11 Dec Swamiji’s appeal to stop caste discrimination in India
December 10th, 2021, marked 73 years since the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This year’s theme is EQUALITY – Reducing inequalities, advancing human rights; with focus on Article 1 which states “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”
We recall Sri Jayanthi Kumaraswami’s words when She initiated a public discussion to end caste discrimination in India at a press conference at Rajasthan in 2016. Just a few days before the Kumbh Mela in Ujjain, questions were brought to Swamiji regarding the issue of the lower caste communities being denied the opportunity to take the holy dip at the sacred river festival. Swamiji called on the Government and Spiritual Leaders to stop caste discrimination and said, “The cause of unrest in the country is caste discrimination, due to which the feeling of love and affection for each other reduces among the people.”
“Opportunity for the holy dip must be available for all. Whether you are millionaire or poor, after death all bodies are the same. Rays emanating from sun is common for all. The Sun God does not discriminate,” Swamiji reiterated.
At the press conference, Swamiji also responded to the controversial topic of women becoming priests. She said that there is no problem in women becoming priests. For those women who are not engaged in family matters and interested in social service can become priests. Women who are capable in societal matters, if they want to become priests, it would be good for Spirituality and for the country.
Along with this, Swamiji told that the purpose of the Mission is to help the underprivileged, providing food, clothes to the homeless, providing computer technical education to children, a cleanliness campaign and promoting healthy lifestyle, promoting vegetarian food, bringing awareness about drug and alcohol abuse in the society, as well as by promoting Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (The World is one family), protecting human rights and cooperation for the overall good.
The Government had publicly called all communities to participate in the event days after this press conference.