Freedom becomes more meaningful if it stands under the shade of the tree of tradition, treating all citizens equally in the eyes of law

The truly learned, with the eyes of divine knowledge, envisions the inner soul of a Brahmin, a cow, an elephant, a dog, and a dog eater, equally. Equality is not a new concept. Inequality is… it is a concept that keeps creeping into society,  repeatedly raising its ugly head, despite the efforts of Elders, Sages, Social reformers, etc.

So how come inequality is such a persistent problem? It is so because we don’t realise that all inequalities are at the level of the physical body. From God’s point of view, we’re all equal. All athmas are part of paramathma, but they get embodied based on their karmas … not as a punishment. but as an opportunity to better themselves. Any inequality, whether of colour, caste, creed or gender, is inevitable, at that physical level only.

Unfortunately, mankind thrives on highlighting these temporary differences and creating divides, forgetting the oneness of all beings. We must realise that we have to help others to develop skills to cross this ocean of worldly existence.

Everyone says they believe in Equality and then shrug off its implementation as someone else’s responsibility. Unless each one of us practices it in our day to day lives, it will only remain a slogan or a topic for essays and speeches.

The word Equality does not mean that everyone will become the same... it means that everyone will have the opportunity to evolve to their optimum level. A bush will get the opportunity to become the best bush, not a tree... a tree will get the opportunity to become the best tree, not a forest.

Over the centuries, many great men have struggled to make the concept of equality take root in the heart of humans. The legacy that a great man leaves behind can be ascertained by the number of hearts he has touched.

Sri Ramanujacharya Swamy, who graced this world in the 11th century, is one of the most important exponents of Sri Vaishnavism. His legacy is not just how many hearts he has touched, but how many ‘souls’ he has transformed.

We are blessed to be part of his lineage and carry forward his torch that has been passed down to us by our purvaacharyas. Almost five decades of his life was spent serving all beings as a service to God and propagating the one concept closest to his heart… Equality.

Sri Ramanujacharya was born more than a thousand years ago when the norms of society were even more rigid than they are today. Entering a temple, chanting mantras, learning Vedas was taboo for women, people from ‘lower’ castes, and the downtrodden.

The world identifies Bharat with casteism, not realizing that it began as a division based on vocations. It’s unfortunate that untouchability burst forth as an issue.

Sri Ramanujacharya, like the spring season, quietly set out to help many a flower to bloom to its potential. He shared the mantra with everyone - irrespective of caste. He shared the mantra, which he himself had received from his guru, after traversing 100 miles on foot, 18 times. He shared the mantra at the cost of his guru’s wrath and the possibility of facing Hell. He shared it with all. The only qualification he wanted was that they should be devoted and eager to learn.

In the times of Ramanujacharya, temples were the hub of knowledge, employment, and culture. They were the universities, shopping centres, and meeting points. But they were under the control of one section of society, one particular caste.

Sri Ramanujacharya, encouraged inclusiveness by allotting 50 percent of the tasks in temples to persons belonging to the rest of the castes. That's the reason, from then on, there were no restrictions based on caste, to enter temples. However, the relapse of casteism occurred during the foreign rule in Bharath. Caste was used as a ploy to divide and rule.

Sri Ramanujacharya was born in a Brahmin family, but he was desirous of having the leftover food of a great devotee from Kanchi, called KanchiPurna, though he was from a lower social status. He said social status is not a barrier when you truly enjoy and cherish the companionship of people with a common goal.

He gave importance, at par with the Vedas, to the songs sung by alvars, Tamil poet-saints, about the glory of the Divya Desams. Some of these alvars were of the lower castes, but their songs were made mandatory in the

temples.

Sri Ramanujacharya showed his concern for women in those tough days and opened learning channels for women. This is 1000+ years ago... I bet there were no social media to create awareness... it was a single Acharya who sensed the need to educate all, so that everyone could experience knowledge... irrespective of their gender.

Sri Ramanujacharya is that gigantic reservoir from which all present-day schools of thought that advocate Equality has flowed out as creeks, rivulets and tributaries. This is a historical fact.

It’s been over a thousand years that this divine personality sanctified the earth by his presence. The world is advocating his ideology, without giving credit to him. His name remains in the shadows. So, the magical essence is missing and values are disappearing in society.

Today, the world is fraught with divisiveness. Invisible, but invincible, walls have been built, dividing society. Equality has become just another name. We feel that the effulgence of Sri Ramanuja’s ideology is the dire need of the hour. His form and his words can inspire society. What better time to experience this inspiration, than the millennium of his birth!

That is why the Statue of Equality has emerged. Let the Statue reverberate within you, echoes of Equality. Let these echoes become a yearning for Equality. Let this yearning get translated into actions leading to Equality.

(Writer Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamy is known for his spiritual discourses on Sri Vaishnavism. He is the designer and planner of the Statue of Equality, a statue dedicated to Ramanuja, in Hyderabad, India. The views expressed are personal.)