CREATIONISTS AND EVOLUTIONISTS.( updated)

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By K P PASWAN

 Before we take up the case, let us know, that by 1925, theory of Relativity as propounded by Einstein, pervaded the entire scientist community of the world. There was too much tension among the theologians, as some of the physicists expressed the opinion, that GOD was made to disappear forever. Einstein had to clarify that his theory had nothing to do with religion. Arthur Eddington. an British Astrophysicist,  proved that Relativity  was right theory of gravitation. He was of the opinion that only three persons in the world, understood the theory of Relativity, these persons were, Einstein,  he,himself( Eddington), he wondered who was the third person, The third person was none other than an Indian physicist, S Chandrasekhar who was working on Relativity. His finding, Collapse of a star to nothing, was denounced by Eddington and Einstein, but Chandrasekhar won the Nobel prize for his discovery and proudly declared himself, an atheist Hindu.

 By this time 1925, theory of Evolution, which stipulates that human being are descendant of Ape, was hated and loved by scientific community in US. In a way theory of Evolution, as theorized by Darwin was a much talked about subject and this theory attracted greater attention than the theory of Relativity. As a challenge to Evolution, the US witnessed the emergence of a theory. named Creationist, which was difficult to prove by conventional scientific experiment. So the Creationists devoted their time to refute Evolution on the basis of holy scriptures, which was also difficult to prove as there was a lack of experiment. So the Creationists turned  again to Holy Scriptures like Bible for possible clues.

MONKEY TRIAL Aug 1925. As per records available to us a, teacher was found teaching evolution in a high school in Dayton in the state of Tennessee, this state had passed a law forbidding teaching of evolution in any forms. Moreover, a large number of scientists had expressed opinion against the Evolution. The Teacher was declared as infidel and he had to face a court of law to justify his teaching of evolution, he was also accused of polluting the young minds, by teaching a scientific theory which was unproven and was against the teachings of Bible.

 The trial began in Dayton of Tennessee in Aug 1925.  The young teacher named John T Scoopes, was cautioned by his well-wishers against teaching Evolution, but the teacher declared that, nobody could teach biology without evolution. He was supported by one George Reppelyea, an influential person of Dayton. So it was decided to take the issue to a court in Dayton. Accordingly, the teacher Scoops surrendered on his own and released on bail to face trial. 

The case snowballed into a major case in US and reached even to Britain. Clarance Darrow, the most famous criminal lawyer of America of his time volunteered his service to defend the teacher, he was assisted by group of eminent lawyers led by Dudley Field Malone, who was a devout Catholic and Arthur Garfield Hay, who was a Jew.  Birtley Mather of Harword was a professor of repute and was appearing for the defense. William Jennings Bryan, three times Democratic nominee for presidency of US was representing the prosecution. For the first times live caste of the trial was arranged by using the latest radio transmission technology. Jennings Bryan was an authority on Bible and responsible for drafting the legislation against the teaching of Evolution. 

A large number of people traveled to Dayton to witness the trial. Most of them were shouting slogan like Death and hell for the infidels. Outside the court one live Ape was brought from a wild life sanctuary and it was declared the ancestor of the people of Dyton. The Ape was kept in a large cage and people were allowed to see their ancestor by paying little fortune.It is for this reason, the name Monkey trial emerged.

  Before the trial begins,the Judge John T Raulston called a minister from the local Church to conduct prayer and read some verses from chapter one of the Genesis, Of the twelve jurors, three admitted that they had some knowledge of Bible while one juror was found to be an  illiterate, who could  neither read nor write.

 Dudley Field, opened the arguments by telling the Jurors that intellectual freedom was being threatened by Jennings and his coterie of incompetent scientists. A woman in the court room yelled,You Infidel. One boy of the concerned High School, testified that the teacher told students, that they were like any other mammals  The Defence Lawyer Darrow, an agnostic himself called Jennings Bryan as  witness, which was opposed by the prosecution on the ground that prosecutor could not be called as witness.  Any way the Judge Raulston refused the request of defense to call Jennings as a witness.

Later on Jennings, was cross-examined by Darrow. Jennings had to appear as a prosecution witness and was subject to hilarious cross examination. When Darrow asked him, what was the proof that you came from above, meaning created by GOD, Jennings was startled, while the counsel for defense was telling the Jurors that human being emerged from below, meaning from Ape through evolution. Meanwhile outside the court, the Ape became restless and starting making loud noises, while the faithful carrying Bible in their hand were yelling, Death for the infidels. A large number of scientists were raising slogans like, Long live Darwin and Long live Evolution. Twenty two Telegraphers were  sending words to different parts of America.

 After completion of the trial, the Judge Roulston adjourned the precodings, and called the jury for their verdict. Next day, only few minutes were taken by the jury to declare the teacher, Scoops, guilty of teaching of evolution. Since no criminal offence was cited, so the  Judge imposed a penalty of US dollars 80 with cost on the teacher. Scoops was dismissed from service but later on. offered him the same teaching job, he refused and became a Geologist. The Defence called the verdict as a victorious defeat.

The Monkey trial led to the birth of Creationist movement in a new form in US, which continues even to day, Dayton has become  a large industrial town. Teaching of Evolution is banned in Tennessee and there is an university named after Jennings.Dayton has become became a large industrial town.

 FINAL WORDS. The Creationist movement suffered set back as there is no scientific basis of this movement. Darwin’s theory is a theory, philosophy and an idea with scientific proofs.

DALIT's LIVES ALSO MATTER( updated)

BY K P PASWAN

There is a popular movement known as Black Lives Matter, going on in the US. Blacks were brought from Africa and treated like slaves, till President of US, Abraham Lincoln abolished the slavery.

In India, the situation is just reverse, Dalits, originally known as Shudras were not brought from some other countries. They were an integral part of a particular faith, practiced by majority of the people. The Religion was known as Vedic Religion or Santana Dharma. The word Hindus, was not known till the arrival of the Arabs. Slavery was not widely practiced in ancient India. Some of the historians point to Dass system in practice, but very little is known as the entire Dalits community were denounced as outcasts.

 But in India, it was the British who allowed the Dalits, by a series of laws, the equal status with others. Without the British, the possibilities of Indian Dalits. meeting the fate of Red Indians in US, was certain.  Hinduism, being followed by majority of people, is not homogeneous. This wonderful religion, rich in philosophy is divided into castes and sub castes, the total number of which is staggering.  During the Vedic period, we find division of society based on works, like Brahmans conducting rituals, Vaisey for trade and the Kshatriya for fighting war and Shudra for serving others.Shudras continue to serve others even to day.

Rigidity of Varna (cast) system led to fierce debate over the relevance of different Varnas.  Dominance and debate were the subject matter of such philosophical discourse. In absence of a central authority, dominance prevailed upon debate, and when certain sections of society refused to surrender their privileges, this prepared the ground for emergence of new religion like Buddhism, which preached social equality and denounced the caste system. The debates led to emergence of revelations in the famous Upanishads, which are devoted to find a reason for the presence of the universe. It is unfortunate that such wonderful revelations failed to make ways to poor Shudras, in fact these Shudras were denied the right to study and even listen to their recitation, they were to be killed if found either studying or listening to scriptures..

These interpretations take us very closer to theory of First Cause of the origin of the universe and even scientist, like the founding father of Quantum physics was greatly impressed by Vedanta. In fact, if we compare first cause as mentioned in the Brahamshutra, with the first cause advocated by Christian scholars, we are surprised to find extraordinary similarities.

  When the foreign invaders established their rule, they also noticed this division and the invaders took full advantage and indulged in conversion of the deprived classes, also known as Untouchables. We also find conversion of upper castes, but this conversion was, in most cases forced, and not voluntarily. When foreign invaders entered into India, the country was being ruled by hundreds of small and big rulers, but everywhere, barring exceptions, the Shudras were forced to live in isolation and outside of villages.  During this period, fragmented India witnessed birth of many thinkers like Shankara, Madhvacharya and a few others, who interpreted Vedic scriptures along with Upanishads, in scientific and rational manners and these interpretations are now essential features of modern Hinduism.

 The term Hindu was not known until arrival of the Arabs, who gave name Hindus to those people living in the kingdoms conquered by them. Historians are making different claims about the origin of word Hindu. It was the British who noticed social discrimination and tried to convert Dalits, by giving them equal opportunity, and those not converted, were not denied social equality. In fact, modern system of education was not denied by the British to these outcasts. Whether historians agree or not but, greater India is a gift from the colonial power. Before the British rule, India was divided into thousands of small kingdoms, independent of each other and fighting against each other. These local rulers were mostly cruel and barring exceptions, the Shudras remain in social isolation. Most of these outcasts earned their living by serving others.                                                                    

When the British proposed separate elector system for the Dalits, all the Congress leaders opposed the proposals and accused the British of dividing the society, little knowing that Indian society was already divided. It is noteworthy that when Kemal Pasha of Turkey abolished Ottoman empire, the Congress led by Mahatma Gandhi, the greatest of freedom fighter, opposed it as the Ottoman kings were also designated as Caliphate, meaning the leader of entire Islamic population. But the Ottomans were also  cruel, ruthless and indulged in horrendous killing of subjugated people. Several Islamic states were opposed to Ottoman empire and it goes beyond saying that the great Turkish leader Kemal Pasha knew the unpopularity of the Ottoman empire among the Islamic states and faced no violent opposition from any Islamic country. It is therefore surprising that separate voting system for Dalits was vehemently opposed by Mahatma, who even undertook fasting to oppose the proposal. Ultimately the proposal was withdrawn by the British.

UNTOUCHABILITY. India has in 1950, introduced, a national system of affirmative actions designed to abolish, the legacy of paste. Among its provisions are ones that help Dalits get into place of higher education and reservation in Govt jobs. This led to widespread resentment on the logic, that meritorious students among the upper casts would suffer. Of course, meritorious boys and girls belonging to upper castes must not be allowed to suffer by creating special zones for these students, but nobody should be allowed to establish monopoly without inviting troubles.  Nobody should be allowed to dictate the Dalits and advise them, how and what to eat and how to marry.

BRAHMINS FRIENDS. In every case it is wrong to blame for the sufferings of Dalits to Brahmans. I would like to narrate two incidents. In my area, we were opposed for getting education in the school, situated nearby our village by a particular landlord. So out of anger, seven of us (all Dalits) got admitted to a Christen school at a distance of two kms from our village. Our village is also having a sizeable number of Brahmans, one of the Brahmans was in the army. During yearly visit, he came to know the incident. He called a meeting of the elders and openly threatened to send the landlord to jail. Next day, more than one hundred people from our and nearby villages, flocked the Christian School and forced us to return to village school. Today our village is like a small town with many IAS and other civil servants. One of them reached the rank of Foreign Secretary. The local Church is now a hospital, where most of the doctors are Hindus.

 Second story is more inspiring. Outside the gate of a modern university in Delhi, three aspirants fled, as we could not tolerate the drug addiction among students. Two of the students were Brahmins from South India. The third person happened to be this blogger, a Dalit. Three of us promised to remain in contact with each other.  After three years we met again, in front of a sprawling house for interview. We cracked the examination and this time, a real everlasting friendship bloomed. One of my friends happened to be a grandson of former I.C.S and his father was a senior I.A.S. I visited his home in South India, several times and on one occasion, I started criticizing Hinduism, quoting from scriptures, my friend, his mother, were other members of family, participating in the debate. When I finished, then, my friend’s father and mother smiled and the would-be chief Secretary of a state asked me” OK Son, we are sailing in the same boat, we can abuse, criticize and demands reform in our religion and for this there is no need to convert to another religion. I happened to be a student of physics and I realized that the sky fell upon my head. Next, I concluded that I actually mocked my knowledge of physics, because the sky was not only upon my head but also beneath my feet.  The Brahmin boy who is now my best friend is posted in other side of the earth. His father is no more and I attended his last rites. There is some amount of devotion which is beyond all consideration. Otherwise it is my belief that most of the Brahmins are sworn haters of Dalits.

EVALUATIONS. The social discrimination and untouchability have never stopped. But there is marked improvement in every aspect of Dalits. Some of the upper castes, think that by abolishing reservations in Govt services and educational institutions, unemployment in India will come to an end.  But this is not true. Time has come to rectify the mistake.By conventional measures, the discrimination should have been ended, but suffering continues.  Dalits rarely make daily news headlines

FINAL WORDS Can Dalits be saved? May be, but they cannot save themselves, If the country has any hope of escaping the cycle of violence and discrimination, it will need the constitutional guarantee.  Separate assembly and parliament seats may be created and certain percentage of MPs and MLAs, are to be elected by Dalits voters only. These steps may not reduce the majority (Hindus) to minority which was apprehended when the British stipulated the same proposal. Dalits must not be allowed to live at the mercy of government. The shame of indifference, be reasons enough for actions. It appears that Dalits were borne in tears and perhaps will continue to flow till eternity. Blacks lives matter, but the Dalits lives, perhaps matter more.

BLACK LIVES MATTER .(updated)

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BY K P PASWAN.

In US, there is a popular movement, Black lives matter , this popular movement may also be called agitation for respecting the Blacks and their rights. It is not proper to accuse all the Americans believing in racial discrimination. Blacks enjoyed powerful position, and one Black was elected as president of US. However, out of contempt Blacks are,sometimes called Niggers which is equivalent to untouchability, used for the Dalits in India.

 Nearly three hundred years ago, Blacks were brought mostly from Africa to the US as Slaves, by the British and other colonial powers, and they were subject to torture, and forced to do hard labor for survival. Thomas Jefferson, the famous President of US. had a large number of Black slaves under his command. It was left upon president Abraham Lincoln to abolish slavery, and his progressive step led to his assassination.Abolition of slavery led to other reforms,including right to education and freedom of speech. But discrimination against the Blacks  did not stop, there were compelling reasons. The US is a country of immigrants. Most of the immigrants are Whites from Europe and these immigrants are habitual anti Blacks, they are also opposed to other non Whites immigrants. 

The birth of Ku Klux Clan, an organization for preaching the supremacy of Whites, enjoy the patronage of Republicans and the Democrats. ANTIFA, an organization,opposing discrimination on the basis of race is supporters of Democrats, while PRIDE BOYS, who oppose illegal entry of immigrants from other countries into US. is attached with the Republicans, But the GOP as the Republicans are called are not against Blacks, but their supporters are engaged in anti Black activities.

It was, Red Indians, the original inhabitants who suffered much from racial discrimination in US,  and ultimately were reduced to minority. Even before the arrival of Blacks in US, the outsiders, torture the natives and Columbus, who discovered America, was prosecuted for his brutalities, committed against the natives. In fact, Columbus brought a large number of natives as slaves to Spain and to the horror of authorities in Spain, a large number of natives were found dead due to hunger and exposure to new climate. At present Red Indians don’t matter much. as we don’t see any agitation launched by them against the Govt.

 George Floyd was a habitual criminal, a drug addict, and certainly not a poor Black. He always saved himself from harsh punishment by pleading guilty.But he was killed by cops for reasons, best known to the killer cop, who has pleaded not guilty, but was convicted. There was cold blooded murder of another Black woman, Brenna Taylor, and motive behind her murder by an American cop, raises serious question, as criminal background of black woman has not been cited as reason for shoot out. 

In some cases criminal activities of a person, where Black or White, is cited as reasons for killing by cops This type of police encounter may be equated with killing of hardened criminals by police in India.  More than sixty percent of the criminals, facing death sentence in India  are Dalits, while some of the killers, belonging to higher castes and facing similar kind of murder charges were acquitted, because the case was argued by reputed lawyers, who are expensive and beyond the reach of Dalit criminals. But that is not an excuse, as hardened and habitual criminals must be punished by a court of laws, irrespective of caste, creed and religion. 

In US, however, most of the killing of Blacks is attributed to crimes committed by them,like drug trafficker,rape etc  and in most of the cases cops were acquitted. Superiority of the Whites over colors is much discussed subject all over the world. Arthur Huntington, US political scientist called it as Class of Civilization in the context of immigration of Muslims and Hispanics to US.Most of the Blacks in US live in isolated areas, and most of them are Protestants or Catholics. Several of the Churches are named after Blacks in other words, they have their own Churches and even Health care Centers.

SPORTS AND BLACKS. It is in the field of popular sports Basketball, where the Blacks excel.In Olympus, the Blacks bag a good number of medals. Arthur Ashe was a famous badminton player, who scummed to HIV. He was not a homosexual, but caught the disease because of blood transfusion. Martin Luther King is also known as Mahatma Gandhi of US,fought against racial discrimination and like Abraham Lincoln, was assassinated by an American known for hatred  for Black. Martin Luther King will always be remembered for awakening Blacks,who are conscious of their rights in a country, known as the mightiest on this planet.

Covid 19 AND THE BLACKS. Corona 19 has badly mauled the Blacks with mounting causalities. This racial conundrum of Covid 19 is still not properly understood by Virologists. Several  social evils  and practices, once prevalent in Africa, persist among the Blacks of US. But these evils known as Occult practices, are found even among the Whites. But the pandemic has picked up Blacks as its worst victims with alarming causality. There is need for further investigation. Blacks are discriminated in other countries of Latin America and even in European countries. Sporadic killing of Blacks are regularly reported from different countries of the world. Security agency and cops who kill these Blacks, justify killing on the ground that the killed Blacks were criminal involved in rape,drug smuggling and even murder of innocent people.Surprisingly most of the cops involved in killing of Blacks were acquitted on the ground, that killed Blacks were not innocent, and were guilty of serious crimes.

BIDEN AND BLACKS.

  The Blacks, generally vote for the Democrats. Republicans also have good number of followers among the Blacks. Donald Trump and his party were generally opposed to stringent laws for controlling Gun Culture. But Donald Trump was not a racist. During his presidency, George Floyd was brutally murdered by the cops, which was followed by huge demonstration all over US. Statues of several Americans, who encouraged slavery in the past, were brought down and Trump proved helpless. But there is no doubt that his group of supporters, known as Proud Boys are anti Blacks.

Once elected,Joe Biden was under pressure to appoint a Black as the next Attorney General to deal with criminal cases related with Blacks. It appears that, instead of dealing such cases in a court of laws,certain groups in the Democrats are encouraging left wing ideology. This left wing philosophy is going to be  an effective  weapons for the Republicans in the forthcoming election for the Congress in 2022.New Pentagon chief also known as Secretary of Defence is a Black. US's permanent representative to UN is a famous Black woman. Biden has given important posts to Blacks, thus acknowledging their experience in managing the new administration.The Republicans, reluctantly supported the stimulus package, as they are convinced that the package would help the illegal immigrants from Mexico, than helping the Blacks and those,badly affected by the pandemic.

EVALUATION.George Floyd's killer was found guilty on all counts, which means not gallows but long term prison, There was tension before the Jury pronounced verdict, The convicted Cop would likely to go in for appeal. It is difficult, but not impossible to end the racial discrimination in US. Both the political parties are filled with politicians, who are racists. The Blacks need many Martin Luther Kings to create ground for reconciliation. The US army consists of a large number of Blacks, who have proved their extraordinary talent, while battling the enemies. Reformers are needed to end social evils responsible for the isolation of Blacks.