From: J.Ainikkal@massey.ac.nz (J. Ainikkal)
Subject: Re: INDIAN CULTURE - subservient?
Summary: Indian Culture - Religious fanatics
Keywords: Indian Culture - Religious fanatics
Organization: Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
X-Reader: NETNEWS/PC Version 2c
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 92 01:12:12 GMT

Mr Rohit Parikh Writes:

>I think people do not necessarily deny that the culture of our
>last 1,000 years is inferior to our culture in the previous
>1,500 years.  Or to the culture of the Indus Civilization which
>was advanced for its time. However, our problem is, `what do we
>do NOW?'.  

Good question. I am actually going to make an attempt in
answering it. I must express my thoughts about it.

>Do we blindly imitate Western culture or do we look to our own
>past and try to develop a way of dealing with our future which
>combines the best of our own past and the best of what the West
>has to offer?  

While U make the above seem very simple - I personally believe
that it will be extremely difficult to take the best of both
worlds and make it work. While in theory this seems to be the
best solution - In practice it will be impossible. 

If I may, I would classify the Eastern culture (India in
particular) as being a culture that has strived to attain
'happiness' spiritually. The West on the other hand has taken the
'Material' road. They are the dominant societies in today's
world. The ills and evils of their society have reduced due to
their increase in affluence.

As long as we in the East, do not attain the achievements of the
West - there will be a good many of us who will be dissatisfied,
not to mention - left in poverty which leads to exploitation to
a far greater extent than in the West. 

The solution is very simple - If U see it the way I do. 

Win the game before U try to change the rules. India is still
living and playing its silly own game. The politicians are still
using religion and the masses are still being supressed by
stupid, obsolete, defunct religious beliefs. Before we decide to
stay or get truly religious we need to get affluent. We need to
have educated masses to get rid of supression. An education that
allows U to think for yourself.

Religion only leads to attitudes of subservience. 'I am humble -
 and I am satisfied with what I have'- this attitude has not
helped over the centuries. We are an overpopulated, extremely
poor, very dissatisfied nation (Fighting for freedom is a direct
consequence of dissatisfaction with many things).

In Malaysia, I cannot quote the exact date, a couple of decades
ago, there was a serious problem between the chinese and the
malay. This seems to have settled down - not because they have
turned to religion - but because they have become more affluent.
We need to question our basics which has lead to our culture of
today - our religious inclination. 

Do we need religion in a land like ours today?

A culture which is deeply rooted in religion - is bound to be
doomed in a material world. 


>What does Pink Floyd say about this problem?  Sorry to be
>facetious, but I am sure you understand the issue. 
 
There is no need to apologise - I will give U P. Floyds views on
the above -

"The lunatic is in my head,
The lunatic is in my head,
U raise the blade,
U make the change,
U re-arrange me till I'am sane".
                            P.Floyd

I suppose its time to raise the blade and make the change. I
believe its time to get rid of the greatest evil of our
civilization - Religion.

We do not need religion - We need a GOD.

John Ainikkal
I think - Therefore I am.
'Aotearoa' - Land of the long white cloud
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian