MUMBAI (AFP) - Thousands of low-caste Hindus seeking to escape the oppression of
India's rigid caste system on Sunday embraced Buddhism in a mass conversion.
Some 5,000 Dalits -- those at the bottom of the ancient religious hierarchy who were once known as untouchables -- converted to Buddhism […]
Large-scale Dalit conversions take place periodically in
India […]
Despite legislation banning caste discrimination, Dalits commonly perform the most menial and degrading jobs in
India. On occasion, they are ostracized, beaten or even killed by members of upper-caste groups.
Sushil Kathe, who traveled thousands of kilometers to convert on Sunday, remembers not being allowed to drink from the local well as a child growing up in a village in a rice-growing district of the state.
"The upper caste came and did not allow us to drink water. They said the place would be impure if we were allowed to take the water," said Kathe, 25, who sells religious booklets. […]
But landless laborer D.G. Khade said conversion was his only hope of a life of dignity in
India.
"The Hindu religion is structured in such a way that we lower-caste people will never get dignity," said Khade. […]
Low-caste Hindus constitute some 16 percent of India's billion-plus population and more than a fifth of
Maharashtra's population.
Reason number 3,927 of why I don’t follow any organized religion. The fact that all religions are man made leaves room for discrimination and managing to screw up. It’s a shame they had to leave their religion because of the social barrier attached too it preventing millions from getting head in life.
But seriously, why do humans continue to impose such stupid rules and regulations, I for one think we are much more capable of doing great things if we would expand our mind outside of our bubble.
It’s really a shame, and the fact that it’s been going on and no one stood up and said hey maybe we should get rid of this. But no because it’s their religion they somehow think they have to follow it.
Newsflash for people of all religions, nothing in your doctrine or whatever is indefinite, if it’s wrong say something so that other generations won’t have to deal with it. But I guess it’s too much work for some people and the sickening fact they and other religions need to have a religious hierarchy.
I hope they find more freedom and happiness in Buddhism…but it’s sad that they even had to go though it in the first place.
Don't be fooled. We have a caste system in the United States too. For example: Paris Hilton is of the upper class economic caste. She was caught drunk driving three times with a suspended lisence before she was sentenced to jail time. Had that been a member of the middle or lower class economic caste, (or god forbid, a black person) that person would have gone to jail after being caught drunk driving the first time with a suspended lisence.
It's not religion that is to blame for the stupidity of the caste system any where. It is the submission of the people to the rules of the caste system. India knows that. India was freed from Britain by that principle.
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If I had had more time I would have written less. -- Thomas Jefferson
RachelSetzer.com
Well of course I know we have one here. I sad that thank goodness we dont have to put what religion we are, or not, on our ID cards.
"It's not religion that is to blame for the stupidity of the caste system any where. It is the submission of the people to the rules of the caste system."
The caste system is apart of Hinduism, which is a religion, so I think it has a lot to do with religion.
AS far as submission, thats a bit tricky since it's apart of their belief system, I'm talking about most of India here since the majority are Hindu, that's going to be hard to change. I mean like for example, in Christianity some people might not belive certain things just because its what their religion has atught them, it doesn't mean its right. But in their mind their faith surpasses common sense evidently.
There have been many in the low-caste that has been sucessful but to say they submitted to it I disagree with. It has more to do with religion/culture/society. When it's something that you've been brought up in...sorry I'm rambling now, I'll stop here. But thanks for commenting :)
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"I don't want to talk to you no more, you empty headed animal food trough wiper. I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries."~MPATHG
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/npsm18
"Reason number 3,927..." I would so love to see that list in it's entirety!
"Newsflash for people of all religions, nothing in your doctrine or whatever is indefinite, if it’s wrong say something so that other generations won’t have to deal with it. But I guess it’s too much work for some people..."
It's easier to let someone else do the thinking for you than to do it yourself, which is why so many take what they've heard/read as law and never questioned. Very very unfortunate tendency.
"What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?" George Elliot
"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." Aristotle
" I would so love to see that list in it's entirety!"
Maybe when I have enough time to type it all,lol :)
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"I don't want to talk to you no more, you empty headed animal food trough wiper. I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries."~MPATHG
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/npsm18