Tag: anti-caste

Education: Show them by excelling in your studies, not money or power

The author writes how education, not money or power, is the only way to overcome oppression by the privileged castes.

Education is the only way.

Story Time

When I was in class 5 or 6, a classmate called me abusive names along with my race’s name “adivasi”. 

When I was in class 11, my class teacher said to our entire class that SC/ST people are taking away their seats.

When I was in college I was asked “what are you?” because I liked a girl from another religion.

Who Am I?

Well let me tell you what I am. 

I’m an Adivasi. I’m from the great community Santhal, who started the Santhal Rebellion(Santhal Hul) of 1855 against the British East India Company. I’m from the religion of Saridharam(which means “truth religion” in English).

And we owe our existence to great people like Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.

The funny thing is whenever I asked my mother why they called me “adivasi”, my mother proudly said “So what they called you “Adivasi”, tell them yes “I’m an Adivasi” proudly.”

She said there is no shame in being an Adivasi.

And she would quote Swami Vivekananda about how “the wheel of dharma is moving”.

And my mother even taught me that we can’t compete with the general caste people based on power or money. We can only compete and defeat them with education.

And I also believe that statement.

Even now no matter if I become a millionaire, I’m still an adivasi.

Even now if I become the prime minister or president of India, I’ll still be an adivasi.

My elder sister inspires me because she is proud of her identity.

I’m also proud of my identity but I need to work on it.

Babasaheb and Education

When Babasaheb was born and when he went for higher studies, there was no reservation for SC/ST candidates. He achieved excellence in education through sheer effort in spite of all the caste discrimination he faced in his life.

I have reservation because of Babasaheb. I owe it to his great soul to work hard and study and make something of myself through education.

So I would like to reply to my classmate who abused me when I was in class 5 or 6.

I would like to say to him,”This shows you have no manners. I am an Adivasi. And I am proud of that. I am from that Santhal community who sacrificed so much in 1855 in the Santhal Rebellion for this country India. And if you think you can make me feel inferior by using abusive words about my community, you’re wrong. I am proud of my community, my caste, my religion, my race and my humanity.”

Thank you for reading this line! It means a lot.

Bhagavad Gita: Significant Changes In My Life

The author writes how the Bhagavad Gita is changing this life and how a healthy level of doubt is necessary and alright.

I’ve been reading the Bhagavad Gita and I already see changes in my life.

Bhagavad Gita : Story Time

I recently started cooking lunch and dinner. 

Earlier me and my sister used to order lunch and dinner from restaurants.

But now I cook them.

Although I order the curry and side dishes, I prepare the main staple dish.

I cook rice or rotis. And order vegetable or chicken curry.

And I also know that my psychiatric medication has a big part to play in this.

But I also think the Bhagavad Gita definitely has a part in causing these changes in my life.

I feel more grounded and am sleeping better.

I’m having less problems waking up early or sleeping early.

Religion

The Bhagavad Gita is a Hindu scripture. But I’m not a Hindu, I’m an Adivasi(Saridharam- truth religion).

But I find that reading the Bhagavad Gita helps me a lot.

I can relate to Arjuna from Chapter 1 itself.

Doubts

Sometimes I doubt if indeed the Gita is the word of God. Or whether Gita is true.

And I think it is good to doubt to some extent.

I don’t need to have blind faith. I need to challenge the Gita and experience its truths for myself in real life.

Conclusion

I need to treat it as a manual but the real realisation would only be possible if I act and actually “assemble the parts” or “attain spiritual realisation” or “moksh” by following it.

So yeah I’m reading the Bhagavad Gita and this journey never ends because unless one attains “moksh”, there’s no stopping.

Thank you for reading this line! It means a lot.

Reading the Bhagavad Gita: Changing My Life

The author reads the Bhagavad Gita daily and admits that it’s changing his life. Despite not being a Hindu, he follows the Gita for wisdom.

I’ve been reading the Bhagavad Gita lately and I think it is an amazing book that suits my temperament.

The Bhagavad Gita: Waking Up Early

And I think it is slowly changing my life.

I’m waking up early and following a routine.

I think it is important to follow a spiritual practice daily. 

Be it reading spiritual texts or meditating or lighting incense sticks or something else.

But it’s necessary for the peace of mind of the individual.

My Mother’s Example

My mother has taught me to bow down to God.

She has a Masters of Science degree and she still prays to God every day.


And I think just because you’re educated formally doesn’t mean you stop praying and become an atheist.

It means you become a more serious practitioner of spirituality.

If there’s anything that education should do to you is to open your eyes to what you don’t know.

And that humility, if your education’s good, should make you a more spiritual person.

The Caste System

Mornings are for waking up. And I read the Bhagavad Gita which gives me immense joy.

Of course there are parts about the caste system.

But I just ignore it.

Because of course it’s such an old text and there will be misinterpretations which lead to parts like the caste system.

I’m Not A Hindu

I’m not a Hindu. I’m an Adivasi. I’m born in a religion called Sari dharam which means “Truth religion” in Santhali. Sari means “Truth”.

But I love reading Bhagavad Gita. 

I choose to read the Bhagavad Gita because it has a lot of wisdom. 

Not because I don’t like my religion. 

Conclusion

Today I woke up and I thought,”Mornings are for waking up. Just wake up and start typing.”

And so I did. 

And I think the Bhagavad Gita has a great part to play in this.

Thank you for reading this line! It means a lot.

Babasaheb Made Proud By Dalit Daughters: A Tribute

I’m sure Babasaheb would not be happy by seeing the state of India today, he would always want us to study harder and argue with knowledge.

I was on X/Twitter the other day. And I saw this post “Dalit daughters are toppers.🔥”

And I remembered the day I got an award for scoring good marks in class 10th from our Adivasi Akhra which is an association for our indigenous communities.

And I feel joy and satisfaction that Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s(Babasaheb’s) dreams are being fulfilled.

If not for Babasaheb, we and our marginalized communities would not survive. 

It is because of him that we have a chance at starting the race of life at a level which is equal to the general caste people.

Still there is discrimination. Still there is inequality. Still there is hatred.

But we must stop it.

We must stop it not by raising a sword, but by raising our pens. 

We must study harder. We must educate, agitate and organize.

We must raise our voice. We must learn to argue. 

Not with violence, but words.

And so there’s no other way than to educate ourselves to be free.

I’m sure Babasaheb would not be happy by seeing the state of India today, but he would always want us to study harder and argue with knowledge and not swords or guns.

Thank you for reading this line! It means a lot.