Review
Review
focusing on Hinduism and the concepts of caste, dynasty, and gotra. It discusses the eternal nature of Hindu Dharma, the Vedic era and current way of life, Indian civilization and prosperity, service to cows, the concepts of varna, gotra and caste, the royal history of the Chamar dynasty, the transformation of this dynasty into the Chamar caste during the Islamic period, and the religious devotion of the Hindu Chamar community.
Dr. Shastri argues that the distortions in varna, caste, and lineage during the medieval and colonial periods need to be uprooted. Literature based on true facts is being created to help restore the ancient casteless and unified Hindu society.
The second chapter uncovers how foreign Islamic rulers were responsible for the emergence of Dalit and Muslim castes due to their oppression. It includes topics like brutal foreign invasions, oppression of warrior communities, mistreatment of prisoners of war, and the transformation of people into " untouchables " under Islamic oppression.
The third chapter discusses how people were forced into leather work based on religious persecution. It covers the high demand for leather during Islamic rule, the use of prisoners for lowly tasks, and how Hindus who resisted conversion were forced into leather work and later labeled as Chamars.
The fourth chapter focuses on the discrimination based on leather work— how carrying dead animals and extracting hides was associated with impurity. It examines how Hindu workers in the leather trade were
Dr. Bizay Sonkar Shastri
segregated and labeled untouchables due to Islamic cruelty and societal disdain.
In the fifth chapter, Dr. Shastri provides a genealogical and royal history of the Hindu Chamar caste. He presents the Chamars as proud bearers of Hindu culture and tradition, untainted by external influences.
The sixth chapter focuses on the religious leadership of Saint Ravidas and the spiritual legacy of the Chamar community. It emphasizes the community’ s rejection of Islam and Christianity and celebrates Ravidas as a great religious leader of the Hindu faith.
The seventh chapter highlights the national contributions of the Chamar caste in Hindu society, emphasizing their role in the Indian freedom movement and economic framework. It portrays them as cultural custodians of India.
The final chapter discusses the current state and empowerment of the Chamar caste. It evaluates their social, political, and economic status and stresses the need for social empowerment as the key to progress.
The book comprises 350 pages and features a foreword by Shri Suresh " Bhaiyyaji " Joshi, a senior member of the RSS. He praises the work for tracing the ancestry, gotras, and subcastes of the leather-working communities. According to him, this book does not just provide information but opens a new path for intellectual reflection.
In conclusion, this is a researchbased work that sheds light on the glorious royal past of a community that was forcibly pushed into leather work, all in the name of preserving their religion. �
46 Dalit Andolan Patrika | April 2025