Kancha Ilaiah

Kancha Ilaiah is a Professor and Chairman of Political Science in Osmania University, a social activist and author. He (as well as his supporters) describe his ideology as anti-Brahminism, but he is often labelled as anti-Hindu by his critics. He was born into Kuruma Golla (which is an 'other backward caste', not dalit) family on October 5 1952 and was brought up in a small south Indian village. His family's main profession was sheep farming. He earned his doctorate degree in political science at the Osmania University in Hyderabad, India. His Ph. D thesis was based on Gautama Buddha's Political Philosophy.

He is an outspoken activist in the Dalit-Bahujan (Scheduled and Backwards Castes) movement. He has criticized the practices of caste and untouchability. Recently he testified before the U.S. Congress against the practice of untouchability and urged the US Government to work with the Indian government to end persecution against Muslims,Christians, and all other oppressed people groups in India. The event has been criticised by columnist Francois Gautier for being biased and unrepresentative [1].

He joined hands in this campaign with the All India Christian Council, headed by Dr. Joseph D'Souza and other Christian "activists" of India [2]. Ilaiah and D'Souza are associated with the USA based Dalit Freedom Network, an allegedly independent charitable organization working for the rights of India's Dalits but who have been accused of promoting aggressive missionary activities. This organization actively participated in the Californian Hindu textbook controversy to oppose edits proposed by Hindu scholars and advocacy groups on the grounds of allegedly promoting a "biased Brahminical view".

According to Joseph D'souza, Kancha Ilaiah has served as the "influential ideologue" for the "Quit Hinduism" movement leading to a mass rally on Dec 6th, 2002 [3].

He is the author of several books written in English, including

• Why I Am Not a Hindu: A Sudra critique of Hindutva philosophy, culture and political economy
• God as Political Philosopher--Buddha's Challenge to Brahminism
• Democracy in India --- A Hollow Shell (edited by Arthur Bonner)
• Buffalo Nationalism--A critique of spiritual fascism

His book, Why I Am Not A Hindu has been a best-seller in India and is widely read around the world. However, it has also drawn severe condemnations from Hindus and Hinduism experts, who note that the book reflects a shallow understanding of Hindu religion and blissful ignorance of all positive aspects of its philosophy and mythology.

The book basically explains the life-experience of the Dalits and Other Backward Castes and alleges that their poverty-ridden experience holds little connection to the Brahmin religious experience. By explaining this dichotomy from his own personal experience as an OBC, he advocates the "Dalitization" of Indian culture. As Ilaiah claims, the Dalit philosophy prizes productivity over personal pleasure and values the graciousness of community over the "elevation of Brahmin men" at the expense of women and Dalits/OBCs. Ilaiah asserts that this shift in societal thinking will enable India to become a more prosperous and egalitarian society.

Ilaiah has often been criticised for what some call rabid, anti-Brahmin rhetoric and hypocritical methods of argument. However, others who support his rejection of Brahmin oppression appreciate what they consider to be bold sarcasm as a much needed force against the dichotemy of caste.

Kancha Ilaiah's attacks on Hinduism: Quotes

• "Shout that we hate Hinduism, we hate Brahmanism. Capture the Hindu temples by expelling the Brahmins from them".[4]
• "Yes, I hate Hinduism". [5]
• "Hinduism is a religion of violence". [6]
• "For Hinduism, for Hindu dharma, resolving of a conflict is only by killing".[7]
• "If a Dalitist state and society is established I think we will see a very bright future for the whole country."[8]
• "Hinduism has destroyed all positive elements that normally exist in a human being" [9]

External links

• Interview-1
• Interview-2
• Interview-3
• Kancha Illiah-4
• A Critical Review by Shri M. V. R. Sastry-5
• Interview-6
• Ilaiah's article on reservations-7
• David Frawley-8

See also

• Anti-Hindu
• Mandal commission
• Racial quota
• Reservation in India