---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: "Sati Nath Chaudhary" <satic...@gmail.com> Date: Nov 16, 2015 11:18 AM Subject: (InDelhi:3661) [pmarc] (no subject) To: "Dalits Media Watch" <pm...@dgroups.org> Cc: "Xavier William" <varek...@gmail.com>
[india-unity] Adivasis say they are not Hindus X Xavier William varek...@gmail.com [india-unity] Sanghis boast they represent all Hindus which according to them comprise of the four Vedic castes as well as of the the dalits, the Dravidians, the dasyus, the Adivasis and other Indigenous ethnic groups of India. However there are voices of dissonance. Here is one: Mangalore, Feb 12: Calling for more academic research into primal religions in the country, Padma Shri award winner and former Vice-Chancellor of Ranchi University Ramdayal Munda has said that the Adivasis in India have been wrongly categorised as Hindus for the sake of administrative convenience. “Adivasis are followers of ‘Adi-Dharam’ not Hindiusm,” Mr. Munda said, while delivering the keynote address at the inaugural session of a three-day seminar on “Spirituality of primal religions”, organised by the Mangalore Diocesan Chair in Christianity on Thursday. Mr. Munda said that there were only six officially recognised religious classifications in the country, namely Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Sikhism and a grouping of small but organised religions termed “Others”. Of the over 10 crore Adivasis in the country, 90 per cent had been placed within the Hindu fold and the rest had embraced Islam, Christianity and Buddhism. Stating that ancient Adivasi practices had nothing in common with the Vedic traditions of Hinduism, he said that Adivasis had been reluctantly accommodated at the bottom of the Hindu fold. Ulterior motive Despite the reluctance, the Adivasis were accommodated within Hinduism with the ulterior motive of forming a formidable political grouping in pursuit of cultural nationalism, he said. He was equally critical of the other organised religions such as Christianity and Islam, which admitted Adivasis but kept them marginalised and diluted their ethnic identity, according to him. Mr. Munda, who has co-authored a book on Adi Dharam, which is a compilation of various spiritual practices and beliefs of Adivasis, said that more efforts should be made to document the orally inherited cultural traditions of these people in the country. Such studies across the country would help in scientifically establishing the already well-known belief that Adi Dharam ran like a common thread through Adivasi cultures across the country. “Worship of forces of nature, ancestors and deification of local heroes is central to all Adivasi practices,” he said. Study needed An academic study into the practices of over 500 Adivasi communities would also help in restoring the self-respect of the Adivasis, who had always occupied an amorphous position, somewhere on the fringes of organised religions. “Such studies will help Adivasis notice that they are the same people. This will have powerful political ramifications that can lead to the emancipation of the community,” he said. He said that Dalits too should be part of this social, political and cultural grouping, since their cultural practices too bore close resemblance to Adivasi traditions. He was opposed to Ambedkar’s efforts on converting the Dalits into Buddhism. “Firstly, there is a concerted effort to project the Buddha as the incarnation of a Hindu god. Secondly, the act of conversion takes away Adivasi and Dalit pride in their primal spiritual beliefs,” he said. -- Regards Xavier William "All new ideas good or bad, great or small start with a one-man minority" - anonymous Respect existence or expect resistance - unknown “Faith moves mountains, but only science (sic) can move them to the right place...”― Joseph Goebbels. "Ridicule is often the only possible weapon against ridiculous propositions" Thomas Jefferson Propositions which are revered today as sacred may prove to be ridiculous tomorrow - me Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups - George Carlin Religion is regarded by the common people as holy, by the wise as evil (sic), and by the rulers as useful - Senecca :Those who have nothing to boast of glorify their heritage - Thomas Paine “All superstition is much the same, whether it be that of astrology, dreams, omens, retributive judgment or the like, in all of which the deluded believers observe events which are fulfilled, but neglect and pass over their failure, though it be much more common.” Francis Bacon __._,_.___ Posted by: Xavier William <varek...@gmail.com> . Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre- PMARC has been initiated with the support from group of senior journalists, social activists, academics and intellectuals from Dalit and civil society to advocate and facilitate Dalits issues in the mainstream media. To create proper & adequate space with the Dalit perspective in the mainstream media national/ International on Dalit issues is primary objective of the PMARC. You are receiving this message because you are a member of the community Dalits Media Watch <https://dgroups.org/groups/pmarc>. View this contribution on the web site <https://dgroups.org/_/046x717v> A reply to this message will be sent to all members of Dalits Media Watch. Reply to sender <satic...@gmail.com> | Unsubscribe <leave.pm...@dgroups.org> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Invites Delhi" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to indelhi+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. 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