Caste System and Brahmins: The biggest hurdles for Missionaries to convert Hindus
The vast amount of missionary literature and correspondence, prior to 1857, mentions two hurdles in the path of religious conversion. •The first hurdle was the stringent regulations of the caste system due to which the converted person was ostracized by the caste and community to which he belonged. •The second hurdle was the immense respect and reverence in the society for Brahmins. The missionaries found themselves unable to challenge the moral and intellectual superiority of the Brahmins.
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The Dream of a Casteless Society
Why is caste which we wanted to eradicate and completely uproot now becoming stronger and more prominent despite our persistent efforts to the contrary? Have we made the mistake of trying to eradicate the caste system because of our inability to comprehend the caste system? After all, why did we assume that caste is a social problem and that it is a hurdle in the path of national progress and unity? From where did we get this perspective? Is this, like our other major beliefs and principles, a part of the legacy of British socialism that we have inherited?
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जाति-विहीन समाज का सपना
क्या अपने लंबे अनुभव के प्रकाश में यह आवश्यक नहीं कि हम नए सिरे से जाति-संस्था को समझने का प्रयास करें? क्यों यह जाति-संस्था समूचे विश्व में केवल भारत और विशेषकर हिंदू समाज का ही वैशिष्ट्य है? भारतीय मिट्टी और इतिहास में इसकी जड़ें कहाँ हैं? यदि इसके पीछे कोई जीवन-दर्शन है तो वह क्या है? यदि यह मानव-विरोधी, काल-बाह्य और अप्रासंगिक संस्था है तो यह अपने आप मर क्यों नहीं जाती? क्या है जो इसे जिंदा रखे हुए है? पर इन सब प्रश्नों में प्रवेश करने के पूर्व आवश्यक है कि हम यह जानें कि यूरोपीय यात्रियों, मिशनरियों, ब्रिटिश शासकों इत्यादि ने जाति-संस्था को समय-समय पर किस रूप में देखा और उसके प्रति क्या रणनीति अपनाई?
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