Open Letter to Shri M. Karunanidhi, Chief Minister, Tamil Nadu.

Subject: a) Running schools to train priests  under officially manufactured curriculum is blasphemous interference in Hindus religion, which violates the secular constitution and smacks of a blunt intent to de-Hinduise India;

 b) a Waqf- like Hindu Board should oversee temples;

c)  Charges against HH Kanchi Shankaracharya must be withdrawn.

Hon'ble Chief Minister Karunanidhi,

A billion Hindus, votaries of secularism and democracy across the Globe are aghast at Tamil Nadu Govt.'s plan for running schools to train Hindu priests and at setting up a committee to design the necessary curriculum for such training and prescribe guidelines (Attachments  A, B) . These deliberate initiatives towards changing the character and content of Hinduism under govt. supervision cannot but be construed as a serious interference in the domain of the Hindu religion with intent to strengthen the movement for de- Hinduizing India. Blinded by their thirst to Sovietize the regime of control upon the Hindu temples and thereby on the Hindu society, the state authorities seem oblivious that under the provisions of the Indian constitution, controlling, discriminating, managing, reforming or patronizing religions is completely and fully outside the scope of government jurisdiction. In the present case though against the intent of the Constitution the state Govt. seem to be at work for establishing its own brand of Hinduism.

The qualifications and training of priests to perform religious duties can only be prescribed by the religious heads and specialists. Their mysterious absence and non-involvement in the Govt. scheme can only be interpreted as a calculated design to change the complexion of Hinduism. While the idea of drawing the candidates for priesthood from all sections of the Hindu society is desirable, the issue of the unconstitutional control upon temples by Govt. cannot be overlooked. The Allahabad High Court's directive to the UP and the Central Govt.s’ for setting up a Waqf- like Hindu Board would be instructive for dealing with Hindu institutions (attachment C).

Some basic questions: Hon'ble Chief Minister there are some basic questions that need to be considered while dealing with this issue. What legal authority, background, specialization and competence do the govt. operatives possess for controlling every aspect of these Hindu cultural centers?  Why not allow an autonomous Hindu board to govern temples under the guidance of religious leaders, just as in other religion formations? The Waqf Board of Muslims and the management of Christian religious institutions who have vast funds, properties and endowments, in addition to the immense flow of foreign funds - yet their autonomy is allowed to remain intact! Why are only the Hindu religious centers and their priests targeted for being brought under the govt. over lordship?  

The TN Govt. seriously contravenes the mandate of the national secular constitution by taking over temples and by imparting specific training to priests through Govt. run training schools. These initiatives are obviously political instruments to change the very basic and traditional character of Hindu society and its system of faith. The temples are not just for rituals by purohits but also the centre of community's socio-cultural life, a place of learning with Acharyas, for character building, for community sewa and dharma prachar, similar to what missionaries do and which can only be accomplished under devoted Hindu religious governance, without meddling by the state. 

In general Govt. is charged with the responsibility of upholding the law but in the present case the state has seriously violated the constitution by: a) denying Hindus  their fundamental “Religious Rights’ guaranteed under Articles 25 and 26 of the Indian Constitution ( which guarantee to public  the establishment and maintenance of religious institutions; to own and acquire movable and immovable property;  and to administer such property in accordance with law); and, b)  gross misuse and abuse of state powers under Concurrent List (Article 246 (2) , Seventh Schedule, List 3 - item 28) on religious institutions by unwarranted acquisition of temples and squarely discriminating against Hindu religious institutions.
 
To settle this issue once and for all the Indian Parliament through an Act in 1991 specifically legislated that –“the status of religious places, as on August 15, 1947 shall be retained".  A faithful implementation of these laws will require removal of unconstitutional govt. control upon Hindu temples. 

In utter disregard towards these legal and constitutional considerations, it is baffling to note how the Tamil Nadu State legislature could pass laws on temples that : a) are violative of the Constitution; b) infringe the clearly expressed will of Parliament;  and, c) are against the universally accepted norms in all free and democratic societies. Given the recent history of unwarranted arrest of His Holiness the Kanchi Shankaracharya and now training priests under the framework of an officially manufactured curriculum apart from controlling temples and their functions, it appears that the TN Govt. has assumed a commanding role in the field of de-Hinduizing the state.  

 Our contention encompasses the legal and philosophical commitment of the secular Indian State - that the management and administration of the religious institutions, their estates and places of worship, must reside in the hands of the representative bodies of the believers.  For instance: How would Sikhs (Golden temple), Muslims (Jama Masjid, Ajmer Sharif) or Christians react to Govt. control of their places of worship and training of their mahants, Imams and pastors?  Such an intrusion by the government authority in otherwise an autonomous domain has a potential for the charge against the state itself for being a leading instrument of dismantling Hinduism.  

Shocking Reverse Discrimination: It is appalling that on the one hand the Indian Govt. subsidizes the "Hajj" pilgrimage of the Muslims to the tune of Rs. 200 crores annually, and govts. provide  Rs. 1000 crores per year for the salary of Imams in Mosques, but on the other hand the TN authorities are crusading to stealthily destroy the self- supporting foundations and structure of Hindu places of worship. Now the Govt. has illegally extended its authority for neutralizing Hindus and altering Hinduism. These objectives are supposed to be realized by reinterpreting the Hindu religious philosophy and selecting and training the priests through govt. run schools. Such acts constitute absolute control of the Govt. upon the content and institutions of Hinduism in the state. 

The denial to manage its places of religious worship to the national majority and continuing intrusion and imposition of official dictates in an otherwise autonomous domain, will justify the charge against the state of being anti- Hindu and anti-national and for being an instrument of shackling and debilitating Hinduism - a faith that is the single most important unifying factor in India's body politic.  

Hon'ble Chief Minister, for rectifying these historic blunders, may we suggest that representatives of shrines, temples, Hindu community and religious leaders from Dharma Sansad, Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha, etc. be motivated to convene an assembly for clearly defining the new legal and organizational framework for the community governance of temples and other religious places by a Hindu body. This body’s jurisdiction could include training of priests and constructing a religious based curriculum. Such an approach among other things could make the Board completely autonomous and thereby responsible and accountable for the entire administration. 

In  regard to the management and governance of Hindu religious institutions the Allahabad High Court's recent directive to the Central and Uttar Pradesh authorities (attachment C) to prepare a scheme for constituting a Board of the representatives of Hindu religious organizations on the pattern of the UP Muslim Waqf Board could be a guide for TN authorities. This decree by the said judicial body has been widely acclaimed as a welcome development. 

Kanchi Shankaracharya’s shameful arrest. : HH Swami Jayendra Shankaracharya’s unwarranted arrest on November 11, 2004, particularly on the holiest night of important Hindu festival i.e. Diwali, can only be attributed to a rabid anti-Hindu mindset of the people in authority. Consequently the enraged and indignant electorate expressed their contempt of the rulers and their irrational policies by throwing them out of office in a general election. In order to keep him under custody and isolated from the faithful and followers the Govt. contemptuously attempted to try the His Holiness in the media by constantly changing the charges against him. That this case was transferred out of the state in search of a fair trail and justice speaks volumes about the prevalent political vindictiveness in the state.  

Hon'ble Chief Minister, the Hindu world is deeply anguished by the continued incarceration of His Holiness, who in spite of the false charges against him, continues to command  respectability and reverence better than the Catholic Pope. Therefore, in the interest of social harmony, justice and respect for millions of his followers the case against him be withdrawn.   

It is a matter of national disgrace that India, boasting to be the largest secular democracy and aspiring to be a member of the UN Security Council denies its own national majority community the human right of religious freedom.  To redress these disturbing grievances may we request the Hon'ble Chief Minister to please:

1) dissolve the committee set up by the Govt. to design the curriculum for training Hindu priests and invite the Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha/ Dharma Sanasad to form a committee to undertake such responsibilities. 

2)  constitute a Waqf like Hindu Board, as advised by the Allahabad High Court, for overseeing the management of Hindu institutions. 

3)  advise the state authorities in general to adopt a “hands-off” policy in relation to the Hindu temples, priests and endowments as required by the Constitution and subsequent laws formulated by the national Parliament ;

4) co-opt an interim Hindu Council, for oversight and guidance of endowment department till the complete denationalization of temples and their autonomy is restored. The Council could be nominated by organizations like Dharma Sansad and Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha etc. 

5) withdraw the frivolous charges against HH Kanchi Shanakaracharya, as they are the result of out right vindictiveness and vendetta.

Hon'ble Chief Minister, Shri Karunanidhi, please liberate Hindu institutions in your state and restore their age old freedom from official tentacles. 
 
We are hoping for a prompt response. 

With best wishes,

Sincerely, 

Dr. Jagan Kaul   
Krishan Bhatnagar  
Hindu Jagran Forum (USA)

August 3, 2006  
 

Atachment A

Archakar training school for Tiruvannamalai
Friday July 28 2006 11:28 IST

TIRUVANNAMALAI: An Archakar training school to impart training in priesthood for candidates from all communities would be set up in Tiruvannamalai.

According to sources, a high-level committee constituted by the Tamil Nadu Government which visited the Annamalayar temple at Tiruvannamalai on Tuesday, had identified places where the school could be set up in the town.

The team is said to have visited the Kannikaparameswari temple and explored the possibility of setting up the school on the temple premises itself.

As customs and rituals are unique to individual temples and the region, the team is said to have discussed these things with the existing priests. Even the syllabus of the proposed school has also been discussed, sources said.

Attachment B

Hindu Press interantional
HPI June 16,2006

www.zeenews.com

CHENNAI, INDIA, June 10, 2006: the Tamil Nadu government today set up a seven-member committee, headed by retired judge of the Madras High Court Justice A. K. Rajan, to design the curriculum for training and prescribe guidelines to implement its decision to appoint persons from any caste as temple priests. The committee, which would prescribe age and educational qualification for the aspiring priests, would submit its report within two months to the government, an official press release said tonight. The committee members include Kunrakudi Ponnambala Adigalar, Perur Santhalinga Adigalar, Narayana Jeer of Srirangam, Pichai Sivachariyar, chief priest of Pillayarpatti Ganesh temple, and K. Chandrasekar Bhatar of Tiruparankunram temple. T. Pichandi, Commissioner, Hindu religious charitable department, would be member secretary of the committee, the release added. The DMK government had issued orders on May 23 enabling persons of all castes to become temple priests, fulfilling a poll promise of the party.

HPI adds: Sri Pichai Sivachariyar, Hinduism Today's "Hindu of the Year" for 2004, runs one of South India's foremost priest training schools. It already accepts non-brahmins for the multi-year courses. A story on him and his school is here.
 

Attachment C

Make Waqf-like board for Hindu religious bodies: HC

Press Trust of India
Allahabad, June 6, 2006
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1714562,000900010004.htm  

Hindustan Times

The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday asked the Centre and Uttar Pradesh to prepare a scheme for constitution of a Board for Hindu religious organisations on the pattern of the UP Muslim Waqf Board. Passing the order, Justice SN Srivastava said the Board so constituted shall be an autonomous body and it will register all such religious and charitable establishments and endowments according to the norms represented by mutts, monasteries, temples and religious and charitable trusts or societies, as the case may be, through their heads.

The Centre as well as the state government may also frame schemes for providing minimum wages and other welfare measures for those working in temples, the court added.

The judgement was passed on a writ petition filed by Shree Satya Narain Tulsi Manas Mandir at Varanasi.

The court said that the schemes so framed may be placed before the court on September nine.The court was of the view that though provisions of Minimum Wages Act were not applicable to temple as it is not an  industry, fair wages cannot be denied merely on the ground that the establishment or institution is of a religious or charitable nature or that persons who are engaged are 'sevadars' or employees at the pleasure of management.