The daily herald. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1886-1887, 1886-12-09
SITTING IN DHARNA.
REMARKABLE EXAMPLE OF THE
sRAtiMANs' CUNNING.

Three Hundred Thousand People Leave
Their Homes.
AS sitting in dharna" is an extremely curl
Gus practice, the readers of this journal may
like to know something about it. The Brah-
mans have nowhere shown more remark
able example of their cunning than in Great
ing among their countiymen a belief that
their persons were designed by God to be
under all circumstances inviolable; and that
60 deprive them of life or to hurt their per-
sons, directly or indirectly, is a crime that
admits of no expiration, On this persuasion
is founded the practice of sitting in dharna.
When Brahman desires to gain some point
which he has found it impossible 10 accom-
plish IN any other way he goes 10 the door or
house OF the person against whom his suit Is
directed and there he sits down in dharna,
with poison, or poniard or some other means
of suicide In his hand, threatening to use it
should his adversary attempt to modest or
pass him by. This menace completely arrests
him. The plaintiff now commences a fast, in
which, according to etiquette he must be ac-
companied by the defendant; and in this stu
alton they both remain until the former OBJ
tains satisfaction The plaintiff rarely fails
of his object; for were the individual thus ar
rested TO permit the Bramnan to perish of
hunger, or should he drive him to make use
of any of his instruments of mischief, the sin
would lie upon his head forever.
BRAHMAN WIDOW.
Nor Is the practice confined to male Brah-
mans. Some years ago Brahman widow at
Benares had lawsuit with her brother-in-
law, which, in the first instance, went to ar
bitration. The suit involved claim of prop
erty and consideration of caste, the privi-
leges of which her antagonist declared she
had forfeited. The decision, though favor
able 10 her, did not altogether satisfy the
lady, who determined to carry the remaining
points In dispute by dharna Accordingly
she placed herself in the customary way at
the door of her brother-in-law, who, appre-
hensiye of her death, went with her to
temple, where they both made trial of their
powers of abstinence for some time longer.
Thirteen days had elapsed when the defendant
gave in. He agreed that If the widow could
establish the validity of her claims to caste
by prevailing on some respectable Brahmans
10 eat dinner with her at her own cost he
would not only pay all the expenses Of the
feast but her debts also. The conditions were
accepted and fulfilled. But the brother-in-
law refused TO perform the last part of the
engagement, which brought the matter under
official notice
Here is an older and moro striking ex-
ample Government having imposed house
tax at Benares, the people, startled by the
innovation, began to complain that they
never heard of such a tax under the moguls;
that their houses were their own; that the
British rulers might next lay a tax on their
wives and children. Representations were
made to government at Calcutta, but in
vain. Upon this the whole population of
the city and its neighborhood determined to
sit In dhalna until their grievances should be
rcdressed. Some of the leading Brahmans
sent written handbills to the wards in Ben
ares, and to some of the adjoining villages,
briefly setting forth the provocation and the
necessity of the measures they were about to
adopt. They called on all lovers of their
country and religion to join In the move
ment, and commanded, under bitter curses
every person who received the summons to
hand 1t to his next neighbour Three DAYS
afterward about 100000 persons left their
houses, shut up their shops, suspended their
farm work, forebore to light fires or dress
victuals, and many of them even to eat, and
sat down with folded arms and dropping
heads ON the plain surrounding Benares
ENDING A DISTURBANCE.
The local government was much perplexed
There was the chance that some of those
strange people might really perish, either from
their obstinacy or from disease, while distress
might ensue from the interruption of agricul.
tural labor at the most critical time of the
year. On tho other hand, it was not expedi.
ent TO yield to such IA demand so urged So
they told the ringleaders, after some ineffec-
tual reasoning, that if they chose to sit in
dharna it was their own affair; that the gov
ernment would never yield to circumstances
On inf and fhat en- how 10,
jured themselves and were peaceful In their
behavior TO others, the government would not
NEEDLE with them. At the same time, how
ever, strong body of troops was placed in
the neighborhood, out of view. Soon the null
titude began to grow very hungry, and a
thunder shower made them wet, cold and un-
comfortable. Some Of the party proposed
change of operations-that a deputation of
10000 should be sent to address the governor
general at Calcutta personally. A minority
thoroughly tired of their situation, rose to 90
home, but the remainder determined that all
should go to the governor general, every man
at his own charge So about Is, 900 Brahmans
assembled with such provisions as they could
collect, and began their march. But dissen-
sions spread fast among them, and hunger
and fatigue told even ON the most obstinate
In few days they melted away TO so small
number that the remainder were ashamed to
proceed. Then the supreme government wise
lyrepealed the obnoxious tax; and thus ended
disturbance which, if it had been harshly or
injudiciously managed, might have set all
India in a flame.
Nowadays the practice Of sitting In dharna
Is mostly confined TO the faqueers These pious
beggars are remarkably obstinate, and win
not move from the door Of person until