i think you have got it right sumathi! Thanks for voicing out your opinion.
the distinction between brahmins and brahminism is vital. And, people who practise brahminism as lifestyle bring about a positive influence on their environment. It is only fair they are suitably rewarded for the same.
Anybody, who wants to emulate such a lifestyle of austerity,exercises a premium on being process driven, seeks knowledge for the sake of knowledge, believes in satvik food should be a follower of brahminism.
The superiority or inferiority among people is not based on the word 'caste' but should be on 'habits', 'thinking process' and ' applied human values'
As far as Periyar goes, i have never met him and will never meet him. His idealogies probably were an evolved response still relevant today. However, in the name of ' being against brahminism', today what we see is a new set of 'Brahmins'.
In retrospect, he has given brahmins a bad name. It is not his mistake, it is those people who manage politics who are responsible, who are keen to gain mass popularity through quick fix means. It is those people with no real agenda.
