Gandhi and Caste: In the end Result he had Feet of Clay
MK Gandhi is propagated by the Congress government as the father of the independence movement. He is also eulogized as a man who fought the ills of Hinduism, especially caste divisions of society. Caste as we know has been a factor in Indian and ipso facto Hindu history from as far back as the Mahabharata, which was written between 4000-5000 BC.
India all these centuries had a string of saints, holy men and saints who wanted to reform society. Reformers like Guru Nanak, Namdev and Raja Ram Mohan Roy were thus relative failures. The result is that even in the 21st century, this division in Hindu society continues. It remains the one single divisive force in India and one wonders who can remove it. One thing is clear that a division of society sanctified by the scriptures, as well as common usage for thousands of years is not easy to obliterate.
One man, who appeared on the horizon in the 20th century, had the power to break the caste system. For all his faults, this man Gandhi had a following in all corners of India and had he decided to take the bull by the horns as far as caste system is concerned, there was a chance of this divison getting blurred. The fact is that the caste sytem has been further refined and now.The 4 main divisions of society are further accentuated by sub-castes and clans. These further sub-divide Hindu society.
What were the views of Gandhi on caste and Hindu society? To form a correct assessment of Gandhi on this matter, one must study the writings of the man. Gandhi returned to India from South Africa at the turn of the last century. He was aware that caste had bedeviled Indian society, yet he never went against the caste divisions. I will quote Gandhi from his works. He wrote in 1921 " I am a sanatani Hindu. I believe in Varnashram Dharma. I believe in protection of the cow"
This statement in one line sums up Gandhi's views on caste. Not many know that his great speeches on caste and untouchability in India were an aberration. At these meetings when he was supposed to be making his plea against untouchability and caste, there were separate enclosures for the lower caste Hindus. The lower caste Hindus were made to sit apart from the higer castes. He also said that he did not believe that equality of caste meant that a higher caste ( brahmin) will eat on the same table along with an untouchable.
Gandhi wrote extensively and most of his writings on caste and the Varna system are never publicised. The reason is not far to seek, as in case his writings are made public and read out to all, they will show that Gandhi in fact upheld the caste system and its division of Hindu society.
Gandhi also wrote that the beauty of the caste system is that it does not base itself on distinctions of wealth. He was of the view that the caste system was a harmonious human adjustment and division of Hindus. He also felt that caste serves a definite purpose in society. A man with such views cannot be expected to strike at the root of the ills that bedevil Hindu society.
It is possible that at some stage in Hindu society, caste may have been a system to keep order in society. Unfortunately these divisions got accentuated down the ages resulting in a deep shism among the followers of a common religion. Thus at many temples and shrines, many of the so called untouchables are not allowed. Thinking of marriage between the higher and lower caste can lead to great strife and bloodshed. Gandhi had a chance to try and become a messiah and reform Hindu society, but he did precious little. The reason was that he himself believed in the Varna system and considered it the bed rock of Indian society.
Gandhi's writing point to his state of mind. At one point he wrote " Caste does not connote inferiority or superiority. It simply recognizes different outlooks and corresponding modes of life". He went on to add that all castes cannot accept a common goal of life and as such a hierarchy was inevitable. These thoughts of the so called " father of the nation" show Gandhi in poor light.
Gandhi's views on caste and racial divisions had surfaced as far back as when he was in South Africa. His sojourn there show that he considered the blacks to be inferior to Indians and in one case when some Hindus were imprisoned along with blacks, he wrote a letter to General Smuts, the Governor General in South Africa, that blacks should not be kept along with Hindus. His remark to a visiting dignitary from Europe also shows the mind of Gandhi and his twisted logic. Referring to blacks he had said that" can you teach the Gospel to the cow?".
Gandhi was thus not a revolutionary and it is the bane of India that a mass leader who could have done so much, did nothing. Gandhi was also opposed to remarriage and inter-caste marriages. When one of his sons whose wife had died, wanted to marry again, Gandhi voiced his strong opposition to a second union. Thus one can infer that widow remarriage was a subject that he opposed as well. He considered marriage to be a carnal union and as he advocated celibacy, he could not accept that a remarriage was anybody's need.
Dr. Ambedkar a erudite and learned man saw through the views of Gandhi. He was of the view that Gandhi was decieving himself and all the people of India by preaching that the Varna and caste system was the bedrock of Hindu society. Dr. Ambedkar was born an untouchable and after facing severe discrimination from higher caste Hindus converted to Buddhism along with thousands of his followers. Gandhi tried to stop this conversion, but he failed. Dr. Ambedkar's writings on Gandhi are revealing and hardly published anywhere.
Gandhi also opposed inter-caste marriages. He was fond of quoting the Gita in this matter. The Gita at many places has verses that say that in case a higher caste Hindu marries a lower caste or untoucable than he will be debased.
The question arises as to why was Gandhi supporting the caste system. to get an answer to this question, one can again refer to the writings of Dr Ambedkar. As per him, Gandhi was a politician and reform was far from his mind. He wanted to be adulated by the masses. He further adds that Gandhi was scared of losing his leadership of the Hindus in case he went against caste as he would lose his place in politics.
I personally feel that he was in a way wary of Jinnah who had appropriated for himself the role of the sole leader of the Muslims in the sub-continent. To match him Gandhi, presented himself as a Hindu leader who respected the caste system. Otherwise he would have lost his place as a leader of India. Thus one can see that Gandhi in retrospect was a man who bowed to the wind. He was not a reformer, but a plain wily politician. it is a matter of regret that the greatest Hindu leader of the 20th century abdicated his reposnsibilty in his lust for greatness. In other word we can say he let the Hindus down.
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