From: selvakum@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca (C.R.Selvakumar - Electrical Engineering)
Subject: Re: Kuram Narayana on Periyar
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 22:58:45 GMT

In article <BzD04y.AKD@ireq.hydro.qc.ca> srini@ireq-num.hydro.qc.ca (Srinivasan K.) writes:
>In article <BzBr2n.33q@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca> selvakum@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca
> (C.R.Selvakumar - Electrical Engineering) writes:
>>
>>      Raghu, you have a valid point if Periyaar had said. Even otherwise
>>      this is essentially correct - that some communities were singled out
>>      for hating. It is racism pure and simple.
>>
>>      Periyaar or his followers were said to have cut the sacred thread of
>>      Brahmins and cut kudumis( tufts) and even smashed idols- these 
>>      are despicable
>>      whiplashes and blood dripping, brutal rapes, denial of basic rights
>>      and education to the masses at that time. Periyaar was a social reformer.
>>      
>>      matters IF we want to UNDERSTAND. I believe that only when all these
>>      communal feelings die or become unimportant will we really 
>>      walk with giant steps.
>>      
>>      -Selva 
>>      
>Anyway racism to remove racism will not work, though one may justify it.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>It will only make it more rigid.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
     I agree. If one campaigns against racism ( let's consider a non-indian
     issue, like neo-nazism in Germany today), will it be a racism ?
      
>
>That apart, I appear to be the only one who pointed out that 'periyar'
>cut 'pooNool' and 'kudumi's. Today's brahmin haters in the net would
>instead cut 'hands' and 'heads'. (Now that most Brahmins do not
>have the former two. Are they still Brahmins by Periyar's definition?).

     I think it is quite shameful that we still call ourselves as
     piLLai, Muthali, Iyer, Iyengaar, Chetty, PaLLan, Paraiyan etc.
     Yes, we all belong to different tribes and these descriptions
     will continue as long as exclusive marriages take place..
     I don't understand why we can't treat one another with dignity !
     By saying hateful words against any one community, obviously
     those who belong to that community will feel an intrinsic
     compulsion to react in a negative way. Don't we waste our
     energies here ? If there are undesirable acts in the name of
     caste or notice facist tendencies, these could be discussed.
     I don't think any unbiased observer will deny that the society
     at the time of periyaar and even today was (is) largely controlled by
     a minority of 'upper castes' including brahmins, muthaliyaars, 
     piLLaimaars, chettiyaars.(now some naadars and gounders). The
     caste system was certainly enforced and kept in tact by those
     who benefitted most namely the upper castes and what periyaar
    did was to remove caste basis ( I think he encouraged marriages
    between brahmins and persons belonging to other castes..) .
    
     
>
>Fortunately, the Tamil Nadu society at large appears a lot saner than the
>'few posters' among our 'highly educated youth' bent upon disgracing
>this newsgroup.

     If there are deep differences, it should be openly and in a candid
     manner discussed and it is good. But if merely hateful words are
     exchanged, nothing fruitful will happen. If there is a wound somewhere
     it is better to examine it WITH A VIEW TO HEAL and NOT make it
     worse, or hide it to grow more malignant. First, this mistrust
     between communities should die without a trace and we all should
     feel as fellow beings sharp and shrewd with love and warmth to
     candidly DISCUSS the issues. For a moment let us pause, what do we
     lose by doing so ?!

>
>KS

      regards
      Selva

>
>