16-01-2021 The Asian Independent

18 16-01-2021 to 31-01-2021 NEWS
www.theasianindependent.co.uk
What will be the religion of
Scheduled Castes and Backward
Castes? It is turning into a heated
debate.
As far as the Scheduled Castes are
concerned, they started leaving Hindu
Religion after Babasaheb Ambedkar
converted to Buddhism on 14th
October, 1956. Recently, Jaats also
announced – that they will leave
Hinduism and register themselves as
Sikhs. The country is in the midst of a
massive Farmer’s Movement, which is
very much led by Jaats. So, how come
this issue of Religion has emerged now?
Well, it started after the Brahmin Priests
of Hindu Temples started locking them
up on protesting farmers, while Sikh
Gurudwaras are serving langar. The
issue of conversion was simmering
among Jaats for sometime and one
youth Jaat leader had converted to
Sikhism. But this Temple incident had
further instigated it.
One strong Jaat leader from Uttar
Pradesh said in a mass rally; that those
temple, where we had donated milkmoney
all this time have not served us
even a cup of tea. While Gurudwaras
have opened their doors. Jaats in Punjab
are Sikhs, so coming forward of
Gurudwaras is explicable. But Jaats in
Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and
other states are Hindus; then why
instead of offering help, temples were
closed ? Jaats are in a major shock over
this. If we check the 2011 census data,
India’s total population is 120 crores.
Out of this; 96 crores are
Hindus(80%), 17 crores are
Muslims(14%), 3 crores
Christians(2.5%), 2 crores
Sikhs(1.66%), 85 lakhs Buddhists(less
than 1%) and 45 lakhs Jains(less than
half percent).
But if we look closely, out of this
80%; 25% are SC-STs alone.
According to Brahmin scriptures,
they are Untouchables and Indigenous
or Tribals, thus are not considered
Hindus. SC-STs don’t consider themselves
Hindus as well.
Scheduled Castes – as mentioned
earlier are leaving Hinduism gradually.
But recently, the Hemant Soren
Will Hindu (Brahmin)
Religion become a Minority
RELIGION IN INDIA?
Census is taking
place in 2021.
Government of Jharkhand have recognized
the “Sarna Religion” of the
Scheduled Tribes as a separate religion.
So, if we take out this 25% SC-ST
population, the Hindu population comes
down from 80% to 55%.
Jaats are said to be around 5-6 crores.
If they become Sikhs, it can bring
– Satvinder Manakh
down the Hindu population to half of
total Indian population, i.e., to 50%.
But the question of leaving Hinduism
is not only confined to SC-STs or Jaats
alone. There are several other OBC
castes, which are also preparing for this
Tilak Manjhi: One of India’s first freedom fighters
Jharkhand communities remember the
first martyr of India who led an army
against the British in 1784. A poisoned arrow
shot at British Commissioner Augustus
Cleveland on January 13, 1784 marked the
beginning of the first freedom struggle of the
people of India against British colonists.
However, unlike what history textbooks say,
this attack was not led by Mangal Pandey but
by Santhal leader Tilka Manjhi.
Born as Jabra Pahadia, the Adivasi (indigenous)
leader led the Santhal Hul (Santhal
revolt) that is considered by historians as the
first armed rebellion against the British. Jabra
kept the British and other oppressors such as
zamindars and moneylenders from exploiting
the community, stole loot from the East India
Company treasury and prevented British soldiers
from entering the local area.
Prior to Cleveland’s death, Jabra also resisted
the Company’s attempts to appease Adivasi
complaints. The leader went around circulating
“We must be united” messages in the local
script on a sal leaf. When he finally succeeded
in killing the British officer, soldiers surrounded
the Tilapore forest under Jabra’s control and
after several weeks managed to arrest him.
Officials were shaken by the idea that a local
person using traditional weapons was able to
defeat a British officer. On capturing Tilka
Manjhi, soldiers tied him to the tail of a horse
and dragged him all the way to the collector’s
residence at Bhagalpur, Bihar. There, his body
was hung from a banyan tree to ward off any
other uprising. Instead, Jabra became a hero in
the community. Once India gained
Independence, Santhals erected a statue of the
leader who instilled fear in colonisers at the
very spot where he was hung. Even the
Bhagalpur University was renamed as Tilka
Manjhi Bhagalpur University. Incidentally,
members of the East India Company gave
Pahadia the title of Tilka Manjhi that means
“village head with angry red eyes” in Pahadia
language. Some British documents also called
him a dreaded dacoit or gussel (angry) Manjhi.
Even in 2021, Adivasi communities in
Jharkhand commemorated January 13 by garlanding
Tilka Manjhi’s statue, said Dainik
Jagran. The news website said that MLA
Mangal Kalindi said a grand statue of Tilka
Manjhi would be installed at the Chowk with
the same name in the future.
Meanwhile, a video published by the
Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Jabra died with a
smile on his face, inspiring the words “haansi
haansi, chadh gaya faansi” (he died smiling
hung from the noose.)
The life and accomplishments of the rebel
were also documented in a novel written by
Bengali writer Mahashweta Devi. Similarly,
Hindi novelist Rakesh Kumar Singh described
his struggles in the ‘Hool Pahadiya’ novel.
Tilka Manjhi’s episode ended nearly 70
years before Mangal Pandey was born. Yet,
other than British documents, his feats only
remain in folk songs of Santhal culture. One
such song is as follows:
- Tum par kodon ki barsat hui (They rained
whipcords on you)
- Tumhe ghodon mein bandhkar ghasita
gaya (They dragged you by horse)
- Fir bhi tumhe maara nahi jaa saka (Still
you could not be killed)
- Tum Bhagalour mein sareaam (They
amidst the Bhagalpur public)
- Faansi par latka diye gaye (Hung you on
the rope)
- Fir bhi darte rahe zamindar aur angrez
(Yet the landlords and the British were afraid)
- Tumhari tilka aankhon se (Of your angry
eyes)
-Maar kar bhi tumhe maara nahi jaa saka
(You didn’t die even after being killed)
Tilka Manjhi Mangal Pandey nahi (Not Mangal
Pandey) Tum adhunik Bharat ke pehle vidrohi
the (You were the first rebel of modern India)
migration. For example, the Shakyas
and Kushwahas of Uttar Pradesh –
Bihar. Majority of Shakyas have already
converted to Buddhism and looks like,
Kushwahas are following soon.
The dominant OBC caste of
Northern India, the Yadavs are also
caught in the same dilemma as Jaats.
When Akhilesh Singh Yadav left
Chief Minister’s house of Uttar Pradesh
and Savarna Thakur caste, Yogi
Adityanath took over; the whole CM
compound was purified because
Akhilesh Singh Yadav belonged to a
Shudra – OBC caste.
Akhilesh Singh Yadav was forced to
say in a public gathering, that all these
years I was thinking that I am
“Forward” but these RSS-BJP folks
finally made me realized, that no – I am
“Backward” ! All the OBC castes; such
as – Marathas, Jaats, Yadavs, Patels,
Kurmis, Gujjars are considered fourth
grade Varna – Shudras according to
Brahmin scriptures. Among the Yadavs,
the late Periyar Lalai Singh Yadav has
emerged as a major icon. He converted
to Buddhism soon after Babasaheb
Ambedkar. There is a video on Social
Media from a Yadav dominated village
of Bihar, which shows them leaving
Hinduism and accepting Buddhism.
So, if these Shakyas-Kushwahas-
Yadavs leave Hinduism in near future, it
can bring its population even below
50%. To be a majority religion, one
doesn’t only need to be the largest group
but their population should be more
than 50%. Now, these figures are of
national level but if we look separately
at the states, the picture looks even more
perplexed.
Let us take the example of Haryana,
which is at the center of this whole controversy.
Here, Hindu population is
87%, Muslims 7% and Sikhs are around
5%. But out of this 87% Hindu population
– 25% are Jaats alone. So, if they
switch over to Sikhism, Hindus will be
reduced to 62%, while Sikhs can rise
from 5% to 27%.
Still, Hindus seems to be in a majority
with more than 50% and Sikhs much
lower at 27%. But there is 20% SC population
in Haryana. If we also take them
out, Hindus can come down from 62%
to mere 42%. So, only these two groups
in 2021 census can turn the Hindus in
Haryana from majority to minority.
It was thought, that the intensity of
this religion issue will cool down during
the Farmer’s Movement, but it has
added fuel to the fire.
Cong's women wing to
observe 'Mahila Kisan
Diwas' on Monday
New Delhi. The women wing of
the Congress has decided to
observe "Mahila Kisan Diwas"
(Women Farmers' Day) on
Monday, to show solidarity with
the thousands of farmers' protesting
against the three controversial
farm laws.
All India Mahila
Congress president
Sushmita Dev said:
"The All India Mahila
Congress which has
been at the forefront of
the fight for women's
rights wholeheartedly
welcomes this and will
support this call to
observe Mahila Kisan Diwas."
The Congress' women wing
said that the farmers have played
a critical role in the fight for justice
and have shown the country
the importance of women in agriculture
and in revolution. They
have not only left their homes to
protest against the farm laws, but
also worked to ensure more
awareness amongst people on
how these legislations will
destroy their livelihood.
Congress General Secretary
Priyanka Gandhi and former
party chief Rahul Gandhi joined
the protest march here on Friday
to show solidarity with the
protesting farmers.
Speaking on the
occasion, Rahul
Gandhi said: "Prime
Minister Narendra
Modi did not respect
the farmers... the
party is in farmerss
support till these laws
are withdrawn."
Slamming the BJP, the
Congress leader said the government
is working for businessmen
and these laws are not in favour
of the farmers.
The Congress on Friday
staged protests at all Raj Bhavans
(Governor's House) across the
country and demanded the withdrawal
of the farm laws.