Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-09-14
SITTING In DHARNA.
A REMARKABLE EXAMPLE OF THE
BRAHMANS' CUNNING.

A REMARKABLE EXAMPLE OF THE
BRAHMANS' CUNNING.
A rerpIeNing State of Affairs in Be
nare>-One Way Of Gaining n Point.
Three Hundred Thousand People Leave
Their Homes.
As sitting in dharna" is an extremely curl
ous practice the readers Of this Journal may
like To know something about it. The Brah-
mans have nowhere shown q more remark
able example Of their cunning than in Great
ing among their countTymen a belief that
their persons were designed by God TO he
under all circumstances inviOlahle; and that
to deprive them of life or to hurt their per
sons, directly or indirectly, is a crime that
admits of no expiation. 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 to the door or
house of the person against when his suit Is
directed. and there he sits down in dharna,
with poison, or a poniard or some other means
of suicide in his hand, threatening TO use it
Slltull MS ~ iif''@'' "a
pass him by. This menace completely arrests
him The plaintiff now commences a fast, III
which, according TO etiquette, he must be ac-
companied by the defendant; and i'll this stu
alton they both remain until the former oh
tainS satisfaction. The plaintiff rarely fails
of his object; for were the individual thus ar
rested TO permit the Brahman to perish of
hunger, or should he drive him to make use
NF tha Sip
would lie upon his head forever.
A BRAHMAN WIDOW.
Nor is the practice confined to male Brah-
mans. Some years ago n Brahman widow at
Benares had lawsuit with her brother-in-
law, which, in the first instance, went to ar
bitration The suit involved a claim of prop
erty and consideration of caste, the privi-
leges of which her antagonist declared she
had forfeited. The decision, though favor
able to her, did not altogether satisfy the
lady, who determined to carry the remaining
points in dispute by dhaIna. Accordingly
she placed herself in the customary way at
the door Of her brother-in- law, who. appre-
hensive of her death, went with her 20 a
temple, where they both made trial of their
powers of abstinence for some time longer
Thirteen days had elaIsel 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
TO cat dinner with her at her own cost be
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 more striking eN-
ample. Government having imposed a 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 i'll dhsrua until their grievances should he
redreSsed- Some of the leading Brahmans
sent written handbills TO the wards in Bell
ares, and to some of the adjoining Villages
briefly setting forth the prOvocation and the
necessity of the measures they were about 10
adopt. They called on all lovers of their
country and religion 10 join in the move
ment. and commanded, under bitter curses
every person who received the summons &c
hand it to his next neighhor. Three DAYS
afterward about 10000 persons left their
houses, shut up their shops suspended then
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 DISTURBANCE
The local government was much perplexed.
There WAS the chance that some of tEoSe
strange people might reax Y perish, either from
their obstinacy or from disease. while distress
might ensue from the interruption of agTicul-
tural labor at the most critical time Of the
year. On the other hand, it was not expedi-
ent to yield 10 such 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 renOnStrances
SO enforced, and that, so long as they only in
jured themselves and were peaceful in their
behavior TO others, the government would not
NEEDLE with them. At the same time, how
ever, a strong body Of troops was placed in
the neighbOrhood, out of view. Soon the mul-
titude began tn grow very hungry, and a
thunder shower made them wet, cold and un-
comfortable. Some of the party proposed
change of operstiOns-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 &c
home, but the remainder determined that all
should go TO the governor general, every man
at his own charge So about 1900 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 &c
proceed. Then the supreme government wise
ly repealed the obnoxious tax; and thus ended
a disturbance which, if it had been harshly OF
injudiciously managed, might have set all
India i'll fame.
Nowadays the practice of sitting in dharna
is mostly confined to the faqueers. These pious
eggars are remarkably obstinate, and will
not move from the door of a person until
their demands are complied with, threatening
suicide or self-torture. | remember well q
number Of faqueers who few years ago,
sat round a huge fire which they lighted al
the door of house in which grand funeral
was being celebrated, threatening 10 put theiI
arms into the flames if the present they de
manded was denied TO them. Some of them
did actually burn the ends of their fingers
AT last the master of the house gave them the
money and got rid of them.-Hindoo Cor. st
James Gazette
Why She Loved Children.
On North Madison street lives a handsome
young lady, and though there is nothing
strange or startling about it this yOI,nr lady