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; however, his polemic is often labelled as anti-Hindu by several of his critics (both Hindu and Muslim),[1] Hindu advocacy groups,[2] and scholars such as Koenraad Elst.[3]

Contents

[edit] 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.

[edit] Activism

He is an activist in the Dalit-Bahujan (Scheduled and Backwards Castes) movement. He is also affiliated with the All India Christian Council, headed by Dr. Joseph D'Souza and other Indian Christian activists [2]. Ilaiah and D'Souza are also associated with the USA based Dalit Freedom Network

On 6th 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 Muslims, Christians, and other oppressed groups in India. The congressional hearing was organized in conjunction with a conference organized by the Dalit Freedom Network on the same day.

His description of the relationship between communities in India has been criticised by columnist Francois Gautier as being biased and unrepresentative, and having a hidden agenda of deceptively converting Dalits to Christianity and turning them against Hindus.[4] His books are promoted and sold by the Dalit Freedom Network, a Christian organization. [3].

According to Joseph D'Souza, Kancha Ilaiah has served as the "influential ideologue" for the "Quit Hinduism" movement leading to a mass rally on Dec 6th, 2002.[5]

[edit] 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[citation needed]. By explaining this dichotomy from his own personal experience as an OBC, he advocates the "Dalitization" of Indian culture[citation needed]. As Ilaiah claims, the Dalit philosophy prizes productivity over personal pleasure[dubious — see talk page] and values the graciousness of community over the "elevation of Brahmin men" at the expense of women and Dalits/OBCs[dubious — see talk page]. Ilaiah asserts that this shift in societal thinking will enable India to become a more prosperous and egalitarian society[citation needed].

However, it has also drawn severe condemnations from Hindus and Hinduism experts, who note that the book reflects a shallow understanding of Hindu religion and blissful ignorance of all positive aspects of its philosophy and mythology. In particular, Koenraad Elst criticizes the book as unfairly biased and portraying Hinduism in an exceptional light as discriminatory, while ignoring similar discriminations in other cultures. He writes:

“ (Why I am not a Hindu) offers a description of the differences in life style between upper castes and Shudras, with the declared intention of getting the reader indignated at the injustice and absurdity of the typically Hindu castle system. Yet, his testimony unwittingly shows just how similar Hindu caste inequality is to the social inequality in other societies, e.g. Ilaiah’s repeated observation that women are more controlled in upper castes and more assertive and free in lower castes is or was just as true for Confucian China or the feudal and bourgeois societies of Europe.[6] ”

In addition, the book was criticized by leading historian and Kluge Chair holder Romila Thapar for promoting fringe views concerning the origins of Dalits, and for abusing Max Muellers theories concerning the origins of social strata in India as ammunition for Caste confrontation. Thapar essentially dubs this sort of historiography as "extreme" and "weak".[7]

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 conveyed that some articles in popular newspapers on the book were creating social tensions. Therefore, 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.".[8] Ilaiah has responded in interviews that his writings are an attempt to reduce prejudices and that they have "not led to riots"[4]. He has also said that the book aims to suggest ways to "eliminate the caste system" and proposes "unity on an equal basis".[9]

[edit] Anti-Brahminism and allegations of anti-Hinduism

Ilaiah is a controversial figure because of what some have called rabidly anti-Brahmin and anti-Hindu rhetoric and hypocritical methods of argument. Koenraad Elst criticizes his book Why I am not a Hindu as having anti-Brahmin cartoons that are nearly "replicas of the anti-Semitic cartoons from the Nazi paper Der Stürmer".[10]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Archive of Editorial on Himal Magazine
  2. ^ HAF Appreciates Congressional Hearing on Dalit Rights; Concerned by Biases
  3. ^ The official pro-invasionist argument at last
  4. ^ Who are the real Dalits of India?Gautier's Critique of the U.S. Congress Subcommittee
  5. ^ [1]
  6. ^ Update on the Aryan Invasion Debate (footnote 75)"
  7. ^ THE ARYAN QUESTION REVISITED, by Romila Thapar, Transcript of lecture delivered on 11th October 1999, at the Academic Staff College, JNU
  8. ^ The Rediff Interview , Dr Kancha Ilaiah
  9. ^ The Rediff Interview , Dr Kancha Ilaiah
  10. ^ The official pro-invasionist argument at last

[edit] 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)

[edit] External links

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