Two more fresh news reports relevant in the subject context - graphic illustration of what does the "Manusmriti", in day-to-day life, mean on the ground? Never mind that very few people actually bother to access the text though they would virulently swear by it.
I/II. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/dalits-barred-from-yajna-in-bhopal/articleshow/58663757.cms Dalits barred from yajna in Bhopal Amarjeet Singh | TNN | May 14, 2017, 12.08 PM IST BHOPAL: Right under the nose of the government, upper caste people are allegedly preventing more than 200 Dalits from participating in a yajna at Kolukhedi locality on the outskirts of Bhopal. The yajna started on May 12 and Dalits say they were threatened with dire consequences if they dared visit the holy site. A group of them who want to participate in the yajna approached the district administration for help but in vain. The 'Panch Kundaliya Shri Vishnu Mahayajna' is being held near a temple in Kolukhedi in Berasia tehsil and will end on May 16, 2017. "The temple was initially situated within the village and our houses surrounded it. But some years ago, the area was submerged and we shifted our houses. We have tried to contact the Mahant Ji, who is organising the yajna. He agreed, but some influential people of the village are not allowing us to participate, saying we are of low caste," alleged Mukesh Mongia, a villager. "We filed a complaint with the sub-divisional magistrate and talked to the district collector but nothing happened," he alleged. Another villager Pappu Silawat said, "When the planning for the yajna began a few months ago, the influential people who are organising it fixed a donation of Rs 1,000 on each family of the village. We were included. But later they refused to take donations from us or let us participate. They say we low are caste. Two hundred of us Dalits are being threatened." Latest Comment Since these Dalits are still part of Hindu Religion the Headline should be " Hindus barred from yajna in Bhopal". Just like when you report similar incidences indulging two religions. ... Read More Jalindra When TOI contacted Berasia SDM Rajiv Nandan Shrivastav, he refuted the Dalit villagers' allegations. "We got the matter investigated at our level and there is no such discrimination. Some people are not being allowed as it is a private function of a community. How can anyone be forced to allow others in their private function?" Shrivastav said. The Dalit villagers deny it is a public function. "If it was a private yajna, why were leaflets and posters distributed in 15 nearby villages to invite people?" asked Mongia. TOI has a copy of the poster for yajna that reads like an open invitation to a public function. II. http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Post-attacks-UP-Valmikis-threaten-to-embrace-Islam-14052017013025 May 14 2017 : The Times of India (Delhi) Post-attacks, UP Valmikis threaten to embrace Islam Nazar Abbas Moradabad: TNN Dozens of members of the Valmiki community took out a procession here on Saturday , carrying idols of Rama, Ganesha and other Hindu gods.They took the idols to the Ramganga and immersed them in the river in what they said was a symbolic farewell to Hinduism. The Valmikis said that because of continuous atrocities against Dalits in the state, in places such as Saharanpur and elsewhere, more than 500 members of their community would be converting to Islam. The protesters also declared that they would re-build the Babri mosque in Ayodhya and raised slogans against the BJP . Members of Bhartiya Valmiki Dharam Samaj led by the outfit's national president Lalla Babu Dravid shouted slogans against the ruling BJP and chief minister Yogi Adityanath, condemning his silence on the recent incidents of attacks on Dalits in western UP . Bajrang Dal activists reached the spot and tried to stop the procession, but they did not succeed as the Valmiki Samaj members outnumbered them. The outfit's head, Dravid, said, “Incidents of attacks on Dalits have risen alarmingly after Yogi Adityanath has taken over the reins. Dalits have been targeted in Saharanpur, Sambhal, Moradabad, Meerut and other parts of UP . Perpetrators of these attacks are being shielded by the state government.“ Sukla On 14/05/2017, Sukla Sen <[email protected]> wrote: > [The RSS’s cultural affiliate Sanskar Bharti is planning to tie up > with the Union Ministry of Culture to promote activities that will > “correct the lies that people have been fed” about ancient Hindu > scriptures being “anti-Dalit and anti-woman”, starting with the > Manusmriti, a senior office-bearer of the organisation told The Sunday > Express. > ... > “We are debating the removal of portions from the Manusmriti, which > are anti-Dalit and anti-woman and often quoted in arguments against > Hindu scriptures,” he (Amir Chand, joint organisational secretary, > Sanskar Bharti) said.] > > http://indianexpress.com/article/india/rss-outfit-wants-manusmriti-reworked-mahesh-sharma-culture-ministry-4654823/ > > RSS outfit wants Manusmriti reworked > According to Chand, fresh research should be commissioned on Manusmriti. > > Written by Pragya Kaushika | New Delhi | Published:May 14, 2017 4:52 am > > ***THE RSS’s cultural affiliate Sanskar Bharti is planning to tie up > with the Union Ministry of Culture to promote activities that will > “correct the lies that people have been fed” about ancient Hindu > scriptures being “anti-Dalit and anti-woman”, starting with the > Manusmriti, a senior office-bearer of the organisation told The Sunday > Express.*** [Emphasis added.] > > According to Amir Chand, joint organisational secretary, Sanskar > Bharti, the Sangh outfit believes that people should be educated about > “the acceptance that our scriptures teach” through performing arts and > awareness activities, such as seminars. > > ***“We are debating the removal of portions from the Manusmriti, which > are anti-Dalit and anti-woman and often quoted in arguments against > Hindu scriptures,” he said.*** [Emphasis added.] > > “There are some references in Manusmriti where some objectionable > things have been mentioned. It should be deleted. We do not support > them. We have to see Manusmriti in today’s context. We will suggest to > the government that they look into this,” said Chand. > When contacted by The Sunday Express, Union Minister of Culture, > Mahesh Sharma said, “We have not received any such proposal. We will > take cognizance once we get it.” > > Manusmriti is a compilation of rules and regulations prepared by Manu > meant for the conduct of a varnashrama, or a social system based on > caste. Scholars date the codification by Manu to 200 CE, though claims > are made for a much earlier date. > According to Chand, fresh research should be commissioned on Manusmriti. > > “We believe that Manu was born 8,000 years ago… There are several > versions of Manusmriti, which have been written 5,500 years after his > birth and thus the credentials of the authors and their writings need > to be questioned. It is a matter of research, someone needs to look in > to this,” he said. > > Chand said that the scriptures never “promoted anti-Dalit or > anti-woman sentiments” and described such interpretations as > “propaganda” and the result of “ignorance”. > > “Many did not know that Rigveda has 47 richayen (hymns) written by a > woman. How can such vedas be anti-woman? It is ignorance about our own > scriptures that lead many to criticise them. I can understand that > Manusmriti has something wrong, but that can be removed after thorough > research into who wrote it,” said Chand. > -- > Peace Is Doable > -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth. 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