Baba
Wrong: caste / race-based allotment
Namaskár,
The government of India, in order to support those who suffer discrimination based on caste, started reservation and caste-based quota programs. In the USA, affirmative action is often used to support the black people who suffer racial discrimination. Such reservations and affirmative action programs are a form of positive discrimination movements to enhance the representation of the group of people who are disadvantaged due to their so-called caste or so-called race. It is often thought that by increasing the representation of a certain group (caste or race) of people in the mainstream, the group can improve their situation. However, the exploitation continues.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Wikipedia states, “Affirmative action (known as reservation in India and Nepal and positive discrimination in the UK; also known in a narrower context as employment equity in Canada and South Africa) is the policy of favoring members of a disadvantaged group who suffer or have suffered from discrimination within a culture.” (Courtesy of Wikipedia)
Shri Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar says, “In the present socio-economic environment, however, if the following preferential system is adopted as a temporary measure, then the suffering of the people may be alleviated. First, poor people coming from backward families should get first preference in the fields of services and education, irrespective of their birth affiliation. Second preference should go to the poor people coming from non-backward families. Third preference should go to the non-poor people coming from backward families. Last preference should go to the non-poor people coming from non-backward families. Here, “backward” means families who did not get any services or education in the past. Such families should continue to get these facilities until there is no poverty in the country – that is, until the minimum requirements are guaranteed.” (1)
Way to uplift economically backward
According to Prout, the only class divide that should be acknowledged and acted upon to mitigate social inequality is the economic one. Financially poor people, regardless of caste or race, must be given adequate social support in terms of basic necessities - food, shelter, clothing, education, and medical care - to facilitate their upliftment. A social movement to ensure that nobody struggles meeting basic necessities is legitimate, according to Prout. These days we hear about the social movements to allow the so-called lower caste people into Hindu temples. Such approaches are just an eyewash by the politicians to exploit the socio-sentiments of the people for satisfying their petty vested interests. Such movements based on caste system or race differentiation are useless at best and malevolent at worst.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Humans have no caste or race
Humans have evolved from Apes. Apes certainly do not have castes. Thus, it is illogical to think that the humans originating from Apes can have castes. All beings are the progeny of Parama Purusha and are thereby brothers and sisters. Siblings cannot have different castes or races.
Prout prefixes “so-called” before any mention of caste
Shri P. R. Sarkar guides us that we should not give any credence to caste differences. He uses the prefix phrase “so-called” before mentioning the word caste in His teachings to emphasize the meaninglessness of the term caste. Note the use of highlighted prefix so-called in the below teaching.
Prout propounder Shri Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar says, “Just as that little bird kept confined to a cage develops rheumatism in its wings, the human mind, due to constant negative thoughts, gets paralysed. It is not the so-called upper castes only who are to blame – the so-called lower castes have passively accepted this sad plight like the caged bird, and have even sometimes encouraged it. This is a shame, a matter of immense regret.” (2)
Futility of caste & race-based reservation
Caste-based and race-based reservations are meaningless as they consider the flimsy and false notion of caste/race rather than the financial condition which is the real cause of plight.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Prout philosophy says, “Thus, the criteria for receiving preferential services and education should not be birth affiliation but a person’s economic condition. A so-called low caste shoe repair man may be economically well-off, thus the advantage of job reservation is superfluous for him and misleading for society. There is no need of job reservation in these circumstances. On the other hand, there may be a Maethil Brahmin who comes from a so-called high caste family but is economically very poor. Job reservation is essential for him, and would increase the economic standard of the entire society.” (3)
Proutist definition of “backward”
According to Prout, only those people who did not get the opportunity to get educated can be considered as backward. Often, in the present parlance, people belonging to a particular caste are labeled backward. This is against Prout. Prout says that the reservation, as a temporary measure, should be given purely on the basis of economic and educational level of a person rather than on the basis of caste or race.
Shri Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar says, “In the present socio-economic environment, however, if the following preferential system is adopted as a temporary measure, then the suffering of the people may be alleviated. First, poor people coming from backward families should get first preference in the fields of services and education, irrespective of their birth affiliation. Second preference should go to the poor people coming from non-backward families. Third preference should go to the non-poor people coming from backward families. Last preference should go to the non-poor people coming from non-backward families. Here, “backward” means families who did not get any services or education in the past. Such families should continue to get these facilities until there is no poverty in the country – that is, until the minimum requirements are guaranteed.” (4)
Conclusion
Government programs like caste-based reservations, affirmative action, and equal opportunity have been introduced to enhance the representation of the people belonging to the so-called lower-caste or discriminated race. It is often thought that the increased representation of the so-called low-caste people can improve their situation. However, it is very clear that such programs do not solve the problem and at their best are patch-work type of solutions. The Proutist solution is two-pronged; first, the economically deprived should be supported with food, clothing, shelter, medical care, education, as well as a proper job to bring them to the mainstream, and second is to derecognize the caste-system as well as all forms of racial differentiation.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
In Him,
Sagar
One should forget one's race or caste
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Members of a particular race who consider themselves superior to others also very frequently inflict injustices on other sections of society…injustices on Harijans by the so-called superior races have caused a tremendous amount of disruption in society. To obviate this type of social injustice, the first attempt should be to do away with racial distinctions in society. In Ananda Marga the first step that one takes is to forget one’s race or sect – to no longer identify oneself with one’s race, caste or sect – regardless of whether it was superior or inferior.” (5)
References
(1) Prout in a Nutshell - 15, Elevating Backward Classes
(2) Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell Part 5, Yatamána – 2
(3) Prout in a Nutshell - 15, Elevating Backward Classes
(4) Prout in a Nutshell - 15, Elevating Backward Classes
(5) A Few Problems Solved Part 7, Social Psychology
* * *
The below section is an entirely different topic, unrelated to the above material.
It stands on its own merit as a point of interest and ideological awareness.
* * *
== Section 2: Important Teaching ==
Recipe for progress
Ananda Marga ideology states, "Those who want to avoid the cultivation of knowledge hardly get any opportunity for psychic clash, and hence the higher kośas of his mind do not get any scope for development. It is through psychic clash that the psychic field gets properly tilled, thereby increasing its fertility. All living beings evolving in the phase of Pratisaiṋcara benefit from this psychic clash."
"Both physical clash and psychic clash accelerate psychic progress. The rat which escapes from the trap never makes the mistake of getting caught again; the fish which frees itself from the fishermans hook never bites the bait again. Physical clash develops the kámamaya kośa and, as a consequence, the instinct to survive. A city ox walks confidently along a busy street in Calcutta, but if a village ox were made to walk along the same road, it would become crazy." (1)
Note: The general rule is: Physical clash is the impetus for physical development; psychic clash brings about psychic development; and, the attraction for the Great leads to spiritual development.
Reference
1. Ananda Marga Ideology & Way of Life - 8, Struggle and Progress
== Section: Important Teaching ==
About industrial sector
Prout philosophy states, "We cannot neglect even a single living being in this creation, nor can we ignore the smallest part of the universe. So, as far as possible, the industrial system should be organized according to the principle of decentralization. Industrial development in one part of the world cannot satisfactorily eradicate poverty or unemployment in another part. Therefore, in the industrial system, it is necessary to build up numerous self-sufficient units, at least for those industrial and agricultural commodities which are considered to be essential for maintaining life. Otherwise people will have to suffer tremendous hardships during war and other abnormal circumstances. With the development of transportation and communication, the size of these units can be expanded." (1)
Reference
1. Problems of the Day #7
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Place of religion after all become margiis
Place of religion after all become margiis
Ananda Marga philosophy states says, "You should be careful not to hurt the religious sentiments of others, even if in the future most people become A'nanda Ma'rgiis. Deities should be preserved in museums, and temples should be restored to maintain the cultural and historical heritage of the country." (1)
Note: With the coming rise of our Ananda Marga way of life we should not suppress or eliminate the various legacies and traditions of any people or community etc. All should be honoured and respected and taught the ways of neo-humanism.
Reference
1. Prout in a Nutshell - 16, Three Cardinal Socio-Political Principles
