RSS leader Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi on Saturday emphasised that caste should not be a source of division among Hindus and said that caste is merely a concept based on birth at the community centre in Triveni Nagar, Jaipur for the 'Path Sanchalan' organised by the RSS on Vijayadashami.
Comparing caste distinctions to state boundaries that don't divide, Joshi highlighted the spiritual unity across the country, pointing to Haridwar, the 12 Jyotirlingas, and the 51 Shaktipeeths. "Castes are decided based on birth. Can anyone say which caste Haridwar belongs to? Does the 12 Jyotirlingas belong to any caste? Does 51 Shaktipeeths in different parts of the country belong to any caste? Those who consider themselves Hindus and live in all parts of the country accept all these as their own. Where is the divide then? The way state boundaries can't create any division amongst us, similarly, the things based on birth cannot divide us. If there is any wrong perception, that must be changed; if there is any confusion or useless arrogance, that should end," said Joshi. Joshi's statement during the Vijayadashmi celebrations in Jaipur highlighted India's rich linguistic and cultural diversity. He emphasised that while states and their languages may differ, no language is supreme over others. "States are different and their languages are different, even the small cultures of these states are different. An unwanted illusion is being created that one language is supreme. Every language that is being spoken in India is a national language whether it is Tamil, Malayalam, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali or Hindi. The idea behind all these languages is one. Languages are different but our thinking is the same...," said the RSS leader. Suresh Bhaiyaji Joshi also emphasised the need for a comprehensive strategy to integrate Hindi more effectively into academic frameworks, advocating for its inclusion across various subjects and disciplines. "Unfortunately, today due to some education system or the other, we are getting away from speaking our mother tongue in its pure form. The best example of this is Israel. When Israel, a country scattered in different countries, came into existence in 1947, all the work of Israel was done in the same language which was their original language, not in English. China does not speak English. Japan and Russia also do not speak English, but knowingly or unknowingly we the people of India became slaves of English.." "There is no harm in learning English, one should know languages for knowledge. Speak, read and learn English but it is important to think about not getting away from your language.." he added. Bhaiyyaji Joshi also spoke about the reservation system and said, "There is some distortion in our society. In the name of caste, our religious places/our religious scriptures are not connected to any caste. The language spoken does not belong to any caste. When our religious scriptures are one, pilgrimages are one, great men are one, then how can we be different in the name of castes." (ANI)
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