Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Sep 28: Hurling a barrage of questions at Pejavar Mutt Swamiji, Sri Vishweshateertha, Chennamalla Swamiji of Nidumamidi Mutt accused the former of practising a progressiveness that is only ostensible, and not backed by genuine social concerns.

He was speaking at a programme of interaction organized by Journalists’ Study Centre in the city on Tuesday September 27. He said he has enormous respect for the senior Swamiji. “Although Pejavar Swamiji apparently has been fighting for the rights of the dalits since the last five decades, he has not yet been able to do away with any of their basic problems. He symbolizes duality and conflicting stands of Hinduism. He goes on speaking about bringing the dalits up and giving them equal status. In practice, however, he does not do anything. He has not so far drafted any unique programmes for the upliftment of dalits. He is just a speaker who tries to show himself as the champion of dalits,” he said.

He pointed out that the Swamiji, who shares food with dalits at the homes of dalits in Mysore, has failed to enforce equality to dalits while serving food at Udupi Srikrishna Mutt. “Let the Swamiji ensure that dalits are able to partake food by sitting beside the Brahmins at his Mutt. Let him appoint dalits as Swamijis of the Mutts.  Just having food din the houses of dalits or washing the feet of a couple of dalits does not mean anything. Social problems do not get solved this way,” he opined.

He also questioned as to whether Pejavar Swamiji is prepared to allow dalit children to take up studies at the school of Veda studies being run by Srikrishna Mutt in Udupi.