In a recent assault and tonsuring of a non-Brahmin religious storyteller in Etawah, Uttar Pradesh, the esteemed Kashi Vidvat Parishad has strongly affirmed that all Hindus, regardless of caste, have the right to narrate the Bhagavad Katha
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Following a disturbing incident in Etawah where a non-Brahmin kathavachak (religious storyteller) was allegedly assaulted and tonsured, the Kashi Vidvat Parishad—an esteemed body of Sanskrit scholars and Hindu scripture experts—has issued a strong statement. The council reaffirmed that all Hindus, regardless of caste, have the right to narrate the Bhagavad Katha, a revered collection of stories about Lord Vishnu, reported PTI.
Professor Ramnarayan Dwivedi, General Secretary of the Kashi Vidvat Parishad, stated unequivocally: "In Sanatan Dharma, the right to recite the Bhagavad belongs to every Hindu. No one has the authority to take that away."
He highlighted that Hindu tradition honours several revered figures who, though not born into Brahmin families, were venerated as sages for their wisdom and conduct. “From Maharishi Valmiki to Ved Vyasa and Sant Ravidas, our tradition respects those with devotion, truth, and knowledge—not merely birth,” he said.
The Kashi Vidvat Parishad, based in Varanasi, is a key religious authority whose views carry weight in the Hindu community. It is frequently consulted on scriptural interpretation and matters of dharma (righteous conduct).
Professor Dwivedi further stressed that the right to preach or narrate religious texts should depend on one’s grasp of scripture and moral conduct—not their caste.
“A person who is learned and follows the path of dharma is truly a Brahmin or Pandit,” he said. He also warned against political attempts to exploit such incidents: “Some people aim to create internal divisions among Hindus for political benefit. We must be cautious and united.”
Addressing the legal dimensions of the incident, he added: “If the law was broken, the administration must carry out a fair investigation under constitutional norms. The guilty must be held accountable.”
Supporting the Parishad's stance, Professor Bihari Lal Sharma, Vice Chancellor of Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, said: “The scriptures impose no caste-based restrictions on who may narrate religious stories. Anyone who is qualified and knowledgeable is entitled to do so. Knowledge sees no caste—it treats everyone equally.”
He added, “God resides in everyone. All humans are equal. Only those with pure conduct and scriptural knowledge deserve to be called Brahmins.”
Meanwhile, tensions have risen in Etawah’s Dandarpur village days after the alleged caste-based humiliation of Bhagavad Katha preacher Mukut Mani Yadav and his aide Sant Singh Yadav.
On Thursday, members of the Yadav community staged protests demanding the arrest of all accused and the withdrawal of the FIR registered against the victims.
The triggering incident took place on the night of June 22–23. The two preachers, reportedly tonsured and abused by upper-caste men after revealing their Yadav identity, were subjected to degrading treatment.
A video that went viral on social media—and was shared by Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav—allegedly shows one accused saying: “You’re being punished for entering a Brahmin village.”
The victims said they were questioned about their caste, forced to produce ID, and subjected to degrading rituals. Sant Singh Yadav recalled: “I was tortured all night. My head was shaved, and they poured urine on me, saying it was to purify me.”
Following the video’s circulation, four accused—Ashish Tiwari, Uttam Kumar Awasthi, Nikki Awasthi, and Manu Dubey—have been arrested and formally charged.
(With inputs from PTI)
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