The Indian Dilemna

Much has been discussed about religion, its power, its influence and its misuse. But the fact remains that the mayhem carried out by the BJP, VHP and the Bajrang Dal in several states is certainly to be condemned. The problem with the BJP is the party doesn't seem to have taken the lower strata of society into its fold. The party has not trained its members at the grass root level to educate that section and make them feel that they belong to the society at large. These people have been ignored and deprived for centuries. Even now they are tortured, humiliated and killed on the flimsiest cause. This has caused divisions in the society. The country is being fragmented and the society disintegrated. This must stop.
The BJP, as a responsible national party, has to initiate steps, at the grass root level, to instil confidence in these people, and draw them into the party. Because of the neglect and humiliation they have been treated to for centuries, these people have become distrustful of the upper echelon of society. This distrust and hate have become the cause for creation of regional parties throughout India, fragmenting the society. But, at the same time, it should be a priority of the party to educate and instil a sense of responsibility among the upper caste. The arrogance and superiority flaunted by them should be subdued. The feeling that "All are equal, but some are more equal than others" should be totally erased from our society. Only then there will be peace.
Thandup has very rightly stated that in school we were enclosed in a cocoon. We had no idea what the outside world was like. We never knew that the caste system still prevailed in our country. As Thandup had stated, that we read of the system in our history book. But we had no idea that it still existed. And that there was a reservation system for ST/SCs in various walks of life.
During my service period, I had the good fortune of travelling throughout India, from big cities and small towns to little hamlets, where children upto 10/12 years roamed about the streets without a stitch of cloth on them.The money-lenders bled the people dry. The victims were mostly ST/SCs. In many such areas, banks have saved the people from the clutches of the money-lenders, and raised their economic standard. These poor people were grateful to the banks. I have seen banks playing a vital role in the upliftment of these people. In one village I have seen the manager of a bank taking the initiative in electrification of a village. The bank employees played a vital role even in education. They distributed books, opened small schools for children as well as for adults. If bank employees can be so progressive, why can't the big parties come forward and do the same, instead of giving false promises and spreading hatred ?
God is One. It is man who has divided Him. One God we have installed in the Church, one God we have installed in the Temple and another we have installed in a Masjid. And there are many more where we have installed the One Almighty God under different names. Whereas, we all say, God is One. We fight over this One God, giving Him different names. How strange ! All religions preach there is only one Omnipotent God, yet we fight, kill and burn in His name. Religion teaches us tolerance and non-violence, but in reality we practice intolerance, hatred and violence. Man is a strange animal.