In a constitutional republic … it is our fundamental right…. and I am afraid that we are all handing back these rights to fundamentalists and fanatics.
You are right when you say that temple entry won’t make equals … but it isn’t one thing that makes up inequality… it is a lot of bricks and this is just one of them… it has to be dismantled in every sphere … this is just a start…

I have posted some of his explanations in this blog as quotations. They are long posts, if possible check ‘em out.

http://ambedkarquotes.wordpress.com/2008/03/15/temple-entry-wont-make-equals/

http://ambedkarquotes.wordpress.com/2008/03/15/do-depressed-classes-desire-temple-enty/

But, we (as a nation) hold on to them in the name of social tradition or whatever….And until we hold on these, the caste system will thrive.

b) the right to equality – i have equal rights under the eyes of the state, and the state will ensure that all institutions – including religion – will respect those rights….
The way to achieve this is a lot more public action… use the State and the Judiciary to uphold the constitution…. most of us just give up……

When Tamilian dalit christians are given the rear pews in Churches (the upper caste christians are in the front pews) .. sue them…. When the Sabrimala doesn’t allow women in, take them to court….

the Hindu tradition has a great tendency to co opt all other streams and Gods as its own…. go to Shirdi and you will see that a Sufi Saint has been Brahminzed (seriously). Look at Buddha and his take over by the dashavatar mythology !
….And, in the co-option it re affirms various sorts of status – be it gender or caste or whatever —

Civic Society has to keep prodding the state to ensure that constitutional rights are upheld…. to give a parallel, equal opportunity is not a self running system in the West… activists of all hues and shades move the courts periodically to ensure that those rights are not violated..

I knew you had read it before (from earlier discussion), I meant that “temple entry” didnt get any good mention in the book, be for a reason probably.

I agree that, I should respect people’s wishes and their rights to worship.., even if I think its not a right to be somewhere on some debilitating terms.

There are examples aplenty in India that show, call for change comes when people face crude and outright discrimination. All temple priests maintain Women are impure- i know about the ones in Puri/Orissa and recently heard Kanchi Sankarachaya in a film, but controversy rages only on Sabarimala issue. Kayastas fought tooth and nail to gain temple entry- calcutta high court ruled they couldn’t. Once they got it, they settled for their status in religious order. I might be wrong about this specific case, but all sections of society seem to have satisfied in playing second fiddle.

Forget about the “others” when will these people, those who have active interaction with the religious right and those who have achieved considerable success both in education and socio/economic status, will “reclaim” equality for themselves, or the symbols of power-learning Vedas, being priests, if thats the key ?

Or have they realised that, social barriers could be fought despite religion/god, that they do not represent the symbols of power anymore ?