"Kabir and Gandhi as Apostles of Human Unity Transcending all Religion and Caste-based Distinctions" talk by Dr. Saral Jhingran at Teen Murti House, Teen Murti Marg > 3pm on 6th September 2012

Time : 3:00 pm

Entry : Free (Seating on First-Come First-Served basis)

Place : Seminar Room, Nehru Memorial Museum & Library (NMML), Teen Murti House, Teen Murti Marg, New Delhi
Venue Info :  Events | About | Map | Nearest Metro Station - 'Race Course(Yellow Line)'

Event Details : The Nehru Memorial Museum and Library cordially invites you to The Seminar on
'Kabir and Gandhi as Apostles of Human Unity Transcending all Religion and Caste-based Distinctions’ talk by Dr. Saral Jhingran, Former Fellow, NMML.

Abstract : Hinduism has the dubious distinction of upholding a sublime vision of one Atman in all beings, and then supporting extreme caste-based distinctions which deny any suggestion of basic equality. I propose to discuss in this paper two Indian saints who rejected such man made distinctions and declared unconditional human unity.
    Kabir, a 15th century North Indian saint, rejected all man made distinctions and declared emphatically that one Ram (God) inhabits all living beings; and therefore there is no basic distinction between Hindu and Turk (Muslim), or brahmin and shudra. He denied all distinctions categorically first on the basis of God’s indwelling all; and then, significantly, on a rational basis, saying that all have the same blood and meat, and so on. 
     In 20th century India, Mahatma Gandhi was confronted with Hindu Muslim tensions on the one hand and the evil of untouchability on the other. He therefore set upon cleaning Indian society of these two evils, by emphasizing the need for mutual understanding and good will between Hindus and Muslims; and relentlessly campaigning for the removal of the practice of untouchability from within Hindu society.
      Being practical and realist, he accepted the distinct identities of Hindus and Muslims, as also that between the “upper” caste Hindus and the so-called untouchables, in whose case he even at first accepted their separate nomenclature and their compulsory hereditary profession. He was not entirely successful in his efforts at unity and harmony between various groups of Indian society because he started with a somewhat wrong premise of dividing the society on the basis of religion and caste. He, however, continuously affirmed his profound conviction that his Ram lived in the hearts of dumb millions, and could be realized only through their service.

Speaker : Dr. Saral Jhingran got her Ph.D. in Advaita Vedanta and Ethical Action from Rajasthan University in 1972. She has had three   Senior Fellowships of U.G.C. She was also affiliated to NMML  as  Research Scientist B,  from which she retired in 2000 . Her interests range from philosophy of religion and ethics-her prime concern- to sociological issues.
Her publications are : The Roots of World Religions, 1982; Aspects of Hindu Morality 1989, reprint 1999; Secularism in India :A Reappraisal, 1989; Ethical Relativism and Universalism, 2001; and Madrasa Education in India: A Study, 2010. Besides these she has published more than 40 papers in various anthologies, and philosophical journals.
She has also presented papers in various Seminars and Conferences, including World Philosophical Congress, New Delhi and one in Washington on World Peace.  She is presently working on the problem, “Why be Moral? A Search for a Justification of Morality.”

Related Events : Talks