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

New Delhi, Mar 10 (UNI) 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.

MORE UNI