Caste not in the name of my faith

The issues around ‘caste’ have become controversial and complex. There is lack of clarity and understanding from people who do not understand the nuances and many use it to misinform in order to cause community tensions and rifts.

In a series of three articles together ‘Caste - Not in my name ….’ HMB looks at the issues and takes the reader to current thinking in the area by experts who offer an authoritative analysis on specific aspects of the subject. A group of Hindu organisations have challenged why the advocates of legislation are so keen to make caste discrimination a Hindu and an Indian issue when other communities have it and other communities have alternative versions of some sort like for example ‘class’. And why is legislation required and when any kind of discrimination is wrong the current legislation should suffice.

In fact, the term caste was coined from the Portuguese term ‘casta’ meaning race, lineage, breed. Currently there is no universally accepted definition of caste and any kind of legislation will face tremendous challenge to define it such that it can be qualified in a court of law.

The series will thus ask the three key questions:

Why target the Hindus?

Please see below.

Why India or Indian issue?

Next week we examine why it is not an Indian issue as most communities suffer the indignities of some form of discrimination.

Why do we need legislation?

This will examine why legislation is not a good idea and who are the people behind it. We will have an in depth analysis from Prakash Shah as he lays out the consequences of legislation and the negative impact it will bring on community relations.

Why target the Hindus?

In this article, we look at the Why the Hindu aspect. It stands to reason that the Hindu community is one of the most successful and peaceful communities. Wherever they go in the world, Hindus work hard and integrate within the host community.

Its values of peace and non-violence are exemplary and thus why associate any discrimination toward the faith? Hindus do not support any kind of discrimination and as lay abiding citizens would not tolerate abuse.

Hindu scriptures do not preach any kind of abuse. Of course there are malpractices, but these are linked to individuals or community’s negative behaviour toward others. But this cannot be associated to the faith of Hinduism. In the same vein, should racism be associated with Christianity? Of course not, and there are some serious abuses going on in other communities, yet Hindus do not associate the abuse with the faith, and it is only right that the Hindu faith should not marred with caste and discrimination.

An excellent analysis of this issue can be found at written by Swami Venkataraman called ‘Caste Hierarchy and Discrimination Not Sanctioned by The Vedas’ where is offers an analysis of the scriptures stating:

 ‘Far too many Hindus, including most Dalits, seem to believe that caste hierarchy and discrimination is sanctioned by the Vedas. This is emphatically not the case, and I have not even gone into Hinduism’s track record of producing numerous sages and rishis from the ‘lower castes’.

What the Hindu community is struggling with is that a community that works so hard and fits well within the British values and British way of life is not listened to. Why are individuals associated with the Church of England determined to have legislation based on flawed research? Such practices are only harming community relations and causing mistrust, the very opposite of what the advocates of caste legislation are asking for. It could lead to what people are now calling Hinduphobia, something no good citizen would want.

In next week’s article we will look at why India or Indian are targeted.

Please see Swami Venkataram’s article at  ‘Caste Hierarchy and Discrimination Not Sanctioned by The Vedas’

Also please see the background to the caste legislation at xxxx..