Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap warns against dividing society on caste lines amid talk of caste census

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India]: Amid the talk of caste census in India’s political sphere, Himachal Pradesh governor Shiv Pratap Shukla on Thursday said that society as a whole can progress by unity and social harmony.

The governor said that Ram Manohar Lohia’s dictum ‘dam bandho (fix prices), jati todo (break caste)’ was needed in contemporary times.

Shiv Pratap Shukla said “I think that Ram Manohar Lohia ji, was a socialist thinker who practiced democracy on the basis of- dam bandho (fix prices), jati todo (break caste).”

“Democracy can never be strengthened by dividing the society. I believe that the society as a whole can progress by unity and social harmony. Ram Manohar Lohia dictum ‘dam bandho (fix prices), jati todo (break caste)’ is needed in contemporary times,” He added.

The State Governor said that invaders like Alexander had been able to conquer parts of India only because India was divided on caste lines.

“Whenever this country has been discussed on the basis of caste, I want to give an example. I know that when Alexander came here and after coming, he saw that Indian are divided into different castes and they run their own stoves to prepare food.

Alexander assumed his victory because at that time Indian were divided, so Indian will not fight unitedly,” said Shukla.

Shiv Pratap Shukla said that for India to progress and realise the dream of Amrit Kaal it was important for society to be united.

“India’s GDP is increasing. Today in this Amrit Kaal of Indian democracy, the whole world is looking towards India and some people living in India are working to break India, hence I think that India should be united,” the Governor said.

The Himachal Governor said that in ancient Indian society everyone lived in harmony and unity.

“Just tell me one thing, how was the caste calculation done in the ancient villages? Our society was more powerful and united in those times.

Whenever marriages used to take place in the village, everyone in the village was called together for Bhoj. Social harmony was the hallmark at that time. Today, social harmony is disappearing slowly,”

He said that Caste Census is also a part of dividing society.

“I feel that many times there has been talk of breaking Hindutva and the Caste census is one such attempt.” the Governor said.