Human Rights Declaration Must be Honoured in India

The United Nations organisation and The Charter on Human Rights does provide some remedy for millions and millions of human beings who are thus condemned to the inhuman and barbarous conditions peculiar to the Untouchables of India numbering one hundred and sixty Millions. Article 13 (B) and 55 (C) of the United Nations Charter deserves study by all champions of the exploited and the downtrodden. The possibility of invoking Article 36-2-C of the Statue of the International Court of Justice needs to be studied by all friends of the oppressed.

B. Shyam Sunder
Published by H.Shreyesker President Mool Bharati B.Shyam Sunder Memorial Society B.Shyam Sunder Marg . Gulbarga 585105 (Karnataka State ) e-mail shreyesker@gmail.com

Human Rights Declaration must be Honoured in India.

B. SHYAM SUNDER
Madam,

It is a matter of deep and painful surprise that India should have made bold to sign the famous declaration of Human Right at San Francisco without realising how diametrically opposed was the purport and content of the document to her own traditional conduct and behavior over the last several centuries. The matter assumes a more serious aspect bordering almost on international fraud, when we remind ourselves that our Government was fully aware at the time that the major religion of India (viz. Hinduism) not merely preaches and propagates the virtues of a whole sale violation of the solemn declaration but is out to destroy those who support its basic principle (A few quotations from the Hindu scriptures diametrically opposed to the principles of Declaration of Human Rights are given in the Appendix A) The scriptures of other religions as you know are in accord with the Declaration of Human rights. Pledge Ignored It is obvious that we could not have hesitated to fall in line with the progressive Nations of the world on this issue but having committed ourselves solemnly in the international forum to respect human life and dignity and practices social equality, regardless of race and religion or caste and colour the least that could be expected of us is that we should recast our philosophy of life and bring it in tune with universally accepted standards of human behaviour. Twenty precious years have gone by we have not moved an inch towards the fulfillment of the pledge taken by us at San Francisco. Shankar Acharya Says. It is widely recognised that the government of India have placed themselves in a very sad predicament by undertaking to do what cannot enjoy the willing support of the Caste Hindus. It is rather depressing that a man of His Holiness Sri. Shankaracharias eminence who is the recognised head of Caste Hindus should think it proper to observe that Shudras and non-Hindus, (Muslims and Christians) are like Cats and Dogs, because according to him they occupy the lowest rung of the caste ladder, vide debate in Indian parliament on 6th December 1968 (A few instances of inhuman atrocities perpetrated against the untouchables are given an Appendix B). In these circumstances the only honest and honourable course left open to the government is to appoint a committee of learned Brahmins, known and respected for their integrity, breadth of vision and tolerance and request it do scrutinise Hindu Scriptures with the object of deleting or recasting portions, which do not redounded to the credit of Brahmins.

Explain to Hindu Intelligentsia The Government of India are naturally sole judges of who should constitute the Committee; but as an Indians, jealous of Indias reputation and abroad, may I suggest a few names for your consideration. They might Sri.C.Rajagopalachary, Dr.S.Radhakrishnan. Sri.Sriprakash. Sri.N.C.Chatterjee. M.P., Shri.Gajendragadkar., Sri.M.C.Setalvad and Sri E.M.S.Namboodaripad. This committee should be given reasonable time to record their verdict on the portions to be expunged and explain to the Hindu intelligentsia the wisdom and dire necessity of bringing the scriptures in tune with the universal Declaration of Human Rights. In the mean time, in order to enlist their moral support and sympathy. I am forwarding copies of this letter to such world celebrities as His Holiness Pope, Sir Bertrand Russel, U.Thant, Dr.Ralph Bunche, Comrade Suslove, Dr.Gunner Myrdal and President of International Buddhist Society, Tokyo. World Opinion Defied Madam, you will agree with me that those days have gone, never to return when nations thought that what happened in their own country was strictly their own affair. If the Declaration of Human Rights is violated in any country, the rest of the world is perfectly justified in taking cognisance of this fact and bring it before the world forum after necessary investigation. The course of apartheid was tackled by the United Nations and world opinion was rightly mobilised against the erring Governments; that the evil still persists is due solely to the fact that Government in power has vested interest in defying world opinion. Happily such does not seem to be the case with our country; we stand by the Declaration of Human Rights. An Appeal A few days ago, speaking at Ernakulam, you were please to make a very weighty declaration to the effect the Indias secularism does not and would not deter us from discarding such notions or traditions which mitigate against human dignity, relying on that Declaration. I appeal to you as, Head of the Government, to move in the direction suggested by me.

Yours faithfully, B.Shyam Sunder, President Bharatiya Bhim Sena.

APPENDIX A 1. A Shudra (a man of low caste) is born sinner Bhagawat Gita Chapter 9 sloka 332 2. The Shudras are walking burial grounds Vedant Bhashia 1.3.37 see also Vashist SmrithiChapter 18 3. Shudras is compelled to perform servile duty; because such a man was created by god for the purpose of slaying the Brahmins Manu Smrities Chapter 8 Sloks 413 4. The Shudra should not be allowed to own lands or posses any property, they should be compelled to live outside the village and away from the society Gowthama Dharshan Stutras 14,16 & 2.1.61see also ManuSmrititi chapter 10 and sloka 129 5. A Shudra though emancipated by his master, is not released from a state of servitude; for, a state which is natural to him by whom can be divested Manu Smriti Chapter 8 sloka 414 6. Should a Shudra, through pride, give instructions to the Brahmin concerning their duty, let the king order some hot oil to be dropped into his mouth and ear Manu Smriti Chapter 8 sloka 272 7. If A Shudra happens to hear the Vedas then it is the Kings duty a drop molten lead and wax into ears; if a Shudra were to recite the Vedic Mantras the King should cut off his tongue and if he tries to read the Vedas, the King should cut his body. Gowtama Smriti 8. Should anyone criticize the Vedas, turn him out of the country, that is condemn him to a life sentence. Manu Smriti Chapter Sloka 220 9. A man of the lower Caste who shall insolently place himself on the same seat with one of the high caste, shall either be banished with a mark on his hinder parts, or the King shall cause a gash to be made on his buttock Manu Smriti Chapter 8 Sloka 220 10. A Brahaman (a born Hindu Priest) may seize without hesitation if he be distressed for a substance, the goods of his Shudra slave; for as the slave can have no property, his master may take his goods Manu Smriti Chapter 4 Sloka 421 11. The tongue of a Shudra, who spoke evil about persons in the first three castes should be cut off. A Shudra who dared to assume a position of equality with first three castes was to be flogged Apastambha Dharma Sutra III, 10-26

12. The Shudra are Papayoniah i.e, Shudras are born sinners Bhagwat Gita Chapter 9, Sloka 32 13. Sri.Ramachanderji killed Sambok, a Sudra, because he was trying to acquire knowledge and become learned Uttara Ramacharita. 14. Even if a Shudra acquired wealth, he must always remain a slave. His main job is to wash the feet of the higher caste Panchavanish Brahman 3-1/11 15. The Brahman was His mouth; the Rajanya was made of his two arms; of his two thighs the Vaishya, the Sudra was born from h is two feets. Rigveda, X

APPENDIX B It has become a tradition with Indian press, both English and Vernacular that they do not publish news likely to embarrass the authorities. It is only when they apprehend That a certain item will see the light of the day in spite of their suppression that the release such item otherwise suppression of a news relating to the Scheduled Caste or other Minorities is part of their creed since the advent of independence. 1 .A well was dug in the village of Trakund in Rajuli taluka of Amerli Dist Gujarat 4thmarch 1967 because caste Hindus were not allowing the Harijans to go near their well, Soon after the new well was dug Caste Hindus threw a dead snakes, dead dog, a dead cat, Cow dung, garbage and filth into the well to make water unfit for drinking, the matter was reported to the police but no action was taken. Harijan women were thrown out of rescue boats because Caste Hindus objected to their presence in the vassals, this happened in Delhi (The Hindustan Times 19-9 68 ) Three Harijans leaders Sardar Sangara, Master Hazar Singh Majetia and Kailash deplore the deterioration in the law and order situation in the Punjab where fifteen Harijans were murdered in one month by Jats (Tribune 17-4-68) Mr .Elayaparma the chairman of the untouchability of the committee three Harijans were shot dead in Madhya Pradesh for growing their moustaches upwards instead of downwards. A Harijans youth was killed in Mysore walking along in the street wearing chappels he also says in Madhya Pradesh, Harijans womens were not allowed to wear earrings and Harijan students were not allowed to eat in the common mess (Hindustan Times 18-12-67) A Harijan boy was burnt alive in an Andhra village on 24-6-68 he died two days later. Sri. Buta Singh read out in the parliament extract from news paper

2.

5.

report which said young Harijan women were paraded naked in Mehaboob Nagar (Current 6-4-68) 6. Four hundred Harijans families live nomadic life in up because their lands are confiscated by rich caste Hindus ( Current 6-4-61) Caste Hindus- land lords on the suspecting that Harijans have poisoned their cattle summoned the entire Harijan community by beating drums to a public square, unsuspecting Harijans gathered at the appointed times when they were mercilessly beaten and forced so sign a promissory note that they will pay rupees three thousand as fine. Economic sanctions were imposed on those who delayed payments this happened in Anathpur (Blitz 6-4-68) In Seasgoan Gangapur taluka Aurangbad Harijans womens were forced to parade naked on 22-12-63 , their only fault was they refused to join those women who had consented to work without wages ( Probodh Bharathi 11-1-64. ) Harijans who cultivated their own petty farms and put on cloths when they visit city town Marked out and their produce is destroyed before it is harvested by grazing cattle on their fields or by burning them. Several such cases were brought to the notice of the Mysore assembly and names and The survey number of the victims are quoted but no action was taken (The Anti- Corruption Weekly 30-6-68) A young Harijan farm labourer was allegedly castrated to the death by his employees in Kodiraj village of Banaskanthen district recently the employer and his son. Doubting the Harijans youths character. tied him with a rope and tortured him to the death with a red hot iron. ( The Anti-Corruption Weekly 30-6-68 ) About five hundred Harijans including women and children are starving in Village Vallabh they are unable to return their houses while the Harijans were grazing their cattle in the banjara land they were attacked by the caste Hindus their houses were demolished and looted the Harijans were not allowed to enter the village (.Deccan Chronical 3-9-68) Four Harijans were seriously injured when they attacked with sticks soda water bottles when they tried to take water from a community tank at Bilkha, in Junagarh district last week ( The Anti-Corruption weekly 30-6-68 ) Om Praksh a Sc student of Barahsainik intermediate college. Aligarh was selected as a senior proctorial moniter of the college, caste Hindu students of the college chased Sri. Om Prakash and stabbed him to death on 16-11-67, in the room of the principal. The principal said that the assailants had rewoler in their hands and were about twenty, the principal also said that Om Prakash

10

11.

12

13

was a brilliant student and caste Hindus could not tolerated his coming into prominence (Times of India 18-11-68) 14 A Sheduled Caste man in Merret village (UP) was beaten seriously by local upper caste Hindus as dress happened to touch the body of the upper caste man (Link 2-6-68) A private land army of landlords, made up of scums and thugs, surrounded alone Harijan hut pourer petrol over it and set it ablaze twenty women and nineteen childrens and three invalid old men were locked inside the small ninety six squarefeet house and barred all chances of escape. It is alleged that the mad mob equipped with pistols and revolvers be sides, bichuvas saw to it that non escaped the flaming confines of the hut. All the forty two persons trapped inside were burnt alive in slow touts process, the flames eating up bit by bit (. Blitz 4-1-69 )

15