*Editor's Note: This critique was issued in the form of open letters to HAF leadership in a series of emails in the  aftermath of the report that was published late Dec

  1. As can be seen from the thoroughness 7 objectivity of the analysis, Rakesh Bahadur has been studying & acting on the issue of US school textbook depiction of Hinduism for many years.*

---

An Analysis Of:

Hinduism: Not Cast in Caste

Seeking an End to Caste-based Discrimination

December 10, 2010

[The 7 letters sent are as in the list below, and are detailed in the rest of this article.-Editor]

  1. Preliminary Analysis of the HAF Report (14th December 2010)

  1. Critical Analysis of Central Themes of the HAF Report (24th December 2010)

  1. End Justifies Means (11th January 2011)

  1. Whose Report? (18th January 2011)

  1. Chapter 7 Review – Summary (1st February, 2011)

  1. Three Cs and HAF Report (5th February 2011)

  1. HAF Caste Report and Unanswered Questions (21st February 2011)

  1. Preliminary Analysis of the HAF Report (14th December 2010)

General Comments

  1. The intent of this review is not to do a line by line analysis but to use information from the HAF report as examples.  I have read the entire HAF report before writing this preliminary analysis.

  2. It took two years of discussion with the Virginia Dept. of Education to get caste out of the Social Studies Standards of Learning (SOLs) and Curriculum Frameworks (CFs). With the support from HAF, other organizations, and individuals, caste was removed from the CFs.  Now HAF issued a report which describes the caste in the same way as it occurs in the textbooks and standards (central to Hinduism, birth-based hierarchy, and sanctioned in the texts especially Smritis).

  3. The only thing school boards and departments of education have to show now is the HAF report to justify teaching of caste in Hinduism, the same way they referred me to the Ministry of External Affairs website for coverage of Aryan Migration.

Which stand of HAF is correct, the one that they took in Virginia or the one that they are taking in this report?

  1. The report mentions role of Christian Missionaries in conversion but not that of Muslim clergy and/or Buddhists. A comprehensive report must touch all aspects.

  2. The keystone of the report is on page 14 “In this report, the term “caste” should be understood to mean jaati, as we will commonly refer to the existence of numerous castes, not just four. However, it would be fair to also understand that castes can generally be mapped to a certain varna”.

The same mistake is made on page 36, “In the core scriptures of Hinduism, the caste system has a very minor presence. For example, the Bhagavad Gita has 700 verses of which not more than 30 (or 4%) mention caste, including the peripheral references. The Rigveda has 10,552 verses but only one mentions all the four varnas, and not more than 20 (0.2%) mention castes. The Yajurveda, in all its recensions, has very few (less than 3-4%) verses dealing with caste. The Samaveda (1,875 verses), and the Atharvaveda with almost 6,000 verses (or 8,000 in the Paippalada version) likewise have very few references to caste. Thus, caste finds minimal reference in the most authoritative spiritual and devotional scriptures of Hindus”.

Why has HAF not given exact references with chapter #, Verse # from the Bhagavad Gita and Mandal #, Sukta #, Richa/Mantra # from the Vedas for this percentage calculation?

Varna, caste, and jatti are not inter-changeable and it is wrong to treat them likewise.Outcome is always confusion when a complex issue is oversimplified.

  1. I am sure you will agree with me when I say that HAF has walked into the trap by calling caste/jaati a human rights issue.

  2. What exactly is HAF trying to accomplish with this report?

Analysis Table 1: A few examples taken from the HAF report.

Page #

Para #

Line #

Text

Comment

62

2

1

Within Hindu society, HAF supports the reanalysis and subsequent rejection of any and all teachings that promote caste-based discrimination and birth-based hierarchy.

Scriptures have opposite view as compared to HAF position: Channdogaya Upnishad, 4.1.4 reveals that Brahminhood does not depend on birth but on character and Gunas. Vajra Suchikopanishad – the whole Upnishad contradicts the birth-based hierarchy (`Thirty Minor upanishads' translated by Narayanasvami Aiyar and is published by the Adyar Press, Madras). Apastamba Sutras

  • “A low Class man may, by leading a virtuous life, rise to the level of a higher Class man and should be ranked as such. In like manner a high Class man can by leading a sinful life, sink down to the level of a Class lower than his, and should be considered as such.” (Translation from Stayarth Prakash, chapter 4, page 100)

19

3

4

It is appropriate to note here that this report is not meant to be an academic treatise on the subject of caste, which is a vast and complex subject, and where scholars provide argument and counter-argument for almost any and every facet of the issue.

A complex subject matter is discussed without discussing origin and or evolutionary trends. The solution to any problem cannot be provided without understanding the root causes first.

12 19 20

4 3 1

1 Last 1

This report presents a Hindu perspective on the problems of ……. However, it is primarily targeted at a general audience and is written from HAF’s perspective …….. A key purpose of this report is to provide a Hindu perspective on caste …….

This report represents only “HAF perspective” and is not “Hindu perspective”. HAF does not speak for all 1 Billion Hindus. No organization can claim to represent all Hindus. Many people and organizations will disagree with the report and HAF’s perspective.

29 17 25

2 3 1

7 1

One of the baffling aspects of the problem is that the Smritis (Hindu law codes), including Manusmriti, the most famous of them all, are studied by few Hindus and are today the exclusive preserve of history and religion scholars. This was likely the case throughout history, since the study of Sanskrit and the Smritis was the preserve of the brahmins. Thus the Smritis are, and have always been, largely irrelevant to the personal spiritual practices of Hindus. Much maligned Manu Smriti In purely scriptural terms, although some Hindu scriptures contain passages that sanction the caste system, there are many others that indicate otherwise. Moreover, the most problematic and widespread references to caste are generally found in the Smritis (e.g.: Manusmriti,

A report of this magnitude should include primary sources and references. Manu Smriti makes it very clear that

  1. Caste Is not birth-based
  2. Caste is not rigid – people move from one Varna to another Please read Manu Smriti (10:65, 2:168, 8:337, 8:338, 1:109) to name a few. “As the son of a Sudra may attain the rank of a Brahmin if he were to possess his qualifications, character and accomplishments, and as the son of a Brahmin may become a Sudra, if he sinks to his level in his character, inclinations and manners, even so must it be with him who springs from a Kshatriya; even so with him who is born of a Vaishya. In other words, a person should be ranked with the Class whose qualifications, accomplishments, and character he possesses. Manu Smriti 10:65 (translation from Stayarth Prakash, chapter 4, page 99). “A Dwija as well his children who, instead of studying the Veda, wastes his time in doing other things soon goes down to the level of a Shudra.” (Manu Smriti (2:168) In (a case of) theft the guilt of a Sudra shall be eightfold, that of a Vaisya sixteen fold, that of a Kshatriya two-and-thirty fold, (Manu Smriti 8:337) That of a Brahmana sixty-fourfold, or quite a hundredfold, or (even) twice four-and-sixtyfold; (each of them) knowing the nature of the offence. (Manu Smriti 8:338) “A Brahmana who departs from the rule of conduct, does not reap the fruit of the Veda, but he who duly follows it, will obtain the full reward. (Manu Smriti 1:109).”

35

3

4

The SC’s and ST’s lack of familiarity with the Sanskrit language hampered their ability to acquire knowledge.

More than 90% Hindus lack knowledge of Sanskrit, then why pick only SC’s and ST’s. How does the author of the report explain this selective use of logic?

36

2

6

In the core scriptures of Hinduism, the caste system has a very minor presence. For example, the Bhagavad Gita has 700 verses of which not more than 30 (or 4%) mention caste, including the peripheral references. The Rigveda has 10,552 verses but only one mentions all the four varnas, and not more than 20 (0.2%) mention castes. The Yajurveda, in all its recensions, has very few (less than 3-4%) verses dealing with caste. The Samaveda (1,875 verses), and the Atharvaveda with almost 6,000 verses (or 8,000 in the Paippalada version) likewise have very few references to caste. Thus, caste finds minimal reference in the most authoritative spiritual and devotional scriptures of Hindus.

It is very dangerous to use Varna and Caste interchangeably. HAF report does not give specific references from the scriptures mentioned, but instead gives some general statistics which do not prove anything. Do the authors have references of specific scripture (s) with chapter and verse number to back their claim of these percentages? Caste is of Portuguese origin, how can it be part of Vedic literature?

Analysis Table 2: Editorial slips – Minor mistakes, but these should not occur in a professionally prepared document

Page #

Para #

Line #

Text

Comment

12

1

4

those by tribe or clan, raceor ethnicity, and gender, as examples, have led to some of the worst

It should be race or ethnicity  …..

63

5

3

internationalized by NGOs who want secondary gain..

The sentence should end with one period and not two.

63

2

4

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s greatest legacy consists consists not only

Incorrect usage

34

2

4,5

be equal to a Shruti text by many). Evidence for caste-based discrimination can be found in these as well, although one can also find evidence to the contrary. The Shruti/Smriti

Inconsistent use of Shruti and Sruti

36

3

5,6

an important role is in the Smritis and in portions of other non-Sruti texts of classical Hinduism.

140

3

2

import of Sruti, Smriti, Itihasa and the Puranas. There is no other way of attaining

9

4

HAF supports the reanalysis and subsequent rejection of any and all teachings that promote caste-based discrimination and birth-based hierarchy. Most such teachings are found in texts called Smritis, or books of ancient Hindu social law, which by their very nature and intent, are recognized to change with space and time and do not necessarily teach Hinduism’s eternal spiritual truths.

The report contains same information in different sections. Reports of this importance and magnitude should and must go through an editorial check. An executive summary is usually a summary of the report, not a data dump from the main report.

62

2

Within Hindu society, HAF supports the reanalysis and subsequent rejection of any and all teachings that promote caste-based discrimination and birth-based hierarchy. Most such teachings are found in texts called Smritis or books of ancient Hindu social law, which by their very nature and intent, are recognized to change with space and time and do not necessarily teach Hinduism’s eternal spiritual truths.

  1. Critical Analysis of Central Themes of the HAF Report (24th December 2010)

The hypothesis of the report is on very thin ice. Cherry picking arguments to support HAF hypothesis will not improve it. A report of this importance must contain an in-depth balanced analysis of the caste issue and must stop regurgitating stereotypical description of the caste. The following central themes occur in the report:

  1. Birth based hierarchy

  1. Caste based discrimination

  1. Justification by the scripture (s)

HAF central theme 1: Re-analysis and subsequent rejection of teachings in scripture (s).

“HAF supports the reanalysis and subsequent rejection of any and all teachings that promote caste-based discrimination and birth-based hierarchy. Most such teachings are found in texts called Smritis,………”.

In the above statement HAF implies the following two issues:

  • Discrimination is part of scripture (s)

  • Some scriptures will be re-written after the rejection of part of its teachings. This very suggestion means that we are smarter than the authors/compilers of these scriptures.

In doing so, HAF does not give any reference to

  • Which Hindu scriptures sanction caste based discrimination?

  • Which Hindu scriptures HAF is supporting to be reanalyzed and subsequently a part of these scriptures rejected? It will be important to know a list of the scriptures and the sections that need to be modified?

Talking in generalities will create more confusion rather than clear a complex issue like caste.

  • How often HAF has come across similar line of thought (reanalysis and rejection of the non scientific parts in their scriptures, treatment of women, etc.) from other religions?

Nobody has the moral authority or intellectual capital even to suggest for a re-analysis of the scriptures. Can HAF name a single Hindu group which is still following Manu Smriti?

A better approach will be to help form a core group of accepted Sanskrit scholars for translation of these scriptures in different languages. Translation done by the missionaries is the root cause of problem and not the scriptures themselves.

HAF central theme 2: Birth based hierarchy

Though in chapter 6, HAF stated its position “the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) does not believe in caste-based discrimination or a birth based hierarchy”, but the report is full of discussion about birth based hierarchy.

Birth based hierarchy by definition is static (# of castes do not change with time) but this does not reflect ground realities. There is no discussion in the report about how the list and numbers of lower and upper castes is changing on a daily basis.

In 1950 there were 1,373 castes in the list of scheduled castes, which grew to 5013 in

  1. Similarly, there were 2399 backward castes in 1955 and 3763 in 1980 (identified by Mandal commission)[1]. Visit for a complete list of current list of Scheduled Castes and for a complete list of backward caste.This list is continuously expanding.

A case in point is agitation by jats for reservation. They were kshatriyas for centuries but now agitating to be declared OBCs[2]. Story is same with Gujjars in Rajasthan[3].

This list of caste is not birth based but based on political reasons and these lists change based on economic benefits. We are coming to a full circle, everyone being a Brahmin in Satyug and becoming a lower caste in Kalyug.

We will never win if we do not change the terms of the debate. It will help the hill staffers (the intended audience of the report) to know why groups are agitating to be classified as lower castes.

HAF central theme 3: Caste based discrimination

HAF position as mentioned in chapter 6 of the report “We believe that caste-based discrimination is a failure of Hindu society to live up to its highest teachings and not an intrinsic part of Hinduism itself”. HAF report implies that the discrimination continues unabated and is rooted in Hinduism. Again the report does not pass the smell test.

If caste based discrimination occurs in India then why a large groups of proud people are agitating to be included in lower caste.  Definitely not be discriminated and exploited by others. With the release of GOIs new list, the perpetrators of discrimination become victims of discrimination. Discrimination is a law and order issue and has nothing to do with religion.

Another case in point is Mayawati, a dalit women and CM of UP.  Should not this empowerment help with reduction if not elimination of the discrimination?

Modern day Maharajas (IAS and IPS) – The following table [4] shows that about 30% IAS and IFS belong to lower castes. The report does not discuss why with all this empowerment, religiously sanctioned discrimination continues. When the so called lower caste person comes in position of power, how does he/she treat their own and other castes?

SC

ST

OBC

IAS

526  (11.88%)

339  (7.66%)

394  (8.9%)

IPS

336  (13.82%)

160  (6.58%)

286  (11.76%)

IFS

84   (13.5%)

42  (6.8%)

68  (11%)

Are economic factors real causes of discrimination?

HAF report is completely silent on economic factors leading to discrimination. The following table# from Planning Commission report shows percentage of population below poverty line. This table illustrates two things:

  • Percentage of SC living below poverty line has improved over a six year period (1994-2000). This number will be lot better once we consider the data from 2000 to 2010, as the main development in India happened in this time period.

  • This table also illustrates that prosperity of state impacts how people live. Lowest percentage of population living below poverty line is in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. These are two states where nobody talks about caste.

What happens in Tamil Nadu should not be the only criteria for writing a report?

  • A true picture emerges once you compare crime data# with prosperity.

  1. End Justifies Means (11th January 2011)

Namaskar

“While we are under no obligation to fulfill his [Swami Dayanand Saraswati] request….” () is the latest press release from HAF.

First it was the Hindu Sastras, followed by the Ramayana, and now the Acharyas.  It seems that in the name of advocacy, the age old Hindu tradition of Acharya Devo Bhava has lost its sanctity and meaning.

*Kaama maya evayam purusha iti

Sa Yatha kaamo bhavati tat kratur bhavati

Yat kratur bhavati tat karma kurute

Yat karma kurte tad abhisam padyate*

'Whatever is your deepest desire will decide the nature of your determination, of the way to act. As the desire is, so the will is; as the will is, so is the action. And as is the action, so is the consequence, or the result thereof.' 4.4.5 The Brhadaranyaka Upanishad, by Swami Krishnananda, The Divine Life Society, Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh, India. (page 327-328)

  1. Whose Report? (18th January 2011)

  • Whose numbers – NCRB or NHRC?

The HAF report states "Human rights violations against Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) occur on a daily basis throughout India and South Asia, and primarily in rural communities. The Government of India (GoI) is cognizant of these atrocities. The National Crime Records Bureau, mandated by the Ministry of Home Affairs of the GoI, releases annual reports on nationwide crimes and trends, with a special section dedicated to crimes against SC and STs. In the latest report covering the year of 2008, there were 33,615 such incidents reported." Chapter 7, page 65.

Criminal act and human rights is not the same thing. The table shows the stats for atrocities on SC from National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)  records, which are different than the NCRB data:

2004-2005

2006-2007

of cases reported

74401

82233

of cases disposed

24936

17341

of cases  disposed related to atrocities on SC/ST

593

330

2004-2005

2006-2007   

This NHRC data illustrates that the atrocities on SC/ST were approximately 2% of the total. The rest, 98% of human rights violations occurred for non-SC/ST.

Even if you consider data only from NCRB “A total of 5,938,104 cognizable crimes comprising 2,093,379 Indian Penal Code (IPC) crimes and 3,844,725 Special & Local Laws (SLL) crimes were reported” (). This represents less than 1% of cases for atrocities on SC/ST.

The number for atrocities on SC/ST is around 2%, whatever the data source is.

My question to the authors of the report is why HAF report is quiet on these 98% human right violation cases for non-SC/ST? Are they not human or have no rights?

  • Whose culpability – GoI or Hindu society?

The last time I checked, India was still a secular country and not a Hindu Rashtra. It is a strange logic that  in the HAF report, Hindu society is held responsible for every social evil or criminal act in India.

Does HAF hold Christianity (the dominant religion) responsible for all social evils and criminal acts in USA?

  • Whose responsibility – Indian constitution or Hindu scriptures?

“HAF supports the reanalysis and subsequent rejection of any and all teachings that promote caste-based discrimination and birth-based hierarchy. Most such teachings are found in texts called Smritis, or books of ancient Hindu social law….., (HAF report of Dec 10th, 2010). The same sentiment is present throughout the report.

The Human Rights violations, as listed in the HAF report, occurred in the last few years. For the last 60 years, Indian constitution is the law of the land.

Shouldn’t HAF be asking “re-analysis of the Indian constitution instead of reanalysis of the Hindu texts?

  • Manu or Modern Manu?

Can the authors of the HAF report refer to a time period when Smritis were the law of the land?

Does HAF believe that the laws, as laid down in the Smritis, were ever implemented in India?

Since all historical social evils are blamed on Manu and Manu Smriti, isn’t it fair that current criminal acts and human right violations be blamed on modern day Manu, Dr. Ambedkar,  and Indian constitution.

(While unveiling the statue of Dr. Ambedkar, Shri R. Venkataraman, the President of India called Dr. Ambedkar as "Modem Manu.")

HAF’s position should be based on sound research and it should not be advocating other individuals and organizations position.

  • Whose apology – Hindus or non-Hindus?

The first dedication on the dedication page of the HAF report contains the following:

“To All Those Who Have Suffered From Caste-based Discrimination Over The Centuries -

Our Apologies That Hindu Society Failed To Live Up To Its Highest Teachings

To Those Who Remained Committed Hindus Despite this Failure -

Our Deepest Respects and Admiration”

One of the basic premise of teaching students is: No child should be made to feel ashamed of their ancestors or their history. After continuous demonization of Germans for the crimes of Hitler, Germany plainly declared that the current generations of Germans have nothing to feel guilty or ashamed of.

Will HAF assure all the Hindus, whose voice they represent, that HAF will ask for apologyfrom the perpetrators of Hindu genocide and those who were responsible for the destruction of Hindu temples?

Shouldn’t HAF be using its successful “either/or” approach for apology, as used for caste in the Virginia Standards of Learning?  Suhag Shukla from HAF, is author of this “either/or” approach.

  • Whose Report?

It begs the question, whose report is this ??!!!

  1. Chapter 7 Review – Summary (1st February, 2011)

This is continuation of my earlier review and covers only one aspect (references for the cited 66 cases) of the chapter 7 of the HAF report on Caste.

Statement that “We have not verified the information reported” is important but not sufficient as these cases provide the proof of human right violations of the lower caste.

Can authors of the report provide verified and verifiable references for all the cases cited in chapter 7?

Page 65 of the report states that “We have attempted to provide an overview of the types of violations, illustrated by incidents, as reported by mainstream media outlets”. The chapter further states in para 3 “Nearly all of the incidents are reports of alleged crimes as reported by the press”.

Digging deeper, one gets a different picture.

Total Cases cited

66

Cases with references from news websites

22

Cases with non-working hyperlinks

10 out of 22

Cases without any references

44

A random quick full text search for a few cases leads to sites like Indian Social Institute and Dalit Network as shown below:

Example 1

Page # 80 of HAF Report: June 2006, Kuttiwal, Ajnala Tehsil, Punjab: Children of landlord Dalbir Singh, Kala, Pinda, Mandip and Soni, and police officers from the Lopoke police station beat nine-month pregnant Raj, a SC woman. Raj subsequently gave birth to a dead male baby.

Internet Search: Page # 18 of THEMATICISSUES/Police/Police-2006.pdf>

Example 2

Page # 73 of HAF Report: July 2006, Gummanahalli, Mandya District, Karanataka: SCs reported they were not allowed to enter the village temple or use water from a tank during a local festival.

Internet Search

In another case that was narrated, Dalits from Gummanahalli in Mandya district, said that they had been denied permission to enter the “gramadevatha” temple and take water from the tank during the village festival.

Cross checking raised more questions than answers as these cases are the backbone to the claim of discrimination against lower castes.  Based on this proof, one of the recommendations of the report is rejection of parts of the scriptures.

  1. Three Cs and HAF Report (5th February 2011)

HAF report on caste has two central themes/concepts: birth-based hierarchy and caste-based discrimination. Both concepts are found throughout the narration of the report (a few examples are listed below):

“The caste system, as it has developed in the Indian subcontinent, is a birth-based hierarchy.

Hindus must acknowledge that caste arose in Hindu society, that some Hindu texts and

traditions  justify a birth-based hierarchy and caste-bias,…..

HAF supports the reanalysis and subsequent rejection of any and all teachings that promote

caste-based discrimination and birth-based hierarchy”.

These two concepts are also part of texts in every major world history textbook used in K-12 in USA. I have compiled a table, as shown on the next page, from world history textbooks used in last 25 years.

  • The table shows that there is no difference in the text and the main theme in the HAF report (examples shown above) and the text in the world history books (shown in the table).

  • The issue with these textbooks is that they conflate Varna with caste, as done in the HAF report (e.g. Chapter 9 of the report).

The issue is not an “either/or” approach. The issue is not what is in the FAQs at the HAF website. The real issue is negative portrayal of Hinduism, for which the HAF report may become a reference material.

This argument (negative portrayal of Hinduism) was the most successful argument for correction of textbooks in Fairfax County and changes in the Virginia Standards of Learning and Curriculum Framework.

Has HAF taken in to account that its report may act as reference of choice by the publishers of the world History textbooks.

The table shows that in the last 25 years there was little change in the way caste is covered in the world history textbooks. It seems now that the three C’s of Hinduism (Caste, Cow, and Curry) in textbooks will have a long half life.

Table 3.

Name of Book

Page # / Para #

Content

Book Name: World History (Harcourt Horizons) Publisher: Harcourt Brace Author: Michael J. Berson Year: 2005

208 – para 3 Para 4

The Brahmans (BRAH.muhnz) or priests and scholars were the highest class. In time, the Aryan social classes developed into a caste system. A caste is a group of people within a social class. A person born into one caste could not become a member of another caste.

Book Name: The World Publisher: Scott Foresman Author: James B. Kracht Year: 2005

139 – para 1

In India, every Hindu is traditionally a member of a caste, a lifelong social group into which he or she is born. From the time of the Vedas, the castes were strictly ranked according to birth…… The ranked order of the castes was an important part of dharma.

Book    Glencoe World History, the Survey PublisherGlencoe/McGraw-Hill Author:    Spielvogel, National Geographic Society Year        2005

75 – para 2 75 – para 4

The caste system of ancient India was a seat of rigid social categories that determined not only a person’s occupation and economic potential, but also his or her position in society. There  were five major divisions of Indian classes (known as Castes in English) in ancient times. At the top were two castes that were clearly the ruling elites…..

Book Name: Journey Across Time: Early Ages Publisher: Glencoe/ McGraw-Hill Author: Spielvogel, National Geographic Society Year        2005

199 – para 6 200 – para 4

One of the results of the Aryan invasion of India was the development of a caste system. A caste (KAST) is a social group that someone is born into and can not change. Social Levels of the Caste System: Long before the caste system came about, the Aryans believed the society was divided into four classes called varnas. The top two varnas were Brahmans (BRAH.MUHNS) and Kshatriyas (KSHA.tree.uhs).

Book Name: Ancient World History: Patterns of Interaction Grade        9th

63 – para 6

When they first arrived in India, Aryans were divided into three social classes: Brahmins (priests), warriors, and peasants or  traders. The class that an Aryan belonged to determine his or her role in society.

Publisher: McDougal Littell Author:  Beck, Black, Krieger, Naylor, Shabaka, Year        2005

64 – para 2

As time went on, the four basic castes gradually grew more complex – with hundreds of subdivisions. People were born into their castes for life.

Book Name: World History Modern Times Publisher: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill Author: Spielvogel Year: 2005

37 – para 5

The caste system of ancient India was a seat of rigid social categories that determined not only a person’s occupation and economic potential, but also his or her position in society.

Ancient World History

  • Patterns of Interaction
  • McDougal Littell, Published (04)

Page 64

Page 64, “People are born into their caste for life”.

World Culture   A Global Mosaic By Iftikhar Ahmad, Herbert Brodsky, Marylee Susan Crofts, Elisabeth Gainor Ellis Published by Prentice Hall------ 1999

Page 189

“Caste is based on the idea that there are separate kinds of humans”

The Key to Understanding Global Studies by James Killoran, Stuart Zimmer, Mark Jarrett published Jarrett Publishing com. 1991

Page 178- para 5

Hindus believed that each person was born into a particular class…’ ‘One’s children also remain in the same caste’ ‘Since the caste system was based on heredity, it severely restricted social mobility’

Ibid

Page 376- heading Terms, para 6

Society was organized into hereditary social classes known as castes. Hindus believe each person is born into a particular caste based on one’s behavior in a previous life

Exploring World History by Sol Holt, John R. O’Conner Globe Book Company Inc. 1987

Page 36- para 7

In the caste system, people are born into a certain social class… It is almost impossible to move up to a higher caste

The Afro Asian World- A Cultural Understanding by Edward R. Kolevzon published by Allyn and Bacon Inc.1978

Page 319- para 3 Page 320- para 1

Hindus believe that they are born and reborn into one of the four main castes. Each person belongs to the caste of his or her father. The desire to improve was blocked by the caste system.

Exploring World Cultures by Esko E. Newhill and Umberto La Paglia published by Ginn and company, 1986

Page 29 para 1 Page 215- para 1 Page 216 para 7

In a caste system, a change in status is extremely rare. Whether in a high or low caste, people must remain members of the same caste into which they were born. The caste system is based on social inequality. A person’s caste is determined at birth. To try those who fail to carry out caste practices, each caste has a Panchayat- a council of elders.

  1. HAF Caste Report and Unanswered Questions (21st February 2011)

Find attached a list of questions asked by people on the HAF report. These questions are compiled from different email threads and also input provided by friends. These questions will illustrate the reasons for disagreement on the report. The list of questions is long. In the Hindu tradition the list is cut at 51 (an odd number).

Key Questions

  1. What were HAF’s gains by writing this controversial report which has put Hindus against Hindus? Were the benefits worth the divide amongst Hindus?

  2. Why the process of writing the original report and its revisions are done in utmost secrecy with no transparency? This report is done by an advocacy group to better represent its constituency.

  3. Why Hindu community is being kept in dark about the names of the authors, reviewers, and table of content of the revised report?

  4. HAF board of directors, members and author of the report are American citizens, what authority do they have over domestic policy issues of India?

  5. Has HAF analyzed why this report (as part of its advocacy) is generating questions instead of answering them?

  6. Why HAF is not complying with the request of DharmAchAryas and maThAdhipathis like swAmiji DayAnanda saraswati, Sri PraNava PAndya of Gayathri pariwar, Sri Puthige swamiji, Sri Pejawar Swamji of Udupi, and Swamiji Ramdev?

  7. What are the verified and verifiable sources of information in this report?

Purpose

  1. What is the purpose of the report and its target audience? The real information, not the one available on the FAQ on the website.

  2. Why is HAF taking up the social issues of India in international forums?

  3. Are Indian government and the constitution not dealing with the issues there or not aware of crime in India?

  4. Why a report on caste? Why not do a report on impacts of affirmative action in India?

  5. What is the intent of HAF for bringing out this issue in American media (Washington Post, Huffington Post, and Hinduism Today) before giving opportunity for Hindu community in USA to review its report?

  6. Why HAF report does not talk about caste in present tense. Why everything is in past tense?

Definitions

  1. Why does HAF have to define Varna and Jaati the way anti-Hindus and non-Hindus have done it?

  2. What is HAF’s definition of Human Rights violation? Human Rights violation is generally meant if the government of the country is targeting/ discriminating against a specific group of its citizen.

  3. What about the reverse caste discrimination?

  4. The term “Scheduled Caste” became part of English lexicon in

    1. There was no entity/ individuals/group known as SC before
    2. Then why HAF is going backward in time?

Audience

  1. Is HAF planning to go to UN or US Congress with this report?

  2. What does HAF expect from them? Advocacy should always want something in return for its constituency (Hindus).

Authors and Endorsers

  1. Who are the real authors? (Hard to believe that Mihir, Pawan and Swaminathan wrote it, considering their over busy schedules).

  2. Why take help/endorsement from groups like Navya Shastra?

  3. Why use reference cases from Dalit Freedom Network and Indian Social Institute to prove human right violations?

  4. Why not take from currently available statistics on crime from the government departments and report total crime rate?

  5. Did the people who endorsed the report have seen the entire report for a few days before they wrote the endorsement?

  6. Why HAF let Kalavai go?

  7. Is Krishnan Ramaswamy still involved with re-writing the report?

  8. What is official position/responsibility of Vishal in HAF? He is not listed as one of the authors but answers majority of the questions.

  9. Why it is impossible for HAF to share the names of the authors and table of contents for the revised/rewritten report?

  10. Why scholars like Dr. N. S. Rajaram withdrew their endorsement of the report, once the report was available publicly?

Rejection and Reanalysis of Scriptures

  1. Advocacy means supporting the core constituencies beliefs and not attacking them. Why HAF is advocating reanalysis and rejection of scriptures?

  2. Does HAF want to replace ancient time tested Dharmshastras with Navyashastras?

  3. Why not listen to the Acharyas? Acharyas represents the institutions, defying them means defying the basic foundation on which Hinduism is built.

  4. Why defend Ramesh Rao after he insulted Ramayana? Individuals have the right to express their opinions. But HAF, being a Hindu advocacy organization, shouldn’t defend the act of insulting Ramayana.

  5. When crimes and Human Rights violations are occurring now, then what is the point of rejecting scriptures? Should not it be the Constitution of India?

Negative Impact on Future Generations

  1. What kind of requirement analysis or consequence analysis was performed by HAF?

  2. What negative impacts will be on Hindus and Hinduism in India, UK, and USA? Students will feel guilty about their religious identity and public display about their beliefs and traditions. Is this what HAF want? Even if the Dedication is completely removed, the total impact of the report will devastate and overwhelm Hindu students who are already being mocked and caricatured. Does HAF want them to be persecuted in the presence of their peers?

  3. Why HAF is spending resources on a topic which has no relevance in USA? There are plenty of issues facing Hindus in USA e.g. textbooks, SOLS, CFS , discrimination in jobs, … etc.

Damage Control

  1. Why HAF did not agree for Subash Razdan to lead the dialogue between HAF and critics of report?  (Subash offered, Critics accepted his leadership, HAF did not accept his help)

  2. Why HAF is seeking survey only from select people? Why people on HAF’s bulletin distribution list, members, donors, fundraisers and supporters are not asked to respond to the survey?

  3. Why HAF is treating it like a political campaign?  Why HAF is asking people who may review to sign/agree with some legal language non disclosure?

  4. Will HAF provide, before its publication, the entire report to Acharyas’ and others (scholars, critics) for constructive comments?

  5. Why is HAF allowing initiation of discussion on its report at RISA?

Miscellaneous

  1. Why not a Human Rights violation report about Kashmiri Pandits? Why not report terrorist acts victimization of Hindus in their own country and the government inaction. Is this not human rights violation?

  2. Why HAF is the report  silent on discrimination by Govt. of India taking control over Hindu temples only? Other religions are free to practice and maintain their worship places. Freedom of religion is a fundamental right which encompasses maintaining worship workplaces too.

  3. What actions has HAF taken when the American visa was denied to Chief Minister Mr. Narendra Modi? If not, why not? Was that not advocacy for Hindus in USA?

Organizational

  1. If HAF is membership driven organization then why members are informed about any elections or seek for nominations?

  2. Why HAF does not send annual audited financial report to its current and potential members, donors, fund raisers, …..? Why not on HAF web site?

  3. What is the constitution and by-laws of HAF at the time of registration? When and what changes were made and why?

Next Steps

  1. After this what will be the next issue- Indian political system? Where does HAF’s responsibility begin and end?

  2. Why would an advocacy group fights with its own base (Hindu community)?

  3. What, if anything, will happen to Hindus if HAF does not finalize and produce this report on caste?

NOTES :

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