Gapshap with Swami Gyan Swaroop Sanand

Date 15/12/16

When I entered in the campus of Vanvasi Sewa Ashram, Myorepure, I found Swami Sanand sitting on the chair under the sun. A table was lying near him. Seeing no movement I thought not to disturb him and met a volunteer of Ashram. After having a little talk I discovered him becoming and more and more skeptical and even questioned the relevance of doing social work. 

Who like an Independent King?

Since ages Brahmans are known for controlling kings and state affairs to strengthen their ideas and beliefs. There are innumerable stories like that of Dronacharya and Chanakya who punished kings and instituted new kings and kingdoms.

Everyone was vehemently criticized our last PM Dr. Manmohan Singh for staying always mum and following the orders of Sonia Gandhi.

With the blessing of RSS and changing scenario Sh. Narendra Modi took the reign of India that is Bharat. He proved himself as roaring Prime Minister.

Now with the rise of Yogi in Uttar Pradesh, RSS pracharak have started telling, Modi is becomiing unrestrained and hence needs to be contained. On single call of Mohan Bhagawatji, the chief of RSS, Modiji has to change his decision of making CM of his choice Sh. Manoj Sinha to Yogiji. This time the same people started feeling proud for seeing a roaring PM being made pet again. 

This is the reality. What is the truth no one knows. Society still runs on rumours and perceptions. 

Old Days: Story happening now in reality giving strength and hopes

My grand Pa (Baba) -Lt. Roop Lal Thakur 

Caste System and Karn

No doubt caste system is a static system. In this system one's profession, duty etc. are predefined and there was no scope of any improvement in status. At one hand such system provides job security to large chunk of masses and hence peace, stability and hence happiness. On the same time it succumbs dreams, passions of some ambitious members though few in numbers. When system is stable, it was really painful, dreadful for such members. But when the system is changing, members of the profession automatically moves in more favourable profession. Karn and Eklavya are two epic characters in India which symbolizes the pain through such ambitious person has live with.

As Lord Krishna proclaims change is always good. Our society has been changing as new technology, living patterns etc. evolved. So many systems started coexisting. My lineage depicts such movement in very systematic way.

My grandfather and all kins of my father have been involved in carpentary as the profession decided by my caste. All members of my caste in my village (though majority in number) remained on hand to mouth by earning daily wages. Soori, one clan of baniya caste was the dominant caste as they belong to zamindari and they were owner of maximum land of my village. Chamars have huge tract of land, yet they remained in their traditional job and slowly lost their lands due to mismanagement in paying interest of small amount they took from suri. How my father got the spark for studying is mystery. Somehow he managed to read till class tenth and then joined a government job and became richest person among all the members of my caste and the most respected person in my locality and were given respect by suri community.

In my mother side, all were mechanic specially watch mechanic. All kins and relatives of my mother were involved in such skilled activities. Most of them were watch mechanic, some also take care of radio, camera, tape-recorder, television etc. For one and two generations, they all were happy and prosperous people and well settled in towns and cities. My maternal grandpa also maintained a motor vehicle while taking care of his own family. But he sensed the downfall of this system and tried to make their children read well so that they would get out in some other profession. But education is not so easy to be acquired. We saw how poverty entered in my maternal uncles' and their kins' home. Amid such situation, non of them dreamt of moving back towards carpentary, but they continued in their profession. My youngest maternal uncle got spark and started reading day and night and finally got a government job. Now brothers in that family who remained watch mechanic are moving either in software assistance or opening shops of various items.

While commenting on skill India Mission my uncle said, due to technology advancement, the requirement of skill people in market has reduced. Now everything has



 

Rashtra Vs Samaj

Since freedom movement it had remained burning question for a person to resolve which path should he choose for serving society. One is more inclined for abolishing the ills of the society and other is dedicated for strengthening nation. Nationalists have always criticized social reformers for weakening national movement and suggested them for waiting till India would get freedom. Agarkar was left by Tilak for similar cause. To some extent Gandhiji converges both the ideas, but still Ambedkar got criticism from all sides. During my college days I had been in touch with many group, solely due to fascination of my mind. At that time I was completely unaware about commitment for an organization and benefits or losses associated with that. Groups who were advocating for social reforms, used to criticize Hinduism and Indian culture strongly and used to suggest me stay away from GRA group. Though all the members of GRA loved me and I had cordial relation, I was criticized by Anandji that I would get benefits from all sides. In fact I never understood the working style of GRA and its strong organizational structure based on RSS line till I directly started working with Pracharaks in Sonebhadra. Now I know that GRA was not a students organization, but it was simply a wing of RSS and working on the same pattern. Whatever the case, due to nationalist bent I got good friends in GRA and similarly understood social concern with other groups and I believe that was in sink with my nature. 

For three years I fully devoted myself for Ashram cause while coordinating educational activities for slum children living in township surrounding. At that time I found Ashram in dire need of volunteers and funds and hence I worked full heatedly. In this process I spent all my leaves for Ashram cause. I planned for computer center, library and quality schools. Some of those ideas have already proved. Anandji, pracharak and caretaker of Ashram has always talked about Ashram, Hinduism and reiterated similar stories. With time I understood that RSS is fully devoted to BJP and it is not sure that BJP is really devoted to RSS or not, though many key functionaries of BJP are deployed by RSS. It is very difficult to talk about the merits of other party in the presence of RSSites. It was clear for me that RSS is not working for the poor, as in my first meeting Anandji declared that the poor are concern for them as poors are part and parcel of all the religion. Many of friends who are more concerned with the poor, stopped going Ashram finding that children of the Ashram are not among the poorest from their village. But I understood well the need of keeping such children for strengthening nation and also they are also in need of assistance.

Meanwhile I keep telling about the dismal condition of sweeper colony where I used to go for understanding their situation in different forum of RSS, but it remained unnoticed. Now as the situation has changed. There is Gov. of BJP in the center and also there is Modi wave forcing leaders of other party to join BJP, Ashram also got chance to have frequent visits of MLA and MPs. Anandji also told me that he had made them to work for improvement of Ashram. I again requested him that let the MPs just give a call for the concern authorities for improving their situation, but it remained unheard. Instead he was telling me the stories of lad grab by Muslims and reading poems of sacrifice so that I will devoted myself for the Ashram. For him working for the Ashram only is Rashtra Sewa. In five years I have sensed that even RSS is also working like an NGO pattern, not giving due credit to those who are working for the society without getting associated with RSS.  

This year on the occasion of annual function, local MLA was honoured as chief guest, Mr. R.B. Pathak made his 200 employees to visit Ashram. Now I believe that Ashram has enough patron to look after and it is time for me to devote myself for upliftment of downtrodden within the society. I would like that Pracharak should understand that these works are also a ways for serving motherland.

Caste Choice withing rigid caste structure

For past many days, there is great hubbub in parliament over the issue of forced conversion or conversion by choice. The typical Hindu organizations  prefer to term this phenomena as Ghar Vapasi. Conversion is not a recent phenomena in India and such things have been practiced since ages. In the modern era there are many methodologies of conversion. These aspects could be discussed separately. Here the main concern for those who have converted to Hinduism from other religion, like Islam or Christianity, is in which caste they will be accepted within Hindu society. It is well accepted fact in India that there is easier to convert religion than to change caste (jati jo kabhi jati nahi). There has already been done a lot of research works over mobility in caste system. More or less caste system is rigid system and it is revealed that caste identity is not erased even by changing religion. There is widespread untouchability in all the religions of India including Islam and Christianity, which proves this fact. Probably caste stigma is associated with a person in terms of his society and it is true that change of religion has not helped them in providing a new separate society. They have to stay with the same set of people for their livelihood. 

The chief of Vishwa Hindu Parishad has given words that they, who are coming back into the Hindu fold from other religions, will be facilitated to opt any caste of their choices. After all it is whose authority to sanction caste identity for any one in the Hindu society. For the known records of history caste has been decided by birth. Change of caste of a person has not been listed, rather up gradation of status of whole caste is counted and accepted by all other members of Hindu society. Individuals are either in one caste by birth or simply they will be considered out of caste for any anomaly. This is the reason why those who are opting for inter-caste marriage, they are simply considered as out-caste. In the long run a new class comes up of these people who in longer terms gain an identity of particular caste also. 

Secondly if somehow, those new comers are given caste of their choice, then Hindu society has to come up with a way for individuals to change their caste for getting caste status of their choice. Educated members of lower caste has tendency to gain Brahmanical status. In case of no other option, conversion and then ghar-wapasi will be the accepted norms to gain aspired choice of caste. 

Why has Hindu society not evolved its caste structure? People have changed their professions, why they are not given single identity and that is Hindu. Let the economic world give them a new identity based on profession. The advocates of ghar wapasi should think about a unique identity of Hindu. 

 

Failed caste system from mythology

There are innumerable examples in Indian mythology, where people have opted profession other than what is decided by their birth (caste system). There are innumerable examples where it was proved that being good or bad does not depend where a person takes birth.

Rawan although a Brahman by caste was a king of Sri Lanka.

Vishwamitra although a royal caste became a rishi and guru of Ram.

Mahabharata, good and devil both belong to the same family and hence same clan, race.