It has been alleged by many sickulars in India that the Bhagavat Gita propagates casteism and therefore caste based discrimination and untouchability based on Bhagavan's statement that "Chaturvarnyam maya srishti". Some even allege that it propagates violence since it asks Arjuna to take up arms against the Kauravas! They are selectively looking at fragments of statements than looking at the whole message. In the same Bhagavat Gita, in Chapter 5, Shloka 18, Bhagavan declares,
"VidyA vinaya sampannE brAhmanE gavi hastinI | suni chaiva svapAkE cha paNditA: sama darshina: ||
PanditA: refers to the learned person. sama darshina: refers to "sees as equal." So what all does the learned person see as equal? He takes examples of living beings that are diverse - from a man born as a brahmin to animals such as elephant, cow, and dog, to a man born in the caste of dog-eaters. How can, the Bhagavad Gita that says that even the animals are equal to human beings of diverse births be a source of discrimination? It can only be seen as a great equalizer that is propagating Universal Equality for all - including animals, all over the globe and not merely India. Such is its Universal Message, that there is nothing wrong in declaring it a Universal Scripture rather than merely India's national scripture. Every Indian, no matter which religion he/she is born into should be proud of the fact that such a scripture originated in this land. On the contrary, it is Abrahamic religions that differentiate the religious beliefs of people and call for "conversion of non-believers". Not Hinduism.
One has to acknowledge however, that there is huge diversity in the world by birth. Even if we cast aside religious, national, and caste differences there is vast economic differences. While governments of the world can work towards harmonizing these material inequalities, true equality can only be established spiritually.
"VidyA vinaya sampannE brAhmanE gavi hastinI | suni chaiva svapAkE cha paNditA: sama darshina: ||
PanditA: refers to the learned person. sama darshina: refers to "sees as equal." So what all does the learned person see as equal? He takes examples of living beings that are diverse - from a man born as a brahmin to animals such as elephant, cow, and dog, to a man born in the caste of dog-eaters. How can, the Bhagavad Gita that says that even the animals are equal to human beings of diverse births be a source of discrimination? It can only be seen as a great equalizer that is propagating Universal Equality for all - including animals, all over the globe and not merely India. Such is its Universal Message, that there is nothing wrong in declaring it a Universal Scripture rather than merely India's national scripture. Every Indian, no matter which religion he/she is born into should be proud of the fact that such a scripture originated in this land. On the contrary, it is Abrahamic religions that differentiate the religious beliefs of people and call for "conversion of non-believers". Not Hinduism.
One has to acknowledge however, that there is huge diversity in the world by birth. Even if we cast aside religious, national, and caste differences there is vast economic differences. While governments of the world can work towards harmonizing these material inequalities, true equality can only be established spiritually.
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