Rss don’t ‘rework’ Manusmriti ‘Re-form’ yourself

Prabhakar Sinha

There is a news item in the Indian Express ( New Delhi, May 14,2017 ) with a heading 'RSS outfit wants Manusmriti reworked. 'Amir Chand, joint organizing Secretary Sanskar Bharati (a Sangh's organ ) is reported to have said' We are debating the removal of portions from Manusmriti, which are anti-Dalit and anti-woman and often quoted in arguments against Hindu scriptures.'

He wants these references deleted and wants the government 'to look into it .'

One does not understand how the RSS has the authority to edit portions of a book written several centuries ago so that they may counter the arguments against Manusmriti, which contains the anti-Dalit and anti-woman prescriptions.

If they really believe and realise that Manusmiriti has been unjust and inhuman to Dalits, backward castes and women for centuries, they must reform themselves by replacing the injustice and inhumanity by justice and humanity. First, they must demolish the varna based role of the Dalits,."Shudras" and women assigned in Manusmriti by giving the post of Sangh Sar Sanchalak to a Dalit.

The other high posts in the Sangh must also be given to Dalits, "Shudras" and women to undo the grave injustice to which they have been subjected for centuries.

This alone would show that they are genuine in claiming that they accept that a grave injustice has been done to Dalits, Shudras and women because of Manusmriti's ideas and prescription.

Deleting objectionable portions from Manusmriti without giving Dalits, Backward castes and women the high position which Manusmriti has been denying them in the society would be one more act of fraud in their history of fraud played on the people.