I find lot of articles in DV emphasizing that SC/ST/ BCs are not Hindus. N.K. Sharma’s articles are mainly to prove this point. Though | fully agree with this view, | am not fully convinced about the reason shown by Sharma. He says sour forefathers were not Hindus, so we are not Hindus. This is not very convincing. Because in that case, the Indian Muslims are not Muslims as their forefathers were not Muslims and Indian Christians are not Christians as their forefathers were not Christians. We are not Hindus because we were never converted into Hinduism. A Muslim or a Christian was formally converted into his respective religion though in the opinion of Babasaheb, these were imperfect conversions. Any newcomer to Islam is given all the rights and privileges of the Muslim society. He can enter any mosque and he can perform all the sacraments of the Islam. Within a short time, he is completely assimilated into the religion. Though some sort of casteism is practiced in Muslim religion also that is not so rigid and mostly because of Hind ‘influence.
Compared to Islam, the conversions into Christianity are more imperfect. A neo-Christian maintains his Hindu caste and observes Mosi of his Hindu rituals. Marriage is mostly on the caste lines. But the differences among the Christians are purely social in nature. It has got no religious sanction.
Now, let us come to Hinduism. SC/ST/BCs were never converted Hinduism. Because, Hinduism is not a 22 – Dalit Voice proselytising religion. Newcomers have got no place in the Hindu society. So, SC/ST/BCs were not converted into Hinduism but they were captured by the Hindus. They became the slaves of Hindus and 2 in course of time the slaves started imitating the masters. Being suppressed and oppressed by the Hindus the SC/ST/BCs got completely demoralized and got satisfied with the lowest position under the Hindus. They lost their original identity. In every society, the inferior always imitates the superior. The same has been the case with the SC/ST/BCs also. They started following the Hindus though Hindus never accepted them as Hindus. When the Muslims claimed their share in Indian politics then only the Hindus accepted the SC/ST/BCs as Hindus just to increase their number. Now we have of discover our identity and go back to our forefathers’ religion.
