Udit Raj: Difference between revisions

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⚫	'''Udit Raj''' (born Ram Raj 1st Jan 1958, Ramnagar, Distt. Allahabad) studied for BA at ]. He was selected for the Indian Revenue Service in 1988 and is serving as the Joint Commissioner of Income Tax at New Delhi. He is a prominent activist on behalf of India's , who following the movement of intellectual and activist , also call themselves "dalit" or "broken people". Although untouchability is outlawed by the , its practice, as well as discrimination, hate-crimes and are common among people of all religions in India, but more among those of the majority Hindu community. Udit Raj changed his name upon his embrace of , in the tradition of Dalit intellectual and activist , who spearheaded what is known as the . Dr. Ambedkar led the first mass conversion of Dalits to Buddhism, because after decades of comparative religious study, he considered Buddhism to be the most egalitarian~~, modern, dogma-free~~ and universal religion~~{{Dubious}}~~.

		⚫	'''Udit Raj''' (born Ram Raj 1st Jan 1958, Ramnagar, Distt. Allahabad) studied for BA at ]. He was selected for the Indian Revenue Service in 1988 and is serving as the Joint Commissioner of Income Tax at New Delhi. He is a prominent activist on behalf of India's , who following the movement of intellectual and activist , also call themselves "dalit" or "broken people". Although untouchability is outlawed by the , its practice, as well as discrimination, hate-crimes and are common among people of all religions in India, but more among those of the majority Hindu community. Udit Raj changed his name upon his embrace of , in the tradition of Dalit intellectual and activist , who spearheaded what is known as the . Dr. Ambedkar led the first mass conversion of Dalits to Buddhism, because after decades of comparative religious study, he considered Buddhism to be the most egalitarian and universal religion.
⚫	Raj has been accused by several Hindu groups such as the ] for having intensely ] views and sentiments<ref name="haf"/>. He has been accused of being part of the missionary agenda to foment social unrest in India by turning segments of the population against Hindus. Many documented by among others, for fomenting mass ethnic violence, share these views~~{{Dubious}}~~.

		⚫	Raj has been accused by several Hindu groups such as the ] for having intensely ] views and sentiments<ref name="haf"/>. He has been accused of being part of the missionary agenda to foment social unrest in India by turning segments of the population against Hindus. Many documented by among others, for fomenting mass ethnic violence, share these views.

	==Activism==		==Activism==
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	He is a strong advocate of increased ] for the Scheduled Castes, Schedules Tribes and Other Backward Classes. Udit Raj has formed partnerships with Christian organizations including the ] and the ]. Christian organizations often work among Dalits, both as service, and to proselytize. More importantly for Dalits perhaps, these groups often have the financial resources to enable Dalit empowerment and education. Mr Raj has worked with prominent Christian leaders like Mr. John Dayal and Dr. Ambrose Pinto and with Muslim leaders like Maulana Mahmood Madani, general secretary of the ].		He is a strong advocate of increased ] for the Scheduled Castes, Schedules Tribes and Other Backward Classes. Udit Raj has formed partnerships with Christian organizations including the ] and the ]. Christian organizations often work among Dalits, both as service, and to proselytize. More importantly for Dalits perhaps, these groups often have the financial resources to enable Dalit empowerment and education. Mr Raj has worked with prominent Christian leaders like Mr. John Dayal and Dr. Ambrose Pinto and with Muslim leaders like Maulana Mahmood Madani, general secretary of the ].

	Because of these connections with other minority religious groups, , documented by among others, for fomenting violence against religious minorities and Dalits in India, have labelled Udit Raj an and an undercover Christian proselytizer. By his own definition, he remains a Buddhist and a Dalit activist~~{{Dubious}}~~.		Because of these connections with other minority religious groups, , documented by among others, for fomenting violence against religious minorities and Dalits in India, have labelled Udit Raj an and an undercover Christian proselytizer. By his own definition, he remains a Buddhist and a Dalit activist.

	==Controversies==		==Controversies==
	On October 27, 2002 Udit Raj organized a in which thousands of Dalits embraced Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity. Conversion has often been a means of social protest for Dalits. In a coutry where voting and power-sharing is often divided along caste and religious lines, an act of mass conversion is a political statement that usually makes people take notice of, and attend to Dalit political demands. Of course, conversion also has an inner dimension whereby Dalits experience a sense of religious emancipation in choosing their own religious identities, rather than having them prescribed by religious orthodoxy~~{{Dubious}}~~.		On October 27, 2002 Udit Raj organized a in which thousands of Dalits embraced Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity. Conversion has often been a means of social protest for Dalits. In a coutry where voting and power-sharing is often divided along caste and religious lines, an act of mass conversion is a political statement that usually makes people take notice of, and attend to Dalit political demands. Of course, conversion also has an inner dimension whereby Dalits experience a sense of religious emancipation in choosing their own religious identities, rather than having them prescribed by religious orthodoxy.

	He has organized other conversion events including one at Chennai on Dec. 6, 2002. These conversion ceremonies aroused the ire of - like the VHP <ref name="Week"></ref>. politicians such as ] have accused Udit Raj of being in the payroll of Christians and inciting ] violence by deceptively converting Hindus into Christianity. Raj has replied, by citing accounts of Togadia and other Hindu Nationalists fomenting violence against ]<ref></ref>. He reiterated:		He has organized other conversion events including one at Chennai on Dec. 6, 2002. These conversion ceremonies aroused the ire of - like the VHP <ref name="Week"></ref>. politicians such as ] have accused Udit Raj of being in the payroll of Christians and inciting ] violence by deceptively converting Hindus into Christianity. Raj has replied, by citing accounts of Togadia and other Hindu Nationalists fomenting violence against ]<ref></ref>. He reiterated:
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	===Allegations of anti-Hindu views===		===Allegations of anti-Hindu views===

	Regarding Hinduism Udit Raj has written: "For a Hindu priest, a leper, a beggar and a widow are hateful objects who need to be punished because of the “curse of their past life”. (from a letter posted on Bahujan group, Feb 9, 2004). While Hindu priests might object that this tars them all with the same brush, Dalit protest has always expressed itself as protest against religious orthodoxy. Dalit Muslims have spearheaded protest against the ulema or clergy, and Dalit Christians frequently speak out against racism and casteism in the church hierarchy~~{{POVassertion}}~~.		Regarding Hinduism Udit Raj has written: "For a Hindu priest, a leper, a beggar and a widow are hateful objects who need to be punished because of the “curse of their past life”. (from a letter posted on Bahujan group, Feb 9, 2004). While Hindu priests might object that this tars them all with the same brush, Dalit protest has always expressed itself as protest against religious orthodoxy. Dalit Muslims have spearheaded protest against the ulema or clergy, and Dalit Christians frequently speak out against racism and casteism in the church hierarchy.

	While Hindu nationalist groups castigate him for these views, other Hindu activists, like applaud the mass movement led by Mr Udit Raj, as an urgent and necessary cry for social justice~~{{Dubious}}~~.		While Hindu nationalist groups castigate him for these views, other Hindu activists, like applaud the mass movement led by Mr Udit Raj, as an urgent and necessary cry for social justice.

	==Links==		==Links==
	* http://www.hrw.org/reports/1999/india/index.htm#TopOfPage/ HUman Rights Report on violence against Dalits~~{{POVassertion}}~~		* http://www.hrw.org/reports/1999/india/index.htm#TopOfPage/ HUman Rights Report on violence against Dalits
	* http://hrw.org/reports/2002/india/ Human Rights Watch Report on activities of Hindu nationalist groups ~~{{POVassertion}}~~		* http://hrw.org/reports/2002/india/ Human Rights Watch Report on activities of Hindu nationalist groups
	* http://www.cac.ektaonline.org/resources/ The Hindu Right and Violence Against Religious Minorities~~{{POVassertion}}~~		* http://www.cac.ektaonline.org/resources/ The Hindu Right and Violence Against Religious Minorities
	* ~~{{POVassertion}}~~		*
	* http://www.swamiagnivesh.com/encountering.htm Swami Agnivesh~~{{POVassertion}}~~		* http://www.swamiagnivesh.com/encountering.htm Swami Agnivesh
	* By Dr Udit Raj		* By Dr Udit Raj
	* http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=1119 Religious conversion as social protest among Dalits		* http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=1119 Religious conversion as social protest among Dalits

	{{POVassertion}}
	*		*

Revision as of 03:05, 11 October 2006

Udit Raj (born Ram Raj 1st Jan 1958, Ramnagar, Distt. Allahabad) studied for BA at Allahabad University. He was selected for the Indian Revenue Service in 1988 and is serving as the Joint Commissioner of Income Tax at New Delhi. He is a prominent activist on behalf of India's untouchables, who following the movement of intellectual and activist Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, also call themselves "dalit" or "broken people". Although untouchability is outlawed by the Indian constitution, its practice, as well as discrimination, hate-crimes and violence against Dalits are common among people of all religions in India, but more among those of the majority Hindu community. Udit Raj changed his name upon his embrace of Buddhism, in the tradition of Dalit intellectual and activist Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, who spearheaded what is known as the Indian Buddhist Movement. Dr. Ambedkar led the first mass conversion of Dalits to Buddhism, because after decades of comparative religious study, he considered Buddhism to be the most egalitarian and universal religion.

Raj has been accused by several Hindu groups such as the Hindu American Foundation for having intensely anti-Hindu views and sentiments. He has been accused of being part of the missionary agenda to foment social unrest in India by turning segments of the population against Hindus. Many Hindu nationalist groups documented by Human Rights Watch among others, for fomenting mass ethnic violence, share these views.

Activism

He formed Indian Justice Party, The All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations on 2nd October 1997 and in 1996 founded the Lord Buddha Club.

He is a strong advocate of increased Reservation in India for the Scheduled Castes, Schedules Tribes and Other Backward Classes. Udit Raj has formed partnerships with Christian organizations including the Indian Social Institute and the All India Christian Council. Christian organizations often work among Dalits, both as service, and to proselytize. More importantly for Dalits perhaps, these groups often have the financial resources to enable Dalit empowerment and education. Mr Raj has worked with prominent Christian leaders like Mr. John Dayal and Dr. Ambrose Pinto and with Muslim leaders like Maulana Mahmood Madani, general secretary of the Jamiat-e-Ulama-e-Hind.

Because of these connections with other minority religious groups, Hindu nationalist groups, documented by Human Rights Watch among others, for fomenting violence against religious minorities and Dalits in India, have labelled Udit Raj an "enemy of Hinduism" and an undercover Christian proselytizer. By his own definition, he remains a Buddhist and a Dalit activist.

Controversies

On October 27, 2002 Udit Raj organized a conversion ceremony in which thousands of Dalits embraced Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity. Conversion has often been a means of social protest for Dalits. In a coutry where voting and power-sharing is often divided along caste and religious lines, an act of mass conversion is a political statement that usually makes people take notice of, and attend to Dalit political demands. Of course, conversion also has an inner dimension whereby Dalits experience a sense of religious emancipation in choosing their own religious identities, rather than having them prescribed by religious orthodoxy.

He has organized other conversion events including one at Chennai on Dec. 6, 2002. These conversion ceremonies aroused the ire of Hindu nationalist groups - like the VHP . Hindu nationalist politicians such as Praveen Togadia have accused Udit Raj of being in the payroll of Christians and inciting communal violence by deceptively converting Hindus into Christianity. Raj has replied, by citing documented accounts of Togadia and other Hindu Nationalists fomenting violence against Dalits. He reiterated:

The Jhajjar conversions were a direct reaction to the lynching of Dalits in the region and the confederation will wage a concerted battle against the forces of communalism, especially the VHP.

The VHP and other groups have been documented by many national and international Human Rights organizations as having fomented violence and ethnic cleansing against religious minorities in India.

Allegations of anti-Hindu views

Regarding Hinduism Udit Raj has written: "For a Hindu priest, a leper, a beggar and a widow are hateful objects who need to be punished because of the “curse of their past life”. (from a letter posted on Bahujan group, Feb 9, 2004). While Hindu priests might object that this tars them all with the same brush, Dalit protest has always expressed itself as protest against religious orthodoxy. Dalit Muslims have spearheaded protest against the ulema or clergy, and Dalit Christians frequently speak out against racism and casteism in the church hierarchy.

While Hindu nationalist groups castigate him for these views, other Hindu activists, like Swami Agnivesh applaud the mass movement led by Mr Udit Raj, as an urgent and necessary cry for social justice.

Revision as of 03:05, 11 October 2006

Activism

Controversies

Allegations of anti-Hindu views

Links