From: sundar@indigo1.hsis.uci.edu (M. Sundaramoorthy)
Subject: Re: A THREAT from a boneless tiger in the net
Newsgroups: soc.culture.tamil
Organization: University of California, Irvine
Date: 21 Aug 92 22:35:48 GMT

In article <1992Aug21.191237.19972@u.washington.edu> ngrjn@milton.u.washington.edu (V Nagarajan) writes:
>In article <BtAKvK.34M@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca> mvishnu@morse.uwaterloo.ca (m vishnu) writes:
>>
>
>	As long as we are on the subject of a "Dravidian" hero, let me
>	mention that soon after MGR parted company with the DMK, MalayaLee-
>	owned businesses in Madras came under attack by our Dravidian culture
>	guards. When I visited Madurai two years ago, I saw explicit wall
>	graffiti suggesting that pApAthis be raped (peNdALungaL!). Here's
>	"Dravidian" culture for you in a nutshell. 
>
>							- Nagarajan
>

	I agree with Nagarajan on few points, but it is unfair to blame only
	Dravidian parties or a 'Dravidian' hero for the current political
	culture. Poilitical culture at national level is as bad as in TN.
	
	After Indira's assasination, thousands of sikhs were killed in 
	Delhi, by congress thugs and Rajiv defended that by a 
	statement
	'when a big tree falls, the earth is bound to shake'.

	Recently, in Karnataka riots, the attack on Tamils were carried out
	by the 'national party', built on Gandhian ideals. I lived in 
	Bangalore for seven years. In any ethnic clash there, the victims
	are always the homeless construction workers or coolies and street
	vendors near KR Market area or slum dwellers in Sriramapuram area, 
	but never the affluent Tamils in Malleswaram or middle class Tamils
	in Ulsoor area.
	
	It is not necessary to mention the religous riots and politics
	of BJP/RSS/VHP/Muslim League. 

	We just saw a discussion on West Bengal political culture in SCI.      

	Whatever difference is between the average national political culture,
	and the TN political culture may be attiributable to 'Dravidian
	politics'. 

	If there were no 'Dravidian parties', someone else might have
	brought the Tamil culture into 'national mainstream culture'.

	As you pointed out earlier, we need a cultural revolution.

	Aside: When MGR was removed from DMK, not only Malayalees' businesses
	were attacked, but also many barber shops in our region by MGR
	fans. Posters and grafittis like 'ambatta Karunanidhi ozhiga',
	were there everywhere during that time. As recently as, when
	DMK ministry was dissolved, TAMBRAS reportedly distributed hand bills
	saying 'Sudran Atchi ozhindhadhu. Ini Kanchi Madam thaan Thamizh
	Nattin Thalainagaram', in Madras suburbs.   

	Every caste has to bear some responsibility in our caste based
	feudal society in proportion to where they stand in the social
	hierarchy. Blaming or defending entirely one caste or the other 
	doesn't lead us anywhere.  

	Poet Inquilab wrote,

	'endha kanRuk kuttiyum
	piRakkumpOdhE
	kazhuththil nugaththadiyOdu
	piRappadhillai'

	But unfortunately, human beings are born with many yokes and worst
	of all is caste in our society. Everyone is born with some kind of
	guilt, like the Germans of post-World War II.

	I think it is time to stop discussion/arguement on this issue,
	as we are not going to settle anything by doing this. 

	
M. Sundaramoorthy
sundar@indigo1.hsis.uci.edu    	

Newsgroups: soc.culture.tamil,alt.culture.tamil