Untouchability is the biggest curse on Hindu society. Over the years, caste rigidity has gradually decreased, and continues to do so. This is partly due to the work of Hindu saints who have promoted important reforms in Hindu society, as well as affirmative action policies run by the Government of India.

However, the rate of reform is still far too slow, and millions of Hindus on the lowest rungs of the caste hierarchy continue to face intense difficulties in many aspects of their lives.

The former untouchable castes are now called Dalits (the oppressed), a self-designation, or Harijans (children of God), a name given to them by Mahatma Gandhi to help facilitate their reintegration into mainstream Hindu society.

Over the years, sections of the Dalits have indeed grown more affluent, and discrimination against them has subsided somewhat. Yet time and time again, incidents arise which show that the struggle that these people face for a dignified life is far from over.

Recently, the issue of inter-caste feuding and discrimination amongst Hindus has been highlighted relative to the case of the denial of temple entry to Dalits at a Jagannath Temple, situated in Keredagarh in the Indian state of Orissa.

Jaganath, a form (swarup) of Lord Krishna, is the most popular deity in Orissa. He is often referred to in local songs and shlokas as the 'Lord of the downtrodden'. Yet for the two and a half centuries of its existence, the Dalits in the village of Keredagarh have not been allowed into the temple premises to worship Lord Jaganath, having to peek through holes in the wall to catch a glimpse of the deity they revere.

In recent months, four Dalit Hindu women were allegedly assaulted following their entry into the premises by so-called "higher-caste" individuals, including the chief priest Narayan Das who has been reported as saying that Dalits are not allowed to enter the temple.

Many NGOs in Orissa have been supporting the Dalits of Keredargh in their quest for basic religious and constitutional rights as Hindus, and Dalits are now standing up and demanding a stop to this disgraceful treatment.

"We want to reiterate that it's our constitutional right to enter the temple like others and pray. We want to do it in a peaceful way. If anyone tries to prevent us, it's up to the administration to deal with them," said Rajkishore Muduli, Dalit Leader, Keredagarh.

Although India does have laws to protect Dalits against such treatment, often these laws are not enforced by the police and local authorities, for fear of stirring up trouble, or because discrimination is so deeply engrained in people's mindsets that it even exists in these institutions.

Although the administration initially seemed reluctant to involve themselves in the case, after much pressure the state Government has finally intervened, ruling what should have in fact been a straightforward issue - that Dalits are allowed to worship at the temple like anybody else.

On Decemer 17th, police supervised to make sure that no untoward incidents occurred on the first day when the Dalits finally got a chance to do what they should have always had the right to do - worship the deity they revere at their local Hindu temple.

Speaking on the issue, Anish Kumar of Hindu Human Rights, himself from Dalit background, said "Prejudiced people like the temple administration of Keredagarh probably wouldn’t have let the great Hindu sages Ved Vyas or Valmiki into the temple because they were Dalits. They know nothing about Hinduism and need to be tackled both by Hindu individuals, organisations and if necessary, by law. It is the responsibility of all Hindus now to take this issue up seriously, and not just make speeches or pay lip service.”

Hindu Voice UK comment:

We hope that the committee in charge of the Jaganath temple in Keredagarh village do not cause any further problems for our Dalit Hindu brothers and sisters in the future. In our view, they do not understand the spirit of Hinduism, which views every person as a divine being worthy of dignity.

It is the utmost duty of every Hindu to help in their own way to blot out the dehumanising phenomenon of untouchability, and bring equality amongst all Hindus. Hinduism does not sanction such inequality. The issue should not be restricted to temple entry, but to ensure a dignified, equitable trouble free life for all Hindus regardless of caste, gender or any other division.