Faith makes one drink urine; caste does not even allow one to drink water.
How can people drink Baba’s urine as “prasadam” out of blind devotion, but in the name of caste, water is considered impure if a Dalit touches it? The roots of these problems are hidden in the roless of religion, politics, education,, and media. Lack of wisdom in education, silence of media, arbitrariness of religious leaders,, and casteist mentality are pushing the society towards backwardness. This raises the question that if faith can consider a Baba’s urine ‘holy,’ then how can the water of a Dalit be ‘impure’?
India, which is called a country of spirituality and diversity, hides within itself a world of contradictions that sometimes surprises. On the one hand, we talk of science, technology, space,, and artificial intelligence, while on the other hand, medieval thinking is still deeply rooted in the social and cultural layers. In the same society, such scenes are seen where people drink the charanamrit of some Baba,, considering it as ‘amrit,’ and and even consume cow urine and cow dung,, calling it medicine; and in the same society, drinking water from the hands of a Dalit person is considered a ‘sin.’ This is the irony that has been exposed with full force by this sharp sentence:”Aastha tak pee paani pila deti hai, caste tak paani nahi peena deti.” This line is not just a satire ut is the identification of two major diseases deeply rooted in Indian society—e is faith drowned in superstition and caste discrimination. Both challenge the basic principles of humanity, reasoning,, and equality to some extent.
Faith: The thin line between belief and stupidity
Faith is the spiritual and cultural backbone of any society. It gives a purpose to a person, gives him morality and self-confidence. But when this faith crosses the limits of logic, science,, and human rights and turns into blind faith, it takes a dangerous form. There are many examples in India where religious leaders made their followers do acts like drinking cow urine, consuming feces or declaring themselves as ‘God,,’ and people followed them blindly. News of a baba making people drink his urine in the name of ‘miraculous water’ has also been coming out from time to time. Devotees drink it,, considering ia ‘blessing,’ and when the media raises questions on these incidents, it is accused of insulting religion. What kind of faith is this that forces a person to abandon his thinking and conscience? What kind of faith is this that turns those who raise questions into criminals?
Caste: Medieval Thinking in a Modern Society
Now, let us talk about the second big social disease—casteism. In India, caste is a structure that determines a person’s social status, occupation, rights,, and even life-death chances based on birth. The Indian Constitution may have outlawed casteism, but its roots are still as deep in the social psyche. Even today, in many parts of the country, Dalits are not allowed to enter temples, there are separate wells or taps for them, their children are made to sit separately in schools, and objects are considered ‘impure’ by their mere touch. Inhuman practices like manual scavenging have not ended even today. There are daily instances when a Dalit youth is killed for loving an upper-caste girl r when their houses are set on fire in a village just because they crossed the ‘limit.’ How tragic it is that the same society that can consider cow urine as medicine considers water impure by the mere touch of a human being.
The roots of the paradox
The roots of this contradiction are hidden nowhere else but in our social, religious, and political structures. In the name of religion, people’s thinking was controlled by using faith as a weapon. Through arbitrary interpretations of religious texts, one class was proved to be ‘superior’ and the other ‘lowly.’ Those who raised questions were declared ‘anti-religion.’
Politics also nourished this system a lot. Castes were converted into vote banks. Hatred was spread in the name of reservation, but no concrete efforts were made to end caste atrocities, nor was any willpower shown. The public was emotionally bound in the name of faith, and scientific thinking was rejected by calling it ‘Western ideology.’
Lack of education and wisdom
Education is the tool that makes society rational and just. But in India’s education system, the education of logic and human rights is very limited. We teach science to children but do not inculcate a scientific approach in their thinking. We give them moral education but remain silent on questions of casteism and social justice. When a child sees in school that his classmate is being called ‘Chamar’ or ‘Bhangi,’ when the teacher himself asks the caste of the students, then this thinking gets deeply embedded in his consciousness. This same child grows up and discriminates in the same way, and once again, the vicious cycle begins.
The hypocrisy of media and society
Media is called the fourth pillar of democracy, but when it comes to casteism or superstition, its attitude is either very superficial or it remains completely silent. It shows the miracles of babas in the name of ‘entertainment’ but ends the matter by running a two-minute report on the murder of a Dalit. It deliberately avoids issues that may anger any ‘particular class.’
Society also chooses sensitivity as per its convenience. The seller of cow urine is called a ‘modern sage,’ but no voice is raised on the death of a laborer cleaning a manhole.
What is the solution?
Expansion of rational education: Schools should include a curriculum based on scientific outlook and social justice. It is important to teach children from childhood that faith does not mean blind faith and that every human being is equal. Strict laws and their implementation: Laws made against caste-based discrimination have to be implemented not just on paper but also on the ground. Change in society is possible only when the culprits are punished. Responsibility of the media: The media should start honest discussions on this subject. Strong reporting is necessary against Dalit issues, caste injustice, and superstition. Reforms in religious institutions: Religious leaders should give the message of science and social equality to their followers. If there is no change in religion, then there will be no change in society either. Participation of civil society and youth: Social organizations, students, and aware citizens will have to raise their voices together against this system. A movement can be started against casteism and superstition by making social media a powerful medium.
Have we become modern?
While India is celebrating its achievement of reaching the moon, a Dalit is beaten to death in a village for entering a temple. While on one hand the government campaign gives the slogan of ‘Clean India,’ on the other hand thousands of sanitation workers die by entering the gutter without protection. And while on one hand people drink Baba’s urine, considering it as ‘prasad,’ at the same time water touched by a Dalit is considered ‘dirty.’ This contradiction forces us to think whether development is limited only to buildings, metros, and mobile networks or does it also includes thinking, equality, and humanity? The place of faith is important, but if it crushes humanity, then it is of no use. If the caste structure does not give anyone his human rights, then it must be broken. Therefore, the biggest need today is that we recognize this hypocrisy and speak against it. If faith can even make someone drink urine, then society will have to be made so sensitive and rational that water is not denied in the name of caste. A person should be identified not by his caste but by his deeds and character—this is the real religion, this is the true faith.
