From: kundu@watson.ibm.com (Sandip Kundu)
Subject: On Rafats view of Hindu society
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 21:29:50 GMT
Disclaimer: This posting represents the poster's views, not necessarily those of IBM
Organization: Sandip Kundu

>   As to your wanting proof that converting to Islam will bring equality, I  
>suggest that you read up on Islam simply for educational purposes. You will
>find that Islam has always preached equality among men. A man who was at
>the bottom of the social, political, and economical heirarchy simply due
>to some idiotic caste system would have nothing to lose by converting to
>Islam (or in fact even Christianity and Judaism). 
>
>regards 
>Rafat Sadiq    

Rafat,

I am not an expert on Hinduism. To different people it means
different things anyway. The foundation of Hinduism is believed
to be on Vedas. I have not read Vedas. However, I was brought 
up to believe that casteism is not prescribed by Vedas. 
Casteism was documented and prescribed by a book called "MonuSanhita".
MonuSanhita is not considered to be a valid interpretation of
anything. 

I have read the new testament. I have not come across any
evidence to justify that "the sun goes around the earth" or
that the "earth is flat". However, we all know that in the 
medieval period, in the name of bible, the clergy chastised
and ostracized anyone who disagreed with their
interpretation. The point here is that what is practiced need
not necessarily be what is preached.

Now, let us turn to Hinduism. By referring to casteism, which is
still practised by many Hindus, you claimed elsewhere that a
just society can not be based on Hinduism. By that statement
you are implying one or both of the following :

1. there is sanction for casteism in Vedas.
2. those practising Hinduism today are incapable of reforming/
cleansing the malady of casteism from the present society.

Why do not you spell out which of the above you are saying. If
you are saying 1) you have to provide reference. If you are
saying 2) you have to elaborate on your reasoning process.

FYI, casteism, as it is practiced today only affects marriages and
not professions. Not everyone uses a caste denomination to
guide marriages, I did not. Since marriage is a matter of
personal choice I am not even sure if it can be branded 
evil. For example SWM seeking SWF is not considered racist by
most people.

I have witnessed such explicit preferences among Muslim
community also. I have seen advertisements where a Syed is
seeking a Syed (no mention of economic and educational
preferences, sole preference Syed). Is that casteism in veil ?

If you want a fair comparison of Hindu and Muslim societies,
either compare what is preached, or compare what is practiced.
Do not confuse both as you have done here.

Muslim Honey gatherers in Sundarban areas worship "BonDebi" before
embarking on a trip to jungle areas. Do they know what they are
practicing ? If they don't, is it just to conclude that they
converted to Islam after understanding the implications of
being a Muslim ? Again if not, did they do it to raise their
status in society ? They continue to be exploited by the
same family they were selling to before (typically Hindu). 
Since they have not raised their social, economic or political 
status by conversion, it opens up a lot of room for other motives 
for conversion. Your arguments need further work before you 
can parade your conclusions.


Sandip Kundu
Newsgroups: soc.culture.bangladesh