Anti-Brahmanism
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Anti-Brahminism, also spelled as Anti-Brahmanism, is discrimination, hostility or prejudice directed against the Brahmin caste, as opposed to Anti-Hinduism which rejects Hinduism as a whole. Anti-Hindus have however taken the stance against Brahmins because they were the traditional priestly class and by antagonizing them, they may convert all Hindus.

Examples of Anti-Brahmanism

In Islamist Dynasties

In the book, Diwan-i-Salman by Khawajah Masud bin Sa'd bin Salman wrote of the Battle of Jalandhar (Punjab):

"The narrative of any battles eclipses the stories of Rustam and Isfandiyar...By morning meal, not one soldier, not one Brahmin remained unkilled or uncaptured. Their heads were levelled with the ground with falming fire..Thou has secured the victory to the country and to religion, for amongst the Hindus this achievement will be remembered till the day of resurrection."¹

In Mughal times Sheikh Ahmad (Mujaddid) of Sirhind wrote a letter to Mirza Darab:

"Hindu Brahmans and Greek philosophers have spent a lot of time on religion. Since their efforts were not according to the Shariyat of the prophet, they were all fools. They will remain devoid of salvation."

The Brahmins were also the target in South India from the Delhi Sultanate and that is why at the time of the Vijayanagar Empire, King King Prolaya Vema of the Reddy Dynasty gave protection to them. ²

Firoz Shah Bahmani (in about 1398-99), according to the Tawarikh Firishtah, kidnapped 2,000 Brahmin women, who were later freed by Raja Dev Rai of Vijayanagar.³

In media

• The "Secret Circular of the Brahmin Samaj of Balaghat, a document widely disseminated by the missionaries, specially among the dalits and tribals.
• The anti-Hindu website Dalistan (now defunct), included an extensive set of documents promoting anti-Brahmin, anti-Hindu and separationist ideas. They have been widely promoted and quoted by anti-Hindu interests.

In Indian states

In Maharashtra

The anti-brahmin hate group Sambhaji Brigade attacked Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute of Maharashtra in January 2004, claiming that the Institute had defamed Shivaji. Later the Sambhaji Brigade issued statements reflecting anti-Brahmin sentiments. The Maratha Seva Sangh is an extremely anti-Brahmin organization.⁴

In Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu is home to one of the oldest Anti-Brahminism movements in India. Anti-Brahminism as opposed to popular belief was not started as Anit-Brahmin caste system. The religious and social system of orthodox Hinduism was called as Brahminism. [1]. In other words, Hinduism and Brahminism was once replaceable. Brahmins happened to be the strong and core layer to hold the Hinduism structure. The self-respect movement founded by E.V.Ramasamy espoused anti-brahminism and atheism, and although Ramasamy had Brahmin colleagues, the movement had currents of anti-Brahminism.⁵ Tamil Brahmins (Iyers and Iyengars) were frequently held responsible by followers of Periyar for direct or indirect oppression of lower-caste people; this contributed to several clashes and a gradual migration of the upper castes.⁶ Later, in regards to a DK member's attempt to assassinate Rajagopalachari, Ramasamy "expressed his abhorrence of violence as a means of settling political differences".⁷ Periyar's anti-brahmanism was evident from his comments to his followers that if they encountered a Brahman and a snake on the road the should kill the Brahmans first.⁸

The legacy of the Anti-Brahmanism in the self-respect movement was taken over by the later Dravidian parties. Eventually, the virulent anti-Brahmanism subsided somewhat with the replacement of the DMK party by the AIADMK.⁹ Now the AIADMK is led by the Brahmin Jayalalitha or "Amma" (mother, as her followers call her).

See also: Portrayal of Tamil Brahmins in popular media#Negative_Portrayals

See also

• Dalit Voice
• Kashmiri Pandit, a group of Brahmins persecuted by militants

Notes

References

• Politics and Social Conflict in South India, the Non-Brahman Movement and Tamil Separatism, 1916-1929. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1969. By Prof. Eugene Irschik
• Editorial by Francois Gautier on anti-Brahmanism
• Article by Pdt Vamadeva Shastri (formerly David Frawley) on anti-Brahmanism
• Article from well-known anti-semitic website preaching hate against Jews and comparing Hindu Brahmins to anti-semitic stereotype(s) of Jews
• Article from the well-regarded Indian periodical Outlook comparing Hindu Brahmins to anti-semitic stereotype(s) of Jews