Dondus dos and donts
Almost evert tamil blogger had his own Dondu story.
We all knew that Dondu was fighting cancer. His prolific blogging stuttered and staggered the past few months. It was only during the recent book exhibition Chennai that Dondu made his public appearance after a long time. Shocked were folks who saw him – emanciated and bald, suffering the ravages wrought by chemo therapy in addition to the big C. but dondu was ever his normal cheery self, and spoke only in terms that was the old dondu. No change.
Dondu always felt sorry for Brahmins who in early life abandoned their caste. For he felt they would live to regret it. One example to him, was sujatha the writer, who in his last few months, regretted his lapse from sri vaishnavam, and also what he felt the degradation of Brahmins in tamil society. But even this, from the looks of it, does not have appeared to diminish sujata’s image among his vast NB young tamil readership.
Again, re viswaroopam, dondu chided kamal, for abandoning Vishnu, and considered this as a punishment. For dondu Vishnu was an active God, who punished within the lifetime, and did not wait for the next rebirth.
As late as feb 4, dondu published his blog – the comment on the sharia rule practiced in Saudi Arabia, where a rape of 5 year old, the perpetrator was set free per Islamic laws. Vintage dondu in all his glory, posting a topic, which most tamil bloggers, muslim or otherwise, would tread softly and gently, and bypass.
Death came suddenly to Dondu. Judging by the vast tributes, far and wide, Brahmins and anti Brahmins (yes there are a few whose profession appears to be anti brahminism), have paid their homage – in person or through cyber.
I always wondered about the relationship between periyar and rajaji, the two extremes of philosophies. There was a time when human friendship could overcome faith and politics, and withstand the pressures of time and society. I think, for many, their relationship with Dondu was very similar.
I would skip many of dondu’s blogs, for I would find them too aggressive or abrasive, to my taste. From now on, there wont be any more such. My loss.
May Dondu’s soul rest in peace.
Almost evert tamil blogger had his own Dondu story.
We all knew that Dondu was fighting cancer. His prolific blogging stuttered and staggered the past few months. It was only during the recent book exhibition Chennai that Dondu made his public appearance after a long time. Shocked were folks who saw him – emanciated and bald, suffering the ravages wrought by chemo therapy in addition to the big C. but dondu was ever his normal cheery self, and spoke only in terms that was the old dondu. No change.
Dondu always felt sorry for Brahmins who in early life abandoned their caste. For he felt they would live to regret it. One example to him, was sujatha the writer, who in his last few months, regretted his lapse from sri vaishnavam, and also what he felt the degradation of Brahmins in tamil society. But even this, from the looks of it, does not have appeared to diminish sujata’s image among his vast NB young tamil readership.
Again, re viswaroopam, dondu chided kamal, for abandoning Vishnu, and considered this as a punishment. For dondu Vishnu was an active God, who punished within the lifetime, and did not wait for the next rebirth.
As late as feb 4, dondu published his blog – the comment on the sharia rule practiced in Saudi Arabia, where a rape of 5 year old, the perpetrator was set free per Islamic laws. Vintage dondu in all his glory, posting a topic, which most tamil bloggers, muslim or otherwise, would tread softly and gently, and bypass.
Death came suddenly to Dondu. Judging by the vast tributes, far and wide, Brahmins and anti Brahmins (yes there are a few whose profession appears to be anti brahminism), have paid their homage – in person or through cyber.
I always wondered about the relationship between periyar and rajaji, the two extremes of philosophies. There was a time when human friendship could overcome faith and politics, and withstand the pressures of time and society. I think, for many, their relationship with Dondu was very similar.
I would skip many of dondu’s blogs, for I would find them too aggressive or abrasive, to my taste. From now on, there wont be any more such. My loss.
May Dondu’s soul rest in peace.
