@ Sri Nara - Okay, let me not be hostile. I am sorry for personal comments.
Vivek, I appreciate your expression of regret for the personal comments. We can yet have a decent conversation if you would stick to some basic rules of debate.
You are a very young man, yet you have a lot of spunk, I like that. You are not intimidated by age, which is good, but, like all younguns, you are very sure of yourself, which is not all that good. For instance, I just can't understand the way you talk to Shri Sangom. There is a lot all of us can learn from him. You can be deferential and at the same time bold enough to question. You have the bold part down, but, IMO, you need to work on the deferential part.
Because you didn't care to explain why you see it as a 50 percent rice bag with worms.
From what I have seen of your postings I know we are not going anywhere with this. Since you say I didn't explain myself, let me state once again. IMO, on the basis of the Brahminical traditions as seen by the theoretical expositions of great Acharays like Sankara and Ramanuja, and the practices of Brahmins, it is undeniable that it is permeated with a whole lot of superstitions and abhorrent ideas of birth-based superiority. Such ideas are like worms. These are not just peripheral ideas, but central ones, justified by concepts like karma and rebirth.
The Brahmnical tradition also contains such nice things like Ahimsha pradamo pushpam, et al. But these are not just sole province of Brahminsim, most other traditions also have these. So, why must I accept Brahminism which contains the aspect of Hinduism that people world over shake their heads in disbelief. Just because it contains some good stuff that are quite common everywhere else as well, no, I won't.
Contrary to what you keep saying, I am not moved by any guilt feeling at all. Such a feeling is appropriate only if one feels the Varna system has some redeeming qualities worth preserving. If this was so, then I could feel some guilt for its misuse. I happen to think the oppressive caste system is an inevitable consequence of the Varna system, a hallmark of Brahminism, whatever may be its original motivation. So, I feel no guilt at all, I think Varna system must go, sooner it goes, the better it is for everyone, the present day Brahmins included.
Why should this social evil be focussed only on brahmins?
Two reasons, (i) this is TB forum, for Brahmins, therefore the focus is on Brahmins, and (ii) Brahmins routinely and happily wash their hands off when untold caste-based atrocities are committed and refuse to take any responsibility for the monster they created and unleashed upon the people of India.
On the other hand let us ask the real question: What is the true origin of why previlaged people of society anywhere tend to ill-treat people of the lower sections of society?
Yes, exploitation is not a preserve of Brahmins alone. All established power exploits in one form or another. This does not make the exploitation encoded into Brahminsim pardonable. What makes Varna based discrimination especially pernicious is (a) it is birth-based, i.e. no escape all life long, and (ii) it is hierarchically self-sustaining, i.e. everyone gets to exploit while also get exploited, thus giving an incentive to preserve one's own place in the hierarchy and prevent the attempts of any other group to pass their own status.
Further, this Varna system adds another dimension to exploitation. In other societies, the exploitation was based only on class. In India, dominated by Brahminism in one form or another, the exploitation is on two fronts, class and caste. No self-respecting upper class Brahmin will ever consider an upper-class NB or a lower-class Brahmin as worthy of his respect. Which of these two groups will command the respect of a TB depends on the circumstance. In a secular context, say business dealings, cocktail party in a 5-star hotel, obviously the upper-class NB will be warmly embraced. In a religious setting, say in a Matham, or in a temple or homam, it is the orthodox Brahmin, most likely belonging to very low class, but belonging to the same upper caste, will be embraced. In summary, all societies have their own problem of exploitations to deal with, the Brahminical Tamil Nadu has quite an unique two dimensional exploitation structure.
Why do low castes practice untouchability with other low castes? Why does corruption and casteism prevail in TN after "evil" brahmins have been exiled?
The same reason the supposedly educated elites of their societies do. Those who have been prevented from any sort of education for centuries, and were indoctrinated to believe in this pernicious hierarchical caste structure, know nothing more than to imitate those who were supposed to be their betters. Now, things are changing. The beneficiaries of the much reviled reservation system in education have started questioning this ideology. They are called DK/DMK. Yes, the leadership of DK/DMK are corrupt and good for nothing. But, the educated ranks among them are at the forefront of tearing down the Varna edifice of Brahmins. For this they are recipients of the ire of all Brahminists!!!
Vivek, I will not respond to your postings unless you have some reasonable arguments. I will not respond if you are going to say the same things you have been saying.
Cheers!
