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Anti-Brahmanism is hostility toward or prejudice against Brahmins as a religious, or ethnic, which can range from individual hatred to institutionalized attempts to vilify Brahmins.

Organized anti-Brahmanism is a relatively new phonemonon in India. It arose during the British period, sometimes promoted by the government. Today several organization both inside India and outside are actively involved in promoting anti-Brahmanism.

Anti-Brahmanism must be distinguished from the opposition to the view that the Brahmins are inherently superior. Buddhism, while opposing Brahmin superiority, was never opposed to Brahmins; in fact a majority of the well-known Buddhist authors (Nagarjuan, Buddhaghosa etc.) were Brahmin. While modern Sikh institutions, influenced by the British sponsored Tat Khalsa movement, tend to anti-Brahmin, the Sikh institutions during the life-time of the Gurus actually relied on support of Brahmins.

Anti-brahminism is often encountered in these regions. It should be noted that anti-Brahminism is often supported by organizations which are opposed to Hinduism or India.

• Maharashtra (Maharashtrian Konkanastha Brahmins etc.): The anti-Brahmin Sambhaji Brigade attacked Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute in Jan. 2004.(). Some of the anti-Hindu Dalit and missionary groups are also based in Maharashtra.

• Tamilnadu: (Iyers etc.). Tamilnadu is home to one of the oldest anti-Brahmin Dravidar Kazhagam movement. As a result of this movement, a significant fraction of Tamil brahmins have migrated outside of Tamilnadu or even overseas.

• Punjab: The Tat Khalsa movement sponsored by the British government to create a pool from which loyal soldiers can be recruited. Punjab is home to Khalistani separationists who are generally strongly anti-Brahmin. The movement still received considerable support from overseas groups.

• Eastern India: Successful proselytization by overseas organized have created a region where anti-Brahmanism flourishes.

Justification of anti-Brahmanism has now been incorporated in the curriculum of some states in India, and many intellectuals feel comfortable with anti-Brahmanism.

See also

• Anti-Semitism
• History of anti-Semitism
• Dalit Voice

External links

Here are some example of vilification of the Brahmins. Most of these documents have been prepared by individuals supported by overseas organizations.

• BRAHMIN GOLD The Plunder of Paradise
• The Final Brahmin Annihilation of Dalitstan
• Brahminist Occupied Governments
• Narasimha Rao the Brahmin & His Final Solution to the "Sikh Problem"
• SIKHS WANT OUT OF THE BRAHMIN SHANGRILA - THEY WANT KHALISTAN
• An evil brahmin empire which must be destroyed
• Original Buddhism And Brahminic Interference
• SECRET CIRCULAR OF 'BRAHMIN SAMAJ' OF BALAGHAT inspired by The Protocols of the Elders of Zion

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