View source for Criticism of Hinduism

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::''This article has been published in protest of Hindu extremists continuously and systematically waging a mass censorship campaign all over the internet against any and all criticisms of Hinduism, especially the ongoing censorship that is happening on Wikipedia (for example the article called ''"Criticism of Hinduism"'' is forcefully, repeatedly and shockingly being re-directed to another article to imply it's "racist" to criticise Hinduism, called "Anti-Hindu Sentiment", when criticism of Hinduism isn't even anti-Hindu since the ideology is being criticised and not the people). Furthermore "Criticism of Christianity" and "Criticism of Islam" don't redirect to "Anti-Christian Sentiment" or "Anti-Muslim Sentiment"; and nor should they. All religions deserve criticism, however, increasingly, people are being forced to shut up about criticising Hinduism in particular and of pointing out it's many flaws. One can't even talk about criticising Hinduism on Wikipedia because of how many editors from India are trying to cover up what it's scriptures truly say. Such an article wouldn't even be anti-Hindu; it would just be discussing the arguments of those who find faults with Hinduism itself as a religion (of which there are many). The internet should be a place to freely discuss ideas''. 
:::''May free speech prevail. This article will add more criticisms of Hinduism in due time section by section to ensure a body of work exists critiquing this oft-ignored religion''. 
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===The Hindu Caste System===
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[[File:Krishna-kolhi.jpg|left|200px|thumb|<div style="text-align:justify; word-spacing: -0.1em; letter-spacing: -0em; line-height:100%; width:100%; font-size:90%;">Krishna Kohli, a Hindu Dalit from Pakistan. She is treated as an equal in Pakistan whereas she is seen as inferior in India, purely because of her caste.</div>]]
[[File:500813023-2733625713994061835025461430921829168897707n696x522.jpg|left|200px|thumb|<div style="text-align:justify; word-spacing: -0.1em; letter-spacing: -0em; line-height:100%; width:100%; font-size:90%;">Krishna Kohli, with Dalit children in Pakistan where the concept of Dalits does not exist given that they are treated equally under the law, unlike India.</div>]]

::::::::::*The '''Persecution of Dalits''' in Hindu societies is both extensive and brutal. Dalits are a caste of the Hindu religion, and are considered the lowliest of all castes amongst the Hindu Caste System. It has never been independent from religion, and is in fact rooted into the very fabric of Hinduism. There are five castes in Hinduism (but Hindus believe there are only four, with the fifth and last caste, Dalit, existing below or outside this system<ref name="aljazeeraenglish"/>).<ref name="bbcindiacastesystem"/>
::::::::::**The structure consists of (from highest to lowest) Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras and Dalits.<ref name="aljazeeraenglish">''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7xTSy4P9QI Dalit Muslims of India | Al Jazeera World]''. Runtime: 42 Minutes 35 Seconds (42:35). Timestamp: 01:08 to 1:30. YouTube (Channel: Al Jazeera English). Retrieved August 21st, 2020.</ref> Even within this caste structure, there are sub-divisions within each caste (for example the Dalits have some 40 sub-subcaste divisions). Each caste is responsible for different roles in society, however the crucial difference between the Hindu Caste System and class is that these professions are inherited in Hinduism and furthermore that they are only reserved for these specific castes, with all others banned from following these professions as per the laws of Hinduism.
::::::::::***In total, excluding the Dalits, the four main castes are further subdivided into 3,000 further subcastes, these themselves are subdivided further in 25,000 sub-subcastes ''"each based on their specific occupation"''.<ref name="bbcindiacastesystem">''[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-35650616 What is India's caste system?]''. June 19th, 2019. BBC News. ''[http://archive.is/uosjj Archive.is Link]''. ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20200603124248if_/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-35650616 WayBackMachine Link]''. Retrieved August 21st, 2020.</ref> Of the four main castes, the Brahmins can occupy any position up to priests and academia (the most valued positions in Hindu society); the Kshatriyas, warriors and kings; the Vaishyas, merchants and landowners; the Shudras being commoners, peasants and servants and the Dalits being the outcasts, street sweepers, garbage pickers and latrine cleaners.<ref name="aljazeeraenglish"/> 
::::::::::**The caste system is '''religiously mandated''' in Hinduism, written evidence for this can be found in the '''''Manusmriti''''', a text dating back to the 2nd Century BC.<ref name="bbcindiacastesystem"/><ref name="minorityrights">''[https://minorityrights.org/minorities/dalits/ Dalits]''. Minority Rights Group International. ''[http://archive.is/HUxpS Archive.is Link]''. ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20200820203503/https://minorityrights.org/minorities/dalits/ WayBackMachine Link]''. Retrieved August 20th, 2020.</ref> Those who want to keep the caste system in place in non-Hindu societies often claim that the caste system is not mentioned within this text and doesn't even exist in the religion. However reading from the text, it clearly exists and is clearly religiously sanctioned in Hinduism.<ref name="minorityrights"/>
::::::::::***The ''Manusmriti'' is one of the religious texts of Hinduism (the others include ''Rigveda'', ''Samaveda'', ''Yajurveda'', ''Atharvaveda'', ''Dharmasastra'', ''Arthasastra'').<ref name="Shristi Goswami (25th October 2017)."/> The importance of the ''Manusmriti'' cannot be understated; it is said to have been written by Manu, who is believed by Hindus to be the first man on earth or the progenitor of humanity.<ref name="Shristi Goswami (25th October 2017)."/> It is precisely this text that contains evidence that Caste is integral in Hinduism.<ref group="n.">'''Quote''': ''"The roots of Dalit oppression go back to the origins of the caste system in Hindu religion. The philosophy of caste is contained in the Manusmriti, a sacred Hindu text dating from the second century BCE. ‘Untouchable’ outcast communities were forbidden to join in the religious and social life of the community and were confined to menial tasks that were viewed as polluting, such as animal slaughter and leatherworking"''.
#''[https://minorityrights.org/minorities/dalits/ Dalits]''. Minority Rights Group International. ''[http://archive.is/HUxpS Archive.is Link]''. ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20200820203503/https://minorityrights.org/minorities/dalits/ WayBackMachine Link]''. Retrieved August 20th, 2020.</ref>
::::::::::****The ''Manusmriti'' is also known as the ''"Manav Dharam Shastr"'' and is considered to be the absolute word of Brahma, the Hindu God of creation.<ref name="Shristi Goswami (25th October 2017).">Shristi Goswami (25th October 2017). ''[https://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2017/10/the-upper-caste-hindu-woman/ ‘If A Woman’s Hymen Tears, Her Head Will Be Shaved’: Manusmriti And The Hindu Woman]''. Youth Ki Awaaz (YKA). ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20200820213559/https://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2017/10/the-upper-caste-hindu-woman/ WayBackMachine Link]''. ''[http://archive.is/bdqvY Archive.is Link]''. Retrieved August 20th, 2020.</ref> It consists of 12 chapters; with 2,690 verses.<ref name="Shristi Goswami (25th October 2017)."/> Furthermore the book is also ''"classified as the most authoritative statement on Dharma"''.<ref name="Shristi Goswami (25th October 2017)."/> The text is also notable for encouraging some of the worst forms of violence and discrimination against women.<ref name="Shristi Goswami (25th October 2017)."/><ref name="Hirday N. Patwari (August 27th, 2011).">Hirday N. Patwari (August 27th, 2011). ''[http://nirmukta.com/2011/08/27/the-status-of-women-as-depicted-by-manu-in-the-manusmriti/ The Status Of Women As Depicted By Manu In The Manusmriti]''. Nirmukta. ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20200820214432/http://nirmukta.com/2011/08/27/the-status-of-women-as-depicted-by-manu-in-the-manusmriti/ WayBackMachine Link]''. ''[http://archive.is/jKBtz Archive.is Link]''. Retrieved August 20th, 2020.</ref>
::::::::::**The Dalits have been looked down upon so much in Hindu society (as the system has existed for 3,000 years) that during the era of British colonialism, the Dalits fought alongside the British for their freedom instead of their fellow upper-caste Hindus.<ref name="Mridula Chari (January 3rd, 2016)."/> This battle came to be known as the '''''Battle of Peshwas''''' (1818) or the '''''Battle of Koregaon''''' (1818) where 500 Dalit soldiers defeated a force of 25,000 upper-caste Hindus.<ref name="Mridula Chari (January 3rd, 2016).">Mridula Chari (January 3rd, 2016). ''[https://scroll.in/article/801298/why-lakhs-of-people-celebrate-the-british-victory-over-the-maratha-peshwas-every-new-year Why lakhs of Indians celebrate the British victory over the Maratha Peshwas every New Year]''. Scroll. ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20200821031508/https://scroll.in/article/801298/why-lakhs-of-people-celebrate-the-british-victory-over-the-maratha-peshwas-every-new-year WayBackMachine Link]''. ''[http://archive.is/cpFrv Archive.is Link]''. Retrieved August 21st, 2020.</ref><ref name="Zahed (January 4th, 2018).">Zahed (January 4th, 2018). ''[https://archive.siasat.com/news/battle-bhima-koregoan-victory-dalits-brahman-peshwas-1293560/ Battle of Bhima Koregoan: A victory of Dalits over Brahman Peshwas]''. The Siasat Daily. ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20200821033634/https://archive.siasat.com/news/battle-bhima-koregoan-victory-dalits-brahman-peshwas-1293560/ WayBackMachine Link]''. ''[http://archive.is/qdsIG Archive.is Link]''. Retrieved August 21st, 2020.</ref> It is so significant that from 1927 it became an annual pilgrimage event for the oppressed minority, much to the anger of upper-caste Hindus.<ref name="Mridula Chari (January 3rd, 2016)."/> 
::::::::::***The most fascinating aspect of the Dalits are is that they form almost a fifth of the total Indian population (with there being over 200 million Dalits living in the country).<ref name="Sunny Hundal (January 3rd, 2018).">Sunny Hundal (January 3rd, 2018). ''[https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/mumbai-dalit-strike-lowest-caste-india-hindu-nationalist-violence-treatment-british-untouchable-a8140201.html The Mumbai Dalit strike is just the beginning of unrest in India]''. The Independent. ''[http://archive.is/CXa3V Archive.is Link]''. ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20200821030723/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/mumbai-dalit-strike-lowest-caste-india-hindu-nationalist-violence-treatment-british-untouchable-a8140201.html WayBackMachine Link]''. Retrieved August 21st, 2020.</ref> This potentially holds important military advantages should any country wish to invade India as millions of Dalits would relish being freed from the system that keeps them in a state of permanent persecution (for instance some are forced to eat rats for a living<ref name="Mohd. Imran Khan (January 24th, 2020).">Mohd. Imran Khan (January 24th, 2020). ''[https://www.newsclick.in/NRC-Will-Deal-Heaviest-Blow-Bihar-Musahars Why NRC Will Deal Heaviest Blow to Bihar’s Musahars]''. News Click (India). ''[http://archive.is/FL5tN Archive.is Link]''. ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20200821040500/https://www.newsclick.in/NRC-Will-Deal-Heaviest-Blow-Bihar-Musahars WayBackMachine Link]''. Retrieved August 21st, 2020.</ref><ref name="Showkat Shafi (May 1st, 2014).">Showkat Shafi (May 1st, 2014). ''[https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/inpictures/2014/04/pictures-rat-eaters-india-201443081544438226.html In Pictures: The 'rat eaters' of India]''. Al Jazeera. ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20200821040918/https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/inpictures/2014/04/pictures-rat-eaters-india-201443081544438226.html WayBackMachine Link]''. ''[http://archive.is/Qlbom Archive.is Link]''. Retrieved August 21st, 2020.</ref>).

*The educational level of a Dalit doesn't even matter to upper-caste Hindus; as they are still considered filthy and untouchable.<ref name="bbcphd">''[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-18394914 India's Dalits still fighting untouchability]''. June 27th, 2012. ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20200105203322if_/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-18394914 WayBackMachine Link]''. ''[http://archive.is/xFZwp Archive.is Link]''. Retrieved August 21st, 2020.</ref> The BBC highlighted one case where a Dalit had managed to escape poverty and earn a PhD but when he walked into a teashop the upper-caste shopkeeper treated him with disdain, asking him to wash the glass himself before handing it back.<ref name="bbcphd"/>



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==Sources==
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'''Footnotes'''
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==External Links==
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uygLAnW-kXQ Armin Navabi (an ex-Muslim/Atheist) Offends Hindu Extremists Who Call for His Death By Drawing the Hindu Goddess Kali as a "Sexy" Woman and for "Exposing Hypocrisy"]