Arguing Positively as a Hindu 02

Even at the outset a frequent retort hinges on the question of castes. Let me be plain here. Without social equality any arguing, whether positively or negatively or noncommitally, will all be a waste. And there is a technique people adopt when this issue of castes comes up in the argument. They say caste is an imported term. Whatever term is used, whether it is varna, jati or custom, to denote privileging on the basis of birth or depriving on the basis of birth, to accommodate that idea and at the same time to talk about social equality or social progress is simply a contradiction in effort. To state this plainly does not save us from questions but creates all types of questions. - 'If you do not accept varna dharma, then what will you do with umpteen places of reference in the Sastras, Puranas, the works of the founders of Siddhantas and a whole lot of subsidiary works?' 'Do you think you are better qualified to reject and pronounce it wrong what down the time great gurus have upheld?', 'If you think you can reject them at will, why not others reject your idea at their own will?'. - Yea. I do reject this idea of varna dharma, whoever might have told it. If you reject my ideas I am least bothered about it. As an ordinary Hindu, I want my society around to harbour progress and equality, well-being and enlightenment. As a common man in the society, I want to be among common human beings cooperating with each other. Human life and human welfare being top-most in my value list, I consider cultural aspects like religion, arts and literature as values that could be adopted and adapted towards enhancing the human life and human progress. Society forms the practical platform to do that. It is not the other way about. I do not want to adapt or adopt the human life or society to suit the ideas found in ancient books. Human life cannot be lived in the past anywhere by anyone. Human life has to be lived in the present. Wisdom is to adapt the suitable ideas from the past to supplement whatever we learn afresh in the present. 

Srirangam Mohanarangan 

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