Dalits upset with TTD's tokenism

http://www.deccanhe rald.com/ Content/Aug82008 /panorama2008080 783303.asp

By R Akhileshwari

Most of the TTD's income is from oppressed Hindus, who form 80-90 per
cent of the pilgrims.

The Dalita Govindam programme by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams
(TTD) to win over the Dalits and keep them within the Hindu fold seems
to have rebounded. The Dalits are outraged that, in the name of God,
they have once again been humiliated and shown that they cannot be
part of the religion as practised by a few.

While Dalit activists are threatening to file a case against the TTD
under the SC-ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act for 'humiliating' the
Dalits, political parties — including the Left and the BJP — have
dismissed the programme as a 'gimmick' and a 'farce'.

The issue is that the idols of Sri Venkateswara and his two consorts
that were taken to the Dalitwada — in Vemuru village, Chittoor
district, a few kms from Tirupati — have been kept in a room used by
priests rather than in the sanctum sanctorum. In response to the Dalit
outrage that this was yet another face of social discrimination
against the Dalits, the TTD insists that placing the idols in the
sanctum santorum would be a violation of Agama Sastras that rule the
rituals in the Tirumala temple. The Dalit organisations have sought
redressal and have taken the issue to the SC-ST Commission and have
also appealed to the President of India to intervene.

The TTD organised the programme, the brainchild of its chairman B
Karunakar Reddy — who was once a Left activist. For the first time
ever, the deities of Sri Venkateswara and his two consorts were taken
to Vemuru village's Dalitwada last April. Pujas were performed and a
feast was held. Priests blessed the community enmasse with Veda
Asirvadam and the devotees were given Srivari Prasadam both of which
are normally given to VVIPs when they go to the Tirumala temple for
darshan.

After a night's halt in the Dalitwada, they were brought back to
Tirumala. The initiative, Reddy explained, was to spread the message
that everyone was equal in the eyes of God and that Hindu religion
does not support caste or caste-based discrimination. The caste
system, he said, was enforced by influential sections in the middle
ages for their own benefit. Over the years, a schism developed in the
society with the exclusion of weaker sections like Dalits and the BCs.
Untouchability, said Reddy, had done irreparable damage to the Hindu
society.

The TTD found it worrying that the numbers of the Hindus converting to
other religions were much higher in the last 50 years than in the rule
of Mughals or the colonial period. Therefore, the TTD took up
programmes with 'social' dimension like Dalita Govindam, Matsya
Govindam and Girjana Govindam. In the last programme, select tribal
youth have been taught religious rituals and mantras that can be used
along with their tribal worship, according to the TTD. Interestingly,
Reddy had, as an activist, led an agitation some years ago and
succeeded in getting Dalits to enter a local temple and do puja.

However, his efforts this time round seem to have rebounded given the
controversy over the idols. P Anjaiah, state general secretary,
Republican Party of India, believes that Dalits were 'cheated' and
excluded in every aspect of the Dalita Govindam programme.

First, the TTD announced that the deities that are in the sanctum
sanctorum, one of the five sets of deities that are moved out for
various pujas and festivals, would be taken to Vemuru Dalitawada.
Instead, enquiries showed, idols were newly made for the Dalita
Govindam; decorated with 'gilded' ornaments and taken to Vemuru. On
return, they were confined to a building used by temple priests. When
asked, the TTD explained that the idols were not "sanctified" or
"given life" and therefore they could be placed in the sanctum
sanctorum..

"We have been once again cheated by 'dead' deities and false
ornaments. We were cheated socially and politically; now we are being
cheated in the name of god," said Anjaiah.

Also, if the TTD really wants to include Dalits, then during the
programme, the priests should have eaten the food prepared in Dalit
kitchens and slept in their huts. This would have sent a far more
powerful message than a 100 Dalita Govindams, Dalit activists point
out.

They also point out that the TTD's annual income of Rs 1,800 crore is
the contribution of the oppressed Hindus, who comprise 80-90 per cent
of the pilgrims to Tirumala. Yet, the posts in the TTD are 'reserved'
only for upper castes. Also, in the numerous educational institutions
run by the TTD, the number of Dalit and other oppressed caste
employees is minimal. Why should not the TTD run 'Vedic' schools
specially for Dalit children, they ask.
If the TTD genuinely believes that caste discrimination is not
supported by Hindu religion, then it should do more than have a
one-night Dalita Govindam. Tokenism is insincerity. In fact, it is
cheating.