Facebook (5) | Slings of the Colonized

Facebook (5) Slings of the Colonized

BBC News - German singer Nadja Benaissa apologises at HIV trial

BBC News - German singer Nadja Benaissa apologises at HIV trial: "Risk of stigma

Aids campaigners have been critical of the authorities' handling of Ms Benaissa's case, and warned against a rush to criminalise the transmission of HIV, the BBC's Tristana Moore reports from Berlin.
Edwin Bernard, a writer and advocate specialising in HIV prosecutions, believes that prosecutions and laws on HIV transmission may do more harm than good in terms of reducing the spread of infections."

Day of Protest on 10th August 2010, denouncing Indian Constitution’s Scheduled Caste Order 1950,

"Building Solidarity for Dalits: Inspiring and Instilling Hope for Justice

Rev. Raj Bharath Patta,Executive Secretary,NCCI -Commission on Dalits
  reports:
The observance of the Day of Protest on 10th August 2010, denouncing paragraph 3 of the Constitution’s Scheduled Caste Order 1950, which discriminates, justice to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims, has been successfully observed across the country by the different Churches, organizations and Dalit movements. It was on 10th August 1950 the then President of India issued the ‘Constitution (Scheduled Caste Order 1950)’ specifying that caste be recognized as Scheduled Caste. The third paragraph of the Order however qualifies that ‘not withstanding anything contained in Para 2, no person who professes a religion different from Hinduism shall be a Dalit to be a member of the Scheduled Caste’."

Back to the future - Manu comes back

"Many sociologists believe that colonial ethnography gave currency to the Laws of Manu, with the British getting the extant text translated into English, and widely circulating it. Indologists consider Manu to be the generic name for a host of persons since the text, compiled over a long period, contains contradictory viewpoints, as, for instance, on Shudras. Though Shudras are denied right to property and study of the Vedas, the high born are exhorted to eat last, even after the servants! A Rig Veda verse indicates that early Aryan society was fluid: “I am a bard; my father is a physician; my mother’s job is to grind the corn…” But, thereafter, division of labour and social biases must have gradually crystallised. The spread of heterodox faiths such as Buddhism and Jainism, and emergence of Gautam Buddha and Mahavira as popular religious leaders and social reformers in the 6th century BC apparently owed to a growing rejection of gender and caste-based iniquities. Caste divisions revived in a virulent form after Manusmriti was given formal shape, and the decline of the heterodox religions. Islamic incursions from the 8th century AD gave impetus to insularity.

However, to assume that Manusmriti is the sole authority on Hindu social and legal mores is wrong. There are other law books, which are less rigid. The text called Gautamsmriti concedes the need for social mobility when required. Hence, if the situation so demands, a Brahmin should adopt the vocation of a Kshatriya or Vaish, or, in a bigger crisis, do as he thinks right. Parasharsmriti considers agriculture the main vocation for Kaliyug, the present age. It is advised even for Brahmins. Scholars often cite Yagyavalkya and Mitakshara as having more relevance to Hindu society and legal transactions than Manu."