JAT-PAT-TODAK MANDAL OF LAHORE-XII
The assertion
by the individual of his own opinions and beliefs, his own independence and
interest as over against group standards, group authority and group interests
is the beginning of all reform. But whether the reform will continue depends
upon what scope the group affords for such individual assertion. If the group
is tolerant and fair-minded in dealing with such individuals they will continue
to assert and in the end succeed in converting their fellows. On the other hand
if the group is intolerant and does not bother about the means it adopts to
stifle such individuals they will perish and the reform will die out. Now a
caste has an unquestioned right to excommunicate any man who is guilty of
breaking the rules of the caste and when it is realized that excommunication
involves a complete cesser of social intercourse it will be agreed that as a
form of punishment there is really little to choose between excommunication and
death. No wonder individual Hindus have not had the courage to assert their
independence by breaking the barriers of caste. It is true that man cannot get
on with his fellows. But it is also true that he cannot do without them. He
would like to have the society of his fellows on his terms. If be cannot get it
on his terms then he will be ready to have it on any terms even amounting to
complete surrender. This is because he cannot do without society. A caste is
ever ready to take advantage of the helplessness of a man and insist upon
complete conformity to its code in letter and in spirit. A caste can easily
organize itself into a conspiracy to make the life of a reformer a hell and if
a conspiracy is a crime I do not understand why such a nefarious act as an
attempt to excommunicate a person for daring to act contrary to the rules of
caste should not be made an offence punishable in law. But as it is, even law
gives each caste an autonomy to regulate its membership and punish dissenters
with excommunication. Caste in the hands of the orthodox has been a powerful
weapon for persecuting the reforms and for killing all reform.
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