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Kancha Ilaiah

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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 inequality 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

  1. Archive of Editorial on Himal Magazine
  2. HAF Appreciates Congressional Hearing on Dalit Rights; Concerned by Biases
  3. In an interview, Dr. Kanch Illaiha said, "Yes, I hate Hinduism" The Rediff Interview/Dr Kancha Ilaiah
  4. Dalit literature The Hindu, March 30, 2004.
  5. ^ http://yogindersikand.blogspot.com/2008/02/interview-kancha-ilaiah-on-dalits.html
  6. THE ARYAN QUESTION REVISITED, by Romila Thapar, Transcript of lecture delivered on 11th October 1999, at the Academic Staff College, JNU
  7. , Critique of 'Why I am Not a Hindu', by Shri MVR Sastry
  8. ^ 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

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