India's Dalit community at the crossroads | Reflections on being Hindu | BBC News India

In this episode, we look at two instances of violence - one in which the attacker was Dalit, the other in which the victims were Dalit. In both instances, the violence was justified "in the name of protecting Hindu religion". To make sense of this dichotomy, we travel to the small towns in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan where these incidents happened and see the various paths the Dalit community is taking with respect to their religion.
Video by Divya Arya and Prem Boominathan
This is the third episode of our series - Reflections on being Hindu.
As India completes a decade of being governed by a Hindu nationalist party, the idea of a monolithic Hindu identity and a uniform way of practicing Hinduism has gained currency. But the reality of the everyday Hindu, especially given the inequities of caste, is more complex.
#caste #hinduism #india
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[@ash10k9]

The most intelligent dalit, in fact one of the most intelligent Indians, converted to Budhism in 1956. That says it all.

[@thedecadecalled90s64]

He even tried converting to Islam and even did so.

[@adma7298]

Indian golden age started with Buddhism

[@thedecadecalled90s64]

@@adma7298 & ended with

[@adma7298]

@@thedecadecalled90s64 with Hindu reconquesta. Destroyed and Turned Buddhist temple into Hindu. They also teach this to muslims. But muslims were far tolerant and very few were killed and temples destroyed

[@porothashawarma2339]

@@adma7298that’s true ……

[@dinesh6489]

Eating meat is not bad habits, RSS is projecting that as Cigarette and Alcohol 🤦🤦

[@thedecadecalled90s64]

Where

[@dingbat999]

@@thedecadecalled90s64 8:41 here

[@thedecadecalled90s64]

@@dingbat999 well quitting sedatives is good for the health & as shown in the video it has also helped him financially.

[@partps25]

​@@thedecadecalled90s64 He didn't just mention Alcohol and Smoking. He mentioned MEAT too. 😂

[@thedecadecalled90s64]

@@partps25 well that's an individual preference as well.

[@SenorSol]

Caste, the gift that keeps on giving for India!! Welcome back to the dark ages!

[@shobhitdagur1086]

Caste is itself a Portuguese like witch hunting by church till 18 th century 😂😂😂

[@Tgkay007]

Yes they stopped in 18th century. This is 2024. What is your point !?​@@shobhitdagur1086

[@invisible..__]

Absolutely and the Indian constitution is going to be changed history will repeat but we will not get any person like Dr ambedkar again

[@INSHALLAH_SUBAH]

​@@Tgkay007hindutva is the answer

[@Tgkay007]

@@INSHALLAH_SUBAH the caste system exists only in hindutva.. how dum are you

[@RockciiBarbosa]

End of Brahmanwadi is end of caste system in India..

[@goodstar9553]

They talk about one nation, one code ............ but not one caste.

[@Lovely-dl5cw]

Yes very true

[@sageofsixpaths98]

How about No caste? And abolishing reservation by caste.

[@Avijit.305]

Because Lord Krishna says I am the creator of caste (chaturbarba maya sristam... Bhagwat Gita) bosed on karma.

[@senguptasayn]

The situation is simply horrific.and it is becoming worse by the day.even kids seem to be becoming so caste conscious.poison of hatred spreading in all sections of society.

[@sradhakrishnan4593]

The opposite is what is actually happening 😊!

[@nationfirst879]

​@@sradhakrishnan4593 correct

[@nationfirst879]

You are only spreading prapogenda

[@raman87910]

Yes agree, uch nich karne wale wapas aa gaye hai. kuch acche log bhi hai. Lekin jo ye kuch log hai jo aaye din dharm ke naam se nafrat fehlate hai. Aur ye khud nich harkat karte hai. Hindu rashtra ki baat karne wale kabhi koi sukhi rashtra nahi bana sakte. Rashtra logo ae banta hai, vichar dhara se banta hai. Lekin ye jo harkat karte hai woh harkat inke hindu rashtra banane layak nahi hai. Woh kehte hai na “action speaks lauder than words”.

[@senguptasayn]

@@raman87910 100 percent correct!

[@Battlebunny07]

Dalit should convert to Christianity or Bhudhism.. Either you will get a better life there or RSS will give bigger offer😅

[@manishgurav2369]

O really their are lots of dalit converted to islam and Christianity but christ and Muslim still call address them as a dalit-christian and dalit muslims

[@sradhakrishnan4593]

These religions are for sale India and the people's condition has been no better after they bought into these fakes.

[@nazeerpasha2075]

@@manishgurav2369 .. wrong information. visit any Dalit family and watch the ground reality. They are very much assimilated.

[@manishgurav2369]

@@nazeerpasha2075 I have dalit friends, dalits neighbors and I MYSELF FROM OBC

[@partps25]

​@@manishgurav2369 people like you are the reason our OBC community is being fooled by BJP. In one hand they say we are equal. But when it comes to maintaining equality we don't see our people in executive positions in government, neither we have proportional representation in positions of power in BJP and RSS that decides policies. So, stop this bullshit. You don't need to get beaten up to prove casteism exist. Systemic oppression exposes it all.

[@SHANSHOW-]

Hindu is not religion it is collective identity of all who not profess islam, christian, other outside religion. But hinduism is religious ideology it is nothing but brahmanwad. But hindutwa is political ideology it appeases all hindus and claim hindu is religion but it is not religion. India is full of caste rules, even other religion not able to spread because of caste system, not even hindism. The ego and hatred between caste makes them fight, but they are not be said religiously one community. But you can devide thm based on vegetarian hindu and non vegetarian hindu.

[@nationfirst879]

😂😂😂😂 you are soo dumb

[@sumitsingh7835]

India needs social and political revolution as envisaged by Bhagat Singh So many social evils are still very much part of our lives these social evils are persistent via culture, tradition, religion and passed on from generation to generation

[@tejesheconomics4072]

Revolution always brings pain and destruction from French Revolution (5million killed) to Mao Chinese revolution (35 million killed) to Russia. Communist revolution (50% of entire young Russian men killed) so revolution killed more people than all wars combined….Progressional reforms is the way forward…that is why many countries who went through revolution are dead and destroyed….and Bhagat Singh is an idiot who killed an innocent officers instead of real culprit...Just for you information Bhagat Singh actually killed to avenge Lala Lajpat rai (who is the founder of Hindu Mahasabha (which is later headed by Savarkar which killed Gandhi)

[@India_Uncensored]

Chitiyae bane gaye. We Indians are screwed if Modi win once more. A fundamental change in needed India let by the South. 💪🐯

[@sapien9567]

And what is alternative to modi, congress?😂 70 years they ruled and could not even properly recognise B R Ambedkar.

[@Tathagata-eo5tz]

The original Brahmanwadi is the congress party right from the days of Gandhi (Bania wanna be Baman).

[@OSY_PB_ATHEIST]

I am glad that the dalit person who converted to Buddhism has realised that religious especially brahminical rituals are futile and education is important.

[@unitedminds5633]

Ages to come will reflect.

[@vkaaa1]

whats original published date of these videos. why they are resurfaced now. its called bbc mindset.

[@dailymake2003]

And they call them rice bags when converting to Christianity,at least they treat them better and with love

[@kankit230]

Indians have cast in all religions

[@nationfirst879]

Look like you are among a rice bag 😂😂

[@RohitPatil-fw5nq]

Schedule class should not indulge in hindutva politics it will back wire

[@nazeerpasha2075]

Dalits were never counted as Hindus. It is only a hundred years ago that they were counted as Hindus for political reasons. They were just Adivasi tribals and were called untouchables, then outcasts, lower casts, Harijans and then about 70 years ago they were named as Dalits.

[@ridhamatri9447]

​@@nazeerpasha2075 we were not adivasi we lived in society with a lower rank. ST were aadiwasi.

[@sapien9567]

​@@nazeerpasha2075adivasis are forest dwellers, we lived in society.

[@sradhakrishnan4593]

Please inform Indians about "grooming" in the UK and the silence of the media and BBC about it.

[@dinesh6489]

Don't speak like the voice of godi media 😂😂

[@dinesh6489]

U r Brahmin so u can't see the problem 😡🤦

[@nationfirst879]

​@@dinesh6489 you slaves will never understand

[@guru.k9938]

CASTE IS FOR EVER IN INDIA/ BHARAT it's a political issue.

[@arjunjawahar8110]

The need of education shows clear case with this 10:18

[@headmaster9933]

Is there any one who is supporting cast system

[@deepakoneonly]

BBC Kannada will be a great Idea.

[@workwithnature.atochizos6360]

The religion that's does not love humanity is not from God, cox God is love

[@subramaniana7761]

Good

[@ramatgan1]

Dalits should do what B. R. Ambedkar did and convert out.

[@pranjalahluwalia9115]

Education

[@manishgurav2369]

Bhim Army supporters first kiIIed a Brahmin man and then kidnapped the son of the deceased Ashish Mishra. Instead of taking action, UP police has registered two cases of the SC ST act on the victim family. Dhanjay Mishra, 18 years old son of the deceased, was kidnapped on 19 March but yet not found. No media is interested in showing such matters. Neo Politico spoke to the victims. An incident from Bahraich, UP.

[@Jackshaikh7]

When BJP joined hands with BBC, I didn't expect this playing BJP RSS propaganda before an election playing Muslim and Hindu victim cards. I hope ECI is watching or taking any action on it.

[@tusharmore3967]

If you are so much real and authentic then make video on how Dalits and baudha people in India are converted to Christianity show I will salute No foreign media dares to show

[@venkateshvenkatesh.c6124]

We r st sc hindhu but bjp not slove this caste system in India

[@pkumar5131]

That sangh wala can feed Braham in same plate but is there any assurance that brahman will not do purification after visiting dalit house.

[@sradhakrishnan4593]

Purify your own wretched thinking. Why are you so interested in bathing the bramins?

[@tusharpotdar5762]

व्यक्ति के पास अकल से पहले अगर ताकत और पैसा आ जाए तो वह व्यक्ति अतार्किक वर्तन करने लगता हैं, और उस अपने बर्ताव को सही ठहराने के लिए वो बेसिरपैर के कुछ भी बेतुके तर्क देने लग जाता हैं । आंबेडकर कि जयंती पे रात ग्यारह बजे बाद भी लाउडस्पीकर पे जोर जोर से गाने बजा के संविधानिक नियमों का पालन ना करते हुए संविधान निर्माता बाबासाहेब कि जयंती मनातता हैं । उन शोर करने वालों में से मुश्किल से सौ मे से दस बीस को बाबासाहेब कि डिग्रियाँ और पढ़ाई लिखाई के बारमे पता होगा, बाकी तो बस *"जय'*बोलकर के निकल लेते हैं

[@happyboy2830]

please talk louder

[@MISHA_NARANG_SHARMA]

😢😢 vote ke time pe hindu unity and baad mein unke saath ye sab

[@nazeerpasha2075]

Dalits were never counted as Hindus. It is only a hundred years ago that they were counted as Hindus for political reasons. They were just Adivasi tribals and were called untouchables, then outcasts, lower casts, Harijans and then about 70 years ago they were named as Dalits.

[@CaptainKGF1]

bbc better save your UK as after 50 years you will have to look for new home as way u all allowing middle east and afriq minds

[@SenorSol]

Word salad alert!!

[@parthivchakraborty8253]

why? if caste system prevails and if you are an Indian, you might have to look for a new home as well.

[@thechinmoydeka]

Why can't you take criticism?

[@jamessteeper6617]

@@thechinmoydeka We are always ready to take the criticism. We accept it & we need resolve the caste issue. But the problem with BBC is its timing of this video. 1. What was the need to randomly make a video on casteism? i mean they woke & decided "hey today we will make a video on casteism"!? 2. BBC knows its election time. Same old polarising tactics. 3. 2:25 Look at how they think "Love J!had" is a term used by "Radical" Hindus to "accuse" muslim men- as tho Love J!had is a false narrative. If so, list how many Hindus do love J!had with muslim women. rarest of rare examples- you will find. In fact, there is a viral vdo in which muslim man accepts that he get Rs 50,000 to do Love J1had with hindu girls. BBC is very manipulative pos media.

[@antelopelol2865]

Indian PM Rishi Sunak needs to go first

[@VancouverVince]

Isn't Modi a Dalit???

[@dxruling]

no

[@dinesh6489]

Born as Upper caste Hindu, now after some changes in their State he has become OBC 😂😂

[@SaurabhMishra-rv4dk]

Can Antoio maino is also a Indian..​@@dinesh6489

[@KishoreKumar-cs6dd]

​@@dinesh6489 modi from ganchi (oil welder) community. Backward class

[@kankit230]

​@@dinesh6489he is an OBC he isn't from general caste or a dalit either you lout

[@manishgurav2369]

Reality of prince rahul baba cast census 📊 The Real truth behind Caste census Rahul Gandhi's Caste census is actually Joshua Project of Vatican to convert Indians into Christianity Joshua Project is part of conversion mission in which they want to compile data of all ethnic groups of non Christian people Data collected in caste census will be used by Christian missionaries under Joshua project to plan out strategy for conversion It's like carrying out Joshua project on Indian taxpayers Money Currently India is most untapped country for them and here conversion progress has become very slow in last 10 years after Modi govt RaGa is bring to accelerate this progress Each and every Hindu must oppose Caste census Remember Modi govt's free ration scheme for poors One of the aims of this scheme was to stop rice bag conversions and this scheme performed very well in this A huge conversion started during the COVID era n it was a must to stop this

[@dxruling]

Caste census will reveal how much SCs and STs are represented. If you oppose caste census then you are yourself a casteist.

[@dinesh6489]

So if there is no caste u can keep socially downtrodden at the bottom. In India, caste issues are equivalent to economic issues of the west. So don't be a blind bhakth. It would just reveal the real growth of India. Whether the growth only in Upper caste Hindus or all sections of the people.

[@k-map224]

​@@dxruling If you oppose the caste census you're a casteist. What a joker😂🤡. The ones supporting the census are casteist because you are asking for the division of society and not the other way round 😂😂😂. All Rahul baba supporters are like him , Buffoons 😂😂😂

[@manishgurav2369]

@@dxruling BJP: Vote for me, I'll give you quality education, jobs, free healthcare, infrastructure, electricity. Opposition: Vote for me, I'll give caste census, I'll distribute your wealth, Old pension scheme, I'll breach reservation limit making country bankrupt.

[@manishgurav2369]

@@dinesh6489 He wants the nations treasuries to be thrown open ! He wants all the corporate houses to be taken over ! He wants reservations in private sector ! He wants to re do a caste census just for the Hindus ! He is fighting against the Shakti in Sanatana dharma ! His coalition partners consider Sanatan !as equal to dengue and malaria ! He simply cannot follow any rules ! He also wants to be the PM of India !

[@user-rg3wf8gg4t]

Modi's state right?

[@manishgurav2369]

Government Jobs asking about their Category "Social Justice!" Private Recruiters asking about their Merit "Biasness! Casteism!" I am Happy seeing them Crying There's no Shortcut for Success. Someday everyone has to face the Reality.

[@winaraj]

Good work BBC. Political agenda at full pace work before election. Add one more C after BBC for Congress. :D

[@dinesh6489]

So u want to act like godi media. What u do what u wear Modi ji 😂😂

[@winaraj]

@@dinesh6489 But I also dont want Congress (Rahul) godi media like what BBC, Ravish Kumar, etc all are doing these days.

[@delightfulsound1593]

I invite you all to Join Christianity and find peace in your heart. Jesus Christ is the way the truth and the life no one cometh unto God except through him. Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary for you and me to reconcile us back to God. The Bible says ''For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, while we were yet sinners Christ died for us''. Please repent and be converted. Ask our Lord Jesus to come into your heart immediately and be saved. God loves you.

[@manishgurav2369]

This caste system also gift of Portugal and British Empire to india.

[@nazeerpasha2075]

Who wrote the Manu Smirti?

[@harindersingh1365]

Tum BBC walon ko yahi sab dikhta hai

[@menagill9222]

Why this castle system???? Cow can't be important than human. Hindu are that violent???? Sad

[@INSHALLAH_SUBAH]

Not just cow all animals it's followed in Jainism and Buddhism as well

[@renjithlal9404]

Eradication of caste is one of the aim of Rss Existence of caste discrimination is the need of opposition parties and abrahamic religions in India

[@SHANSHOW-]

Yek bhi gaon dikha😂😂

[@t.brahma2645]

Shit

[@SenorSol]

Which is what happens in many Indian towns, cities, and villages! Open defecation is still a 'thing' in India!

[@agnishwarranjit4425]

RSS and BJP are uniting the hindus including dalits and OBC that is why BSP is not existancial. All Dalits stand strong with bjp.

[@easternmystic-yj4ld]

Where are all Sanghis hiding in this video, whole world knows Aukat of this Civilization.

[@anahita-bn6cy]

We will show you aukat of bharatiya civilization after elections

[@easternmystic-yj4ld]

@@anahita-bn6cy yes like u have shown during Islamic and british rule

[@anahita-bn6cy]

@@easternmystic-yj4ld wartime imbeciles of Mughals and British thinking that they are turkic or Persians 🤣🤣

[@SaurabhMishra-rv4dk]

​@@easternmystic-yj4ldYes remember shivaji and bhagat Singh।।

[@easternmystic-yj4ld]

@@SaurabhMishra-rv4dk Yes, not Sanghis

[@kattarhindu8601]

ab ki baar 400 ke paar

[@anthonygopaul3304]

BBC just get out of india internal affairs, go Pakistan Iran and make videos , Get out of India.

[@SenorSol]

You don't like to read the truth, eh?

[@anthonygopaul3304]

@@SenorSol your truth is based on your bais intellect which is programed to fit your disposition. NOTHING NEW ,from your answers.

[@anthonygopaul3304]

@@SenorSol your truth is based on your intellectual capacity to comprehend from.a neutral perspective. That intellect have to be adjusted.

[@SenorSol]

@@anthonygopaul3304 Word salad alert. What you should be asking yourself is why India is now ranked 159th out of 180 on the RSF global press freedom listing. The BBC and UK is ranked much much higher. Just a thought.

[@anthonygopaul3304]

@@SenorSol so u believe in that survey,!Then believe in India survey Modi 400+

[@arunkumar1610]

These dalits are a disgrace to what Mr. Ambedkar envisioned. They don't know that they are being used as a mercenary.

[@akshayKumar-xw1cy]

If you are gonna generalize better show the all the sides ofcourse this is wrong! But as a hindu i have seen & faced discrimination & mockery too nobody cares about Hindu

[@dinesh6489]

Bro SC/ST are Hindus where is ur education from 😂😂 WhatsApp University 😂😂

[@akshayKumar-xw1cy]

@@dinesh6489 4:40 they indirectly bought cow slaughter issue to showcase Hindus are evil ofcouse its a hindu matter.

[@ni-31]

British Bakwas Corporation..

[@BigBangBBT]

Perfect reaction from caste lover after getting exposed

[@shobhitdagur1086]

​@@BigBangBBTCaste is itself a Portuguese word like witch hunting till 18 th century

[@BigBangBBT]

@@shobhitdagur1086 What does coining a word have to do with this topic? The world has moved on from social evil practices but look at India which prides itself on still practising this caste system.

[@shobhitdagur1086]

@@BigBangBBT They are just 3 percent population of India which believes in caste system others are pride Hindus in Hindu nation

[@sradhakrishnan4593]

​@@BigBangBBTWhich world?

[@vibgyor4909]

no point modi will come😂

[@SenorSol]

I don't think Modi has come for years! Just ask his ex-wife!! 🤣🤣🤣

[@parthivchakraborty8253]

who cares ? it is not about election and even if they are trying to manipulate voters, it is futile for we all know he shall win yet the prevelance of the caste system despite such huge sanskritisation and saffronisation of the states indicate how the evil lies within the system itself!

[@antelopelol2865]

@@SenorSol 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@shobhitdagur1086]

​@@SenorSolYou are not quite intelligent to understand giant like Bharat 😂😂😂

[@shobhitdagur1086]

​@@SenorSolonly worry about Islamic tiny island of Britain 😂😂😂😂😂

[@nationfirst879]

BBC you poor guys can't do anything

[@9694218247]

The BBC's blatant promotion of religious and caste-based propaganda in its coverage of India is utterly disgraceful. Shame on the BBC for abandoning journalistic ethics and resorting to divisive tactics. It's high time they are held accountable for their biased and irresponsible reporting."

[@nazeerpasha2075]

Dalits were never counted as Hindus. It is only a hundred years ago that they were counted as Hindus for political reasons. They were just Adivasi tribals and were called untouchables, then outcasts, lower casts, Harijans and then about 70 years ago they were named as Dalits.

[@9694218247]

@@nazeerpasha2075 The assertion that Dalits were never counted as Hindus overlooks historical evidence. While the status of Dalits within Hindu society has been complex and fraught with discrimination, they have been recognized as part of the Hindu social fabric for centuries. Numerous historical texts, including ancient scriptures, epics, and legal codes, mention the presence of Dalits within Hindu society. Additionally, many Dalit communities themselves identify with Hinduism, practicing its rituals, customs, and traditions. Moreover, legal and governmental documents in colonial and post-independence India have categorized Dalits as Hindus for administrative purposes. These factors collectively affirm that Dalits have been an integral part of the Hindu community throughout history.

[@9694218247]

@@nazeerpasha2075 Tujhe bahut pata hai daliton ke bare mein Tere bhi ancestor dalit the kya aur bad Mein katuve aur mulya Ban Gaye