Dr. A has made his thesis on two interesting observations 1.that 'majority' and 'minority' is a recent development. 2. Sikh's have been reassimilated in the 'Hindu' fold.
The development of groups happens once the society becomes bound to particular boundary. With the delineation of 'national' boundaries as something sacrosanct after 2nd WW this was bound to happen.
Sikh's assimilation is due to a relatively common world view with Hindus and their small numbers.
Both these phenomenon have been happening in a naturally 'boundaried' landmass of 'India' or 'South Asia' or 'Indian Subcontinent'-again and again throughout it's history and are nothing new to it.
These two phenomenon are however, new to the 'Global community' since it is only now that the 'globe' has become the natural boundary of a global land mass!
The globe is witnessing what India has witnessed throughout it's long history.
It shall also follow similar trajectory as the Indian society, and shall become similar heterogeneous interdependant conglomerate as the Hindu society- with it's Caste System style institutionalised inequity and it's own Hinduism type all inclusive Global Religion.
It sounds so surprising and immaturish for the Dr. to compare Sikhs with the muslims.................remind him that sikhism is off shoot of hinduism (saviors of hindus) only and they are always the people who fight for the right from time immemorial..and would do so anytime for motherland!
You can air your views so freely in India but can u talk like this in Saudia.
Secondly ....its sad to iterpret that Religion is not above Nationhood....from so called literate like you.
You could write all this crap because of your so called liberal literacy..............and peole like you are also terrorist in some form fathoming wrong ideas that too when away from motherland and talking about India...why dont you just keep silent and enjoy the doles the white skin gives u for using you!
IF you really care for India...live in India contribute towards India be an Indian rather than being a slave for money.........IF YOU GOT IT IN YOU (WHATEVER YOU DOING IN us FOR 40 YEARS )..YOU CAN DO IN INDIA TOO!..................
We respect all relgions...unlike pseudo secularist like you!
Sikhs are not Hindus.
by Anil Koli on Sep 10, 2006 08:53 AM
Mr khalsa,why is it you always rope in the guillible sikhs to fight your battles? It is for the sikhs to say that sikhism is an offshoot of hinduism not the hindus , but no sikh has said so till now.They broke away from hinduism because they were sick of it. You tell Dr Apadurai"If you really care for India,live in India". Why don't you tell this to your brahmin brothers and sisters who have run to USA and on whose doles your party is flourishing.
RE:Dont Compare sikhs with Muslims
by Rhazes Ashrawi on Jun 12, 2008 08:15 PM
excellent reply kohli. simply fantastic. These hindutva bigots are bent on destroying india with their narrow minded revengeful ignorant minds. I only hope india can be saved. It vcan be saved only if the fascist hindu parties can be completely eliminated.Also it is the fascist hindus who live and enjoy the benefits of the west and ironically the benfits in the middle east that finance the bjp and other fascist movements in india creating mayhem and genocide. appadurai must really be congragulated for his highly nteligent analysis.
As a hindu I have a dream that -in all schools there would be prayers chanting sloks -People of this nation feel proud of a great heritage instead of being shied about it -people who glorifies the acts of Ghajani will be punished severely -My nation's parliament commences with a prayer of ganesh -There will be a uniform civil code etc. None of them will be possible as Hindus are not majority but many 'small number groups'. I can not dream like this as I live in a 'secular' (hindu minorities) country . This fact is known to all those who promote 'arms terrorism' and 'cultural terrorism' very well. Like vultures they are flying above us as we are dying.
Yes its true India society is interdependent. But the way appadurai views this is different. Throughout he was talking about minority in terms of muslims and problems related to them. He has to view in terms of Christians also. Muslims are in India with identity for over decades with a clasical interdependence with Hindu society comprising Hindu minorities and majorities. However, recent developments in terms of religion in the form of conversion on one end and atheism on other end confuses people to the core and converts to a materialistic world which was not though of the period of interdependence. We are moving towards independent ideas but without objectives and goals that drives finally towards some preachers offering bread and money for personal promotion and ostensily for mass community transformation. Where the society goes?
Brahmin dominance.
by Arvindakshan on Sep 10, 2006 09:05 AM
Mr Seshadri. I am an atheist as I am sick to the stomach of hinduism and its disguisting caste system which treats some groups of hindus like animals. As for conversion to christianity or islam or buddism or sikhism or rationalism ,it is people's wish. You cannot decide what religion a man should follow.Should you brahmins even decide what religion Sudras should follow? Are they still your slaves? You either treat lower caste people like brahmins and let them become heads of temples and Muts OR allow them to choose their own religion. Don't try to keep them in mental slavery through religion forever.
S.Lahiri's choice of phrases - idiotic pedantry ... credulous trash - are very apt and I support the thrust of the argument against Dr A of the New School University of New York.
It was small numbers of Muslims who engineered the Partition-holocaust and got Pak & Banglastans. We have got more Muslims than Pak and now from BOTH sides of the borders they are up to their tricks, again.
It is ludicrous to bring in the horrific All India Congress Party-inspired Sikh murders. The country was then being ruled by the family by marriage of the present head, Sonia Gandhi, of the same Party.
I suggest the author of Fear of small Nos should either enrol for an elementary course in logics & history at his own New School University New York or undergo a rigourous course of internal irrigation to dilute his pedantry and other such gunk in his system. Jiten
