Siddaramaiah’s anti-caste voice
The slogans of ‘Self-Respect’, ‘caste annihilation’ is being heard from various quarters. ”Self-Respect is important to every human being in the country; We cannot live as human beings as long as there are castes, ” said former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at a book launch in Bangalore. Siddaramaiah was speaking at the launch of the book ‘I am self-respecting’ by ‘Savita’ community. He remembers Basavana who fought against caste in Karnataka in the 12th century.
“When patients are operated on, we do not ask which caste they donated blood to. If we survive we will start talking caste again. We cannot live as human beings as long as there are castes. They have changed the profession into caste of upper – lower. No change can be made if those who sow superstitions are ignored. In Karnataka, though 78 per cent are educated people but still refuse to leave the caste. Most scams happen by educated people. The best life is to live as a self-respecting person, he raised the voice of Periyar.
It has become very rare for political leaders to talk about caste annihilation. Even leaders who can talk about untouchability and reservation do not talk about anti-caste. The reason is that the vote bank is a caste requirement and necessity for ‘democratic’ politics.
“People are telling us that democracy and freedom have come! Whoever was the Sutra then is still the Sutra today, ”Periyar said. (‘Viduthalai’ 29.7.1969)
Apart from being able to bring in an anti-violence law against untouchability, is it possible to think in this country itself in a position to propose an ‘anti-caste’ law on basis for untouchability?
The idea that marriage within the caste is a ‘social dignity’ has been imposed on the common sense. Caste has made human beings into beasts to the extent of killing their own children for the sake of caste honor.
Once in a blue moon, the caste here and there is now openly spoken of. The country has gone backwards to the point where the ‘Groom Searching’ businesses, under the name of ‘Tamil Matrimony Centre’, are publishing ‘Groom Searching’ on television as advertisements within the castes. If this is the case in Tamil Nadu, there is no need to talk about other states. Caste associations seek to turn caste sentiment into a mania. They turn it into a development of their own influence on politics.
In social justice part, the purpose of the so-called reservation is the policy of creating equality among the castes and moving forward towards anti-caste. But reservation and those who came to power through education are prevented from moving towards the next stage by the caste feeling. The education received is not being used for social changes instead selfishness is spinning towards caste welfare. This is what makes Brahmanism still an invincible force.
The concept of Brahmanism Patristic does not end with the brahmanian anti-domination. It is embodied in a cultural revolution that frees itself from paranoid ideology and weakens the caste institutions, caste ideologies and caste systems it has built and weakens its influence. Although the ‘Lingayat’ organization started by Basavana was for anti-caste policy, the Lingayats themselves have now become a caste.
This is the triumph of Brahmanism. In this context, the political leader Siddaramaiah’s anti-caste rhetoric and assertion of the tenets of the philosophy of self – respect should be truly applauded.
Puratchi Periyar Muzhakam 13.01.2022 Issue
