It is an accepted fact that the high caste Hindus, even cent per cent, are persons-of- letters and they occupy the highest place in society. Even when they go for biksha they command respect by reciting Sanskrit slokas and demand alms. Almost all the temple priests are only from the high caste. May be that the Sanskrit language is sure to pave way for their livelihood, having denied the same opportunity to other castes for centuries.
Even the kings with all their wealth could not learn this language. As could be seen in the scriptures, a century ago the Maharaja of Satara had to secretly learn this language at nights. In those days Sanskrit was a monopoly of high castes. When the government opened a Sanskrit school in Poona in 1821, Brahmins became violent. Brahmin teachers not only furiously opposed the new move to admit other caste Hindus but a majority of them also resigned. When this was the plight of caste Hindus themselves what must have been the condition of the Untouchables who were never in the picture of Hindu society. The Christian missionaries took up the cause of education of other caste Hindus as also the Untouchables and taught English through convents. English-medium education became so popular that even to date there is a mad rush for the convent education. Sanskrit, which was once held in high esteem, faded into obscurity. A strong feeling grew in the minds of these castes that foreigners were preferable to the high caste. Even 34 years after the independence, we feel proud to learn this foreign language (English) rather than our own “Hindu” language (Sanskrit), because English has paved the way for better living for other castes as well. Who is responsible for this plight?
Dr. Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution was denied the Sanskrit learning during his school days and later he learnt it by himself and partly from others and became a pandit in Sanskrit. Is it a fact that the high castes are economically backward when compared to other caste Hindus. If so, at what level? Sanskrit learning always assured their livelihood. Let us look into the government offices, undertakings, teaching profession and so on. Most of the higher posts are occupied by the high castes disproportionate to other lowly castes. There is so much of opposition all over India to the reservations for SCs and STs. in education and employment. They are the out-castes under Hinduism though superficially called Hindus.
The government has reserved certain percentage of seats in education and employment for these SC and STs, but is this percentage fulfilled or observed in its true spirit? In many cases the government directives are violated on the pretext that suitable candidates are not available. In the selection committees these high caste Hindus with biased minds invariably disqualify the eligible SC and ST candidates and select those belonging to high caste even through they do not fulfil the basic requirement for the jobs, in the name of merit. What is merit? To a large extent it may be only an opinion as paternity and not a fact as maternity. When these are the facts prevailing in society, where is the chance for these downtrodden communities to find place, educationally and economically leave alone socially?
In many a case high castes produce false SC and ST certificates and compete with genuine SC and STs and thus deprive the later chances. We have recently noticed Gujarat riots against the reservations for SC/STs, for admissions to post-graduation courses in medicine. Can we count them in fingers, much less the percentage, as to how many postgraduates in medicine, engineering, research wing, etc, are available among genuine SC and STs. They suffer humiliation in these institutes by the caste Hindus. Look at the plight of the Dalits in villages. Are they treated as human beings? They are illiterate identifying themselves with slush and living on the remains of food thrown by the caste Hindus if at all the high castes are facing any problem in the recent years it is purely their own making. Recently all the religious leaders of various mutts in South India held a conference for reconverting “Harijans” into Hinduism from Islam. What is wrong if the Harijans get themselves converted into Islam or Christianity when the doors of Hinduism are shut for them and living itself is at stake?
