From: <EASWAR@PURCCVM.BITNET>
Subject:    RE : South Indian<> Dravidian
Organization: Purdue University
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 20:23:30 GMT

By posting the mail, I thought I would bring up some 'hidden' issues.
I was hoping that some key points would be addressed, but comments by Babu
and KS Rao indicate that the issues did not come through clearly. I'm ignoring
most of their comments on this article (responding would serve no purpose) and
addressing issues, which are more relevant.

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<Since Babu did not get some ideas,I'm clarifying>

I said a poll may be required to see how many agree with the Dravidian Thought.

WHY ?
  It should be evident from the context that I was talking about
  'effect' in terms of change in perceptions of Indian netters that this
                       ---------------------
  thread should have achieved.
  Hence, you will be polling perceptions of the readers of the nets , not
  for example, the charge of an electron. {Your claim that we are talking
  science here is still open to scrutiny and it can wait.}

<< This is a key claim and so I reproduce it >>
<Easwar@purccvm.bitnet> writes
=> CLAIM 6 : RIGHTING HISTORICAL WRONGS IS DANGEROUS.
=>
=> This should be self-evident. This is what Hitler did and RSS says it is
=> doing. Let us not repeat the mistakes of the past.

{ Babu Srinivas}
----------------
I don't see any relation between these two. attempt to right the
[what he percieves as] scientific mis-beliefs is what I see.

<Easwar writes>
  No comments. Show it to an uninterested party and he will see no differ
  ence between the Dravidian Claims and the others.
  Listen without prejudice, and act with some social responsibility.

<< I Repeat these claims, which were completely ignored. >>
 ***********************************************************************
CLAIM 2 : WE RESPECT AND WORSHIP LORD RAM.

This, I believe, is the acid test. An average South Indian does not
denigrate Ram. He does not condone those who burn Lord Ram's effigy on
Ramlila (in retaliation to burning of Ravan in the north).

IN FACT, HE SHUDDERS AT THE BLASPHEMY. Being the tolerant soul he is, he
ignores them.

CLAIM 3 : Dravidianism can only lead to further divisions in an already
fragmented society.

                   The caste system is based on the following
propositions which apply equally well to Racism. For example;

1. A man is born in a Brahmin/Shudra (Aryan/Dravidian).
2. People belonging to different Brahmin and Shudra castes { read
Dravidian and Aryan races} are, SOMEHOW, different.
3. If two castes(races) are different, then they can be compared in
terms of value/worth, somehow defined.
4. Thus,one caste (race) will be superior to another.


The rest of South India ( Non- Dravidians) can see this connection.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Thus, they do not support Dravidianism, fully comprehending the
repurcussions.
*************************************************************************

Religion, like a million other things in life, is a matter of faith. When
I said you hurt the sensibilities of others, I am talking about such issu
es,and not the nature of science as you point out. As far as I can rememb
er, I think Selvakumar said something to the effect of Lord Rama having
more faults than Ravana( He might have added Smileys, though).

I can understand your expediencies in trying to be politically correct
                                                   ----------- -------
and hence trying not to respond to the above claim. Incidentally,
 'Real Science' has nothing to do with political correctness.

The claim equating Dravidian Distinctiveness to Racism and hence no
different from Casteism was not discussed by you either. Follow the
reasoning and then respond.

THERE IS SOMETHING CALLED SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.


< TO MAKE THE DISCUSSION RATIONAL, ONCE AGAIN>

I believe that a lot of problems could be addressed if you simply posted
the 'CORE BELIEFS' of the Dravidian Thought. We know it is not an origina
     ------------
l thought  created at Waterloo. Just tell us what more we have to take
                                --------------------------------------
if we accept this Dravidian thought. Serve us the WHOLE meal, we will
evaluate it and tell you if we like it or not. You can't fool us by
serving the goodies alone!


{ If you haven't got the message yet, let me be explicit.
Wedo not see this Dravidian Stuff in isolation, it is part of a bigger
theory and hence we have to know where you are coming from. As long as
                 -----------------------------------------
Selvakumar and the team stuck to Language and Culture, we gave him the
benefit of doubt. Soon, however, the team has started downloading its
obnoxious and retrogressive race theory. Some distinguishing features of
Dravidian Theory are its hatred towards Lord Ram, antagonism towards the
Vedas,aryans etc. The Dravidian 'Thinkers' based their theory on not just
racial distinction but also a systematic hatred for anything Aryan.

I don't think it is a coincidence that Caste Consciouness is the highest
in Tamil Nadu. The rest of South Indians have evolved over the period of
time, they are trying to forget Caste while in TN you are not only reinfo
-rcing Casteism but also creating race consciousness. It is time you
paused and asked yourself as to where you are going.

We do not want this in our states and in the rest of the country. If you
decide to screw your state up beyond recognition through hatred, it is
your problem.In the process, don't drive a wedge between the rest of
South India and the mainstream India.}

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LEAD,FOLLOW OR GET OUT OF THE WAY!                  nyshadham

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