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Date: October 12, 2005
TAMPA, FL - Congressman
Christopher Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the Committee on Africa,
Global Human Rights and International Operations, held a hearing
on October 6th, 2005, to address alleged human rights violations
and discrimination faced by underprivileged castes, commonly
referred to as Dalits in India. The Hindu American Foundation
(HAF), which supports congressional efforts to document and
highlight the denial of human rights abuses of all Hindus
in South Asia, expressed special concern that the hearings
were deliberately biased and misrepresentative of India and
Hinduism. HAF specifically pointed to the slate of witnesses
that included individuals widely known for their anti-Hindu
activism.
"Holding a hearing ostensibly
to bring people together to improve the plight of India's
Dalits is a commendable goal," said Mihir Meghani, M.D., President
of the Hindu American Foundation. "But to stack the witness
chair with delegates with virulent Hinduphobic perspectives
that lack any credibility in India or abroad reduces any positive
impact such a hearing could have made."
HAF was disappointed that
Congressman Smith, while commending the humanitarian work
of Christian missionaries, failed to similarly recognize the
vast network of Hindu social and charitable organizations
working with India's socially and economically deprived populace.
"Caste discrimination is
a social evil that must be eradicated, and all faith-based
groups, Christian or Hindu, should be congratulated for their
dedicated services in India," said Swaminathan Venkataraman,
member of the HAF Executive Council, "But those organizations
that allow the people among whom they work to maintain and
celebrate their native culture and practices without any pressure
to convert or renounce their religion deserve special praise."
HAF members said the hearing
also failed to address caste discrimination that affects religions
other than Hinduism in India, and instead became a forum for
anti-Hindu sentiments. Several key speakers at the hearing
including Dr. Joseph D'Souza, Dr. Udit Raj, and Dr. Kancha
Ilaiah have all overtly called for Hindus to convert to Christianity
in the past. D'Souza, who is President of the All India Christian
Council (AICC), previously termed the conversion of Hindus
to Christianity as, "the process of breaking this spiritual
darkness."
Congressman Smith alluded
to the ongoing Indian Supreme Court proceedings regarding
the granting of special reservations in government and education
sectors for Dalits who have converted to Christianity. Ironically,
Dalits who convert to Christianity in a bid to escape social
stratification under the caste system, continue to agitate
for affirmative action benefits even after becoming Christians,
thereby demonstrating that the inequalities of the caste system
are not specific to Hinduism.
"Though casteism arose from
the malpractice of Hinduism, the prevalence of caste discrimination
among other religious communities shows that this practice
is not rooted in religion but rather a complex dynamic of
political, social and cultural interests," said Dr. Meghani.
"Therefore, it is imperative that all Americans support measures
to redress prevalent discrimination, instead of damaging India's
great traditions of pluralism and tolerance with unhelpful
calls for Dalits to renounce their faith." Dr. Meghani added,
"We hope that Congressman Smith, in the future, will make
attempts to further the cause of Dalits with a serious discussion
by engaging a broad spectrum of speakers that properly represent
the varied perspectives on this issue."
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