Some people have accused Baba Ramdev of being a sexist homophobe. Let's examine the truth behind it.
What is ‘Sexism’? : An ideology that; looks down upon women, advocates discrimination based on gender and promotes stereotyping of social roles based on gender.
What is Homophobia? : An approach based on fear of or contempt for lesbians and gay men.
On 2 July 2009 Delhi High Court, in a landmark verdict, legalized gay sex among consenting adults. Under Section 377 of Indian Penal Code such activities are unlawful and hence punishable with punishment up to life imprisonment.
(on 11 December 2013- 11/12/13!- a two member bench of Justice Ganguly and Sanghvi overturned this decision and LGBT activists claim it would down as a sad day in the annals of Indian democracy!)
The division bench of Justice A.P. Shah and Justice S. Muralidhar in its 105-page order declare that: Section 377 of the IPC, insofar as it criminalizes consensual sexual acts of adults in private, violates Article 21 [Right to Protection of Life and Personal Liberty], Article14 [Right to Equality before Law] and Article15 [Prohibition of Discrimination on Grounds of Religion, Race, Caste, Sex or Place of Birth] of the Constitution.
They held that sexual orientation is a ground analogous to sex, and that discrimination on sexual orientation is not permitted under Article 15.
Historical perspective (of article 377 of IPC)
IPC was drafted by Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay in 1830s and reflects a mind set, which was prevalent in that era. Then homosexuality and lesbian activities were considered criminal as they thought such tendencies are acquired by one’s own volition.
Modern discoveries and scientific progress coupled with the rise of humanitarian values, which has freed human beings from the diktats of the illogicalities of religionists, has established that there is no criminality involved in such behaviors. As pure heterosexuals enjoy their brand of physical intimacy pure lesbians and gays enjoy theirs. As a pure heterosexual can not enjoy gay sex so would pure lesbians and gays distaste heterosexual activates. As this fact was established beyond doubt the learned judge, who delivered the landmark judgment, felt compelled to bring justice to a sexual minority, which is being persecuted for generations for no fault of theirs.
Now from being a religious and moral issue it has became an issue involving equity and hence article 377 of IPC came in conflict with the constitutional guarantee that all the subjects would be treated equally.
Rationality and religions are often poles apart. So, quite naturally religious leaders, who thrive by preaching fundamentalism, opposed this accommodation and they upped their ante! How could Baba Ramdev be any different! He repeated the allegation- that religious moralists have leveled through generations- that homosexuality is a DISEASE!
For a more detailed discussion about the above please visit:
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200907072033.htm
http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/03/stories/2009070358010100.htm
Now from a humanist’s stand point Baba Ramdev’s obscurantist attitude does merit him the tag ‘sexist homophobe’. Perhaps that’s the rationale behind Sonom Kapoor’s tweet; where, she referred to Baba Ramdev as a sexist homophobe.
Baba Ramdev and his organisation selling Ayurvedic preparations are habitual offenders in evading their VAT dues:
The Yaga guru's foundation is a habitual offender in evading sales tax (VAT) as reported in Tehlka. It's unfortunate that only after the last year's fiasco they'd the gall to proceed against him, for the sales tax cases against the organisation are pretty old.
Source:
http://www.tehelka.com/story_main52.asp?filename=Ws190312Black_money.asp
Getting a cue the Income Tax department also has rolled in its sleeves to flex muscle with him.
17 May 2012:
TOI reports that the exemptions available under section 11 of IT Act -1961 to Baba's trusts have been rescinded and a hefty Rs 58 Crore demand notice has been sent. The unfolding of the mess surrounding the Baba is turning out to be a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black!
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Tax-notice-slapped-on-Ramdevs-trusts/articleshow/13216681.cms
While doing emotional marketing the Baba got emotional:
The Yoga Guru mostly does emotional marketing. After making gullible people emotional for quite sometime and all the while dishing out unfounded claims on a routine basis he also caught the contagion and became royally emotional for the country!
Now he started a tirade to recover the illegal mullah stashed in Swiss Banks.All was well and he was becoming more and more important. Sri Pranab Mukherjee- the senior most leader of Congress- bent backwards and pleaded on behalf of UPA- II to the Baba. But then the Baba over did his acts of threatening the government and Kapil Sibbal and Co planned to get tough.
While being evicted from the Ramlila ground- in New Delhi- the tricky Baba went on to don a woman's clothing to hoodwink the cops! On retrospect the Baba would be ruing his theatrics; but the damage had been done! He did that to further whip the passions of the general public but the back lash proved much stronger than the little sympathy he received from his coterie. The Baba was undone!
In the end this fiasco- where he gave a call to arms while pretending to be a votary of non-violent protest-proved costly and since then the mercurial self styled nationalist sadhu has failed to recover the lost ground and it seems his days of extraordinary public followings are over!
13 May 2012: The new chapter- Wooing Dalits cutting across the religious line:
The recent support for Dalit Christians and Muslims would certainly endear the controversial Baba to a larger section of people. Yet there is also a risk, he may lose his core constituency- militant Hindus- in the process.
On the issue of Black money, being a habitual tax evader, it's increasingly becoming untenable for the Baba to mount that moral high ground; let's see how honest he is in his new found support for the poor dalits.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Ramdev-backs-quota-for-Muslims-and-Christians-seeks-their-support-in-graft-fight/articleshow/13115642.cms
What is your take on all these issues?
What is ‘Sexism’? : An ideology that; looks down upon women, advocates discrimination based on gender and promotes stereotyping of social roles based on gender.
What is Homophobia? : An approach based on fear of or contempt for lesbians and gay men.
On 2 July 2009 Delhi High Court, in a landmark verdict, legalized gay sex among consenting adults. Under Section 377 of Indian Penal Code such activities are unlawful and hence punishable with punishment up to life imprisonment.
(on 11 December 2013- 11/12/13!- a two member bench of Justice Ganguly and Sanghvi overturned this decision and LGBT activists claim it would down as a sad day in the annals of Indian democracy!)
The division bench of Justice A.P. Shah and Justice S. Muralidhar in its 105-page order declare that: Section 377 of the IPC, insofar as it criminalizes consensual sexual acts of adults in private, violates Article 21 [Right to Protection of Life and Personal Liberty], Article14 [Right to Equality before Law] and Article15 [Prohibition of Discrimination on Grounds of Religion, Race, Caste, Sex or Place of Birth] of the Constitution.
They held that sexual orientation is a ground analogous to sex, and that discrimination on sexual orientation is not permitted under Article 15.
Historical perspective (of article 377 of IPC)
IPC was drafted by Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay in 1830s and reflects a mind set, which was prevalent in that era. Then homosexuality and lesbian activities were considered criminal as they thought such tendencies are acquired by one’s own volition.
Modern discoveries and scientific progress coupled with the rise of humanitarian values, which has freed human beings from the diktats of the illogicalities of religionists, has established that there is no criminality involved in such behaviors. As pure heterosexuals enjoy their brand of physical intimacy pure lesbians and gays enjoy theirs. As a pure heterosexual can not enjoy gay sex so would pure lesbians and gays distaste heterosexual activates. As this fact was established beyond doubt the learned judge, who delivered the landmark judgment, felt compelled to bring justice to a sexual minority, which is being persecuted for generations for no fault of theirs.
Now from being a religious and moral issue it has became an issue involving equity and hence article 377 of IPC came in conflict with the constitutional guarantee that all the subjects would be treated equally.
Rationality and religions are often poles apart. So, quite naturally religious leaders, who thrive by preaching fundamentalism, opposed this accommodation and they upped their ante! How could Baba Ramdev be any different! He repeated the allegation- that religious moralists have leveled through generations- that homosexuality is a DISEASE!
For a more detailed discussion about the above please visit:
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200907072033.htm
http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/03/stories/2009070358010100.htm
Now from a humanist’s stand point Baba Ramdev’s obscurantist attitude does merit him the tag ‘sexist homophobe’. Perhaps that’s the rationale behind Sonom Kapoor’s tweet; where, she referred to Baba Ramdev as a sexist homophobe.
Baba Ramdev and his organisation selling Ayurvedic preparations are habitual offenders in evading their VAT dues:
The Yaga guru's foundation is a habitual offender in evading sales tax (VAT) as reported in Tehlka. It's unfortunate that only after the last year's fiasco they'd the gall to proceed against him, for the sales tax cases against the organisation are pretty old.
Source:
http://www.tehelka.com/story_main52.asp?filename=Ws190312Black_money.asp
Getting a cue the Income Tax department also has rolled in its sleeves to flex muscle with him.
17 May 2012:
TOI reports that the exemptions available under section 11 of IT Act -1961 to Baba's trusts have been rescinded and a hefty Rs 58 Crore demand notice has been sent. The unfolding of the mess surrounding the Baba is turning out to be a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black!
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Tax-notice-slapped-on-Ramdevs-trusts/articleshow/13216681.cms
While doing emotional marketing the Baba got emotional:
The Yoga Guru mostly does emotional marketing. After making gullible people emotional for quite sometime and all the while dishing out unfounded claims on a routine basis he also caught the contagion and became royally emotional for the country!
Now he started a tirade to recover the illegal mullah stashed in Swiss Banks.All was well and he was becoming more and more important. Sri Pranab Mukherjee- the senior most leader of Congress- bent backwards and pleaded on behalf of UPA- II to the Baba. But then the Baba over did his acts of threatening the government and Kapil Sibbal and Co planned to get tough.
While being evicted from the Ramlila ground- in New Delhi- the tricky Baba went on to don a woman's clothing to hoodwink the cops! On retrospect the Baba would be ruing his theatrics; but the damage had been done! He did that to further whip the passions of the general public but the back lash proved much stronger than the little sympathy he received from his coterie. The Baba was undone!
In the end this fiasco- where he gave a call to arms while pretending to be a votary of non-violent protest-proved costly and since then the mercurial self styled nationalist sadhu has failed to recover the lost ground and it seems his days of extraordinary public followings are over!
13 May 2012: The new chapter- Wooing Dalits cutting across the religious line:
The recent support for Dalit Christians and Muslims would certainly endear the controversial Baba to a larger section of people. Yet there is also a risk, he may lose his core constituency- militant Hindus- in the process.
On the issue of Black money, being a habitual tax evader, it's increasingly becoming untenable for the Baba to mount that moral high ground; let's see how honest he is in his new found support for the poor dalits.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Ramdev-backs-quota-for-Muslims-and-Christians-seeks-their-support-in-graft-fight/articleshow/13115642.cms
What is your take on all these issues?
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