Evening star., 1947-05-13

wholly new factor in the Indian situation. It
meant deep rift In the unity Of Hinduism
and the creation OF bloc which tended to
be loyal to the British Raj and might be
friendly to the Moslems against the threat
Of Brahmin domination which menaced them
both.
Nationalism's astute Brahmin leaders first
tried to crush the movement by intimidation
When this did not succeed, the Hindu REFORM
ers were given their chance For nearly q
century an enlightened minority in Hinduism
has endeavored to soften or abolish caste
abuses Among them is Gandhi who has
roundly termed Untouchability "the darkest
blot on Hinduism" The result has been =
combination Of idealistic reformers and prac-
tical politicians who succeeded in writing the
abolition Of Untouchability into the new con-
stitution.
But the workability Of this paper reform
has already been sharply called in question.
Hardly had the clause been published when
the Hindu reactionaries were up In arms,
Gordon of high Brahmin priests and pro-
fessional ascetics known as Sadhus surrounded
the residence Of the Congress leader, Java
harlal Nehru, waving yellow flags marked with
Hinduisms sacred swastika and chanting:
Don't let the Untouchables enter our templesl'
While this demonstration was going on, other
priests and holy men gathered on the banks
Of the sacred river Jumna and harangued
multitudes with ancient Sanskrit texts, assert
ing, with other things, that q recent earth
quake was caused by the anger Of the gods
at the attempt to end untouchability. These
protesters likewise announced that the re-
formers would be punished in future REIN
carnations for their gross impiety.
A System Rooted In Religious Tradition.
All this shows the difaculty of abolishing
by mere legal decree q system sanctifed by
religious beliefs and crystallized In q myriad
social practices. No caste Hindu can come
into physical contact with an outcaste with
out being ceremonially defiled. In some parts
of India, the outcaste cannot approach within
many feet of Brahmin. No outcaste woman
can draw water at q village well. No out
caste child can enter school. If the shadow
OF an outcaste falls upon food or drink, 1t
must be, instantly thrown away. Under .
system of such rigid social segregation, no
human contact is possible.
It should be understood that this is no out
worn tradition, perhaps formally subscribed to
by the majority but Increasingly unbelieved.
1t is still q vital part Of Hindu life in all
except q few advanced circles. How, then, is
this paragraph in the new Indian constitution
to be legally implemented and enforced?
This is the first great hurdle which Hindu
ism must surmount within itself before genuine
Indian nationalism Is possible. There are,
OF course, still other hurdles. The second Is
reconciling of Hindus and Moslems, today
divided by mutual riyalries and hatreds which
go back many centuries. There are likewise
the lesser minority elements such as Sikhs,
Buddhists and native Christians. Finally,
there are the native Princes, some Hindu and
some Moslem but all more or less suspicious
of the Nationalists and their program for
unified India.
These are the outstanding difficulties at
tending India's political evolution. But, as
already remarked, the root problem remains
the caste system and its social, moral, and
spiritual Implications.