JAT-PAT-TODAK MANDAL OF LAHORE-IX
Not only has
the Hindu made no effort for the humanitarian cause of civilizing the savages
but the higher-caste Hindus have deliberately prevented the lower castes who
are within the pale of Hinduism from rising to the cultural level of the higher
castes. 1. will give two instances, one of the Sonars and the other of the
Pathare Prabhus. Both are communities quite well-known in Maharashtra. Like the
rest of the communities desiring to raise their status these two communities
were at one time endeavouring to adopt some of the ways and habits of the
Brahmins. The Sonars were styling themselves Daivadnya Brahmins and were
wearing their " dhotis " with folds on and using the word namaskar for salutation. Both, the
folded way of wearing the " dhoti " and the namaskar were special to the Brahmins. The Brahmins did not like
this imitation and this attempt by Sonars to pass off as Brahmins. Under the
authority of the Peshwas the Brahmins successfully put down this attempt on the
part. of the Sonars to adopt the ways of the Brahmins. They even got the
President of the Councils of the East India Company's settlement in Bombay to
issue a. prohibitory order against the Sonars residing in Bombay. At one time
the Pathare Prabhus had widow-remarriage as a custom of their caste. This
custom of widow-remarriage was later on looked upon as amark of social
inferiority by some members of the caste especially because it was contrary to
the custom prevalent among the Brahmins. With the object of raising the status
of their community some Pathare Prabhus sought to stop this practice of
widow-remarriage that was prevalent in their caste. The community was divided
into two camps, one for and the other against the innovation. The Peshwas took
the side of those in favour of widow-remarriage and thus virtually prohibited
the Pathare Prabhus from following the ways of the Brahmins. The Hindus
criticise the Mohammedans for having spread their religion by the use of the
sword. They also ridicule Christianity on the score of the inquisition. But
really speaking who is better and more worthy of our respect—the Mohammedans
and Christians who attempted to thrust down the throats of unwilling persons
what they regarded as necessary for their salvation or the Hindu who would not
spread the light, who would endeavour to keep others in darkness, who would not
consent to share his intellectual and social inheritance with those who are ready
and willing to make it a part of their own make-up ? I have no hesitation in
saying that if the Mohammedan has been cruel the Hindu has been mean and
meanness is worse than cruelty.
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