SAINT RAMANUJA
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AND THAT BRINGS ME FINALLY TO THE REAL TOUCHSTONE FOR A PROGRESSIVE OR SPIRITUALIST OR ANTI-CASTEIST , OR HINDU OR CHRISTIAN OR MUSLIM OR ANYBODY... PATRIOT OR HUMANIST OR SOCIALIST/COMMUNIST......WHAT IS YOUR ATTITUDE ABOUT ERADICATION OF THE VILEST BLASPHEMY ...UNTOUCHABILITY? WHY IS THIS CONTINUING SINCE THE DAYS OF BUDDHA ( 600 BC)? WHY IS IT CONTINUING EVEN TODAY LITERALLY IN TAMILNAD? WHY IS IT SO STUBBORN? WHAT IS THE SOLUTION? WHAT HAVE WE DONE TO END IT ONCE FOR ALL?
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Gandhiji was a pioneer in this respect. Even communists did not and do not to this day, really give topmost importance to this question. Their priorities are different though they are not anti-dalith. Mere Goodwill is not enough. We need a concrete analysis of the root cause. It is glib talk to say that it is all conspiracy of upper class. or orthodox religion. Gandhiji was prepared to risk losing the support of influential and numerically important sections on this question. When the Congress Working Committee dithered on this issue and hesitated to make this a constituent part of the action program, Gandhiji opted to quit the Congress and work independently. For, of what use is FREEDOM if the Harijans as he called them are not emancipated? I have a lot to say on this problem and while I do not think Gandhiji's solution was adequate, I consider him to be the greatest leader just because of his stress on Harijan Emancipation. The very name of his paper was Harijan.
Let me show now, how Orthodox religion itself was against Untouchability.
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Saint Ramanuja lived at the time of Kulathunga the First.(1100 ad) It was in Thirukkoshtiyur that he began his Harijan Emancipation work. ( I am mightily proud that Shanmuga Raja of Sivaganga zamin, a devout follower of Gandhiji , PERSONALLY led Daliths into this temple during Temple Entry movement). It is just a few miles from Karaikkudi. This temple is sacred to Vaishnavites. Periyaazhvaar
has sung hymns on this deity. What more do we want? But the emperor Kulothungan was not amused! He sent for Ramanuja to appear in his court. His real intention being known, Ramanuja escaped through jungles and mountains to southern Karnataka.
His disciples Periya Nambi and Koorathazhvan were taken to Kulothungan and their eyes were gouged! "பக்தியுடையோர் எந்தக்குலதவரயினும் எல்லா வகையிலும்
சமம் என்பது ராமானுஜர் வாக்கு " .
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