This refers to Brother Kuldip Kumar’s question “Why Dalits must capture temples? (DV April 16, 2009, p.25).
He says Dalits being “Hindu”, they have every right to capture the priesthood. But the Editor has rightly reminded him the statement of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar that the “Untouchables are not Hindu and were never Hindu”. Dalits who embraced Budhism as directed by Dr. Ambedkar could achieve at least something. Only those who follow Babasaheb Ambedkar but are not Budhists but believe in Hinduism, may be willing to be temple priests. Babasaheb wanted to seek assimilation of Untouchables with Hindus. But in vain. Those Dalit castes who were copted to serve the Hindus were
misguided by M.K. Gandhi. Why they did not follow Babasaheb to Budhism? Only such castes may be eager to become priests. Brahmins never allow Dalits even to enter temple but Kuldip Kumar is thinking of making them temple priests. Brahmins will not permit it because priesthood is their bread and butter. The Govt. of India should nationalize all the temples, masjids, churches, Jain mandirs, gurudwaras and Budha Vihars just as it nationalized the banks. However the priesthood may continue with respective religious group. Even to this date Bodha Gaya temple, where Budha achieved enlightenment, is still in the hands of Brahmins. So how can we think of priesthood of Brahmin temples without bloodshed
