- Anti-Brahminism
-
Practices
Anti-Brahminism, also spelled as Anti-Brahmanism, is, people's revolt directed against the Brahmin caste, as opposed to Anti-Hinduism which rejects Hinduism as a whole. Anti-Hindus have however taken the stance against Brahmins because they were the traditional priestly class.[citation needed]
Contents
Examples of Anti-Brahmanism
In Islamist Dynasties
In Mughal times Sheikh Ahmad (Mujaddid) of Sirhind wrote a letter to Mirza Darab:
- "Hindu Brahmans and Greek philosophers have spent a lot of time on religion. Since their efforts were not according to the teachings of the prophets, they were all fools. They will remain devoid of salvation."
The Brahmins were also the target in South India from the Delhi Sultanate and that is why at the time of the Vijayanagar Empire, King Prolaya Vema of the Reddy dynasty gave protection to them.[1]
Firoz Shah Bahmani (in about 1398-99), according to the Tawarikh Firishtah, kidnapped 2,000 Brahmin women, who were later freed by Raja Dev Rai of Vijayanagar.[2]
In media
- The "Secret Circular of the Brahmin Samaj of Balaghat", a document widely disseminated by magazines and newspapers, especially among the dalits and tribals.
In Indian states
In Maharashtra
The anti-brahmin hate group Sambhaji Brigade attacked Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute of Maharashtra in January 2004, claiming that the Institute had defamed Shivaji. Later the Sambhaji Brigade issued statements reflecting anti-Brahmin sentiments. The Maratha Seva Sangh is an extremely anti-Brahmin organization.[3]
In Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is home to one of the oldest anti-Brahmin movements in India. Tamil Brahmins (Iyers and Iyengars) are held responsible by some sections of the Tamil politicians and media for direct or indirect oppression of lower-caste people. The self-respect movement, a Dravidian Nationalist movement, was started by Periyar on the canard of "Brahmin oppression" and resulted in innumerable verbal hate attacks[citation needed] on Brahmins . The canard of "Brahmin oppression" rationalized conspiracy theories and pointed to Brahmins as enemies against whom the radical movements pitted themselves.[4] The legacy of the anti-Brahmanism of the self-respect movement was taken over by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Growing anti-Brahmanism in Chennai provided a rationale for polarization of the lower castes in the DMK movement.[5] Eventually, the virulent anti-Brahmanism subsided somewhat with the replacement of the DMK party by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).[6] Jayalalitha,[7] a Brahmin, is now the leader of the AIADMK party.
Neo-Buddhism
Some Buddhist groups[who?] blame the downfall of Buddhism in India on the Brahmins. However, many persons of Brahmin origin made contributions to Buddhism. A few of them include Nagarjuna, Asanga and Ksitigarbha.There are conspiracy theories spread that Brahmins destroyed Buddhism by corrupting it from within and changing Buddhism from high value teachings of Buddha to a idolatrous superstitious cult.[8]
See also
Notes
- ^ (Prasad, Durga, P. 180, History of the Andhras up to 1565 A. D.)
- ^ P. 67-68 Some Aspects of Ancient Indian Culture By D. R. Bhandarkar
- ^ Politics of vandalism
- ^ Lloyd I. Rudolph Urban Life and Populist Radicalism: Dravidian Politics in Madras The Journal of Asian Studies, Vol. 20, No. 3 (May, 1961), pp. 283-297
- ^ Singh, Yogendra, Modernization of Indian Tradition: (A Systemic Study of Social Change), Oriental Press 1974 page 167
- ^ C. J. Fuller, The Renewal of the Priesthood: Modernity and Traditionalism in a South Indian Temple P117, Princeton University Press 2003 ISBN 0691116571
- ^ P. 65 Daughter of the South: biography of Jayalalitha By Pi. Ci Kaṇēcan
- ^ http://www.harunyahya.com/buddhism02.php
References
- Politics and Social Conflict in South India, the Non-Brahman Movement and Tamil Separatism, 1916-1929. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1969. By Prof. Eugene Irschik
- Editorial by Francois Gautier on anti-Brahmanism
- Article by Pdt Vamadeva Shastri (formerly David Frawley) on anti-Brahmanism
- Article from the well-regarded Indian periodical Outlook comparing Hindu Brahmins to anti-semitic stereotype(s) of Jews
Categories:- Brahmins
- Politics of India
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
