LET US PREVENT HARM IN HINDUISM!: Raise awareness about the suffering caused by the caste system

The caste system is one of the most deeply rooted and controversial elements of Hinduism, having profoundly shaped the social structure of India and other South Asian countries (Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) for millennia. It classifies people into rigid, hierarchical categories from birth, and is therefore a source of inequality and oppression, especially for Dalits (the “untouchables” or outcastes).

According to the International Dalit Solidarity Network, there are an estimated 260 million untouchables worldwide, mainly in South Asian countries.

This profoundly unjust system has its roots in Hinduism’s sacred scriptures, such as the Vedas and the Manusmriti. Traditionally, Hindu society is divided into four main varnas:

1. Brahmins: priests and teachers.

2. Kshatriyas: warriors and rulers.

3. Vaishyas: merchants and farmers.

4. Shudras: workers and servants.

In addition, there is an extra category: the Dalits, who fall outside the caste system and are considered the lowest in the social hierarchy. The Manusmriti strips them of their most fundamental rights, stating that their only duty is to serve the higher castes “without grumbling.”

Over the centuries, this structure became more complex with the creation of thousands of subcastes (jatis), each with its own degree of purity and hereditary occupation.

This system of social hierarchy was introduced by the Aryans after conquering India, with the aim of using religion to legitimize their domination over the indigenous populations, their exploitation, and the theft of their lands and wealth. Resorting to religion to justify the abuses of invaders has been typical throughout history across different continents. Read more at…

Read “LET US NOT STEAL!”: Let us dismantle the narratives that justify theft

LET US LOVE THE TRUTH!: Let us dismantle the narratives that justify cruelty

It has resulted in deep and widespread oppression, affecting hundreds of millions of people in India and other countries influenced by Hinduism. This oppression takes various forms:

1. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DISCRIMINATION

People from lower castes, especially Dalits, face discrimination in almost every aspect of life. They are denied access to economic, educational, and employment resources and opportunities.

They are often assigned jobs deemed impure or degrading that no one else wants to do, such as manually collecting human waste. They are forced to clean septic tanks by hand, sometimes dying from suffocation due to toxic gases and a lack of protective equipment.

Marginalization begins in early childhood. They are often excluded from education. And if they are fortunate enough to attend school, they are not allowed to sit at the front of the classroom, nor to eat or play with children from other castes. Groups form very quickly, from which the untouchables are excluded. They know nothing else, and their adult lives are left traumatized.

Segregation continues throughout life and constitutes a major form of oppression. In many rural areas, people from lower castes cannot live in the same areas as those from higher castes. Nor can they use the same water sources or temples. In cities, discrimination may be less visible, but it is equally pervasive, showing up as microaggressions and social exclusion.

At the same time, there is economic exploitation and marginalization that perpetuates poverty and significantly limits their opportunities for social advancement.

The theft of innocent people’s human dignity is so great that the caste system has been accompanied by the belief that a Dalit’s shadow must not touch people from higher castes, as it is considered impure.

2. VIOLENCE AND ABUSE

Attacks against untouchables and other lower castes are a common reality. Lynchings, sexual assault, and other forms of violence are used to maintain the status quo and punish those who challenge caste norms.

This violence is a tragic reality that occurs every day. According to India’s National Crime Records Bureau, nearly 45,935 cases of violence are recorded each year. Approximately ten Dalit women are raped every day.

And, worse still, perpetrators often enjoy total impunity, due to collusion by local authorities—many of whom belong to higher castes—and the support of the nationalist government. Read more…

For all these reasons, it is very difficult for outcastes to break the chains of violence and oppression. Moreover, injustice against them causes deep trauma and suffering for generations. Stigma follows a person from birth to death, affecting every aspect of life: education, housing, employment, access to justice, and political participation.

Women and girls, in addition to being victims of sexual violence, are also victims of human trafficking and are especially vulnerable to early and forced marriage, bonded labor, and harmful cultural practices.

LET US PUT AN END TO THESE GRIEVANCES ONCE AND FOR ALL!

How?

1.-By signing to call for:

• All governments to completely eliminate the caste system. Sign…
• All Hindu religious leaders to reform their religion to eliminate the caste system… Sign…

2.–By sharing these petition campaigns and this article. Read more…

3-By taking these other actions…

Thank you for signing, sharing, and being proactive.