Harijana

Expressions researched:
"harijana" |"harijanas" |"harijans" |"hari-jana" |"hari-janas"

Conversations and Morning Walks

1973 Conversations and Morning Walks

He did not know how to make them harijana. He was politically trying.

Morning Walk -- March 1, 1973, Jakarta:

Prabhupāda: But generally, unless they are very highly elevated... [break] ...to elevate them, harijanas.

Devotee (1): Harijanas.

Prabhupāda: But he did not know how to make them harijana. He was politically trying.

1976 Conversations and Morning Walks

Harijana means methara. As soon as he comes, if he says, "I am harijana" then immediately you understand that he is a sweeper.

Morning Walk -- February 19, 1976, Mayapura:

Acyutānanda: So many born śūdras are śūdras, many times.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Acyutānanda: But artificially the government process is to give benefits and prestige to the harijanas without being qual...

Prabhupāda: Without training.

Acyutānanda: Training.

Prabhupāda: Without making him harijana...

Acyutānanda: A harijana may become a brāhmaṇa, but sometimes a harijana is a scheduled caste.

Prabhupāda: Harijana means methara. As soon as he comes, if he says, "I am harijana" then immediately you understand that he is a sweeper.

Acyutānanda: Yes.

Prabhupāda: This is the position.

There is no harm to pick up a low class man and to elevate him to the position of harijana. But if you keep him a low class man and if you stamp him harijana, then what will be benefit?

Answers to a Questionnaire from Bhavan's Journal -- June 28, 1976, Vrndavana:

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Another part of this same question: if the harijanas, who constitute a sizable population amongst the Hindus, are made to feel that their very religion...

Prabhupāda: These are all artificial. The harijana word was used by Gandhi unnecessarily for a class of men who are not fit for the position. Harijana means "the men of Hari." Just like Nārada. Nārada is called harijana. Great devotee is called harijana, "the persons related with Hari." But if you select some bhangis and camaras and keep them as he is and rubberstamp it, "Here is a harijana," what will be the effect? There is no harm to pick up a low class man and to elevate him to the position of harijana. There is no impediment. You can do. But if you keep him a low class man and if you stamp him harijana, then what will be benefit? Just like we are initiating selected men. "Are you ready to follow these rules and regulation? When he says, then "Come on. Become harijana." Not that "I'll keep myself in that same abominable condition of life and I shall become harijana." So this "harijana" word has come from Gandhi. He did not try to make him real harijana. He simply rubberstamped him. So what is the value of this harijana?