From: ssankara@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Sornam Sankara)
Subject: IS THE 'MINORITY' BRAHMINISM POLITICALLY INCONSEQUENTIAL ?
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 19:09:13 GMT




Is the 'minority' brahminism politically inconsequential ?
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There are people who lament that the 'barely three percent', innocent and
peace-loving Brahmins have no hold in Tamil Nadu and also that Brahminism is
dead in TN.  The following letter appeared in 'tambras' (June 1991, muzhakkam
11), the offcial organ of the Tamil Nadu Brahmins Association and it was
written by its president after the 1991 TN assembly elections in connection
with Jeyalalitha's new government.

    Main points of the letter (translated from Tamil, I can reproduce the Tamil
text in ADAMI scheme if somebody wants) are as follows:

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     "As far as Tamil Nadu is concerned, today's political change has given a
confidence  that the sufferings experienced so far by the Brahmins will not
recur again.  It is our duty to use this opportunity in favour of our society
as much as possible.

     Above all, we should utilize this government in whatever possible ways for
the welfare of our society, especially, whether it is educational institution
or in establishing businesses with the government, we should work tirelessly
for the developement of our community.

     AT ANY COST IT IS BETTER THAT OUR EFFORTS SHOULD NOT BE OPEN.  I FEEL THAT
WE SHOULD HANDLE THIS VERY CAREFULLY.  After a long time, we have got a chief
minister from our caste.  WHETHER OTHERS SAY OR NOT, IT IS ONLY A BRAHMIN
REGIME.  (emphasis mine)

     I think that the assembly members from our caste should not attend our
organisational activities right now.  They should participate in our functions
only when other caste MLAs start attending our functions. "

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Is it exactly the same reason, within hours of the dismissal of the DMK
government the Brahmins' Association of Pallavaram brought out handbills
describing the dismissal as DECIMATION OF SHUDRA RULE IN TAMIL NADU and
claiming that Kanchi Mutt would now be the head-quarters of the state.  The
poor, unfortunate Brahmins indeed.

     Is this exactly the same reason, the first time, the Kanchi Shankaracharya
vigourously appealed to the electorate to vote either for the BJP or the
congress-AIADMK combine.


Are the 'brahministic' Tamil Brahmins really innocent or politically
 inconsequenctial ???


Tailpiece:
----------
     On the other hand, "the SO-CALLED SERVANT of non-Brahmin communities",
K.Veeramani asked to vote for M.Karunanithi, A SELF-PROCLAIMED SHUDRA.  These
Shudras behave like Brahmins in their arrongance and collude with the same
brahmins to share the political power.  They could cut the 'poonool' of only
some poor and innocent brahmins but  will be very proud to have pleasant
'personal relations' with R.Venkataraman or the Hindu Iyngar family.  They
think about Shudra only when they are toppled and when they need the votes of
Shudra.  The local leaders of this Shudra party is WORSE than the Brahmins in
dealing with the lower castes and Harijans and often responsible for the
violence against the Harijans (eg.  Podinayakkanoor, Theni carnages)


Hmmmm, "saathikaL illaiyadi pappa"


S. Sankarapandi

ssankara@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
Newsgroups: soc.culture.tamil,soc.culture.indian