Mangalore: Arya Samaj's Bold Initiative to Break Class Barriers

Pics by Suresh Vamanjoor

Mangalore, Apr 5: Arya Samaj unit in the city has now taken a bold step to bring all classes of the Hindu faith together.

As reported already, on the occasion of Ugadi on Monday, it held rituals like Gayatri hawan (yajna) at the hands of Dalits in the locality of Kudkorigudda in Kankanady here. The message given was that the Dalits were not untouchables, with a view to bringing them to the mainstream of the society.

Under the guidance of Praveen Valke of the Arya Samaj, Dalits themselves recited the mantras and shlokas. Sri Esha Vithaldasa Swamiji of Kemaru was the main speaker. He said that untouchability was the greatest bane of the society. Events of this kind would always banish the inequalities in the society and bring about world welfare, he said.

The Swamiji said that caste untouchability was virtually a type of internal terrorism in the country. The word 'Shudra' should be first banished from the society. Then only class discrimination could be eliminated. The Hindu faith has grown because of the dedication of the backward classes. It has kept growing stronger because of them, he said.

Speaking further, he said in reality those who are corrupt, those who loot others, those addicted to vices and the kind are the ones to be called and treated as untouchables and not on the basis of caste. In future further rituals would be conducted often at the hands of Dalits themselves.

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