Swami Vivekananda’s views on the Hindu caste system and its Ambedkarite / Dalit–Bahujan Critique
Swami Vivekananda’s views on the Hindu caste system were complex, internally contradictory, and evolved over time. He criticised caste-based discrimination and untouchability, yet defended the theoretical framework of Varna and stopped short of advocating the annihilation of caste as later demanded by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. in Annihilate Caste By SR Darapuri Below is a clear, structured, and academically balanced account of his position. Vivekananda’s Basic Position: Varna vs. Caste Swami Vivekananda consistently distinguished between: Varna – which he described as a functional division of labour and Jāti (caste by birth) – which he admitted had become degenerate and oppressive. His Claim was that the original Varna system was based on guna (qualities) and karma (work), not on birth. He believed that Varna was socially useful in ancient times and the problem was hereditary fixation and ritual hierarchy, not Varna itself. Critique of Caste-Based Discrimination Vivekananda strongly condemned Untouchability, Social exclusion, denial of education to Shudras and Brahminical arrogance and priestly monopoly. He called untouchability a “great national sin”, he blamed upper-caste Hindus for India’s weakness and decline and He insisted Shudras must be educated and uplifted. He said: “So long as the millions live like brutes, no number of politics will save this country.” Defence of Varna Order Despite his social criticism, Vivekananda did not reject caste altogether. He argued that society naturally produces different types of people, Varṇa represented psychological and occupational diversity and complete social equality was neither possible nor desirable. He even said that all societies have caste-like divisions and modern class systems are merely new forms of caste. This defence places him closer to reformist Hinduism than to radical social democracy. His View on Shudras and “Lower Castes” The progressive aspects of Swami Vivekanand are: He declared Shudras were oppressed historically, asserted that education and power must reach them and he predicted the rise of Shudras as inevitable. His prophecy was that “The next Buddha will be born among the Shudras.” He also said that the next raj will be of Shudras. His limitations were that he did not call for destruction of the caste system, he saw uplift as moral–spiritual, not structural–legal and he never demanded political power or constitutional safeguards for Dalits. Vivekananda vs. Ambedkar (Brief Contrast) Vivekananda criticised Birth-based caste as degenerated Varna but Dr. Ambedkar Saw it as a structural system of graded inequality. Vivekananda defended the Varna system whereas Dr. Ambedkar completely rejected it. Vivekananda treated Untouchability as a moral sin whereas Dr. Ambedkar saw it as a crime requiring law. Vivekananda saw spiritual reform as its solution whereas Dr. Ambedkar stood for Annihilation of caste and law. Vivekanand said that Hindu scriptures required to be reinterpreted whereas Dr. Ambedkar rejected them as creators of the caste system. Ambedkar famously argued that reformers like Vivekananda underestimated the structural violence of caste. Why Vivekananda Did Not Reject Caste Entirely Three key reasons were: Vedantic framework as he believed Hindu philosophy could be morally purified without social rupture. His fear of social chaos as he saw caste abolition as potentially destabilising Indian society. His elite reform perspective which made his approach top-down and moral, not subaltern or political. Scholarly Assessment Most historians agree that Vivekananda was progressive for his time but not radical enough to challenge caste as an institution. His ideas helped Hindu reform, not Dalit emancipation From a Dalit–Bahujan or Ambedkarite perspective, his approach is seen as: Ethically sympathetic but structurally inadequate. Swami Vivekananda: Condemned caste oppression, opposed untouchability and supported Shudra uplift. But he: defended Varna, did not call for annihilation of caste and prioritised spiritual reform over social justice. Thus, he remains a reformist within Hinduism, not a revolutionary against caste. Swami Vivekananda’s Thought from an Ambedkarite and Dalit–Bahujan Perspective (Sympathetic yet Structurally Weak) From an Ambedkarite and Dalit–Bahujan perspective, Swami Vivekananda’s engagement with the question of caste can be described as sympathetic reformism, but one that fails to challenge the foundational structure of the caste system. According to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, caste is not merely a moral aberration or social evil; rather, it is a system of division of labourers, rooted in the division of labour itself. It is an institutional arrangement that determines and restricts an individual’s social, economic, and intellectual possibilities from birth. Ambedkarite / Dalit–Bahujan Critique (a) The Fundamental Problem of Defending Varna From an Ambedkarite standpoint, Vivekananda’s greatest limitation lies in his theoretical defence of the Varna system. Ambedkar unequivocally argues: “There is no fundamental difference between Varna and caste; Varna is the philosophical justification of caste.” From this perspective, Vivekananda’s claim that Varna was originally based on guna (qualities) and karma (work) is regarded as historically and sociologically untenable. Dalit–Bahujan thinkers argue that any social system which determines occupation, status, and social worth across generations on the basis of birth is inherently oppressive. (b) Moral Critique versus Structural Critique Swami Vivekananda viewed untouchability as a “sin” and a form of “immorality,” whereas Dr. Ambedkar understood it as a form of crime and institutionalized social violence. This marks the fundamental divergence between the two approaches: Vivekananda sought solutions in moral purification, compassion, and spiritual awakening whereas Ambedkar located solutions in law, political power, social rights, and structural transformation. From a Dalit–Bahujan standpoint, moral exhortations without structural change amount to little more than consolation for the oppressed. (c) The Shudra Question and the Question of Power Vivekananda expressed sympathy for the Shudras and spoke of their uplift, but: He did not raise the issue of political representation, he did not demand redistribution of resources and power and he did not propose dismantling Brahmanical monopoly over knowledge For Ambedkar, the liberation of Shudras and Ati-Shudras meant education, organization, and power. Vivekananda’s thought does not reach this level of political and institutional clarity. (d) Scriptures, Religion, and Caste While Vivekananda attempted to portray caste as a “distortion” through reinterpretation of Hindu scriptures, Ambedkar arrived at a far more radical conclusion that “Caste is the soul of Hinduism; unless the religion itself is transformed, caste cannot be
Teacher’s Atrocity on Disabled Dalit Student in Azamgarh: “Whenever I teach Chemistry, you won’t come to class… You belong to the Chamar caste…”
Beaten for being 10 minutes late, stepped on his leg, and threatened to be thrown from the roof. Azamgarh – A highly shameful incident in Azamgarh district of Uttar Pradesh has exposed the cruel side of society where caste discrimination and physical disability are mocked. Indrajeet Kumar, a disabled Dalit student studying at Vivekananda High School and Inter College, was allegedly subjected to extreme cruelty by his chemistry teacher, Yogendra. For being just 10 minutes late, the student was not only beaten but also had his leg stepped on, causing injury, and was threatened with being thrown from the roof. When the frightened student grabbed the teacher’s sweater, the teacher allegedly made casteist remarks, saying, “You are a Chamar, and you grabbed my sweater.” Narrating the incident in a video, the student Indrajeet explained that he comes to school by bicycle and was slightly delayed due to his locomotor disability (difficulty in walking). Indrajeet said in a pained voice, “As soon as I entered, the sir started scolding me. He said that whenever he teaches Chemistry, I won’t be allowed in his class. I went outside, but some boys who were late were allowed inside. After that, 20-25 more students came late, and they were also allowed in.” When Indrajeet insisted on being allowed in, he was beaten. He further revealed that the teacher hit him on the head, face, and stomach, stepped on his leg, and tried to push him off the roof. When the student grabbed his sweater, the teacher angrily said, “You are from the Chamar caste, and you grabbed my sweater.” After this, other boys were also called and beaten. Indrajeet, who struggles to come to school despite his disability, said, “I was late because of my disability, but why did I get punished?” The victimized student filed a complaint with the police, but they allegedly reprimanded him and tried to hush up the matter. The student said, “We went to file a complaint, but nothing happened. They chased us away.” The incident has gone viral on social media, where journalist Piyush Rai shared the video and brought it to public attention. The post has received thousands of views, and people have demanded the teacher’s arrest. Opposition parties and Dalit organizations have termed it a caste-based atrocity and demanded immediate action from the Yogi government. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
Mentally ill Dalit woman sexually harassed
Bagalkot: It has come to light that a Dalit divorcee woman was sexually harassed by a group of men at Sangam Cross in Bagalkot district on Jan 5. The woman’s brother told reporters that the 40-year-old woman is mentally ill and was wandering around. “She was found thrown near the national highway at Sangam Cross. Some passers-by alerted police, and later we were informed by police. Police should arrest the miscreants immediately,” he demanded. Hunagund police, who registered a case, said that the woman was sexually harassed. “We are investigating whether she was raped. She was admitted to the taluk hospital in Hunagund, and was later sent to the district hospital in Bagalkot,” they added. Bagalkot SP Siddarth Goyal said that based on CCTV footage, a list of 72 suspects was prepared. “We will nab the accused soon,” he added. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Karnataka leadership tussle: Dalits plan rally for CM Siddaramaiah; wait for Home Minister’s approval
Being a member of the Siddaramaiah camp, Parameshwara feels the former would continue as CM and that is the reason he is hesitating to back the Dalit rally, sources said. BENGALURU: With the leadership tussle between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and DCM DK Shivakumar unlikely to die down till the intervention of LoP in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, a section of Dalits is planning a rally to push for a CM from their community. Several Dalit leaders are exerting pressure on Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara, the prominent Dalit face in Karnataka, to give the go ahead for the rally in Old Mysuru Region. A group, led by Venkataramanaswamy, also known as Papu, from Chamarajanagar, met him in Tumakuru on Sunday and sought his dates for the event. However, Parameshwara advised them to wait for some more time. Being a member of the Siddaramaiah camp, Parameshwara feels the former would continue as CM and that is the reason he is hesitating to back the Dalit rally, sources said. Parameshwara, a loyalist of the Nehru-Gandhi family and an aide of AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, is not ready to go against them, they added. He met Kharge, but what transpired between them was not known even as he termed their meeting a courtesy call. “Since Parameshwara is a staunch Congress loyalist, he should be made CM if Siddaramaiah has to step down,” said DSS leader Mavalli Shankar, adding that a Dalit rally will be organised soon to give this demand a push. “The top post has been elusive for Dalits since Independence as many senior leaders missed the bus. It should not be the case this time,” he said. Meanwhile, AHINDA organisations have started preparations to hold rallies across the state, including in Mysuru and Hubballi, to back Siddaramaiah to continue in the top post. A rally has also been planned in central Karnataka, either in Haveri or Davanagere, sources said. Have faith my party will decide my future: DKS Amid the change in leadership tussle in the Congress government, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said he has faith in the party and it will decide his future as well. Shivakumar said more than outsiders, some people from his own community are criticising him out of jealousy. “They are stabbing me in the back. All this is natural in politics. One should not lose peace . We must remain honest,’’ he said. Shivakumar also said when Union minister and JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy was chief minister, he had worked honestly. “Yet, Kumaraswamy accused me of stabbing him in the back. I do not need anyone’s certificate. It is enough if I satisfy my conscience,’’ he said. Devaraj B Hirehalli Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Body of Dalit youth found hanging from a tree in Muzaffarnagar; suicide suspected
Police said the body has been sent for post-mortem and an investigation is underway. Chandra said the police are awaiting the post-mortem report to ascertain the cause of death. The body of a Scheduled Caste (Dalit) youth was found hanging from a tree in Antwada village under the Khatauli police station area of Muzaffarnagar district on Saturday, police said. Khatauli police station in-charge (SHO) Dinesh Chandra said that the body of 20-year-old Dalit youth Nishant was found hanging from a tree today. He said that suicide is suspected. Police said the body has been sent for post-mortem and an investigation is underway. Chandra said the police are awaiting the post-mortem report to ascertain the cause of death. Courtesy: Hindi News
Sangeet Som launches scathing attack on Akhilesh Yadav: “Those who changed the names of districts named after Dalits should not pretend to be Dalit sympathizers today; justice will be served in Kapsad.”
Meerut. BJP leader Sangeet Som launched a sharp attack on Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav. He said that politicizing a serious case involving a young woman is unfortunate. Sangeet Som alleged that Akhilesh Yadav is now remembering Dalits, even though during his tenure, the names of districts named after Dalits were changed and Dalits faced injustice. Sangeet Som said that some “small-time leaders” are also trying to give a political color to this sensitive matter. Referring to Phaphunda village, he said that a young woman was raped by six people there, and she later committed suicide. Demands for action were raised in that case too, but were there similar protests and political maneuvering then? He questioned whether politics will now be played only on selective cases. The BJP leader clarified that this village is his own, and the entire village stands with the victim’s family. He said that there is neither any Dalit nor Thakur here—the entire village, like one family, stands for justice for the victim, and justice will be delivered at all costs. It is noteworthy that the Samajwadi Party has been continuously attacking the BJP since Thursday night regarding the Kapsad incident. On one hand, Akhilesh Yadav is raising questions about the government through social media, while on the other hand, Sardhana MLA Atul Pradhan has also been active since Thursday, staging protests and making statements regarding the incident. Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit youth attacked with sticks and rods: Incident in Panna Tikri, police launch investigation
A Dalit youth, Munner, was attacked around 9:30 PM in Panna Tikri village, under the Kotwali Dehat police station area. The attackers beat him with sticks, rods, and iron bars, leaving him seriously injured. It is alleged that the attackers used casteist slurs while beating Munner. Munner suffered fractures to his fingers and legs, and also sustained head injuries in the attack. When Munner’s wife and daughter rushed to his aid after hearing the commotion, the attackers also misbehaved with them. The accused then threatened them with death and fled the scene. The injured Munner was taken to the Bhadaiya Community Health Center, from where he was referred to the district hospital due to his critical condition. Dehat Kotwal Dharamveer Singh said that action is being taken in the matter and a case will be registered upon receiving a formal complaint. Shubh Pandey | Bhadaiya (Sultanpur) Courtesy: Hindi News
Key accused held in UP Dalit woman murder and kidnapping case after Haridwar raid
Police track down the prime accused two days after a Dalit woman is killed defending her daughter as tensions rise in the village amid security deployment and community backlash The upper-caste youth who allegedly killed a Dalit woman and kidnapped her daughter at a village in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut district on Thursday was arrested from a hotel in Haridwar on Saturday evening. The abducted girl, 20-year-old Ruby Kumari, has also been recovered. Vipin Tanda, senior superintendent of police of Meerut, said: “We are bringing them to Meerut at the moment and can only comment after interrogating them.” The police had announced a reward of ₹25,000 for information on 25-year-old Paras Singh Som only an hour before they succeeded in tracking him down. Sources said Paras’s friend and co-accused Sunil Singh Som, who was arrested first, revealed his whereabouts. “They had taken the girl to Gurgaon first but shifted to Haridwar for some reason,” said another cop associated with the case. Both Paras and Sunil belong to the Rajput community. The whereabouts of the other two unidentified accused are unknown. Earlier on Saturday, the police had blocked all entries to Kapsad village, where Sunita Devi, 50, was killed on Thursday while trying to protect Ruby from being abducted by Paras and his associates. The village was cordoned off on Friday, but reporters and BJP politicians were allowed entry. From Saturday, entry has been strictly restricted to residents of the village. Deceased Sunita Devi’s family conducted her last rites on Friday night after initially refusing to do so till the accused were arrested and Ruby was brought home safe. According to a complaint filed by Sunita’s son Mandeep Kumar, 25-year-old Paras, Sunil Singh and two other unidentified men had intercepted the mother-daughter duo on their way to their fields on Thursday morning. Paras attacked Sunita with an axe when she tried to prevent him and his friends from forcibly taking Ruby away. Sunita later died in a hospital. The villagers said the government posted two battalions of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) at the village entry points on Saturday after the victim’s family raised uncomfortable questions in front of reporters about the police’s alleged failure to recover Ruby and nab the accused. The PAC on Saturday asked the media and leaders from the Opposition parties to leave the village. Ruby’s eldest brother Narsi Kumar said: “I had told the reporters to ask the cops whether they would tender an apology for failing to bring back my sister from Paras’s clutches. Later, I asked the same question to the police officers. They didn’t like this and removed the media and the non-BJP leaders from the village.” Sunita’s last rites were conducted after Sangeet Som, a former BJP MLA of Sardhana, promised that Ruby would be recovered within 48 hours, the killer-kidnapper would be behind bars, a member of the victim’s family would get a job, the government would provide them an arms licence and ₹10 lakh compensation, and the police would offer them security. The villagers said Paras, who works as a pharmacist, used to harass Ruby and had to pay a fine of ₹50,000 to the girl’s family to prevent them from filing a case against him a few months ago. “There is tension in the village because the Rajput community is supporting Paras,” Sunita’s husband Satyendra Kumar said. Piyush Srivastava Courtesy : The Telegraph Note: This news is originally published on https:/thetelegraph.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
After the recovery of the Dalit girl in Meerut, her brother, weeping, said, “Mother is gone, and now you, sister…”
UP News: In the Meerut Sardhana murder case, the victim’s brother, weeping, appealed to the administration, saying, “No pressure should be put on my sister.” The victim’s brother has released an emotional message for his sister. UP News: A new twist has emerged in the heart-wrenching murder and abduction case in Kapsad, Sardhana, Meerut. While the police have arrested the accused Paras Som and recovered the girl, an emotional video of the girl’s brother has surfaced. The brother, who has lost his mother, is devastated by his sister’s safety and the potential pressure being put on her, and is weeping and pleading for justice. The brother says that he received the news of his sister’s recovery through a video, but he is extremely worried about her mental state and the pressure being exerted on her. ‘No one should put pressure on my sister’ The weeping brother appealed that no kind of force or coercion should be used against his sister. He said, “I have come to know that my sister has been found, but I don’t know if she is safe and sound. I appeal that no one should force her to give a false statement or threaten or intimidate her.” The brother said this emotional thing to his sister Giving courage to his sister, the brother, weeping, said, “Sister, if you are watching or hearing this video, don’t panic at all. Our mother is gone, but millions of your brothers are standing behind you. Millions of people will risk their lives to protect you, just don’t be afraid.” The family is haunted by the fear of something untoward! The victim’s brother has expressed apprehension that his sister might have been tortured during the abduction. Expressing his fear, he said, “I think some people might be scaring her, beating her. She might be being threatened that they will abduct her brother or others from the house. We still feel threatened.” Questions raised over police action Regarding the police claim of recovering the girl within 48 hours, the brother said that more than 60 hours have passed. He also said that his sister has not yet been presented before them, so they are not convinced about her well-being. The brother demanded that the entire legal process should be fair and the case should not be suppressed under any pressure. What did the SSP say? SSP Vipin Tada said that the Meerut and Saharanpur police conducted a joint operation and arrested the accused Paras Som and recovered the abducted girl. He said that the police had been tracking the accused for the past several days through electronic surveillance, manual intelligence, and questioning of family members. Finally, the police achieved success after receiving a precise tip-off. The SSP clarified that the administration is very sensitive about this matter. He said, “I myself and the District Magistrate went to meet the victim’s family. The family has been provided with all possible government assistance and security. Our priority is to ensure that the atmosphere in the village does not deteriorate.” SSP gives stern warning to those trying to disrupt peace SSP Vipin Tada warned that no person (whether from the village or outside) will be allowed to disturb the peace. If any person attempts to disrupt the peace or create trouble, the police will take the strictest legal action against them. What will the police do next? Regarding the girl being a minor and other details of the case, the SSP said that the recovery has just been made, and now the girl’s statement will be recorded as per rules. Further steps will be taken based on the facts that emerge during the legal proceedings and investigation. Usman Chaudhary Courtesy : Hindi News
Congress brought in laws against Muslims and Dalits, Owaisi reveals why Khalid and Imam were denied bail
Asaduddin Owaisi Statement: Owaisi said that the then Home Minister P Chidambaram had introduced the UAPA. He was the only person to oppose it in Parliament. Today, this law is not… Asaduddin Owaisi News: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi has blamed the Congress for Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam not getting bail. He said that the stringent UAPA under which Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam have been booked was implemented during the Congress government’s tenure. The Hyderabad MP was speaking at a public meeting in the Chandni Chowk area under Amravati, Maharashtra, ahead of the municipal elections. Owaisi said that those who talk about secularism during elections are actually enemies of Muslims, Dalits, and tribals, as they use political secularism to get votes. He said that Khalid and Imam were denied bail by the Supreme Court in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case based on Section 15A of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Chidambaram had introduced the UAPA During this time, Asaduddin Owaisi also said that the then Home Minister P Chidambaram (during the Congress government) had introduced the UAPA. He (Owaisi) was the only person to oppose it in Parliament. I was the first to say that the police would use this law against Muslims, tribals, Dalits, and intellectuals who understand and oppose the government’s policies. You can see what has happened today. These two young men could not get bail because of the definition of terrorism in that law. Supported the amendment to UAPA in 2019 Owaisi said that Khalid and Imam have been languishing in jail for 5 years. Meanwhile, 85-year-old Stan Swamy, an accused in the Elgar Parishad case, died in jail due to this very law. He said that when the UAPA was amended in 2019, the Congress party had supported the BJP government, which is now ruining the lives of innocent people. This week, the Supreme Court rejected the bail applications of activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case, but granted bail to five others, citing their level of involvement. By Ranjan Kumar Courtesy: Hindi News