Part 2: Jati: a practical weapon to split society

Waman Meshram, National President, Bharat Mukti Morcha

 

Social Revolution of Tathagat Buddha

 

If we view from historical perspective then Buddha never fought against Jati system. People may be surprise with this, yet it is true. Buddha never fought against Jati system because at a time of Buddha there was no Jati system. There were Varna at a time of Buddha, it was Varna system. Written historical evidence available suggests the real fight of Buddha was against Varna system. It is also important to know the history that Buddha was a product of Republican system Gana Vyavastha.

Buddha was a product of Republican system and tradition. Republic and Republican system were not providing legitimacy to Varna system. The people who subscribed to Republic were also not accepting Varna system. It is alleged that Buddha was a Kshatriya, but in reality Buddha was not a Kshatriya. The Republic and Republican system that did not grant legitimacy to Varna System and then on what basis it can be said that Republic product Buddha was a Kshatriya?

Why Buddha was fundamental opponent of Varna system? This is so because the prevailing tradition of Republic before Buddha was pushed ahead by Buddha. Opposition to Varna system was not that of Buddha but it was that of Republic. Buddha pushed on the heritage of Republic. This is what history says. That’s why it is very important to understand that Buddha’s struggle was not against Jati system because at the time to Buddha ‘Jati’ was not there. At a time of Buddha there was Varna system and that’s why Buddha’s entire fight was against ‘Varna system’, and the fight against Varna system that Buddha fought led to destruction of Varna system and social revolution came about in the country.