[Reader-list] Julia Roberts becomes Hindu. But in which caste?

[Rajendra Bhat Uppinangadi]

Rank bad comments of an intellectual who uses intellect to belittle way of
life.!
regards, rajen

On Tue, Aug 17, 2010 at 10:02 PM, Patrice Riemens <patrice at xs4all.nl> wrote:

> original to:
> http://www.dnaindia.com/opinion/column_dear-julia-roberts_1423112
> bwo GoaNet/ Ruby Goes (?)
>
>
> By Venkatesan Vembu | Place: Mumbai
> Venkatesan Vembu
>
>
> It has been brought to our attention, here at the Census bureau of India,
> that you have recently proclaimed yourself a “practising Hindu” who goes
> to temples to “chant and pray”. Representatives of overseas Hindu
> organisations, seeing you as a brand ambassador who can elevate their
> religious-spiritual order into a higher visibility orbit, have
> enthusiastically welcomed you into the Hindu Very Divided Family.
>
> A few dharmic organisations have made solicitous enquiries about the
> precise nature of the rituals you underwent as part of your formal
> initiation into the Hindu fold. Being fastidious custodians of dharmic
> purity, they would like to re-enact your rite of initiation in the proper
> way whenever you are in India next.
>
> A few of our god-men who were unfortunately embroiled in sex scandals with
> our desi actresses have crawled out of the woodworks to articulate their
> desire to welcome you into the warm embrace of the Hindu order. However,
> given their recent experience of embraces involving film stars, you might
> be well advised to give them a wide berth.
>
> As you may have inferred from all this, and from the extensive coverage
> you’ve received in the Indian media, you’ve created quite a stir here.
> There have sadly been a few uncharitable commentaries suggesting that your
> search for a higher spiritual plane was, in fact, a lowly marketing
> gimmick for your latest movie.
>
> But that apart, it’s all been positive.
>
> Which brings us to the subject of this letter. As an official body in a
> secular republic, we merely take academic note of your proselytisation. In
> any case, since you’re not an Indian citizen, you fall outside the purview
> of our decennial census enumeration exercise. In other words, from our
> perspective, you’re practically ‘untouchable’.
>
> Even so, we’re writing to enlist your help with a matter that currently
> has all of India agitated: the proposed caste enumeration as part of the
> Census 2011 exercise. There’s been considerable opposition to the proposal
> on the grounds that it will be ‘socially divisive’. Yet, you only have to
> look at matrimonial ads in our newspapers to know that caste
> considerations are alive in our society.
>
> Perhaps the opposition to caste enumeration springs from an inhibition
> about proclaiming our caste identity. Perhaps all it takes to break the
> ice is a celebrity endorsement of the caste
> enumeration project, a brand ambassador of caste identity. We believe that
> as the newest star to embrace Hinduism, as someone whose 1990 film Sundar
> Kanya (Pretty Woman dubbed in Hindi) had a silver jubilee run, and who
> currently enjoys enormous goodwill in India, that ambassador ought to be
> you.
>
> So, Ms Roberts, tell us: what is your caste? Are you Julia Iyer or Jat
> Julia?
>
> Yours sincerely
> Census bureau
>
>
>
>
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-- 
Rajen.