logo
Veerashaiva Mahasabha advice: Lingayats need to provide only name, number for survey

Veerashaiva Mahasabha advice: Lingayats need to provide only name, number for survey

BENGALURU: The powerful Veerashaiva Mahasabha finds itself in a spot of discomfort as the government's contentious Scheduled Caste survey, led by a commission under Justice Nagamohan Das, gathers steam.
The commission, which began collecting detailed data on May 5, has set off complaints of confusion, particularly among non-SC communities.
Seeking to end the confusion, Mahasabha president and Davangere South MLA Shamanur Shivashankarappa issued a statement, insisting that non-SC citizens, especially Lingayats, only need to provide the name of the family head and total number of family members. 'The list of 44 data points is meant for SC respondents,' he said.
'Citizens caught off-guard'
With the Mahasabha ramping up its organizational strength, having held elections in over 150 taluks, Shivashankarappa issued a call to all 178 local units to spread the word that Lingayats are not required to disclose all details to enumerators.
Mahasabha secretary Renuka Prasanna reported complaints pouring in from bewildered citizens caught off-guard by surveyors at their doorsteps. 'There is confusion. The commission must issue an immediate clarification,' he urged.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Akbar misrepresented in textbooks? JNU scholar takes on NCERT over jizya claim
Akbar misrepresented in textbooks? JNU scholar takes on NCERT over jizya claim

Time of India

time3 hours ago

  • Time of India

Akbar misrepresented in textbooks? JNU scholar takes on NCERT over jizya claim

Dr. Ruchika Sharma Dr. Ruchika Sharma, a historian specializing in medieval India, has raised questions about the recent revisions in NCERT history textbooks, particularly concerning the portrayal of Emperor Akbar and the tax system known as jizya. Sharma has announced her intention to file a Right to Information (RTI) request against NCERT, challenging the accuracy and completeness of the content related to this period. During a televised debate on a private channel, Dr. Sharma criticized the depiction of the Mughal era in the textbooks, calling out what she described as factual discrepancies and biased evaluations of historical figures. She specifically contested the claim that jizya was imposed as a means to pressure non-Muslims into converting to Islam, a point she says lacks credible historical backing. Historian challenges textbook narrative on jizya During the televised discussion, Dr Sharma stated that the textbooks misrepresent the timeline of Akbar's abolition of the jizya tax. According to her, the revised content suggests that Akbar abolished the tax only after consolidating his rule. Sharma contested this, asserting that Akbar began his reign in 1560 and abolished jizya by 1562, a time when he was still a young ruler and had not fully established control over the empire. Dr Sharma cited the Ain-i-Akbari, a contemporary administrative document, as evidence that Akbar removed the jizya tax early in his rule due to its discriminatory nature. She said this decision had moral significance and was not simply a political strategy taken after gaining complete power. Questions over conversion claims and demand for sources Dr Sharma also raised concerns about the textbook's explanation of the purpose behind the jizya tax. The textbook reportedly states that the tax was imposed to pressure non-Muslims to convert to Islam to avoid paying it. She refuted this claim, asking where it is documented in historical records that jizya served as an incentive for conversion. 'If NCERT is presenting this claim, I would like to file an RTI asking for the source,' she said during the debate. Dr Sharma emphasised the need for academic transparency and demanded that NCERT provide the original references for the content presented in the revised material. Criticism of selective portrayal and terminology In the same debate, Dr Sharma questioned the use of the term 'dark period' in describing certain historical eras. She called the label historically irrelevant and pointed to what she described as double standards in how different rulers are evaluated in the textbook content. She further alleged factual discrepancies and incomplete narratives in several textbook sections. 'A lot of what has been written is simply false, and I can point out the facts to prove it. The portrayal of history is incomplete in many places,' she said. Remarks on Shivaji draw political response Dr Sharma also made a remark involving Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which prompted a response from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Amit Malviya, head of the BJP's IT cell, responded on social media platform X, stating that 'Comparing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to Mughal tyrants is not only a historical distortion but also a grave insult to the nation.' He added that there is no historical evidence that Shivaji Maharaj looted or plundered Chikka Devaraja Wodeyar, who ruled Mysore from 1673 to 1704. Scholar's background and public presence Dr Ruchika Sharma holds a PhD in History from JNU and is known for her work on medieval Indian history. She regularly appears in national media debates on historical representation in education. She also runs a YouTube channel titled Eyeshadow & Etihaas, where she combines historical discussions with makeup tutorials. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!

Karur temple closed in 2018 following caste clash reopened as per Madras HC order
Karur temple closed in 2018 following caste clash reopened as per Madras HC order

New Indian Express

time4 hours ago

  • New Indian Express

Karur temple closed in 2018 following caste clash reopened as per Madras HC order

KARUR: Acting on court orders, the HR&CE department-administered Mariamman temple at Chinnadharapuram in the district was reopened for public worship amid tight police security on Friday evening. The temple was closed in 2018 following a caste clash. The temple, which has been under the HR&CE department since 1973, had members of various communities participate in pujas and other rituals until 2018 when SC and MBC members involved in an alleged clash. With both groups approaching the Madurai Bench of the Madras HC, the temple remained closed since then. During the hearing on July 15, the court instructed HR&CE officials to take steps to resume worship at the temple and to display a notice board announcing that all communities are allowed to offer prayers. As per the direction, officials placed the notice board in front of the temple on Thursday. Learning this, a group of MBC members assembled in front of the temple the same day and removed the notice board. Despite official talks, the MBC community opposed the temple's reopening, stating that the issue was pending before court. The HR&CE officials then lodged a complaint against them with the Chinnatharapuram police, who then registered a case. On Friday evening, a team of officials led by HR&CE Assistant Commissioner M Ramanikandan opened the temple following which members of both the MBC and SC communities entered inside and offered prayers.

'Dalits refused booking of wedding halls in Tiruppur's Sivanmalai foothills'
'Dalits refused booking of wedding halls in Tiruppur's Sivanmalai foothills'

New Indian Express

time6 hours ago

  • New Indian Express

'Dalits refused booking of wedding halls in Tiruppur's Sivanmalai foothills'

TIRUPPUR: Wedding hall owners at Sivanmalai in Kangeyam of Tiruppur district are suspected of caste discrimination against Scheduled Castes. Officials from the district administration said an investigation into the matter is underway. It has been alleged Dalit people are finding it difficult to book wedding halls located in the foothills of Sivanmalai to hold auspicious events, including weddings. P Kalimuthu, district secretary of the Aathi Thamizhar Munnetra Kazhagam, said, "People from not only Tiruppur district but also from nearby districts come to the Murugan Temple at Sivanmalai. There is a belief among the public that if auspicious events, including marriages, are held at Sivanmalai, they will get the grace of Lord Murugan. But SC people are refused booking of private halls in the foothills of Sivanmalai." "Out of the 20 wedding halls two belong to the trusts of two specific castes. All other halls are private halls. The norms for halls state that all castes should be allowed. But these halls do not allow people from Scheduled Castes to hold auspicious events. The situation is similar in Kangeyam city. Hall owners fear people from other castes will not book their halls if they allow people from scheduled castes,," he added. "Scheduled Caste people are facing great difficulty in booking halls for auspicious days. Sometimes, they hold weddings in their village temples and host receptions and other events by setting up tents in their homes. Only a few socially minded people provide halls to SC people. The state government should conduct an investigation and take appropriate action in this regard," Kalimuthu further said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store