%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFuBYNeF4Z29_a_SunVuH-nWq9GOQ

Caste or Class Systems versus India in Global Perspective – CHAPTER FOUR & FIVE

Chapter 4 – Demographics: First Backward Classes commission:

(CHAKRA) Main article: Kalelkar Commission - The First Backward Classes Commission was set up by a presidential order on 29 January 1953 under the chairmanship of Kaka Kalelkar. The commission submitted its report on 30 March 1955. It had prepared a list of 2,399 backward castes or communities for the entire country and of which 837 had been classified as the “most backward”. Some of the most notable recommendations of the commission were:

1. Undertaking caste-wise enumeration of population in the census of 1961;
2. Relating social backwardness of a class to its low position in the traditional caste hierarchy of Indian society;
3. Treating all women as a class as “backward”;
4. Reservation of 70 per cent seats in all technical and professional institutions for qualified students of backward classes.
5. Reservation of vacancies in all government services and local bodies for other backward classes.

The commission in its final report recommended “caste as the criteria” to determine backwardness. But this report was not accepted by the government as it feared that the backward classes excluded from the caste and communities selected by the commission may not be considered and the really needy would be swamped by the multitude and would hardly receive special attention.

Mandal commission:

The decision to set up a second backward classes commission was made official by the president on 1 January 1979. The commission popularly known as the Mandal Commission, its chairman being B. P. Mandal, submitted a report in December 1980 that stated that the population of OBCs, which includes both Hindus and non-Hindus, was around 52 per cent of the total population according to the Mandal Commission.

However, this finding was criticized ^{[by whom?]} as based on “fictitious data”. The National Sample Survey puts the figure at 32%. There is substantial debate over the exact number of OBCs in India, with census data compromised by partisan politics. It is generally estimated to be sizable, but lower than the figures quoted by either the Mandal Commission or and National Sample Survey.

27 percent of reservation was recommended owing to the legal constraint that the total quantum of reservation should not exceed 50 percent. States which have already introduced reservation for OBC exceeding 27 per cent will not be affected by this recommendation. With this general recommendation the commission proposed the following overall scheme of reservation for OBC:

1. Candidates belonging to OBC recruited on the basis of merit in an open competition should not be adjusted against their reservation quota of 27 per cent.
2. The above reservation should also be made applicable to promotion quota at all levels.
3. Reserved quota remaining unfilled should be carried forward for a period of three years and de-reserved thereafter.
4. Relaxation in the upper age limit for direct recruitment should be extended to the candidates of OBC in the same manner as done in the case of SCs and STs.
5. A roster system for each category of posts should be adopted by the concerned authorities in the same manner as presently done in respect of SC and ST candidates.

These recommendations in total are applicable to all recruitment to public sector undertakings, both under the central and state governments as well as to nationalised banks. All private sector undertakings which have received financial assistance from the government in one form or other should also be obliged to recruit personnel on the aforesaid basis. All universities and affiliated colleges should also be covered by the above scheme of reservation. Although education is considered an important factor to bring a desired social change, “educational reform” was not within the terms of reference of this commission. To promote literacy the following measures were suggested:

1. An intensive time-bound programme for adult education should be launched in selected pockets with high concentration of OBC population.
2. Residential schools should be set up in these areas for backward class students to provide a climate specially conducive to serious studies. All facilities in these schools including board and lodging should be provided free of cost to attract students from poor and backward class homes.
3. Separate hostels for OBC students with above facilities will have to be provided.
4. Vocational training was considered imperative.
5. It was recommended that seats should be reserved for OBC students in all scientific, technical and professional institutions run by the central as well as state governments. The quantum of reservation should be the same as in the government services, i.e. 27 per cent.

Old Wine in New Bottle Served by the Brown Butlers after 1947:

In an article in The Telegraph in India, Radhika Ramaseshan, expresses her doubts in the following essay published as late as Wednesday, May 12, 2010: BC, DC or EC? What lies ahead of the census – Haphazard lists and multiple definitions could pose hurdles in establishing identity during the caste count. Unfortunately the same 1931 census data were used by the controversial Mandal Commission later on.

“When officials carrying out the 1931 census, the last to take account of caste, asked a “waterman” on the Coorg border his place in the social hierarchy, the answer left them amazed.

The “extremely dark individual”, wrote then census commissioner John Henry Hutton in his report, said he was from the Suryavamsa (family of the Sun).

The focus on skin colour probably reflected Hutton’s own prejudice, but the British official anyway thought the waterman would be from a low or intermediate caste, perhaps even an untouchable.

He noted in his report that some people were using the census as a ladder to ascend the social order.

Today’s census officials, as they carry out a caste count almost 80 years later, could face the opposite problem, with the lure of reservation inflating the Other Backward Classes’ numbers.

But that is not the only reason officials say verifying every Indian’s caste identity will take at least five years after the 2011 census simply records citizens’ own claims on the matter.”

In continuing further Radhika asserts, “In the beginning, the term Backward Class was too wide, with the OBCs left undistinguished from the Dalits and tribals, sometimes even the Kshatriyas and Vaishyas.

One starting point could be 1918, when “BC” first acquired a technical meaning in the princely state of Mysore, says US academic Marc Galanter, author of the seminal Competing Equalities: Law and the Backward Classes in India. The Maharaja of Mysore was then looking to fix a job quota.

However, all communities barring the Brahmins were notified BCs. In 1928, the Hartog Committee tried to narrow down the BCs as “educationally backward” castes/classes.

However, already in 1916, another term — the “depressed classes”— had been discussed in the Indian Legislative Council. It initially covered the “criminal and wandering tribes, aboriginal tribes and untouchables”.

In 1917, Sir Henry Sharp, education commissioner of India, enlarged it to cover the “backward and educationally poor and depressed and also certain classes of Muhammadans”.

Then began an attempt at sharpening the definition, propelled by the so-called lower castes’ resentment at being clubbed with the “untouchables” in the omnibus “depressed classes” label.

A memorandum from the United Provinces Hindu Backward Classes League, founded in 1929, suggested that “depressed” carried a “connotation of untouchability in the sense of causing pollution by touch”. It proposed the term “Hindu backward”, that is castes that were “low” socially, educationally and economically.

But in 1930, the State Committee of Bombay mixed things up again, recommending that “depressed classes” should refer only to the “untouchables” while a wider term, “backward classes” or “intermediate classes”, should cover even the tribes, whether aboriginal or hill-dwelling.

Chapter Five: Census & Separation

Some kind of order was imposed by the 1931 census — just in time too, since it proved to be the last caste census. It separated the Dalits and tribals from its version of the OBCs, whom it called “Hindu backward communities” and whose population it put at 43.7 per cent.

The census also counted the backward non-Hindu communities (8.4 per cent). Half a century later, the Mandal Commission primarily used this data to suggest, rather arbitrarily, a 27 per cent OBC reservation figure. But the 1931 figures stayed controversial.”  Peruse at for full details:

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100512/jsp/nation/story_12439699.jsp#

Thus it is clear that the legacy of caste perpetuated in Indian society even after the independence based on the census figures determined during the British era. Nehruvian era merely helped to make it worst by eternal policy entrenchment.

While revisiting Mandal protests, 20 years later in his post, Hemant Goswami laments as follows:

When will our politicians realise that poverty has no caste or religion? Presumably by doing all this, they are trying to convey that greed too has no caste or religion.

Hemant Goswami is a social activist working on citizen rights, good governance and public health. He also heads civil society organisations Burning Brain Society and Citizens’ Voice besides being primary catalyst behind GOI Monitor. More at: http://goimonitor.com/story/revisiting-mandal-protests-20-years-later

Legal dispute:

Supreme Court interim stay

On 29 March 2007, the Supreme Court of India, as an interim measure, stayed the law providing for 27 percent reservation for Other Backward Classes in educational institutions like IITs and IIMs. This was done in response to a public interest litigation — Ashoka Kumar Thakur vs. Union of India. The Court held that the 1931 census could not be a determinative factor for identifying the OBCs for the purpose of providing reservation. The court also observed, “Reservation cannot be permanent and appear to perpetuate backwardness”.

Supreme Court verdict

On 10 April 2008 the Supreme Court of India upheld the government’s initiative of 27% OBC quotas in government-funded institutions. The Court has categorically reiterated its prior stand that those considered part of the “Creamy layer” should be excluded from the scope of the reservation policy as well as from private institutions. The verdict produced mixed reactions from supporting and opposing quarters. Several criteria to identify the portion of the population comprising the “creamy layer” have been recommended, including the following:

Those with family income above Rs 250,000 a year (now Rs 450,000 a year, as of October 2008^[update]) should be in creamy layer, and excluded from the reservation quota. Also, children of doctors, engineers, chartered accountants, actors, consultants, media professionals, writers, bureaucrats, defence officers of colonel and equivalent rank or higher, high court and Supreme Court judges, all central and state government Class A and B officials should be excluded. The Court has requested Parliament to exclude MPs’ and MLAs’ children as well.

Supreme Court conclusions from Ashoka Kumar Thakur vs. Union of India

1. The Constitution (Ninety-Third Amendment) Act, 2005 does not violate the “basic structure” of the Constitution so far as it relates to the state maintained institutions and aided educational institutions. Question whether the Constitution (Ninety-Third Amendment) Act, 2005 would be constitutionally valid or not so far as “private unaided” educational institutions are concerned, is left open to be decided in an appropriate case.
2. The “Creamy layer” principle is one of the parameters to identify backward classes. Therefore, principally, the “Creamy layer” principle cannot be applied to STs and SCs, as SCs and STs are separate classes by themselves.
3. Preferably there should be a review after ten years to take note of the change of circumstances.
4. A graduation (not technical graduation) or professional course deemed to be educationally forward.
5. Principle of exclusion of Creamy layer applicable to OBC’s.
6. The Central Government shall examine as to the desirability of fixing a cut off marks in respect of the candidates belonging to the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) to balance reservation with other societal interests and to maintain standards of excellence. This would ensure quality and merit would not suffer. If any seats remain vacant after adopting such norms they shall be filled up by candidates from general categories.
7. So far as determination of backward classes is concerned, a Notification should be issued by the Union of India. This can be done only after exclusion of the creamy layer for which necessary data must be obtained by the Central Government from the State Governments and Union Territories. Such Notification is open to challenge on the ground of wrongful exclusion or inclusion. Norms must be fixed keeping in view the peculiar features in different States and Union Territories. There has to be proper identification of Other Backward Classes (OBCs). For identifying backward classes, the Commission set up pursuant to the directions of this Court in Indra Sawhney 1 has to work more effectively and not merely decide applications for inclusion or exclusion of castes.
8. The Parliament should fix a deadline by which time free and compulsory education will have reached every child. This must be done within six months, as the right to free and compulsory education is perhaps the most important of all the fundamental rights (Art.21 A). For without education, it becomes extremely difficult to exercise other fundamental rights.
9. If material is shown to the Central Government that the Institution deserves to be included in the Schedule (institutes which are excluded from reservations) of The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006 (No. 5 of 2007), the Central Government must take an appropriate decision on the basis of materials placed and on examining the concerned issues as to whether Institution deserves to be included in the Schedule of the said act as provided in Sec 4 of the said act.
10. Held that the determination of SEBCs is done not solely based on caste and hence, the identification of SEBCs does not violate Article 15(1) of the Constitution.

See also:

• Creamy layer
• Forward Castes
• Caste system
• Varna in Hinduism
• Central List of Other Backward Classes Uttar Pradesh
• List of Muslim Other Backward Classes communities
• Aarakshan

Notes:

1. ^ “About Us – Brief History”. http://socialjustice.nic.in/breif.php.
2. ^ Kumar, D Suresh (25 September 2010). [17 yrs after Mandal, 7% OBCs in govt jobs|http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/17-yrs-after-Mandal-7-OBCs-in-govt-jobs/articleshow/6465115.cms]. Times News Network. [Archived by WebCite|http://www.webcitation.org/5tnYAVRTu] on 27 October 2010. Accessed 27 October 2010.
3. ^ [1]. Accessed October 2010.
4. ^ [2]^{[dead link]}
5. ^ “Supreme Court stays OBC quota in IITs, IIMs”. rediff.com (Rediff.com India Limited). 29 March 2007. http://in.rediff.com/news/2007/mar/29quota.htm. Retrieved 2007-04-01.
6. ^ “New Cutoff for OBCs”. The Telegraph. 11 April 2008. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080411/jsp/frontpage/story_9123781.jsp. Retrieved 2008-04-11.

References:

• Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India

External links:

• National Commission for Backward Classes, central list by state
• Government Gazettes for Central Government List of OBC at SocialJustice.nic.in
• OBCReservation.net
• OBCguru.com

I have deliberately left the bibliography and references’ list here. It seems so useful.

More at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Other_Backward_Class

Caste or Class Systems versus India in Global Perspective – CHAPTER THREE

Backward Classes

The Central Government of India classifies some of its citizens based on their social and economic condition as Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Other Backward Class (OBC). The OBC list presented by the commission is dynamic (castes and communities can be added or removed) and will change from time to time depending on social, educational and economic factors. For example, the OBCs are entitled to 27% reservations in public sector employment and higher education. In the constitution, OBCs are described as “socially and educationally backward classes”, and government is enjoined to ensure their social and educational development.

Until 1985, the affairs of Backward Classes were looked after by the Backward Classes Cell (BCC) in the Ministry of Home Affairs. With the creation of a separate Ministry of Welfare in 1985 (renamed as Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on 25 May 1998) the matters relating to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Minorities were transferred to the new Ministry.

The Backward Classes Division in the ministry looks after the policy, planning and implementation of programmes relating to social and economic empowerment of OBCs. It also looks after matters relating to two institutions set up for the welfare of OBCs: National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC) and the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC).

OBC Definition:

What is Other Backward Class: The peoples economically & socially backward other than SC, ST and FC are an Other Backward Class (OBC).

Who are the Other Backward Class: The peoples who belong to Backward Class (BC), Most Backward Class (MBC) and Denotified Community (DCN) category in the respective Indian states government’s criteria are grouped & called as Other Backward Class (OBC).

Overview:

Backward class people is a collective term, used by the Government of India, for castes which are economically and socially disadvantaged. They typically include the Other Backward Classes (OBCs). According to “The Times of India” on 31 August 2010, even after 17 years, at most 7% of seatshave been filled by OBCs, regardless of their 27% reservation. This difference between proportion of different communities in higher educational institutions is mainly because of difference in primary school enrolment. Political parties inIndia have attempted to use these communities as vote banks.

Obligation of the government:

Under Article 340 of the Indian Constitution, it is obligatory for the government to promote the welfare of the Other Backward Classes (OBC). Article 340(1) states, ” The president may by order appoint a commission, consisting of such persons as he thinks, fit to investigate the conditions of socially and educationally backward classes within the territory of India and the difficulties under which they labour and to make recommendations as to the steps that should be taken by the union or any state to remove such difficulties and as to improve ‘their condition and as to the grants that should be made, and the order appointing such commission shall define the procedure to be followed by the commission.”

Article 340(2) states, “A commission so appointed shall investigate the matters referred to them and present to the president a report setting out the facts as found by them and making such recommendations as they think proper.”

Constitution of India and rights of Equality:                                 

In perusing the Indian Constitutional provisions regarding the discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth, the following Articles make it absolutely clear against any such discrimination. The framer of the Constitution, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar was himself one of the disaffected persons. It is unfortunate that this malady of caste bias has taken deeper roots than eliminating it. Today any quotas,              reservations, privileges, advantages in the name of caste, religion, minorities, grants, subsidies, educational institution admissions, job preferences, scholarships etc have all become a method of exploitation and pride than an opportunity for a deserving and needy to help. It is unfortunate that all these Constitutional instruments have been allowed to rot in the theory of the intelligent exercise of their wisdom than putting it to sincere practice to uplift the deserving masses. I reproduce hereunder the related articles as ready reckoner for everyone.

Right to Equality

14. Equality before law.—The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within theterritory ofIndia.

15. Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth.—(1) The State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them.

(2) No citizen shall, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them, be subject to any disability, liability, restriction or condition with regard to—

(a) access to shops, public restaurants, hotels and places of public entertainment; or

(b) the use of wells, tanks, bathing ghats, roads and places of public resort maintained wholly or partly out of State funds or dedicated to the use of the general public.

(3) Nothing in this article shall prevent the State from making any special provision for women and children.

(4) Nothing in this article or in clause (2) of article 29 shall prevent the State from making any special provision for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens or for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.

(5) Nothing in this article or in sub-clause (g) of clause (1) of article 19 shall prevent the State from making any special provision, by law, for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens or for the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes in so far as such special provisions relate to their admission to educational institutions including private educational institutions, whether aided or unaided by the State, other than the minority educational institutions referred to in clause (1) of article 30.

16. Equality of opportunity in matters of public employment.—(1) There shall be equality of opportunity for all citizens in matters relating to employment or appointment to any office under the State.

(2) No citizen shall, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, descent, place of birth, residence or any of them, be ineligible for, or discriminated against in respect of, any employment or office under the State.

(3) Nothing in this article shall prevent Parliament from making any law prescribing, in regard to a class or classes of employment or appointment to an office under the Government of, or any local or other authority within, a State or Union territory, any requirement as to residence within that State or Union territory prior to such employment or appointment.

(4) Nothing in this article shall prevent the State from making any provision for the reservation of appointments or posts in favour of any backward class of citizens which, in the opinion of the State, is not adequately represented in the services under the State.

(4A) Nothing in this article shall prevent the State from making any provision for reservation in matters of promotion, with consequential seniority, to any class or classes of posts in the services under the State in favour of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes which, in the opinion of the State, are not adequately represented in the services under the State.

(4B) Nothing in this article shall prevent the State from considering any unfilled vacancies of a year which are reserved for being filled up in that year in accordance with any provision for reservation made under clause (4) or clause (4A) as a separate class of vacancies to be filled up in any succeeding year or years and such class of vacancies shall not be considered together with the vacancies of the year in which they are being filled up for determining the ceiling of fifty per cent. reservation on total number of vacancies of that year.

(5) Nothing in this article shall affect the operation of any law which provides that the incumbent of an office in connection with the affairs of any religious or denominational institution or any member of the governing body thereof shall be a person professing a particular religion or belonging to a particular denomination.

17. Abolition of Untouchability.—“Untouchability” is abolished and its practice in any form is forbidden. The enforcement of any disability arising out of “Untouchability” shall be an offence punishable in accordance with law.

18. Abolition of titles.—(1) No title, not being a military or academic distinction, shall be conferred by the State.

(2) No citizen of India shall accept any title from any foreign State.

(3) No person who is not a citizen of India shall, while he holds any office of profit or trust under the State, accept without the consent of the President any title from any foreign State.

(4) No person holding any office of profit or trust under the State shall, without the consent of the President, accept any present, emolument, or office of any kind from or under any foreign State.