In the Indian sub-continent education was mainly oriented on vedic religion with its mythical texts, scriptures, puranas and the like. Education was not wide spread, wherein everyone did not have the opportunity to learn, but was kept as the monopoly of ‘supreme’ brahminical coterie in the four fold division of Varnasrama dharma. Such supremacy of one sect, excluding the remaining was made to be believed as the dictum of ‘almighty’ god. So for the major sections of the society, education was an inaccessible subject that was not at all connected to them. Those toiling masses, some of whom tried to get educated were strictured with severe punishment for which legal codes were framed.
The severity in the denial of education that prevailed in this ‘holy’ land for many centuries to the extent of maintaining the divine ordain of god by distancing themselves from the education environment can be gauged from sayings like: ‘Manu Smriti’ says, “if the sudras (toiling people) who remain in the audible distance of Mantra chanting, and happen to listen to it, then the punishment to such violation of code was that molten lead will be poured into the ears of such listener – sudras”.
If remaining and listening to the chanting of vedic mantras itself was a crime as per vedic religious code, where is the question of joining the stream to get educated? Discriminating and distancing the discriminated people from some vital and righteous needs was the inner core on which vedic religious structure was built up, enabling the miniscule brahminical minority to sustain their supremacy over the rest in the society. This sort of societal set up prevailed in this land where denial of education to major sections prevailed as divine dictum.
The story of Ekalaiva of the hunter tribe is only too well known to be repeated here. Spurned by Dronacharya, the best teacher of the days, Ekalaiva put a clay figure of Drona in front of him, started learning archery and attained perfection in the art. When the Acharya came to know of it, he demanded guru dakshina from the hunter youth, claiming that it was his figure which taught him the art. The guru asked for the right thumb of the young man, who gave it to him with all reverence, though Drona himself had played no part in his learning. A wily and scheming Brahmin acharya succeeded in making the education useless to the learner.
This story is from the March 2018 edition of The Modern Rationalist.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 2018 edition of The Modern Rationalist.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Who Is Afraid Of Scientific Temper?
The stories are very powerful. Over a period of time they gain a lot of traction. The places mentioned in the stories appear to be real and people attach a lot of meaning to them out of reverence. The symbols and signs used in the stories become core elements of propaganda. Soon it becomes a machinery that establishes a structure and with a body of evidence that is highly questionable. Not many try to challenge this because of its threatening stature. Who would dare to ask if the birthplace of Jesus or Ram exactly as it is claimed? Leave alone the historical, and archeological evidence that could support it.
The Woman and the Counter-Revolution
There is one copy with a title ‘The Woman and the Counter - Revolution’. There is another copy of the same text with a title, ‘The Riddle of the Woman’. The Editorial Board felt that this essay would be appropriate in this Volume rather than in the volume of ‘Riddles in Hinduism’ - Editors of ‘Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Writings and Speeches’
THE IX SCHEDULE CREATION AND ITS EFFICIANCY
In case, any property of the citizen is to be acquired compulsorily by the State, there was also a fundamental right, under Article 31,for the citizens to get compensation. Immediately after the commencement of the constitution,many States brought agrarian reforms by legislations. When those enactments were challenged, in spite of the saving clauses found in article 31, those laws were held void as they violated the fundamental right to property of the owners/ zamindars. One such case was Kameshwar singh Vs State of Bihar [ AIR 1951 Patna 91]. The Union Government, then invented a novel devise, not only to save all such laws which were already declared unconstitutional but also to save any such law that may be passed, in future, by legislatures.
Social Justice and Humanism
Once prejudice against nontheists fades away, religious favoritism is removed from government, humanists are appreciated for our kind and reason-based thinking, then humanists everywhere can begin to focus full-time on promoting our science-based, compassionate, and egalitarian vision for our world. But we can’t wait until such a day dawns; we must assert ourselves today to make a difference in as many ways as possible, even if we have not yet realized many of our longstanding goals. To delay action on other fronts, when action could improve lives, would be to negatively impact the fates of many. This isn’t an acceptable course.
Preface to the Communist Manifesto
‘Communist Manifesto’, released by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels was for the first time translated and published in Tamil by Thanthai Periyar in ‘Kudi Arasu’ serially from 4th October 1931 to 2nd November 1931. Afterwards Periyar commenced his International tour on 13th December 1931 and returned on 8th November 1932. He visited various European, Asian and African countries. Of them his stay in Soviet Russia was from 14th February 1932 to 19th May 1932. While he was in Soviet Russia, he attended the May Day celebration as State Guest and witnessed Moscow March on 1st May 1932. While publishing the Tamil version of the Communist Manifesto Periyar wrote a Preface to it in Kudi Arasu. The English version of the preface is as follows:
Interpretation which impede a just social order
On May 5, the Supreme Court of India declared as unconstitutional a Maharashtra law which provided for reservation to the Maratha community in education and public employment in the State. Four judges of the five-judge Bench wrote separate opinions, from which three primary findings emanated.
Firm in unbelief
Bhagat Singh’s well-argued essays are evidence of his maturity
EXEMPLARY DRAVIDAM MODEL
In common parlance the term ‘Dravidam’ is associated with racial cum ethnical identity. The meaning of ‘Dravidam’ does not end with this historical fact. The meaning gets manifested more than that and is applicable to the whole of humankind. ‘Dravidam’ is not a dominating or suppressing identity. It is the glorification of humankind with humanistic adherence for peace and prosperity.
Corona Control - Surge of Superstition
All efforts are put in to combat the spread of second wave of corona pandemic. On one side all the constructive initiatives including the medical and other scientifically proven endeavours are being undertaken from the government side both the Centre and the States. On the other side, the mindset of the common people is not tuned to arrest the spread effectively. The public has to adhere to minimum efforts of wearing face masks, keeping safe distance with others and restricting the mobility and accessing public places unless it warrants. If not, the government has to announce a strict lockdown by which the economic activities would be affected that would lead to consequential effects on the livelihood.
Caste System
My dear protectors of castes and caste enthusiasts - through my editorial in the ‘Kudi Arasu’ issue of 16.10.1930, I had made it clear that the castes classified long ago into four grades later multiplied into 4000 castes because of one caste mingling again and again with another caste. Quoting from the caste-related evidence of Brahmins, we had also specified that all such multiplied castes are called the ‘panchamas’. And yet some of our people who call themselves ‘velalars’ (agriculturists) assume identity as ‘Sarsudhras’, though they agree with the four grade classification as Brahmins, kshatriyas, vysyas and sudras.
