Sangh Samachar

Sant Ravidas Chetna Yatra concludes in Varanasi
Hindus should unite above caste ?Mohan Bhagwat
IVSK

Despite various efforts made by senior saints of the country, untouchability still exists in some parts of the country causing major loss to the Hindu society. But saints and various social organisations continue with their efforts to eradicate the evil. Sant Ravidas Chetna Yatra, which began from Chittorgarh, the smadhi sthal of Sant Ravidas, on November 20 and culminated in Varanasi (his birthplace) on December 6, exhorted the Hindu society to strengthen social harmony. The Yatra reached Jaipur on November 29 where it received a warm welcome.

Speaking at the dharmasabha in Jaipur, Shri Mohan Bhagwat, RSS Sarkaryavah, called upon the gathering to work for eradicating social untouchability. He said the saints had already disapproved social untouchability at the Udupi convention and had said that a Hindu could never be untouchable and all Hindus were brothers. He appealed to people to think positive and constructive. ?The dream of social harmony will not be materialised just by dreaming but with the continuous efforts and also by following the directions of the saints. The Hindus should expand their relations beyond their castes. Removing the differences of caste, region, state or language, we shall have to establish harmony in the society,? he said, adding that the Sant Ravidas Chetna Yatra was propagating the same truth.

Shri Ashok Singhal, VHP president, said untouchability has no place in Hinduism and it began during the Mughal period. He alleged that the political parties did everything to divide the Hindu society on the ground of caste in rural areas so as to garner votes. Organised under the aegis of Adi Dharma Mission of Varanasi and Akhil Bharatiya Samajik Abhiyan, the Chetana Yatra received a warm welcome in all the areas wherever it passed through.

It is to be noted that Guru Ravidas was born in Chanwar vansha of Kshatriya branch of suryavansh. He was one of the prime disciples of Swami Ramananda. Guru Ravidas along with his entire family was punished with removing dead animals and their skins by Sikandar Lodi, because Guru Ravidas had defeated one Muslim butcher, named as Sadana in a shastrartha who later became Ravidas'sdisciple. It irked Lodi. According to historians Hindus, who were defeated by Islamic invaders, were also punished with similar kind of works. But Guru Ravidas strengthened the religious feelings among all such people and stopped them from adopting Islam. The prime aim of the Yatra was to remove differences of caste, untouchability, etc.