In the words of Bharat Gupt, The division of the present society is purely based on the voting benefits that the parties get.
Keeping this in mind, it does not come as a surprise when the Ancient Texts of Bharat are “criticised for being casteist”, specially seeing the fact that the vote banks have to be catered to by the communal Leftists.
This unnecessary politics is done to vilify the Hindus and defame them and their ancestors as ruthless casteists who exploited the helpless and looked down upon them. Such theories are spread with a strong fervour to bring about a wrong notion about Hinduism and our Texts in particular. These petty theories are also a means used by the Communists to divide the unifying Hindus and spread a message of hatred amongst them towards each other.
Publications like The Print have criticised the Ramcharitamanas for spreading caste bias and “welcomed” the changes made by the Gita Publication for changing the “discriminatory” meaning of the Text!
Coming across such scenarios, the slander is for political benefits, sadly. When it comes to Ancient Hindu Texts, the meaning of shlokas should only be according to the references and the intention of the speaker.
The most controversial passage from the Shri Ramcharitmanas, in which Shri Ram ji and Tulsidas ji are denigrated as misogynists, chauvinists, and casteists. This couldn’t be further from the truth.
First off, the question only alluded to the first part of the chaupai. the following is the whole chaupai:
“प्रभु भल कीन्ह मोहि सिख दीन्हीं। मरजादा पुनि तुम्हरी कीन्हीं॥
ढोल गवाँर सूद्र पसु नारी। सकल ताड़ना के अधिकारी”
Second, Samudra Dev said these words; hence, Shri Ram and Tuslidas Ji had no part in creating this quotation. “To Explain” is the intended meaning here.
Dhol: A dhol (drum) was used to convey any notification in ancient India. A certain message would be distributed by designated individuals at various locations. To convey the message’s tone, the dhol wala would need to beat the drum in a certain way. The drum needed particular instructions on how to beat, so he had to give them.
Gawar: It goes without saying that a dumb person needs to be trained at every step;.
Any labourer is referred to as a “Shudra,” not the caste system. Caste in Ancient Bharat was based on occupation and was therefore not a means to banish or outcaste any individual.
Pashu: A creature. Animals have frequently been employed for transportation, field labour, weight carrying, and even as a source of communication.
Nari: The most misused word referring to a woman of low intent. This does not mean that all women have crude intents and it must be understood that crude intents are independent of gender roles.
Putting everything together: Samudra Dev ignored Shri Ram ji when he didn’t appear in front of him even after three days, and Shri Ram ji grew furious. He was about to shoot an arrow as a result. When Samudra Dev finally realised how serious the situation was, he went to Lord Shri Ram and begged for pardon.
He spoke the aforementioned phrase throughout the conversation, which meant (not a literal translation but an explanation): “Lord, you were right to chastise/educate me. Even if you alone created these feelings and “maryada,” Lord, just as one must teach a drum, a dumb person, a labourer, an animal, and a female, even you have to instruct me for the desired task.”
We have learned the virtue of Satya Vachan from Sri Rama. We have learned Karuna and tremendous empathy from Valmiki. Tulsidas’ 16th-century Awadhi gave both a fresh lease of life. Shouldn’t we focus on issues that are more pertinent to the present and democratic India’s concerns in order to arouse compassion and truth? Instead of criticising a 16th-century poet for the accident of his birth in a certain caste, is it not essential to criticise the BBC documentary’s emphasis on current events in a direct manner?
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