Why Religion makes us “as blind as a bat”? [Anecdote]

In previous post, we have discussed about ‘Chaturvarna‘ and how it is problematic for our society. But we cannot alienate the fact that it is based upon fundamental religious notions which Hindus hold close to them. In this blog-post we will be discussing an anecdote to understand how religion makes the people as blind as a bat. I will raise a few questions in your mind now:

• Why do millionaires in India obey penniless sadhus and Fakirs?
• Why do million of poor people in India sell their trifling trinkets which constitute their only wealth and go to Mecca and Benaras?

That, from the history of India, it could be revealed that the religion is the source of power where priest holds a sway over the common man often greater than the magistrate and where everything has religious twist. Is ‘religion a source of power’? How true it is?

The Case of Plebeians of Rome

Take the case of the Plebeians of Rome to understand the power of religion over man!

The Plebs had fought fought for a share in the supreme executive under the Roman Republic and had secured the appointment of a Plebeian Consul elected by a separate electorate constituted by the Commitia Centuriata, which was an assembly of Plebians. They wanted a Consul of their own because they felt that the Patrician Consuls used to discriminate against the Plebeians in carrying on the administration. They had apparently obtained a great gain because under the Republican Constitution of Rome one Consul had the power of vetoing an act of the other Consul. But did they in fact gain anything? The answer to this question must be in negative. The Plebeians never could get a Plebeian Consul who could be said to be a strong man and who could act independently of the Patrician Consul. In the ordinary course of things the Plebeians should have got a strong Plebeian Consul in view of the fact that his election was to be by a separate electorate of Plebeians. The question is why did they fail in getting a strong Plebeian to officiate as their Consul?

The answer to this question reveals the dominion which religion exercises over the minds of men. It was an accepted creed of the whole Roman populous that no official could enter upon the duties of big office unless the Oracle of Delphi declared that he was acceptable to the Goddess. (prior consent of a goddess?) The priests who were in-charge of the temple of the Goddess of Delphi were all Patricians. (Think about Brahmins as priest in India) Whenever, therefore, the Plebeian elected a Consul who was known to be a strong party man opposed to the Patricians or ‘communal’ to use the term that is current in India, the Oracle invariably declared that he was not acceptable to the Goddess. This is how the Plebeian were cheated out of their rights. But what is worthy of note is that “the Plebeian permitted themselves to be thus cheated because they too like the Patricians, held firmly the belief that the approval of the Goddess was a condition precedent to the taking charge by an official of his duties and that election by the people was not enough”. (the same way how most Bahujans in India, and others too, think that if they will question the poison of Caste, then they will go against their religion, i.e., Manusmriti, Vedas, Shashtras!)

If the Plebeian had contended that election was enough and that the approval by the Goddess was not necessary they would have derived the fullest benefit from the political right which they had obtained. But they did not. They agreed to elect another, less suitable to themselves but more suitable to the Goddess which in fact meant more amenable to the Patricians. Rather than give up religion, the Plebeian give up material gain for which they had fought so hard.

Does this not show that religion can be a source of power as great as money if not greater?

[ Note: The credit of producing this story to us goes to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (Annihilation of Caste) ]

Conclusion

How can a revolution be bought in the country when we have such dogmatic believes embedded in the religion? Should we give up the religion which seek to promote inequality? How can we assure the people that if they will give up the religion then there won’t be any discrimination whatsoever?

Men will not join the in a revolution for the equalization of property unless they know that after the revolution is achieved they will be treated equally and that there will be no discrimination of caste and creed. The assurance must be the assurance proceeding from much deeper foundation, namely, the mental attitude of the compatriots towards one another in their spirit of personal equality and fraternity.

We ask you now: What can be the best way to revolutionize the society to make it caste-free so that the spirit of equality and fraternity prosper in the society?

Editors Note – This article was Appeared first on Dalit Lives Matter Blog