1. Caste Hindus Agree to Dalits in Orissa Temple
2. Navya Shastra Organization Apologizes for Untouchability
3. Violent Video Games May Be Banned in Germany

1. Caste Hindus Agree to Dalits in Orissa Temple

www.hindu.com

BHUBANESWAR, ORISSA, INDIA, December 18, 2006: Backed by a High Court order, which said all Hindus, irrespective of their caste, could enter any Hindu temple, the administration on Sunday succeeded in getting those opposed to the Court's ruling to give up their position on not allowing Dalits to worship in the Jagannath temple. The rituals in the temple were resumed late on Saturday after the erstwhile king of the Kanika kingdom and interim trustee of the temple, Rabindra Narayan Bhanjdeo, visited the temple and held discussions with the opposing group. They, however, did not respond to Mr. Bhanjdeo's appeal to give up their opposition to Dalit entry into the temple. Revenue Divisional Commissioner (Central) Suresh Mohapatra and Deputy Inspector-General (Central) S.K. Upadhyaya reached the area and held a meeting with representatives from both sides and an agreement was reached. It was decided at the meeting that the nine holes on the outer wall of the temple through which the Dalits had darshan (sight) of the Deities from a distance in the past would be demolished and a new entrance would be constructed.

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2. Navya Shastra Organization Apologizes for Untouchability

www.shastras.org

TROY, MICHIGAN, December 20, 2006: (HPI note: The following appeared as a press release written by Navya Shastra and sent out through Religion News Service.)

Navya Shastra, the international Hindu reform organization, has issued an apology to the Dalit communities of India. The organization issued the apology after consulting with Hindu activists and its own Dalit members. It reads:

We, at Navya Shastra, deeply regret and apologize for the atrocities committed on the sons and daughters of the depressed communities of India, including the tribals, the "untouchables" and all of the castes deemed as low. We shamefully acknowledge that the ideals of varna and its practical manifestation in castes (jatis), promoted and encouraged the notions of inequality, lesser and greater, high and low, superior and inferior among human beings. An ideal that does not aspire for equality of human beings is not worthy of being an ideal. Caste and varna have relegated many to a degradingly low status. This was a divisive, inhumane and a ruinous social construct. Navya Shastra fully recognizes this and rejects unequivocally as heinous and despicable varna and caste together with all Shastras and theories that endorse them or support the unjust and demeaning social hierarchy that these imposed on the Indian society. Navya Shastra understands that all Hindus cannot be equals when such theories are still amidst us. We ask for forgiveness for what our forefathers did in the past to directly and indirectly contribute to any and all indignities heaped by one human being upon another in the name of Dharma and God, and which some among us continue to do even in this enlightened era. The depressed and lowest castes have been the keepers and protectors of our oldest and most ancient traditions and wisdom. They have kept in practice the traditions that have become foundational to what we call "mainstream" Hinduism today. Some of the tribal languages, spoken even today, have provided the substratum for many of the spoken and classical languages of India. Most of our mainstream indigenous medicinal, agricultural, craftsmanship and other knowledge systems owe their origins to the knowledge and practices that have been propagated and retained within these castes over millennia. The folk performing arts were and are the main sources of input into the classical and popular art forms. We want to celebrate and fete all these traditions on this day, and pay homage to them. These traditions form the very foundation on which the Indian civilization stands today.

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3. Violent Video Games May Be Banned in Germany

www.ft.com

BERLIN, GERMANY, December 6, 2006: Violence in video games has escalated and countries around the world are taking steps to censure the violence as they feel it may be directly related to real-life incidents of violence among youth who are avid gamers. One such country leading the crackdown is Germany. The news release explains, "Virtual hit men in Europe's largest video games market could soon find themselves behind real bars if German regional politicians have their way. Under new legislation drawn up in reaction to a shooting at a school last month, developers, retailers and players of videos featuring 'cruel violence' could face up to a year in jail. The bill - unveiled this week by the states of Bavaria and Lower Saxony and due to be presented to the national parliament next year - is already raising the alarm in the 2m strong German online gaming community." Frank Sliwka, head of the Deutsche E-Sport Bund, an umbrella federation for online gaming teams, responds to the legislation by saying, "We have among the most drastic censorship rules for games. Now we are being labeled as a breeding ground for unstable, dysfunctional and violent youngsters."

However the German public supports the ban as the article points out, "The latest bill highlights growing popular disgust in Germany at violent video games, mirroring debates in the US. A poll taken after last month's shooting at a secondary school in Emsdetten showed 72 per cent of respondents blaming such incidents on violent games and 59 per cent supporting a ban. The 18-year old who killed himself with a rifle after storming his school and injuring 11 people was an avid Counter Strike player and self-avowed internet nerd according to local newspapers." Guenther Beckstein, Bavaria's interior minister, adds, "It is absolutely beyond any doubt that such killer games desensitize unstable characters to violence and can have a stimulating effect."

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