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| Kathmandu, Saturday February 15, 2003 Falgun 03, 2059. |
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Dalits
and religious crossroads
I read your news item
"Dalit condemn discrimination" of Feb 12, 2003, which quoted a press statement
issued by the Director of Dalit NGO Federation, citing the case of Shaileshwari temple of
Doti where a huge yagya is going on. In the far western district—be it Shaileshwari
of Doti or Dilashaini of Baitadi—Dalits of that part have been trying to exert their
rights to enter the Hindu temple with hope that their fellow brothers and sisters would
embrace them. On the contrary, despite former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s
announcement, situation has not changed so much.
Effort of Dalits to
enter the Hindu temples should be regarded as a humble desire of the Dalits to remain
Hindus. If the situation does not improve, then they will be compelled to take the option
of converting into Christianity which would provide them not only dignity but an
opportunity to change their life for better through education and income generating
opportunities.
If the so-called
contractors of orthodox Hindu change their attitude towards Dalits, the percentage of
Hindu population will remain as 80 percent; otherwise it will come down to 70 percent in
the next 10 years’ time.
Hira
Vishwakarma
Cork, Ireland |
