Dr. Sulekh Chand Jain
I have read in several Jain scriptures (the Uttradhayan Sutra and others) that there is no caste in Jainism. In his sermons and in his actions, Bhagwan Mahavir, revolted against the practice of caste. Many of the famous Jain Acharyas, sadhus, and sadhvis came and still come from non-Jain families and also from so-called low castes in the Hindu community.
If we stop and think, most of our Jain temples and Pratimas were and have been built, carved and sculpted by low caste non-Jains but the pity is that those very people who gave their sweat, blood, skills, art, creativity, and devotion are denied entry to these same Jain temples (which were initially crafted by their hands) on the pretext that they are low caste. Is this not himsa? Do we ever stop how much hurt it causes to those souls whom we treat this way?
More than fifty years ago, I was a student in an Engineering College in India. It was a tradition there (enforced by the college administration) that a group of eight to ten of us fellow students would hire an assistant (some called him servant) to clean our dorm rooms, make the beds, polish our shoes, and do some other errands. Normally these personal assistants came from poor and low caste families. Seven of my class fellows and I shared one such person. This person had been with me for more than three years.
It never occurred to me to ask him about his caste. One day, a close relative of mine and a devout Jain came to visit me. Because it was summer, I asked my assistant to bring some cold water from a water cooler in a jug for my relative. In the meantime, I went outside to a common bathroom. By the time, I returned, my relative had asked this assistant of his caste and now knowing that my assistant was from a low caste, my relative - in spite of being thirsty - refused to take water from him. Needless to say I was heartbroken and so was my assistant. Even today, I have not forgotten that incident. I think himsa to human beings comes in so many shapes and baskets.
Now you decide: is this behavior consistent with ahimsa?
