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| He was born into ] Golla (an ']' and not a '']'', or outcaste) family on October 5, 1952 and was brought up in a small ]n village. His family's main profession was ]. He earned his doctorate degree in political science at the ] in ], ]. His Ph.D. thesis was based on ]'s ]. | He was born into ] Golla (an ']' and not a '']'', or outcaste) family on October 5, 1952 and was brought up in a small ]n village. His family's main profession was ]. He earned his doctorate degree in political science at the ] in ], ]. His Ph.D. thesis was based on ]'s ]. | ||
| During a recent interview in CNN IBN (Indian wing of CNN) he went ahead and commented that all Hindu religious leaders and organizations were totally irresponsible, cash rich and also that Christian organizations were the only ones serving the purpose of education.{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}} | During a recent interview in CNN IBN (Indian wing of CNN) he went ahead and commented that all Hindu religious leaders and organizations were totally irresponsible, cash rich and also that Christian organizations were the only ones serving the purpose of education.{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}} | ||
| A Critical Review by Shri M. V. R. Sastry | |||
| [Casteism is the major evil afflicting all religious communities in India. This evil must be fought continuously till it disappears from the Indian society. Caste-based discrimination against Harijans (Scheduled Castes) and Vanavasis (tribals) has been mitigated to a great extent in the last few decades through legislation, social and religious reforms, education, affirmative actions, industrialization and urbanization. However, much more needs to be done. | |||
| A disturbing trend in the battle against this social evil is the emergence of a nexus of hate-filled Islamists, Christian missionaries, misguided and marginal/elitist ‘Dalit’ leaders, Marxists, Anglophile Indian elites (still bearing the white man’s burdens) and lately, western Indologists/South Asian Studies’ specialists. These disparate groups seem to have only one thing in common – a deep hatred for Hindus and Hinduism. | |||
| Kancha Ilaiah’s book “Why I am not a Hindu” is a manifestation of this disturbing trend. Ever since the book was published, Ilaiah has become a celebrity for various Christian missionary, Islamist, Indian Marxist and other Hinduphobic groups. The title ostensibly seeks to place the book in the league of texts such as Ibn Warraq’s “Why I am not a Muslim” (New York: Prometheus Books, 1995) or Bertrand Russel’s “Why I am not a Christian”. Ilaiah’s book however differs from the others in its undisguised hatred for the targeted community (Hindus), for its crudeness, a general lack of scholarship and academic rigor, in the abundance of cheap rhetoric, in its distortion of facts and finally, in the author’s total lack of understanding of the religion it seeks to denigrate. Surprisingly (?), the book seems to be quite popular in some American and European Universities. On various Internet discussion lists, scholars such as Lise McKean, Linda Hess, Eliza Kent etc., routinely recommend it as an introduction level reading material on Hinduism! While one can understand the inclusion of critical views (provided they are scholarly) in advanced classes on individual religions, the inclusion of this hate-filled and negative text in introductory courses on Hinduism and India by Professors (often of Indian Marxist extraction) at schools such as the Columbia University, New York is simply baffling, and also disturbing. One never encounters the inclusion of Warraq’s text in elementary courses on Islam, or of Russel’s classic in an introductory course on Christianity. Even for advanced courses on Hinduism, these learned Professors should be able to find something that is more academic, instead of relying on a hate-filled tract. | |||
| The exception made in the case of Hinduism by ‘scholars’ is reminiscent of trends in Germany in the early 1900s when bashing of Jews was quite fashionable in Universities. What resulted from this ‘scholarly’ hatemongering (combined with other factors) in Hitler’s Germany is well known. The asymmetric, prejudiced treatment reserved for Hinduism needs to be seen in the context of the discussions on Hinduism in ‘scholarly’ Internet forums and in academic ‘South Asian Studies’/Indology conferences, where the quickest way to popularity and promotion of one’s career seems to be merciless, sadistic bludgeoning of Hindus and Hindu dharma. Scholar spin doctors take a vicarious pleasure in branding various aspects of Hindu dharma as ‘Hindutva’, and from there, anything goes. In many cases, the fig-leaf of ‘scholarly’ distinction between Hindutva and Hinduism is also discarded, and Hindu dharma is bashed unabashedly. Even the present book is titled ‘Why I am not a Hindu’, but the subtitle says that it is a ‘Sudra critique of Hindutva’! The cause of this scholarly hatemongering against Hindus by ‘scholars’ merits a separate study, and cannot be dealt with here in any detail. | |||
| The following review of Ilaiah’s claim to fame (or notoriety, as a Hindu may see it), i.e., the book “Why I am not a Hindu”, was initially written in 4 parts by Sri M.V.R. Sastry, Editor of Andhra Bhoomi, a leading Telugu newsmagazine. The Telugu text was then translated into English by Sri K. Satya Deva Prasad, and published in two parts titled ‘Ilaiah’s howlers – I and II’ in the ezine ‘Bharatiya Pragna’ (Sept. 2000, Vol. II, No. 9 & Oct. 2000, Vol. II, No. 10). These articles have long since disappeared from the Internet. We obtained a copy of the same and are now reproducing them for wider dissemination. We have slightly modified the style of the aforementioned English version in order to make it more comprehensible. Formatting changes have been incorporated merely to make the article look more pleasing to the eye. No significant change in the substance of the critique has been made. – Bharatvani Team, July 8, 2003]. | |||
| == Activism== | == Activism== | ||
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| === ''Turning the Pot, Tilling the Land'' === | === ''Turning the Pot, Tilling the Land'' === | ||
| Ilaiah's book, ''Turning the Pot, Tilling the Land'', was published in 2007. |
Ilaiah's book, ''Turning the Pot, Tilling the Land'', was published in 2007. According to Unicef-India's country director Samphe D. Lhalungpa quoted in the ''Washington Post'' , "It's a hugely important book. Every Indian child should read it." ''The Hindu'' in a review said, "this book would be a valuable addition to those who teach social sciences in schools". Uncief distributed 14,000 copies of the Telugu edition of the book, published by Hyderabad Book Trust, among government schoolchildren. The Tamil edition was recently published by Tulika . The Hindi edition has been published by Eklavya and the Malayalam edition is forthcoming from DC Books . | ||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 08:38, 8 March 2010
Kancha Ilaiah is the chairman of the political science department at Osmania University, a social activist and author. He is a Buddhist and a major figure in the ideological movement against the Indian caste system. His polemic is often labelled as anti-Hindu by several of his critics., including Hindu advocacy groups, and he has himself stated that he hates Hinduism.Ilaiah is also a prominent endorser of the antisemitic and anti-Hindu publication Dalit Voice.
Background
He was born into Kuruma Golla (an 'other backward caste' and not a Dalit, or outcaste) family on October 5, 1952 and was brought up in a small south Indian village. His family's main profession was sheep husbandry. He earned his doctorate degree in political science at the Osmania University in Hyderabad, India. His Ph.D. thesis was based on Gautama Buddha's political philosophy. During a recent interview in CNN IBN (Indian wing of CNN) he went ahead and commented that all Hindu religious leaders and organizations were totally irresponsible, cash rich and also that Christian organizations were the only ones serving the purpose of education.
Activism
He has authored several books and publishes articles regularly in national news papers and magazines. His book published in 1996, "Why I am not a Hindu - A critique of Hindutva from a Dalit-Bahujan perspective" became the best seller. He also authored God As Political Philosopher: Budha's challenge to Brahminism, A Hollow Shell, The State and Repressive Culture, Manatatwam (in Telugu), and Buffalo Nationalism: A Critique of Spiritual Fascism. Dr. Ilaiah in his efforts to internationalize the Dalit issues for the first time, ; on 6 October, 2005, he testified before a U.S. Congress subcommittee against the practice of untouchability and urged the US Government to work with the Indian government to end what he said was the persecution of Dalits and religious minority groups in India.
He has also been critical of the Namaste claiming it to be an indicator of social unequality in Hinduism. He says:
Take a very simple thing—the Hindu namaste, folding your hands to greet someone—is a very powerful symbolic statement. It suggests that I recognise you but you should not touch me. In contrast, the custom that the Christians introduced of shaking of hands is a touching relationship, while the Muslims go even further and physically embrace you. Even today in the villages the Muslims are the only people who actually physically embrace the Dalit-Bahujans.
Why I Am Not A Hindu
His book, Why I Am Not A Hindu purports to the life-experience of the Dalits and Other Backward Castes and alleges that their poverty-ridden experience holds little connection to the Brahmin religious experience. By explaining this dichotomy from his own personal experience as an OBC, he advocates the "Dalitization" of Indian culture. As Ilaiah claims, the Dalit philosophy prizes productivity over personal pleasure and values the graciousness of community over the "elevation of Brahmin men" at the expense of women and Dalits/OBCs. Ilaiah asserts that this shift in societal thinking will enable India to become a more prosperous and egalitarian society.
The book was criticized by leading historian and Kluge Chair holder Romila Thapar for promoting pseudohistorical views concerning the origins of Dalits, and for abusing Max Mueller's theories concerning the origins of social strata in India as ammunition for Caste confrontation (see Aryan race#British Raj). Thapar essentially dubs this sort of historiography as "extreme" and "weak". Journalist and editor of the Telugu daily, Andhra Bhoomi, M V R Sastry criticized the book for its 'undisguised hatred for the targeted community (Hindus), its crudeness, a general lack of scholarship and academic rigor, the abundance of cheap rhetoric, distortion of facts and finally, the author's total lack of understanding of the religion it seeks to denigrate'
Ilaiah was censured by for publishing "Why I am not a Hindu" in a letter addressed to him by Dr. Pannalal, the registrar of Osmania University. The registrar stated in his letter that, in his opinion, some articles in popular newspapers on the book were increasing social tension. He said that Ilaiah should "write within the canons of conduct of our profession" and his articles "should not accentuate prejudices and inflame hatred among various sections of society". Ilaiah has responded in interviews that the book aims to suggest ways to "eliminate the caste system" and proposes "unity on an equal basis". Following a complaint from Ilaiah that the letter constrained his "basic right to academic freedom" the Osmania University Teachers Association submitted a "representation" asking the Registrar to withdraw the letter.
Turning the Pot, Tilling the Land
Ilaiah's book, Turning the Pot, Tilling the Land, was published in 2007. According to Unicef-India's country director Samphe D. Lhalungpa quoted in the Washington Post , "It's a hugely important book. Every Indian child should read it." The Hindu in a review said, "this book would be a valuable addition to those who teach social sciences in schools". Uncief distributed 14,000 copies of the Telugu edition of the book, published by Hyderabad Book Trust, among government schoolchildren. The Tamil edition was recently published by Tulika . The Hindi edition has been published by Eklavya and the Malayalam edition is forthcoming from DC Books .
See also
References
- Archive of Editorial on Himal Magazine
- HAF Appreciates Congressional Hearing on Dalit Rights; Concerned by Biases
- In an interview, Dr. Kanch Illaiha said, "Yes, I hate Hinduism" The Rediff Interview/Dr Kancha Ilaiah
- Dalit literature The Hindu, March 30, 2004.
- http://yogindersikand.blogspot.com/2008/02/interview-kancha-ilaiah-on-dalits.html
- http://yogindersikand.blogspot.com/2008/02/interview-kancha-ilaiah-on-dalits.html
- http://yogindersikand.blogspot.com/2008/02/interview-kancha-ilaiah-on-dalits.html
- THE ARYAN QUESTION REVISITED, by Romila Thapar, Transcript of lecture delivered on 11th October 1999, at the Academic Staff College, JNU
- , Critique of 'Why I am Not a Hindu', by Shri MVR Sastry
- ^ The Rediff Interview , Dr Kancha Ilaiah
Bibliography
- Why I Am Not a Hindu: A Sudra critique of Hindutva philosophy, culture and political economy(Calcutta: Samya, 1996)
- God as Political Philosopher: Buddha's Challenge to Brahminism (Calcutta: Samya, 2001)
- Democracy in India: A Hollow Shell (edited by Arthur Bonner)
- Buffalo Nationalism: A Critique of Spiritual Fascism (Calcutta: Samya, 2004)
External links
Christianity Today interview with Ilaiah "Leading Dalit Rights Campaigner in India"
- Ambedkar.org interview with Ilaiah
- Washington Post feature on Ilaiah's children's book.
- Rediff.com interview "The attempt to censor my writings is part of a larger game plan"
- Ghadar interview "The State of Dalit Mobilization: An Interview with Kancha Ilaiah"
- Bharatvani.org article "Kancha Ilaiah’s ‘Why I am Not a Hindu’: A Critical Review by Shri M. V. R. Sastry"
- DNA India Interview with Ilaiah "Institutes like IITs and IIMs should be closed down"
- Article by Ilaiah "Merit of Reservations"
- Opinion piece "Anger Is No Substitute For Substance, Mr. Kancha Ilaiah"