A UNI report from Cochin of Oct. 24 says: “Discarding tradition and practice, high caste Brahmins made a beeline to Kuppuswamy, a Harijan priest, at the Andavar temple, at Trippunithura, near Cochin, to receive thirtham and prasadam from him. The occasion was the visit to the temple by the Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti peetham.Earlier, the Swamiji was received with purna kumbham. A group of Harijans played panchavadyam. The un-lettered Kuppuswamy himself sang some bhajan, one of them in praise of the acharya. Kuppuswamy lives in a hut nearby.” This report was prominently published in the “national press” all over India. Naturally, it is not a news that any press can miss. Many Untouchables and other low caste Hindus would have become so happy on reading this “change of heart” of orthodox. As this report is of vital significance to the dalits in particular and other low castes, we thought it needs a comment.
The communal Hindus always like to select an isolated case of an individual low caste to advertise to the rest of the starving, illiterate masses that they are very charitable, tolerant. Who says that low castes are not admitted into their fold? Such reports help serve as a wonderful piece of advertisement to the outside world where many foreigners have been deceived by this Hindu double-game. Now and then they stage-manage such a show to impress upon the world that the doors of priesthood are open to one and all irrespective of caste.
They also say that caste is decided not on the basis of birth. We want our innocent Dalit comrades not to be deceived by such a propaganda. Let us examine what type of an Untouchable is selected for such a unique honour. What qualifications he has to fulfil? While selecting an Untouchable to stage such a show, they exercise tremendous caution. They screen the individual and only one who will obey them forever will be selected for such an honour. Such a person by entering the priesthood, which has been for centuries the exclusive privilege of the Brahmins, is only helping to strengthen Brahminism. It has to be clearly understood that the communal Hindus will admit only an individual here and there after good deal of grilling, written and oral tests and after fully assuring themselves that such an individual will help strengthen the pillars of Brahminism. There is no instance in history of Untouchables being admitted to priesthood en-masse. A single swallow does not make a summer. This only goes to prove that Brahminism unlike all other world religions, Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, believes in “individual salvation”.
But no collective salvation is permitted. Tolerated. When a Christian, Muslim or Buddhist enters his place of worship, his religion directs him to prey for the welfare of the whole society. There is no scope in those religions to prey for one’s own happiness as we find in Hinduism. When a Hindu goes to temple, if at all he goes, he first prays for his own prosperity, then his wife, then his children and then his parents. Seldom for his family members. Never does a Hindu pray for the collective welfare of his society. To the Hindu, society does not exist. Therefore, an individual by pleasing the high castes, by becoming corrupt, debasing himself, pandering to their tastes can come up the ladder of life. It is called worming one’s way up. There is no bar to corruption under Brahminism because Brahminism thrives on corruption. There is no mention in Hindu “sacred scriptures” where the corrupt are punished. Greater the corruption, higher the man goes, and nearer to the swarga. It is the richest who are the nearest to the god. Every temple is a den of corruption in India. The Hindu god has to be bribed non-stop, fed and sexually roused to shower his holy benediction. When the gods themselves are corrupt debauchers, their creators – the gods of earth – must have to be doubly corrupt. So we have the priests who have sold the very gods. And there is a thriving smuggling business on Hindu gods. Thousands of such gods have been exported to West to adorn the drawing rooms of White households.
Brahminism likes a corrupt low caste man. Take the case of some of our top Untouchable political leaders. One such leader was discovered by communal Hindus to counteract the influence of Ambedkar. He was admitted inside their closed circles and allowed to amass any amount of wealth on the condition that he praised Brahminism. Communal Hindus paraded him, describing him as the best representative of the Indian “Harijans.” But the same facility was not allowed to Dr. B. R Ambedkar because he was the embodiment of honesty, integrity, dedication and scholarship. Kuppuswamy of Kerala represents this dangerous trend of the Untouchables getting Brahminised. Brahminism is a dying force. It has to reinforce, rejuvenate itself now and then, periodically – getting fresh blood and fresh recruits from the low castes. The Kuppuswamy Kayakalpa. We have a number of instances in history where stray individual low castes were admitted into the fold of Brahminism. Such an individual will be hailed as the model for the entire “Harijans”. But we would like to appeal to the Dalits that such people should be taken not as the best specimen but the scum of earth.
That the high castes are not serious about admitting Untouchables collectively to priesthood could be made out from the fact that not a single one has been so far made a Shankaracharya. On the other hand, the Tamil Nadu Govt. effort at giving “agama shastra” (temple worship) training to Dalits was challenged by the communal Hindus who took it to the court which was ever eager to set aside this revolutionary order. Karunanidhi refers to this in a wonderful article in the Calcutta journal – Sunday (Nov. 1). What is the point in making much ado about a Kuppuswamy? The Dalit salvation, said Ambedkar, lies not in getting Brahminised but in revolting against it. Throwing aside lock, stock and barrel – whatever that represents Brahminism. The Dalits are neither interested in becoming priests nor in temple entry. Even many other Hindus themselves are not interested in such things. In fact the Dalits are not the only victims of this temple apartheid. Many other low caste Hindus are also not admitted into the priesthood and temples. Sanskrit knowledge was denied to all these people. They have been kept out for centuries despite remaining as the most loyal servants of the orthodox. At a time when they were eager to get brahminised, the facility was denied to them. Those attempting to stealthily get entry into this high caste fortress were mercilessly dealt with. But the clock has now turned a full circle. The Dalits today are agitating not to become priests and gain temple entry but get rid of all those institutions that symbolise their slavery. The mass conversion to Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Sikhism etc, is an indication of their protest against Brahminism. Dalits have come to realise the dangers of Brahminism. So, at a time when the Dalits are rebellious, the communal Hindus are out to thrust down their throats what they do not want to swallow. Let the communal Hindus know that a single Kuppuswamy, however widely advertised in their own press, will not tempt others to fall into this trap. All the more, it is quite possible that some poor, illiterate Dalits, who are so innocent, here and there may consider the forbidden fruit sweet and go to eat it like Kuppuswamy. To such unwary Dalits we call upon to be cautious. It is the duty of all educated Dalits to advice the less fortunate and save them from the clutches of Brahminism which indeed is the curse of India.
Ambedkar said any amount of applying “kum kum” or ashes on the forehead and body, any amount of offering of money in temples and any amount of worship of Hindu gods will not bring them equal status with high castes. Instead of imitating higher castes and get kicked later it is better to get out of Hinduism and proclaim to the world that they are not Hindus. And they were never Hindus.
