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{{Short description|Opposition to Brahminism}}
'''Anti-Brahmanism''' is hostility toward or prejudice against ]s, often as a result of historical injustices permeated by the ] system of ] and ], which had Brahmins at the helm. Anti-Brahmin tensions exist in some of the states in ]. There is also a significant amount of literature which is anti-Brahmin.
{{Citation style|date=December 2023}}
{{Discrimination sidebar}}
{{Politics of India}}
'''Anti-Brahminism''' is a term used in opposition to ] based ] social order which places ] at its highest position.{{sfn|Rao|2009|p=49}}<ref group=web name=Bhargava/> Initial expressions of Anti-Brahminism emerged from instances of pre-colonial opposition to the ], ideological influences during the colonial period,{{sfn|Novetzke|2011}} and from a colonialist Protestant Christian understanding of religion in the 19th century, which viewed "]" as a corrupted religion imposed on the Indian population.{{sfn|Gelders|Delders|2003}}


] and some Hindu Reformists structured their criticism along similar lines following the 19th century criticism of "Brahminism,"{{sfn|Gelders|Delders|2003}} opposing the dominant position Brahmins had acquired by the time of British rule in the 19th century.
Anti-Brahmin sentiments are sometimes encountered in:
* ] and ], among ] activists
* ], among ] nationalist movements like the ]
* ], ], among groups like the ]


However, anti-Brahminism has also manifested as an anti-Brahmin sentiment, notably during the ] and the ] in the 20th century, and even in the 21st century among some followers of ].
==See also==
* ]
* ]


==External links== ==Definitions==
"Brahminism" refers both to the historical ] of the late ] (ca.1100-500 BCE), as to
'''Some of these sample links are broadly critical of Hinduism, and not only of Brahmins.'''
{{quote|...a sociopolitical ideology that encodes a memory of an ideal past and a vision of society in the future, one in which Brahmins occupy the highest place their superior position in society and their superior knowledge stems from birth. This makes them naturally, intrinsically superior to all other humans Brahmanism then is the most perfect form of conservatism, a status quoist ideology par excellence, entirely suitable to elites who wish to perpetuate their social status, power and privilege.<ref group=web name=Bhargava/>}}


"Anti-Brahminism" or "Non-Brahminism" is a movement in opposition to caste based discrimination and hierarchical social order which places ] at its highest position.{{sfn|Rao|2009|p=49}}<ref group=web name=Bhargava/> ] stated:
Some critics of Brahmanism focus on Brahmins' historical exploitation of other groups, and contemporary caste disparities:
{{quote|By Brahmanism, I do not mean the power, privileges and interests of Brahmins as a community. That is not the sense in which I am using the word. By Brahmanism, I mean the negation of the spirit of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.<ref group=web>K.V. Aditya Bharadwaj (july 2, 2021), , The Hindu</ref>}}
* (allegations of historical anti-Dalit exploitation by Bramhins) * (suggests that "Brahminists" are responsible for a wide variety of so-called Indian human rights abuses)
* (allegations of anti-Dalit environmental racism by Bramhins)


==History==
Some critics link Brahmanism with Hindu nationalism or the Indian government:
* (suggests that "Brahminists" are responsible for a wide variety of so-called Indian human rights abuses)
* (suggests that the Indian government is Brahmin-dominated, and has ignored development issues)


===Pre-Colonial times===
==References==
According to Novetzke, initial expressions of Anti-Brahminism emerged from instances of pre-colonial opposition to the caste system, ideological influences during the colonial period.{{sfn|Novetzke|2011}}
* 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


=== 19th century colonialism ===
]
{{expand section|date=July 2021}}
]

According to Gelders and Delders, the structure of present-day anti-Brahminism has its roots in 19th century India and colonial views on the position and influence of Brahmins. 19th century colonial rulers viewed India's culture as corrupt and degenerate, and its population irrational. In this view, derived from a Protestant Christian understanding of religion, rooted in the Protestant opposition against the Catholic Church, the original "God-given religion" was corrupted by (Catholic) priests, which was extended by comparison to the Brahmins in India, and the Brahmin-dominated type of ], for which the term "]" was used, was supposedly imposed on the Indian population.{{sfn|Gelders|Delders|2003}}

===20th century===
In the late 19th and early 20th century, with the rise of nationalist and rationalist movements, criticism against Brahminism came from both Brahmins and from low-caste Hindu communities. Ambedkar along with Hindu Reformists, structured their criticism along similar lines following the 19th century criticism of "Brahminism."{{sfn|Gelders|Delders|2003}}

According to Beteille, in ] the traditional position of Brahmins had been enforced with the beginning of British rule, profiting from western education and turning to an urban lifestyle.{{sfn|Béteille|1969|p=209}} They monopolized the new urban jobs and entered the ], gaining strongholds in government and bureaucracy,{{sfn|Béteille|1969|p=209}} and also dominated the ].{{sfn|Béteille|1969|p=210}} This widened the gap between Brahmins and non-Brahmins, but opposition quickly mounted.{{sfn|Béteille|1969|p=210}} Anti-Brahminism became organized with the formation of the ] in late 1916 in Tamil Nadu. This party was composed of non-Brahmins (who were typically part of either the ] castes, land-owning agricultural castes, or merchant castes) and was committed to enhancing the opportunities for non-Brahmins.{{sfn|Clothey|2006}} With the dawn of the 20th century, and the rapid penetration of western education and western ideas, there was a rise in consciousness amongst the lower castes who felt that rights which were legitimately theirs were being denied to them.{{sfn|Béteille|1969|p=210}} In 1920, when the ] came to power, Brahmins occupied about 70 percent of the high level posts in the government.<ref group=web>Tehelka (2006), </ref> After reservation was introduced by the Justice Party, it reversed this trend, allowing non-Brahmins to rise in the government of the ].{{citation needed|date=August 2021}} In the 1930s, anti-Brahmanism was disseminated among the masses by the ].{{sfn|Béteille|1969|p=211}}

One of the most prominent proponents of Anti-Brahminism was ] leader ]. Another prominent proponent was Dravidian leader ].

Periyar called on both Brahmins and non-Brahmins to shun Brahminism.{{sfn|Omvedt|2006|p=95}} However, Ramaswamy did make incendiary statements towards the encouragement of violence against the Brahmin community: "''Pambaium parpanaium partha parpanai adi''" — If you see a snake and a Brahmin, beat the Brahmin.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pandian |first=Jacob |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=73msCkfD5V8C&dq=brahmin+snake+periyar&pg=PA64 |title=Caste, Nationalism and Ethnicity: An Interpretation of Tamil Cultural History and Social Order |date=1987 |publisher=Popular Prakashan |isbn=978-0-86132-136-0 |pages=64 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Ghafoor |first=Dr Fazal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QI8qEAAAQBAJ&dq=brahmin+snake+periyar&pg=PT67 |title=Treading the Beaten Path: A Journey Through India |date=2021-04-21 |publisher=Notion Press |isbn=978-1-63745-397-1 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Gorringe |first=Hugo |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=19RjDwAAQBAJ&dq=periyar+snake&pg=PT109 |title=Untouchable Citizens: Dalit Movements and Democratization in Tamil Nadu |date=2005-01-07 |publisher=SAGE Publishing India |isbn=978-93-5280-305-7 |language=en}}</ref> Ramasamy also claimed, on several occasions, that to eliminate the caste system, driving away the Brahmins was crucial.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Kandasamy |first1=W. B. Vasantha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aTrzAAAAQBAJ&q=periyar+eradicate+brahmins&pg=PA287 |title=Fuzzy and Neutrosophic Analysis of Periyar's Views on Untouchability |last2=Smarandache |first2=Florentin |last3=Kandasamy |first3=K. |date=2005 |publisher=Infinite Study |isbn=978-1-931233-00-2 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Questioning Periyar Is Necessary for Forging a Progressive Anti-Caste Politics |url=https://thewire.in/caste/periyar-anti-caste-politics |access-date=2023-04-09 |website=The Wire}}</ref>

In October 1957, he supposedly called upon his followers to kill Brahmins and set fire to their houses.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Nehru |first=Jawaharlal |url=http://archive.org/details/HindSwaraj-Nehru-SW2-39 |title=Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru |series=Second Series |year=1984 |volume=39 |pages=383 |language=English}}</ref> On 3 November 1957, Dravidar Kazhagam held a convention in Thanjavur under Ramasamy's leadership and demanded that the Government of India delete provisions from the Constitution dealing with religious freedom (which, they believed, gave protection to the caste system and particularly to Brahmins), and if they failed to do so the copies of the Constitution would be burnt, and portraits and statues of Mahatma Gandhi would be broken; if it produced no results, the Dravidar Kazhagam members would be asked to kill Brahmins and burn their residential localities. These statements prompted the then ], ] to write to ] who was the ] at that time, urging him to deal with this matter without delay.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Nehru |first=Jawaharlal |url=http://archive.org/details/HindSwaraj-Nehru-SW2-40 |title=Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru |series=Second Series |year=1984 |volume=40 |pages=387 |language=English}}</ref> The Dravidian nationalist's call to "kill Tamil Brahmins" at a 1973 speech in Karaikudi is still echoed in the 21st century by regional parties.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-09 |title=DMK spokesperson supports Periyar's call for 'killing Brahmins'; Subramanian Swamy moves EC |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/south/dmk-spokesperson-supports-periyar-s-call-for-killing-brahmins-subramanian-swamy-moves-ec-1116752.html |access-date=2023-04-09 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==

;Printed sources
{{refbegin}}
<!-- B -->
* {{Citation | last =Béteille | first =André | year =1969 | title =Caste, Class and Power: Changing Patterns of Stratification in a Tanjore Village | publisher =University of California Press}}
<!-- C -->
* {{Citation | last =Clothey | first =Fred W. | year =2006 | title =Ritualizing on the Boundaries: Continuity and Innovation in the Tamil Diaspora | publisher =Univ of South Carolina Press}}
<!-- G -->
* {{Citation | last1 =Gelders | first1 =Raf | last2 =Delders | first2 =Willem | year =2003 | title =Mantras of Anti-Brahmanism: Colonial Experience of Indian Intellectuals | journal =Economic and Political Weekly |volume=38 |issue=43 |pages=4611–4617 | doi = | jstor =4414197 | url =https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262123666}}
<!-- N -->
* {{Cite journal|last=Novetzke|first=Christian Lee|date=2011-03-23|title=The Brahmin double: the Brahminical construction of anti-Brahminism and anti-caste sentiment in the religious cultures of precolonial Maharashtra|journal=South Asian History and Culture|volume=2|issue=2|pages=232–252|doi=10.1080/19472498.2011.553494|s2cid=144806307|issn=1947-2498|url=https://doi.org/10.1080/19472498.2011.553494}}
<!-- O -->
* {{Cite book| last =Omvedt | first =Gail | year =2006 | title=Dalit Visions: The Anti-caste Movement and the Construction on an Indian Identity | publisher =Orient Longman | url =https://books.google.com/books?id=kCwpXZlKqL0C|isbn=978-81-250-2895-6|access-date=17 January 2018}}
<!-- R -->
* {{Cite book | last =Rao | first =Anupama | year =2009 | title =The Caste Question: Dalits and the Politics of Modern India | publisher =] | isbn =978-0-520-25761-0 | language =en}}
<!-- S -->
* {{cite book |last1=Schomer |first1=Karine |first2=W. H. |last2=McLeod |title=The Sants: Studies in a Devotional Tradition of India |year=1987 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=9788120802773}}
{{refend}}

;Web sources
{{reflist|group=web|refs=
<!-- Bhargava -->
<ref group=web name=Bhargava>{{Cite news|last=Bhargava|first=Rajeev|author-link=Rajeev Bhargava|date=2019-07-23|title=What does it mean to oppose Brahmanism?|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/what-does-it-mean-to-oppose-brahmanism/article28658412.ece|access-date=2021-07-23|issn=0971-751X|quote=Anyone who consents to, endorses or justifies this hierarchical order, regardless of his caste, creed or gender, is then a ‘Brahmanist’.}}</ref>
}}

==Further reading==
* 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

== External links ==
* '''' by Rakshit Sonawane, '']'', January 6, 2011.
*

{{Reservation in India}}
{{Discrimination}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anti-Brahminism}}
]
]
]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 14:34, 25 December 2024

Opposition to Brahminism
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Anti-Brahminism is a term used in opposition to caste based hierarchal social order which places Brahmins at its highest position. Initial expressions of Anti-Brahminism emerged from instances of pre-colonial opposition to the caste system in India, ideological influences during the colonial period, and from a colonialist Protestant Christian understanding of religion in the 19th century, which viewed "Brahminism" as a corrupted religion imposed on the Indian population.

Ambedkar and some Hindu Reformists structured their criticism along similar lines following the 19th century criticism of "Brahminism," opposing the dominant position Brahmins had acquired by the time of British rule in the 19th century.

However, anti-Brahminism has also manifested as an anti-Brahmin sentiment, notably during the Dravidian movement and the Self-Respect Movement in the 20th century, and even in the 21st century among some followers of Periyar.

Definitions

"Brahminism" refers both to the historical Brahmanical tradition and ideology of the late Vedic period (ca.1100-500 BCE), as to

...a sociopolitical ideology that encodes a memory of an ideal past and a vision of society in the future, one in which Brahmins occupy the highest place their superior position in society and their superior knowledge stems from birth. This makes them naturally, intrinsically superior to all other humans Brahmanism then is the most perfect form of conservatism, a status quoist ideology par excellence, entirely suitable to elites who wish to perpetuate their social status, power and privilege.

"Anti-Brahminism" or "Non-Brahminism" is a movement in opposition to caste based discrimination and hierarchical social order which places Brahmins at its highest position. B. R. Ambedkar stated:

By Brahmanism, I do not mean the power, privileges and interests of Brahmins as a community. That is not the sense in which I am using the word. By Brahmanism, I mean the negation of the spirit of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.

History

Pre-Colonial times

According to Novetzke, initial expressions of Anti-Brahminism emerged from instances of pre-colonial opposition to the caste system, ideological influences during the colonial period.

19th century colonialism

This section needs expansion. You can help by making an edit requestadding to it . (July 2021)

According to Gelders and Delders, the structure of present-day anti-Brahminism has its roots in 19th century India and colonial views on the position and influence of Brahmins. 19th century colonial rulers viewed India's culture as corrupt and degenerate, and its population irrational. In this view, derived from a Protestant Christian understanding of religion, rooted in the Protestant opposition against the Catholic Church, the original "God-given religion" was corrupted by (Catholic) priests, which was extended by comparison to the Brahmins in India, and the Brahmin-dominated type of Hinduism, for which the term "Brahminism" was used, was supposedly imposed on the Indian population.

20th century

In the late 19th and early 20th century, with the rise of nationalist and rationalist movements, criticism against Brahminism came from both Brahmins and from low-caste Hindu communities. Ambedkar along with Hindu Reformists, structured their criticism along similar lines following the 19th century criticism of "Brahminism."

According to Beteille, in Tamil Nadu the traditional position of Brahmins had been enforced with the beginning of British rule, profiting from western education and turning to an urban lifestyle. They monopolized the new urban jobs and entered the Indian Civil Service, gaining strongholds in government and bureaucracy, and also dominated the Congress Party. This widened the gap between Brahmins and non-Brahmins, but opposition quickly mounted. Anti-Brahminism became organized with the formation of the Justice Party in late 1916 in Tamil Nadu. This party was composed of non-Brahmins (who were typically part of either the feudal castes, land-owning agricultural castes, or merchant castes) and was committed to enhancing the opportunities for non-Brahmins. With the dawn of the 20th century, and the rapid penetration of western education and western ideas, there was a rise in consciousness amongst the lower castes who felt that rights which were legitimately theirs were being denied to them. In 1920, when the Justice Party came to power, Brahmins occupied about 70 percent of the high level posts in the government. After reservation was introduced by the Justice Party, it reversed this trend, allowing non-Brahmins to rise in the government of the Madras Presidency. In the 1930s, anti-Brahmanism was disseminated among the masses by the Self-Respect Movement.

One of the most prominent proponents of Anti-Brahminism was Dalit leader B. R. Ambedkar. Another prominent proponent was Dravidian leader Periyar E. V. Ramasamy.

Periyar called on both Brahmins and non-Brahmins to shun Brahminism. However, Ramaswamy did make incendiary statements towards the encouragement of violence against the Brahmin community: "Pambaium parpanaium partha parpanai adi" — If you see a snake and a Brahmin, beat the Brahmin. Ramasamy also claimed, on several occasions, that to eliminate the caste system, driving away the Brahmins was crucial.

In October 1957, he supposedly called upon his followers to kill Brahmins and set fire to their houses. On 3 November 1957, Dravidar Kazhagam held a convention in Thanjavur under Ramasamy's leadership and demanded that the Government of India delete provisions from the Constitution dealing with religious freedom (which, they believed, gave protection to the caste system and particularly to Brahmins), and if they failed to do so the copies of the Constitution would be burnt, and portraits and statues of Mahatma Gandhi would be broken; if it produced no results, the Dravidar Kazhagam members would be asked to kill Brahmins and burn their residential localities. These statements prompted the then Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru to write to K. Kamaraj who was the Chief Minister of Madras State (Tamil Nadu) at that time, urging him to deal with this matter without delay. The Dravidian nationalist's call to "kill Tamil Brahmins" at a 1973 speech in Karaikudi is still echoed in the 21st century by regional parties.

See also

References

  1. ^ Rao 2009, p. 49.
  2. ^ Novetzke 2011.
  3. ^ Gelders & Delders 2003.
  4. ^ Béteille 1969, p. 209.
  5. ^ Béteille 1969, p. 210.
  6. Clothey 2006.
  7. Béteille 1969, p. 211.
  8. Omvedt 2006, p. 95.
  9. Pandian, Jacob (1987). Caste, Nationalism and Ethnicity: An Interpretation of Tamil Cultural History and Social Order. Popular Prakashan. p. 64. ISBN 978-0-86132-136-0.
  10. Ghafoor, Dr Fazal (2021-04-21). Treading the Beaten Path: A Journey Through India. Notion Press. ISBN 978-1-63745-397-1.
  11. Gorringe, Hugo (2005-01-07). Untouchable Citizens: Dalit Movements and Democratization in Tamil Nadu. SAGE Publishing India. ISBN 978-93-5280-305-7.
  12. Kandasamy, W. B. Vasantha; Smarandache, Florentin; Kandasamy, K. (2005). Fuzzy and Neutrosophic Analysis of Periyar's Views on Untouchability. Infinite Study. ISBN 978-1-931233-00-2.
  13. "Questioning Periyar Is Necessary for Forging a Progressive Anti-Caste Politics". The Wire. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
  14. Nehru, Jawaharlal (1984). Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru. Second Series. Vol. 39. p. 383.
  15. Nehru, Jawaharlal (1984). Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru. Second Series. Vol. 40. p. 387.
  16. "DMK spokesperson supports Periyar's call for 'killing Brahmins'; Subramanian Swamy moves EC". Deccan Herald. 2022-06-09. Retrieved 2023-04-09.

Sources

Printed sources
Web sources
  1. ^ Bhargava, Rajeev (2019-07-23). "What does it mean to oppose Brahmanism?". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2021-07-23. Anyone who consents to, endorses or justifies this hierarchical order, regardless of his caste, creed or gender, is then a 'Brahmanist'.
  2. K.V. Aditya Bharadwaj (july 2, 2021), Police action over actor Chetan Kumar’s remarks sparks row in Karnataka, The Hindu
  3. Tehelka (2006), Superiority in Numbers

Further reading

  • 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

External links

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