Islam and Christianity too have practices like 'untouchability': Romila Thapar

[email protected] (CD Network)
January 22, 2015

Mangaluru, Jan 21: “We are witnessing and continuing to witness excesses of religious extremism that is encouraged by some religious groups in this country. It is becoming very difficult to advocate a secular society given the looming presence of this extremism. However, we cannot have a democracy with laws that revert back to religion,” said eminent historian and Prof Emerita at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi Prof Romila Thapar.

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Delivering the B V Kakkilaya Inspired Oration – 2015 on ‘Indian Society and Secularism’ organised by Hosatu, Bengaluru, M S Krishnan Memorial Trust, Bengaluru and Samadarshi Vedike, Mangaluru in association with Department of History at University College, Mangaluru here on Wednesday, she strongly advocated the need to have a new civil law in the country which was applicable to all Indian citizens rising above all religious differences. Laws that legalize a differentiated status with some being given more rights, are defective and not secular, she said, adding that the civil laws should be above the laws of a particular community.

“Being a multi-religious society, secularism should be an important component if we are to support proper democratic functioning in this country. And social justice should be an important component of a secular society. As long as we have the freedom to choose the values that should govern our society, we can choose to secularise our society. We need to redefine the secular move for India to shift the focus from co-existence of religions to equality of all people belonging to different religions,” she said.

Prof. Thapar also said that conversion to Hinduism is invented recently and the phenomenon was problematic because of the caste system. Referring to the ‘Ghar Wapsi’ campaign of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, she said that those converting into Hinduism are put through “purification”, thereby suggesting that they were from lower castes.

She said conversions were not a problem in Christianity or Islam for which it was not modern phenomenon. Pointing at the practice of untouchability, she said Islam and Christianity too had similar practices.

Prof Thapar also said that religion was a matter of faith and it was essential to speak up when it was used as an instrument of politics. Most people in India value their religion, looking at religion and worship as a personal experience. Such people also find that using religion for political purposes is not acceptable,” she said.

Former professor of History, Mangaluru University Prof B Surendra Rao introduced the keynote speaker and presided over the function. Dr Srinivas Kakkilaya and other dignitaries were present.

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News Network
March 8,2023

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Bengaluru, Mar 8: A day after claiming that surveys indicated that the Congress is projected to win over 140 out of the total 224 seats in the upcoming Karnataka Assembly polls, its state President D K Shivakumar on Wednesday said BJP's numbers would not cross beyond 65, and may even come down to 40 seats. He claimed that people from all walks of life across the state were angry against this BJP government.

"We have a guarantee about our numbers, we also have a guarantee that BJP's numbers will not go beyond 65. What the BJP is doing or saying is their internal matter, Yediyurappa has said something (about winning over 140 seats) based on their calculation, I don't want to interfere with their party," Shivakumar said. Speaking to reporters here, he said, let the BJP do whatever they want, but their numbers won't cross beyond 60-65.

"This is definite, but according to me, it will not be surprising if their number comes down to 40 like they had got 40 seats (in the 2013 Assembly polls), after the first term of the BJP government in the state (from 2008-13). So, it will not be surprising if the '40 per cent commission BJP government' comes down to 40 seats, people are that angry, you ask whomever you want, anywhere," he added. The KPCC chief on Tuesday claimed that while its earlier survey had projected Congress' seat tally at 136, the recent survey predicted a tally of over 140 seats.

In the 2018 Assembly polls, the BJP had won 104 seats in the 224-member Assembly, emerging as the single largest party, while Congress and JD(S)' tally stood at 80 and 37 respectively. However, BJP's tally increased in the later days giving it a majority in the Assembly, as several Congress and JD(S) MLAs defected to join the saffron party.

To a question on Congress' screening committee meeting as part of the party's process to select candidates, Shivakumar said, "today too there is a meeting, we have reached a stage, completing almost 75 per cent of the process, today we will complete it fully, after this it will be sent to the national level (AICC)." 

"We will do the process (to choose candidates) and intimate those concerned," he said, when asked whether the process was getting too long. Shivakumar also called Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai "Sullina Saradaara" (lord of lies), as he hit out at the latter for terming Congress 200 units of free power promise as "bogus", stating that the CM himself was making false promises to people or not keeping the promises made earlier. 

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News Network
March 15,2023

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Udupi, Mar 15: Sambratha Shetty, a resident of Udupi’s Kemmannu, has been chosen to participate in the ‘Leaders Lead on-Demand’ program organized by the US Federal government.

Sambratha Shetty, wife of Dr Roshan Shetty, is the daughter of businessman Sampathkumar Shetty and Mamatha Shetty. 

Currently she is the chief operating officer of Pinaji Foundation. She holds a patent for a nasal spray that she has developed. 

Apart from Sambratha, four other individuals from India would be participating in the program. 

The other selected candidates include Pranay Kotasthane from Bengaluru, two individuals from New Delhi, and one from Kolkata.

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News Network
March 13,2023

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Mangaluru, Mar 12: 'We the People', a new civil society organisation, was launched at a function organised at Fr. L.F. Rasquinha Hall of St. Aloysius College in the city recently. The organization aims to deepen democracy and improve the living standards of citizens in the Dakshina Kannada.

During the launch, experts highlighted the importance of citizens' participation in the effective functioning of a democratic system. They urged citizens to bring any observed deficiencies to the attention of the authorities and emphasized the critical role civil society organisations play in this process.

The function was presided over by Padmanabha Ullal, a senior social worker, and retired officer, who also launched the organization's website, www.we-the-ppl.org. In his address to the gathering, Ullal emphasized the need for citizens to take responsibility for identifying and reporting problems and grievances. He stated that only through people's participation can the system work more dynamically.

The chief guest, Katyayani Chamaraj of Civic Bangalore, expressed concern that the government has the wrong policies for solving the problems of the municipalities. She urged civil society organisations to inform local government bodies of people's demands.

"The Ward Committees are not allowed to function properly, and Area Sabhas have not been constituted yet. Unlike rural areas, a social audit is not done in urban areas. Civil society organisations should constantly make local government bodies aware of the people's demands. Advocacy should be done for people's work; if unavoidable, issues can also be challenged in court," she said.

Prof. D. Jeevan Kumar, Hon. Professor of Karnataka State Rural Development and Panchayat Raj University, Gadag, quoted comparative studies and gave suggestions for developing the democratic system in India. Melanie Kumar, a freelance journalist, spoke about the dangers of social media.

President of 'We the People,' Prathapchandra Kedilaya, explained the organisation's aims and objectives. He also announced that the Association would be convening a brainstorming meeting with social activists from across the Dakshina Kannada district within the next ten days. The purpose of this meeting would be to address the various social issues affecting the region.

The Vice President, Mariete Fernandes, welcomed the gathering. Secretary Oswald Periera gave a vote of thanks. Treasurer Suresh Nayak and Executive Members Bhaskar Kiran, Dilip Vas Naik, Gladys Monteiro, and Steevan Dsouza participated in the inaugural.

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