‘Brahmins in Gujarat must unite for development’

The Brahmin community in Gujarat is believed to have 84 sub-castes, which is perhaps why the community does not function as a monolithic group.
The Brahmin community in Gujarat is believed to have 84 sub-castes, which is perhaps why the community does not function as a monolithic group. However, on Sunday, the community took a step towards greater cohesiveness when three events organised by an umbrella organisation of the Brahmins were held under one roof.

Brahma Sena organised a mass Yagnopavit (Janeu) of nearly 1500 children, the meeting of 11,111 unmarried boys and girls for selection of life partner and Brahma Choryasi (community lunch) for all the 84 sub-castes at Ahmedabad Education Society ground in Thaltej.

The three events were attended by many eminent Brahmins from different walks of life, including politics. Ahmedabad (East) MP Harin Pathak; BJP leader Amit Thaker; Ahmedabad mayor Asit Vora; Gujarat University vice-chancellor Parimal Trivedi; and Jagannath temple trustee Mahendra Jha were among the notable
Brahmins present at the function. Heads of several religious
institutions, including Swami Sadanandji Saraswati, in-charge of Dwarka Matth of Jagadguru Shankaracharyaji, also attended the event.

Apart from food and ceremonies, the event had a touch of community politics as well. Bhavesh Rajyaguru, president of Brahma Sena, spoke aggressively on the problems facing the community.

"Many people from our community did everything they could to sabotage this event but they were not successful. I want to announce that this event has no political agenda. We just want to create a common organization comprising all the sub-castes of Brahmins," he said.

Rajyaguru further said that he had no intention to contest elections. "I will never contest assembly or parliamentary elections. If I do so, you can set my house on fire. There are 78 lakh Brahmins in Gujarat. We need to unite for our development," he said.

He said that he was neither for the state government nor against it. "I am working for the Brahmin community. I appeal to you all not to work for any political party but to work for the victory of Brahmin candidates. If any political party neglects Brahmins, Brahma Sena will field its own candidates against that party," Rajyaguru said.

He also demanded that no matter which party comes to power after this year's assembly elections, it should give Brahmins the same position as that of "Vashishthha in Rama Rajya."

He also announced that Brahma Sena would organize similar events in Banaskantha district in the near future.

"Today, 17 % of Brahmin girls don't find a suitable match within their community. For this reason, they are marrying out of the community," he said.