[Reader-list] > 4. American Imperialism, Hindu Brahmanism, Islamic Terrorism

[Radhakrishnan]

Dear All,
I am at loss to understand why there has been a systematic campaign and use of abusive language mocking at people based on their birth, ethnicity etc.

Logically speaking Upper caste since last 30 years doesn't mean Brahmins in Tamilnad where Dalits are hounded by non Brahmin Upper Caste some of whom are classified as OBCs though there is no indicator to highlight their social or economic backwardness. So is the case in states like Uttar Pradesh.Instead of certain city based anglicised writers kindly try to seek opinion from Dalit thinkers and writiers (15% SC and 7% ST)So if it some research scholars are writing then kindly exercise caution. 

Secondly why the problem of casteism is being taken out of context for addressing other issues. WHy should brahmanism or even brahmins be targetted for the prevailing inequality among Christian, Muslims and Buddhist societies. One does convert to other faith and certainly exercise conversion as moral weapon as Baba saheb exercised this choice. After all Indian social order can't be the referece point to address the xenophobic tendencies in Europe vis a vis the Turks, Kurdish people, the deeply embedded prejudices against the Afro-Americans in the US (Mohammad Ali from Cassius Clay, the Rosa Parks, Rodney King episode etc). 

Finally why Hindu and Islamic religion are so selectively targetted for religious extremism. In India we are witness to Hindu or Islamic communalism/fundamentalism and not fascism.Earlier we had witnessed Sikh extremism for some time during 1980-1990.There are also pockets of Christian fundamentalism (kerala, Naga extremism etc)in the country but certainly quite small in propotion compared to Hindu and Muslim communalism. One could avoid these colonial obsession with western terminologies. After all how would one address issues of internal colonialism within India and misgovernance. Ther has been upteen no of cases where in so called cosmopolitan cities like Delhi people from Northeast, South are mocked at, their intellect lampooned on the baseis of their appearance and colour. Is it also a classic example of Hindu brahmanism!

Radhakrishnan


>Message: 4
>Date: Thu, 24 Jul 2008 06:34:16 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Kshmendra Kaul <kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com>
>Subject: [Reader-list] American Imperialism, Hindu Brahmanism,	Islamic
> 	Terrorism
>To: sarai list <reader-list at sarai.net>
>Message-ID: <999742.76199.qm at web57211.mail.re3.yahoo.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
>Just thinking aloud.
>Â
>One often comes across people (on SARAI and elsewhere) that can see:
>Â
>- Imperialism as the defining aspect of the Americans/USA (usually to the exclusion of all else)
>Â
>- Brahmanism as the defining aspect of Hindus/Hinduism (usually to the exclusion of all else)
>Â
>- Terrorism as the defining aspect of Muslims/Islam (usually to the exclusion of all else)
>Â
>These are just 3 examples.
>Â
>In a curious sort of way such sets of people (whichever their favourite 'hate' might be) are alike in the manner in which they view things. Their 'obsessiveness' clouds their intellect and ability to look at things in context.Â
>Â
>Just a thought.
>Â
>Kshmendra


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