Sri Sri Ravi Shankar adopts 7-pt plan for Dalit uplift

New Delhi, Mar 10: Carrying forth the vision of a more equitable social acceptance of the Dalit community, leaders and eminent personalities from across the social spectrum have adopted a seven-point plan for their uplift.

At a 'Truth and Reconciliation' conference held by the Art of Living foundation here last evening, renowned spiritual guru and founder of the Art of Living Sri Sri Ravi Shankar administered a pledge to end the evils of untouchability and spread the message of reconciliation to every corner of the country.

''It is time to move forward. The anger of the past should not engulf us and divide the country. Fear and a communication gap between communities are keeping us apart. We must accept reality and reconcile differences,'' the Guru said.

Acknowledging that the Dalit community was facing ostracization, the Guru called for eradicating this 'mental disease which has percolated deep into the minds of society'.

''How can a religion that says 'all this is Brahman and the Universe itself is Upadana Karana (the divine is the material cause of the Universe), sanction discrimination by birth?,'' he asked.

''Now is the time to acknowledge the truth and reconcile,'' he added.

The Art of Living seeks to take forth this message to the root of India- from the villages to metropolitan hubs through the spirit of Togetherness, he said.

''Unless all communities come together, we cannot have a prosperous society,'' the Guru explained.

The foundation's activities are directed at making Dalits aware that caste Hindus are also working towards their upliftment. It has achieved success in enabling them entry inside temples in Bhilwara and the Jagannath temple in Orissa, he pointed out.

''The spirit of cooperation and reconciliation should percolate to the grassroots. It is not only Dalits who are fighting for their rights, there are thousands of committed soldiers of justice and equality from the upper castes who are working for the betterment of the Dalits,'' the Guru said.

It is shocking that when we talk of a secular India, a whole community is still struggling for social acceptance. Perhaps its one of the nuances of being the world's largest democracy, he added.

It is not easy for an individual to carve a niche for himself in a country inhabited by a billion people but identification by caste makes it easier to count if you consider that 16 per cent of the population-160 million people, are at the bottom of the caste hierarchy, the Guru said. Although Article 17 of the Indian Constitution bans untouchability, inhuman practices and atrocities against Dalits continue. Caste discrimination is more prevalent in the rural areas where people identify themselves on the basis of 'jati', which is determined by one's birth, the Guru said.

Regretting that despite several legislations, caste discrimination still prevails in rural India, he said that only a change of heart and mind and a better understanding among communities can bring about social equality.

The Guru explained that some great Indian minds belonged to backward castes. '' The authors of the Ramayana and the Mahaharata, Maharishis Valmiki and Vyas respectively, were Dalits,'' he said.

''The highest supreme position of the Chief Justice of India is also being held by a Dalit.'' Addressing the conference, attended by more than 5,000 people, were leaders of about 25 communities. They signed a 7-point plan which envisages: Temple entry for Dalits, Collective celebration including community feasts, Abolition of separate utensils for Dalits, Empowerment of women from economically weaker sections of society, Providing educational facilities, Providing spiritual and religious education to Dalit children and Equality and justice to one and all without any discrimination.

Ms Sabina Srivastav of All India Kayasta Samaj opined that the word 'Dalit' should be removed from the dictionary. ''Instead of several names given to us, we want to be called by one name, as Human beings,'' she said.

Former Minister of State for Communication and Information Technology Sanjay Paswan of Paswan Samaj, welcomed the stand taken by the foundation and said such efforts will send a good message to the Dalits and will lead to unity and well being in the society.

Ram Nagina Singh, President of the Akil Bharitya Bhumihar Samaj applauded the fact that ''for the last ten years, the head priest of the second largest temple in India in Bihar, the Hanuman Mandir, has been a Dalit.'' It is ironic that a country which inspired freedom struggles around the world despite being ruled by a foreign power for 200 years, where tolerance was given a new meaning by Mahatma Gandhi still shuns its own people in the name of caste. ''The fight to end social discrimination has begun and we will not quit'' the Guru promised.

UNI