LEAVING HINDUISM ?

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 140, 10 December 1935, Page 18

LEAVING HINDUISM ?

INDIA'S UNTOUCHABLES

Dr. Ambedkar, leader of the Indian depressed classes, is reported to have urged a large meeting of them the other day to abandon Hinduism and adopt "any other religion which gives you equality of status and treatment."

The news that Dr. Ambedkar, if correctly reported, lias urged the untouchables (now called Harijans) to abandon Hinduism altogether and embrace some other religion is important, but the scope of Dr. Ambedkar's influence is probably not wide enough to create an All-India movement in this direction, writes C. F. Andrews in comment on the news in the "Manchester Guardian." His power is greatest in the Bombay Presidency, and it is noticeable that his speech was made at Nasik, a city in that province wh,ere a struggle has been going on fox-some time to get a temple opened, for the Harijans.

Dr. Ambedkar has-never set much value upon religion as a means of social "uplift," and has often opposed Mahatma Gandhi when the latter has placed the religious reform- before the economic. In this new statement Dr. Ambedkar is clearly utilitarian. His political aim is to force orthodox Hinduism to act quickly. He has been provoked by what he regards as interminable delay and wishes to make the Brahmin yield all along the line. While his words are likely to have some effect in Western India, I doubt if they will carry much weight in the South, where the evil of untouchability is greatest. He is by no means the unchallenged champion of the Harijans, though in intellectual powers he stands pre-eminent. His strongly rationalistic mind separates him from those who-are wholly illiterate and intensely superstitious. :

I agree with Mr. Gandhi that it •would be a calamity if an entire breach were made at this time between the Harijans and the caste Hindus, for the reformation already accomplished within orthodox, Hinduism has been very rapid indeed, and ■it can truly be stated thaf the citadel of orthodoxy has surrendered. ' The • vital thing needed is to follow up the Victory already won, and Mr. Gandhi's personality, is the most effective Sagency in this direction.