I pity the author because he do not know what is the real meaning of brahmin and brahminism. The word brahmin comes from "Brahmam" which means the entire "brahmandam" or the universe. A person who is in union with the universe is called brahmin in vedas. Hence it is not a caste. Any person from East to West on the earth can be brahmin by becoming one with "Brahmam" or in simple form GOD. Better these so called social workers/writers go to some institutes like Vivekananda Kendra or Read Vedas in Veda Patashalas before giving definitions on brahmins. As regards Periyar he is the worst creature on earth. He lived lavishly at others cost and in the name of social reformation, enjoyed sex, wine and woomen and harrassed whoever opposed him and created division in Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu now stands last in most of the happenings. The is the legacy of periyar and dravidian partes.
RE:Pity the Author
by harifromchennai on Apr 30, 2007 12:40 PM Permalink
I totally differ with Krishna's point of view as Periyar is the worst creature in the Earth. His social activism made the upper castes feel for their misdeeds in the name of untouchability. Now most of the right thinking brahmins do not practice untouchability but the OBCs discriminate Dalits in tamilnadu. The two tumbler system, puppet panchayat presidents, killing of non-puppet panchayat presidents are being done by OBCs against dalits. Periyar thought succeeded in bringing brahmins to task but failed with OBCs.
RE:Pity the Author
by rationalbeing being on Apr 30, 2007 12:56 PM Permalink
what periyar did not mention that the chaturvarna was first adopted according to the division of work,not on the basis of caste.in history,we would find several intercaste,even inter religious marriage including friendship between different communities-rajput king married a bhil girl,sri krishna was a yadav who married several khsatriya girls,akbar and jehangir married rajput hindus,sri ram had a friend like guhak who was a chandal,laxman got knowledge from ravana when he was in death bed.so ancient india was not full of casteism.jabal stayakam was welcomed by maharishi goutam who termed satyakam as brahmin(satyakam had no registered father),chandragupta maurya got the title from her mother who was a dasi and chandragupta maurya and samrat ashoka were not the representative of upper castes.sufi movement,bhakti movement was against casteism and religious narrowness.sri ramakrishna and swami vivekananda faught against casteism not balming the hinduism alone.so i think periyar missed and crossed the line.he could have mentioned the tolerism of hindus who gave place to other religious groups.there is not a single evidence in the ancient,medieval even in some parts of modern world in the field of religious tolerance in christian and islam country.also hinduism accomodated several different thoughts within a religion-here we have idol worship,nirakar god,even we get atheist philosophy,every person can woRship god in any foRm in this religion.hinduism is the only religion which never involved in forceful religious conversion.but pity is that periyar did not mention these positive sides.but sOme extent he spreaded a sense of hatred in the name of abolishing casteism.i donot know why.yes upper castes are very much responsible in many cases.but almost all of the great persons are from upper castes who made indians proud by their tallent,dedication not by their caste identity,what periyar also did not mention that many people from upper castes did several social reforms-RAJA RAMMOHAN ROY,ISWAR CHANDRA VIDYASAGAR were brahmin but did signficant social reform,sri ramakrishna vivekananda also did their best,upper caste personalities were greatly involved in the country's freedom struggle(subhas bose,tilak,nehru ,gandhi ,gokhale,bagha jatin,jatin das,lala ljpat and many names)where the leadership was maintained by them.even the great achiever of tamilnadu-srinivas ramanujam,cv raman was from upper castes.i donot know why he ignored all this.ok,but still he has a place in my mind for his movement for social justice which some extent changed as a movement of hatred at latter stage.
