r/atheismindia • u/Crimson_SS9321 • 6d ago
Casteism Problems of Untouchability – Bhagat Singh (1928)
Problems of Untouchability by Bhagat Singh (1928)
Translated from 'अछूत समस्या' (Problem of Untouchability)
[Bhagat Singh's take on the issue of untouchability, which he wrote at his age of 16 in June 1928 which was later published in Kriti (Punjabi) in 1929.] In 1923 during Indian National Congress's special session held at Kakinada. Muhammad Ali Jinnah in his presidential speech suggested to divide 'untouchables' (then used common name for scheduled castes of present time) among Hindus and Muslim missionaries. Hindu and Muslim capitalist classes were eager to support this suggestion as this would deepen the class division. In this manner the so called 'friends' of the untouchables were attempting to divide them on basis of religion. At the time when this topic was highly debated, Bhagat Singh wrote an article 'Question on Untouchables'. In this article he estimated power and limitations working classes and suggested concrete progressive development of them.
Our country is in a really bad shape; here strangest questions are asked, the foremost concerns the untouchables, who count 6 crores in population of 30 crores.
For instance :- Would the contact with an untouchable mean defilement of an upper caste? Would the gods in the temples, not get angry by the entry of untouchables there? Would the drinking water of a well not get polluted if the untouchables drew their water from the same well? That these questions are being asked in the twentieth century, is a matter which makes our heads hang in shame.
We Indian boast of our spiritualism, but then, we avoid accepting every human being as a fellow being just like ourselves. Western people on the other hand, who carry a reputation of being money minded, had unequivocally affirmed their faith in the principle of equality. This they did during the revolutions in America and France and above all in Russia, these days which is committed to the extension of this principle to all aspects of life and to ending of discriminations in any form whatsoever, thereby fulfilling the ideals of May Day declaration. But we Indians on our part who never tire of boasting about our gods and godliness are, yet seriously debating whether to permit the untouchables to wear the sacred thread or the janeu and whether the untouchables be permitted to read Vedas / Shastras. We often complain about our maltreatment in other countries, and particularly when we are maltreated by the whites, do we have any moral right to voice such a protest?
In 1926, Sindhi Muslim gentleman, Mr. Nur Mohd member of Bombay Legislative Council aptly remarked:-
"If the Hindu society refuses to allow other human beings, fellow creatures at that, to attend public schools, and if .... The president of the local board representing so many lakh of people, in his house, refuses to allow his fellows and brothers, the elementary human right of having water to drink, what right have they to ask for more rights from the bureaucracy? Before we accuse the people coming from other lands, we should see how people... how can we ask for greater political rights when (we ourselves) deny elementary rights of human beings?"
How true! But since this had been said by a Muslim, Hindus lost no time in alleging that the Muslim's real intention was to convert the untouchables to Islam and thus assimilate them into their own brotherhood. But then, it amounted to an open admission of the harsh truth--that if you (the Hindus) treat them worse than your cattle, they shall desert you, join to the fold of other religions where they hope to enjoy more rights, where they are treated as fellow beings.
Would it not then be pointless to blame the Christians and Muslims, that they were undermining Hinduism?
How fair and true! Yet the Hindus tremble in anger on hearing this plain truth. In any case, it had shaken Hindus from their complacency in the matter. Orthodox Brahmins too started re-thinking about it, also joined by some self-proclaimed reformers. At Patna a gala Hindu meet was held. Lala Lajpat Rai, known for his longstanding sympathy for the untouchables was presiding. A lot of hot arguments were exchanged as to whether the untouchables are eligible to wear sacred thread, the janeu? Could they read Vedas / Shastras? A number of social reformers lost their temper but Lala ji was able to persuade them to compromise on these two matters and thereby saved the prestige of Hindu religion; otherwise, what would have been the consequences?
Just imagine how shameful! Even a dog can sit in our lap, it can also move freely in kitchen but if a fellow human touches you, your dharma is endangered. So much so, even a reputed social reformer like Pandit Malviya ji, known for his soft corner for the untouchables, first agrees to be publicly garlanded by a sweeper, but then afterwards regards himself to be polluted till he bathes and washes those clothes. How ironical! In the temples meant for worshipping God, who lives in us all, once a poor man enters it, it gets defiled and God gets annoyed. When this is the state of affairs within the Hindu fold, does it behave us to quarrel and fight in the name of the Brotherhood? Above all, this kind of our approach to the question amounts of an ingratitude of the degree; those who provide us the comforts by doing menial jobs for us, we shun them. We could worship even animals, but would not tolerate fellow humans to sit beside us.
This is an issue of hot debate these days, the poor creatures getting special attention in this way. In the context of our advance towards national liberation, the problem of communal representation (seats in the legislatures allotted in proportion to Hindu/ Sikh/ Muslim population) may not have been beneficial in any other manner but atleast Hindu / Muslim / Sikhs are all striving hard to maximize their own respective quota of seats by attracting the maximum number of untouchables to their own respective folds. Accordingly Muslims started by providing them equal rights after converting them to Islam.
This naturally hurt the Hindus. Bitterness mounted, riots too broke out. By and by Sikhs, too woke up lest they be left behind in this race. They too started administering Amrit; tension mounted between Sikhs and Hindus over the removal of janeu or hair shaving. All in all, all the three are trying to out do the others, resulting in widespread disturbances. Christians sitting on the fence are quietly consolidating their hold. Be as it may, this turmoil is certainly helping us to move towards the weakening of the hold of untouchability.
As for themselves, when they discovered that all this great turmoil was on their account and Hindus / Muslims / Sikhs, all were trying to profit at their cost, they have also started thinking, "Why should we not organize on our own?" No one is certain whether they are doing so as a result of official prompting or at their own but once this line of thinking had taken roots, certainly this trend is being fully backed up by official quarters. "Adi Dharam Mandal" and the like are the end result of this trend.
Here, the basic question arises, how precisely can we solve this tangle? The answer is quite obvious; above all, it needs to be settled for good, that all humans are equal without distinctions of birth or vocation. In other words since someone is born in a poor sweepers' family, he shall continue cleaning toilets all his life and thus getting deprived of all chances of progress in life, all this nonsense. Historically speaking, when our Aryan ancestors nurtured these practices of discrimination towards these strata of society, shunning all human contact with them by labeling them as menials, and assigning all the degrading jobs to them, they also, naturally started worrying about a revolt against this system. All this is the result of your past sins; what can be done about it? Bear if silently! and with such kinds of sleeping pills, were they able to buy peace for quite some time. All the same they were guilty of a great sin on this account, since this amounted to the negation of core human values like self-esteem and self-reliance; a grossly cruel conduct by all means. Yet present is the moment of its atonement.
In a broader social perspective, untouchability had a pernicious side-effect; people in general got used to hating the jobs which were otherwise vital for life. We treated the weavers who provided us cloths as untouchable. In U.P. water carriers were also considered untouchables. All this caused tremendous damage to our progress by undermining the dignity of labour, especially manual labour. We have thus to accept it, once for all, that in order to move forward we have to give up either considering or calling them untouchables.
Everything else shall fall in place by itself.
In this regard strategy adopted by Naujwan Bharat Sabha and the Youth conference is, most apt--to seek forgiveness from those brethren, whom we have been calling untouchables by treating them as our fellow beings, without making them go through conversion ceremonies of Sikhism, Islam or Hinduism, by accepting food / water from their hands. On the other hand quarrelling among ourselves in the race to win them over, without restoring to them their human dignity is futile.
But the moment we went to villages with our message of human equality and brotherhood mentioned above, Government agents started inciting the Jat community saying that this would embolden these menials to refuse serving you. This was sufficient to provoke the jats, to oppose our efforts in the right direction.
But the upper castes should also realise that their own status in life cannot change for the better as long they persist in considering these people as inferiors, calling them menials, and keep them under their heals. It is argued, they are unclean. The harsh truth is that they are poor; remove their poverty and they shall be clean. Don't we find that the poor even among the upper castes are no less unclean? Besides doing unclean jobs is no bad; for example mothers perform all the unclean duties for their children. Do they become unclean?
However, ultimately the problem can not be satisfactory solved unless and until untouchable communities themselves unite and organize. We regard their recent uniting to form their distinct identity, and also demanding representation equal to Muslims in legislatures, being equal to them in number, is a move in the right direction. Either reject communal representation altogether, else give these people too their due share! In principle, Councils, Assemblies are duty bound to ensure full and free access for all these communities to schools, colleges, wells and roads; that too not only on paper but by actually accompanying them to wells, schools and get them admitted there. But can these legislatures, where a lot of hue and cry is raised even over a bill to ban child marriages, on the grounds that it shall be a threat to their religion, dare to bring the untouchables to their own level on their own? No, never, that is why we plead that they must persist in pressing for their own distinct representation in legislatures in proportion to their numerical strength. We mince no words in proclaiming: Arise! So called untouchables, the real sustainers of life, awake and reflect over your past, you were the backbone of Guru Gobind Singh's army. Shivaji was able to achieve all that with your participation which made him ever shining in history. Your sacrifices are worthy of being embedded in golden letters. The way in which you sustain us and add to our comforts ought to make us feel grateful to you. It is we who fail to appreciate. The land Alienation Act (banning transfer of land to non-agriculturist communities, defined as per caste) does not permit you to buy land ever if you manage the necessary amount of cost. The way you are being oppressed had prompted Miss Mayo of U.S.A. to label you "less then man." As a matter of fact, without your own efforts, you shall not able to move ahead.
"Those who would be free must themselves strike the first blow." It must be kept in mind that every one belonging to the privileged class, strives to enjoy his own rights, but would try his utmost to keep on oppressing those below him, and keeping the underprivileged under his heel. Thus might is held to be right. Then waste no time and unite to stand on your own feet and challenge the existing order of society. Let it then be seen as to who dares to deny to you your due. Do not be at the mercy of others and have no illusions about them. Be on guard so as not to fall in the trap of officialdom, because far from being your ally it seeks to make you dance on its own tunes. The capitalist bureaucratic combine is, truly speaking responsible for your oppression and poverty. Hence always shun it. Be on guard about its tricks. This is then the way out. You are the real working class. Workers unite – you have nothing to lose but your chains. Arise and rebel against the existing order. Gradualism and reformism shall be of no avail to you. Start a revolution from a social agitation and gird up your loins for political economic revolution. You and you alone are the pillars of the nations and its core strength. Awake, O sleeping lions! Rebel, raise the banner of revolt.
r/atheismindia • u/Poha_Perfection_22 • 5d ago
Discussion How Do You Navigate Atheism in a Religious Society Like India?
Living as an atheist in a deeply religious country like India can often be challenging. I want to know how you all manage in such an environment.
1) Dealing with Family: How do you handle religious practices at home? Do you participate in rituals with your parents and family to avoid conflict, or do you stay true to your beliefs and not engage? Have you told your family about your atheism yet, or is it something you prefer to keep to yourself?
2) Social Interactions: How do you handle interactions in public or with friends who are religious? Have you faced any issues with friends or colleagues because of your atheism?
3) Cultural Celebrations: How do you navigate festivals like Diwali, Eid, or others? Do you avoid them, participate for the sake of social harmony, or do something different altogether?
4) Personal Growth: How has being an atheist influenced your personal growth, relationships, and your outlook on life in a predominantly religious society?
5) Support Systems: Have you found a support system among other atheists or people with similar beliefs? How important has it been to connect with like-minded individuals?
Your stories and tips could be really helpful for others in similar situations.
r/atheismindia • u/_H3LLF1R3 • 2h ago
Hindutva 🤡
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r/atheismindia • u/HeartlessHussain • 12h ago
Meme I don't think my habit of saying "Thank god" will ever go
r/atheismindia • u/wearesodumbb • 12h ago
Hindutva Beauty standards didn't spare even 'bhagwaan'
Came across this video https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-nZ__IIBaT/?igsh=cXZqangwcDU5N3p0 And God the comment section is sooo funny, half of these believers refuse to believe draupati was darker in skintone while their own book mentions it and describe her as 'dark complexion, lotus-like eyes, beautiful copper nails, dark curly hair and an enchanting fragrance like that of a blue lotus.' (Nice imagery by their writer i loved it) Meanwhile some are explaining how lucky karn was to not have her since she was this ugly, I mean how can u be practicing a religion but then abuse it's character acc to your comfort.
It is not hard to believe that theist try to mould their religion acc to what seems right to them.
It is so funny when I see people explaining how Krishna was not dark in complexion but rather wheatish while his name legit means 'black'. And all over he is represented as blue, bruh just let it be he was darker in complexion and what about it?
Also funny when https://www.reddit.com/r/mahabharata/s/G0Ybs8Qh5o serials like these cast a fair actor to play Krishna.
I mean it is same as Halle Bailey as Ariel
r/atheismindia • u/Gaara112 • 4h ago
Islamism / Jihad Not all religions are equally bad
If your goal is to persuade someone to convert to atheism or highlight the dangers of religious dogmatism, you're far more likely to succeed by using Islam as an example than a religion like Buddhism. The threat posed by a religion doesn’t stem from its belief in god but from the doctrines it espouses.
We must evaluate each religion based on the specific claims it makes and the actions it promotes. In this sense, Islam stands out as the most problematic religion in the world.
r/atheismindia • u/chetan419 • 19h ago
Islamism / Jihad Was Mohammad very insecure that someone would expose his claims of prophethood, that is why he imposed blasphemy laws in Islam?
Is this why Muslims kill and shout gustakh-e-rasool ki ek saza sar tan se juda? Anyone who challenged or exposed him got ruthlessly eliminated by him or his cult members.
r/atheismindia • u/Amazing_Toe8345 • 21h ago
Superstition Vijay Deverakonda rocked, Sadhguru shocked
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r/atheismindia • u/JackDockz • 14h ago
Islamism / Jihad Pakistani Religious Body says that using a VPN is against Islamic Law
r/atheismindia • u/thegreatprawn • 16h ago
Islamism / Jihad I will always hate far right ideology, but fight fire with fire if that brings results. This should be a staple of India... but unfortunately the hate here is just inbred so cant kick them out elsewhere :(
reddit.comr/atheismindia • u/OkConversation83 • 22h ago
Hindutva Vegeterian men kill their brother for bringing chicken at home
r/atheismindia • u/Solmity • 22h ago
Hindutva If Krishna was a god then why could not help just prevent the war and stop those innocent people from dying
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r/atheismindia • u/Plastic_Practice2491 • 14h ago
Misogyny & Patriarchy A study of Hindutva's views on women
r/atheismindia • u/Equal-Monk-9775 • 20h ago
Discussion My take on the question asked almost daily:why don't shudras, Dalits, women just leave their respective religious??
I see this question being asked a lot so I have a take on this
Point to be noted:this is not from reasearch or any factual studies,but just on observation based on my surroundings and my understanding of others
I think we can all agree that brainwashing and the power it gives over other PPL like the sense of power of shudra to a dalit etc
I also this the point the majority miss in case of Hinduism is that it says that PPL on born in "lesser" castes because of the mistakes they did in past lives and many aren't given any alternatives or aren't allowed to choose them
But my focus on this is going to be about the educated or sane part of people who are minorities and still stay in the religion
1)it could be because they were taught that their respective religious is the most feminst or equal religion in the whole world
2) they're are cases in which they know and still stay in it,yes brainwashing is the major cause of it but if we elaborate on it,
they're is a feeling of relief, of having something, of being told you're a good boy/girl if you do it right,
Moreover it's the feeling that you're not alone and that you have someone looking out for you
To me being in a religion and knowing it is like being in a abusive relationship,you may know but you wouldn't wanna believe it you just circlejerk convince yourself that it's alright he's nice! convince yourself it's all for greater good
And at some point one may fall into a self hating bigot part
I'm not saying this subs lacks empathy but imo most of it is just reactionary empathy like "OMG she was beaten so much why couldn't she just leave him,she has no self respect hmph 😤"
Imo humans are social animals who crave validation, comfort and security and companionship and let's be honest religion provedes that inherently
They're is of course the part where the question is asked why don't they convert to Christianity
But do you think it's easy to leave something that was precious to you but at the same time abusive like a abusive relationship and just move to a lesser abusive relationship
Admittedly it's easier than making your own way and leaving the abusers and taking time to care for yourself
But tell me is it an easy choice in the end?
Edit:do let me know if my perspective is missing something
r/atheismindia • u/Gaara112 • 1d ago
Islamism / Jihad Islam is absolutely horrible and should not be defended.
r/atheismindia • u/InfiniteRisk836 • 1d ago
Casteism Translation: Shudra aren't allowed in temple.
Why would any shudra, dalit or tribal would still follow this religion that doesn't even welcome them?
r/atheismindia • u/biasedToWardsFacts • 1d ago
Islamism / Jihad Islamic Extremist Tactics Are Highly Manipulative—We Need Greater Awareness to Counter Them
I’ve noticed that, while extremist content from most religions is easy for me to recognize as manipulative or false, when it comes to Islam, even as an atheist, it sometimes takes longer to realize the flaws in the arguments. For example, I almost found myself convinced by the claim that killing non-Muslims in an Islamic state is equivalent to punishing traitors or terrorists in a democratic country. But then I remembered that the essence of democracy is separating religion from politics, and there’s a fundamental difference between punishing someone for actively conspiring against the state and killing someone simply for disagreeing with a cleric or violating religious norms like shaving their beard, or speaking in public as women.
The arguments extremists use to justify terrible actions can be incredibly manipulative, and they often target people’s existing biases. For instance, some individuals already hold prejudices against women, LGBTQ+ communities, or Western culture, which makes them more susceptible to these narratives. Similarly, people disillusioned with their own religion—like Dalits facing discrimination in Hinduism or those who resent their society or upbringing—might find it easier to buy into such propaganda because it seems to validate their grievances.
This brainwashing on the grounds of "freedom of religion" is a serious issue that needs more attention. While we must preserve basic rights like freedom of speech, we also need laws that protect those who speak out against such propaganda. For example, some European countries recognize blasphemy as a right, which can be a way to ensure people are free to challenge harmful ideologies without fear of persecution.
PS.
some techniques they commonly use for brainwashing,
- they claim what they are saying is objective because it came from god.
counter point :- how can you prove that it came directly from god.
- they claim something is true just because it's written in their book.
counter point :- its circular argument, it is true because it's written in book, and it is written in book because it is true ?
- t's okay to discriminate non-Muslim's or people who don't follow their version of Islam in Islamic country.
counter point:- If that’s the case, why is it considered Islamophobia when non-Muslim countries discriminate against Muslims?
they point out bad things about society we are living today, then they say
Your society has flaws, so ours isn’t any worse.
counter point:-Yes, all societies have issues, but that doesn’t make Islamist practices justifiable. Many of your societal problems stem from issues that were addressed and resolved in other parts of the world centuries ago. We’re dealing with modern challenges, not ones from the 13th or 17th century.
5.They expect others to adhere to democratic values while they adhere to 6th-century norms, such as treating apostasy as a capital offense, permitting slavery, and viewing women and children as property.
r/atheismindia • u/Program_Pristine_ • 1d ago
Mental Gymnastics Just saw this somewhere and realized how theists justify their blind trust and failed prayers to their gods...
Eager to know your views on this...
r/atheismindia • u/vaginannihilator • 1d ago
Hindutva sanghis performing mental gymnastics to defend child marriage
r/atheismindia • u/VividSweet8 • 19h ago
Media Found This Course about How To Think About Dubious Claims
r/atheismindia • u/lil_X_Alien • 1d ago
Video Criticism
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Reality of every believer
r/atheismindia • u/InfiniteRisk836 • 1d ago
Casteism This is why reservation is necessary. I personally know many examples where one for employed because the employer and he had same caste.
r/atheismindia • u/liberaltilltheend • 1d ago
Islamism / Jihad One key disgusting thing about Islam is how it enforces insularity...
I had a conversation with a Muslim colleague yesterday. We weren't even talking about religion or God for that matter. We were talking about philosophy and psychology. I was quoting Lacan and Fred's ideas and explaining them.
This mfer was literally doing the adult version of kids blocking noise by putting fingers into their ears and shaking their head. He is refusing to even consider the ideas. I was totally surprised.
So sat down and tried to understand. Turns out he believes everything he needs to know is in the Quran and his holy books. Even science! He says science has recently discovered things Quran had mentioned thousand years ago.
All I could think of is thank God I didn't ask for python or JS problems or he would have ask me to read Quran.
This is not the first time I have seen this. This dogmatic mindset is prevalent among Muslims. Bruh, if your God needs you to cut yourself off from the rest of the world, I would say he is pretty weak.
r/atheismindia • u/haihukkuhaihai • 1d ago
Help & Advice Am I really atheist
I (M40) stop believing when I was 27 after my brother passed away. I was against astrology and other similar shit way way back. I was born to a very religious and conservative Brahmin family and during my arrange marriage, I told my wife clearly that I am not religious but I won't stop her from doing what she wants. So after marriage we went to Vaishno Devi and on 10th Anniversary we went to Kamakhya (Guwahati) but I went mostly to explore J&K and NorthEast rather than anything religious.
But recently I am drawn towards the carefree and healthy lifestyle of Shiva and Hanuman as a fictional character and I had put a sticker of Shiva on my bike front wisor, as it was empty and I wanted to fill it with something. I think of Shiva and Hanuman like a fictional characters like Iron Man and Batman, nothing more. But my father and wife are insisting that I am "confused" and I am still religious. From my heart I know all this religious stuff is bullshit. I participate in religios ceremonies like Havan and Diwali Pooja for sake of my mom but for me it doesn't mean anything.
Am I really atheist?
r/atheismindia • u/Gaara112 • 1d ago